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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2014

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (PHYS10099)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaUndergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThe course covers three main topics: structure of solids, electrons in solids, and an introduction to soft condensed matter physics. The aim is to give a firm grounding in these core concepts. Two thirds of the course will be focused on providing a basic understand- ing of the electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of solids and condensed matter. The remaining third will give an introduction to materials which are not solid, or crystalline, and neither liquids, but are still condensed matter, such as glasses or amor- phous solids, gels and liquid crystals. Given the enormous diversity of such systems, the emphasis will be on a qualitative understanding of the key ideas.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 15/09/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Revision Session Hours 4, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 60 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 80 %, Coursework 20 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1) Demonstrate an understanding of the crystal lattice and how the main lattice types are described;
2) Appreciate the different bonding types in solids;
3) State the eigenstates of the free electron gas, sketch the free electron band structure, describe the occupation of the electronic states in 1, 2 and 3D for T=0 and T¿0, and derive a quantitative equation of the electronic contribution to the heat capacity;
4) discuss the elastic properties of solids and the physics of phonons;
5) Appreciate electronic band structure of metals and be able to apply the relevant theory to simple metals;
6) discuss the mechanism for electrical conductance in metals;
7) demonstrate an understanding of the phases and phase transitions in soft matter;
8) discuss the main physical properties of amorphous solids, gels and liquid crystals;
9) demonstrate a grasp of the orders of magnitude of the central quantities and develop confidence with ¿intuitive¿ estimates.
Assessment Information
80% exam 20% coursework
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Crystal structure and crystal lattices
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsIntroCMP
Contacts
Course organiserProf Andrew Huxley
Tel: (0131 6)51 7053
Email: a.huxley@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Dawn Hutcheon
Tel: (0131 6)50 7218
Email: Dawn.Hutcheon@ed.ac.uk
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