Course Syllabus

Welcome to PHZ4404 Solid State Physics!

Class Time and Location: MWF Period 6 (12:50 PM - 1:40 PM), NPB 1200

Instructor: Chunjing Jia, chunjing@phys.ufl.edu, Office NPB 2312,

Office hours: Tuesday 4-4:50 PM, Thursday 10-10:50 AM

Objectives: 

This course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the microscopic physics governing the properties of crystalline solids. Students will learn how quantum mechanics and symmetry lead to electronic band structures, lattice vibrations, and collective excitations in materials. Emphasis is placed on developing physical intuition through simple yet powerful models—such as Bloch electrons, tight-binding and nearly free electron approaches, and phonons—while connecting these concepts to experimentally observable properties including band gaps, density of states, transport, and response functions. Through analytical work, computational exercises, and a course project, students will gain the skills needed to analyze real materials and prepare for advanced study or research in condensed matter physics and materials physics.

Prerequisites: 

Students are expected to have completed undergraduate-level coursework in quantum mechanics, including familiarity with the Schrödinger equation, operators, and eigenvalue problems. Prior exposure to electromagnetism, statistical mechanics and basic programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar) is recommended but not strictly required. The course is designed for upper-division undergraduates with strong physics fundamentals and a willingness to engage with mathematically and conceptually challenging material.

Textbooks: The Oxford Solid State Basics, by Steven H. Simon

Homeworks, Exams, and Course Projects:

1. Homework (42%)

   Each homework assignment is worth 7 points, and the lowest homework score will be dropped.

   To keep the course on a steady schedule, late homework cannot be accepted.

2. Midterms (18% each)

   There will be two take-home midterm exams (Midterm 1 and Midterm 2).

   You will have 24 hours to complete each midterm. Students are expected to follow the honor code, meaning that the midterms should be completed independently, without discussion with classmates.

3. Course Project (18%)

   The course project accounts for 18 points. You may work individually or in small groups of two (up to three students maximum).

   Each group will give a project presentation, and each student will submit an individual written contribution as part of the final report. Group members are encouraged to coordinate so that each student is responsible for a clearly defined portion of the project.

4. Course Participation (4%)

Policies on Late or Makeup Homework/Exam 

If illness or a family emergency interferes with your ability to complete a homework assignment or midterm, please let me know as soon as possible and provide any relevant documentation. We will provide extra time or arrange make-ups.

Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found at: https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/attendance-policies/.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Grading Policy

Current UF grading policies may be found at: https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academicregulations/grades-grading-policies/#gradestext

The Guaranteed Point Range for this class is shown below. (Grade cutoffs may be lowered at the instructor’s discretion, but will not be raised.)

Letter Grade Ranges

• A: 90.0% – 100%

• A-: 85.0% – 89.9%

• B+: 80.0% – 84.9%

• B: 75.0% – 79.9%

• B-: 70.0% – 74.9%

• C+: 65.0% – 69.9%

• C: 60.0% – 64.9%

• C-: 55.0% – 59.9%

• D+: 50.0% – 54.9%

• D: 45.0% – 49.9%

• D-: 40.0% – 44.9%

• F: < 40.0%