Soft Matter and Solid State Physics

Introduction to condensed matter, classification of crystal structures; reciprocal lattice, x-ray diffraction; crystal binding; phonons and lattice vibrations; free electrons; energy bands; introduction to soft condensed matter

The objectives of the course: understanding of how atoms arrange themselves in condensed matter; their collective motions; the gas of electrons. An understanding of soft materials properties.

Required and corequired courses

Cours ayant celui-ci comme co-requis

Classes with transparencies and chalk/blackboard

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Kittel – Physique de l’état solide (Dunod) Ashcroft-Mermin - Physique des solides (EDP Sciences) RAL Jones – Soft Condensed Matter (Oxford Press)

Campus

Plaine

Method(s) of evaluation

• Oral examination

Oral examination

Written exam involving the resolution of exercises and with questions regarding the contents of the classes. The exam will be in EN or FR depending on the student's choice.
The course instructor reserves the right to invite any student to an additional oral examination in order to verify that they personally master the content of the submitted examination, particularly when inconsistencies identified in the examination prevent the instructor from adequately assessing the student’s knowledge and skills. 

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

If both the partial marks of the two parts of the exam (Soft Matter Q1; Solid State Physics Q2) are larger than 7/20, then the final mark is given by the average of the two partial marks. Otherwise, the final note is given by the smallest of the two partial marks. For each section Soft Matter Q1; Solid State Physics Q2) , in the case of an additional oral examination (see above), the partial mark will be the lower of the marks obtained in the oral and written examinations.

Language(s) of evaluation

• english
• (if applicable french )