Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Engineering (Volume 4 page 109)
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Credit points: 7.1
Prerequisite: 640-006 Physics 1A (Engineering Course) and 640-006 Physics 1B (Engineering Course) or equivalent
Contact: 26 hours of lectures and 13 hours of tutorials
Timetable: Second semester
Objectives:
Upon completion of this subject, the student should understand the basic principles of the quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids and be able to apply these principles to a wide range of materials which are of key importance in modern electronics.
Content:
The quantum nature of light: blackbody radiation, photoelectric effect, X and g rays and their interaction with matter. The particle nature of matter: Rutherford and Bohr models, the Correspondence Principle. The wave nature of matter: diffraction of electrons and neutrons, the wavefunction and its interpretation, group and phase velocities, the uncertainty principle. Wave mechanics: free particles, the Schrö dinger equation, particle in a box, energy levels, quantized harmonic oscillator, expectation values, observables. Tunnelling phenomena: square barrier, application to field emission and the scanning tunnelling microscope. Quantum mechanical treatment of the hydrogen atom. Waves in solids: vibrations of one dimensional monatomic and diatomic lattices, dispersion curves and their measurement, density of states, lattice specific heats. Electrons in metals: electrical properties of metals, the classical and quantised free electron models, the Pauli exclusion, Fermi-Dirac statistics, Fermi energy; band theory of solids: energy gaps, electron and hole transport, effective mass.
Assessment:
A three-hour examination.
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Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Engineering (Volume 4 page 109)
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 9 1995 Last modified: Oct 9 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: School of Physics, Faculty of Science.
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.