Solid State Physics: From Fundamental to Modern Concepts

This book is based on the notes for two courses: Electrons in Solids (2nd year) and Solid State Physics (3rd year) at Imperial College London. The book will build up the properties of crystalline solids from the most basic description of electrons to their motion in periodic potentials and all the resulting consequences. This will be used as a basis for understanding the energy bands of real solids, focussing on metals and semiconductors. The book will then move on to vibrational and magnetic properties and will conclude with the p-n junction and the bipolar junction transistor. Each chapter will have exercises taken from the homework problems in the courses, with short solutions to most exercises provided in an appendix (space permitting) and detailed solutions contained in a separate solutions manual