Solid State Materials

This course provides the basic tools to understand solid materials and their mechanical as well as physical properties. The first half of the course focuses on the atomic structure of crystalline materials and how to measure those structures using x-ray, neutron and electron diffraction. We discuss defects in crystalline materials and how they impact the materials properties. The second half of the course focuses on physical properties of solids. A short introduction into Band theory builds up our understanding of electron conductivity and magnetism. Finally, we discuss polymers and amorphous solids.