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Relevance of Solid State Physics

Solid state physics is the study of solid matter, particularly crystalline solids, and how their properties arise from the electronic structures of their constituent atoms. Most natural elements are metals, and understanding why some materials are metals, insulators, or semiconductors is important. Solid state physics underlies much modern technology, as phenomena like electronics and magnetic resonance imaging were developed based on discoveries in this field. Studying solid state physics provides insight into materials properties relevant for engineering new technologies.

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Muntazir Mehdi
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125 views2 pages

Relevance of Solid State Physics

Solid state physics is the study of solid matter, particularly crystalline solids, and how their properties arise from the electronic structures of their constituent atoms. Most natural elements are metals, and understanding why some materials are metals, insulators, or semiconductors is important. Solid state physics underlies much modern technology, as phenomena like electronics and magnetic resonance imaging were developed based on discoveries in this field. Studying solid state physics provides insight into materials properties relevant for engineering new technologies.

Uploaded by

Muntazir Mehdi
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Please read the following text which is taken from the book titled: Introductory Solid State

Physics, by H.P.MYERS, Second Edition, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

What is Solid State Physics?


 ‘Solid state physics’ is, as the name suggests, the physics of solid substances;
nowadays one often uses the term ‘physics of condensed matter’, since this
includes the study of liquids, especially liquid metals, but also molten salts,
solutions, so-called liquid crystals and even substances like glycerine.
 From the point of view of our course, solid state physics is mainly the physics
of crystalline solids. Most of the inorganic solids we encounter in our daily
lives are crystalline.
 In crystalline solids the atoms are arranged in a regular manner which is
significant for their behaviour and makes the theoretical treatment easier.
 The properties of free atoms and their ions are governed by their electronic
structures. Thus the properties of the solid elements reflect the electronic
structures of the separate atoms. Therefore a good knowledge of the periodic
table and the underlying electronic theory is just as valuable for solid state
physicists as it is for chemists.
 We will mainly focus our attention on the properties of metals, which is not
so surprising since out of 92 natural elements more than 60 are metals and of
these 40 are transition metals (the rare earths and the actinides are included in
the general class of transition metal).
 At the present level it is very important for you to understand why some
substances are metals, others insulators and still others semiconductors than
to have a detailed knowledge of the properties of individual elements.
Why Study Solid State Physics?
 At least half the research physicists in the world are occupied with some
aspect of solid state physics, we presume the subject to have a certain
significance and value as an aspect of physics in general.
 Solid state physics is an integral part of physics, and, to the extent that physics
is a valuable cultural and scientific pursuit, so is solid state physics. There is,
however, an added incentive to have had some contact with solid state physics,
because the subject deals largely with the properties of matter in its natural
bulk form. Thus the solid state physicist studies, say, copper as copper metal,
exactly as it exists in ordinary electrical connections.
 Furthermore, the phenomena that interest the solid state physicist are often
technologically useful. There is no doubt that technology has benefitted
immensely from the developments of solid state research. Perhaps the most
obvious field of development is that of present day electronics which is based
on the applications of crystalline semiconductors.
 Moreover, instrumentation and measurement techniques are based on
methods and apparatus developed by solid state research. X-ray diffraction
and nuclear magnetic resonance are two prominent examples.

To conclude, much of present-day technology is based on the applications of solid


state physics. One must therefore have some idea of the basic origins of solid state
phenomena—only in this way can they expect to follow and direct the development
of new materials and new techniques. We can specifically mention the factors
controlling the mechanical strength and stability of solids, the electrical and
magnetic properties of metals and semiconductors, the occurrence of
superconductivity, the development of new dielectric materials for the control and
modulation of laser light and so on.

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