Condensed Matter Physics I

This course surveys foundational concepts in solid state systems including the structure of materials as well as the motion and dynamics of electrons in material systems. The course will equip students with an essential conceptual framework to parse fundamental electronic phenomena in crystalline materials, as well as a toolkit of effective models and approximations to perform simple calculations for materials. In particular, the course aims:

A. To build the basic concepts of structure and properties of crystalline solids and the collective behaviour of electrons and atoms in materials
B. To demonstrate how solid state theory is built up from a variety of experimental data
C. To acquire fundamental and qualitative understanding about different materials.
D. To build analytical skills through problem-solving
E. To provide foundational knowledge for a more advanced treatment of solid state physics