I was the lone TA for this class. I reworked many HW problems and made the solutions. We covered most materials in “The Oxford Solid State Basics” by Steven Simon.

Simple models to explain transport

• Einstein model specific heat
• Debye model specific heat
• Drude conductivity
• Sommerfeld conductivity

Crystal structure

• Direct and reciprocal lattice
• X-ray and neutron diffraction

Tight binding

• 1D chain
• Kronig-Penny model
• Nearly-free electron model

Magnetism

• Spin-orbit coupling and Hund’s rule
• 1D Ising transfer matrix
• Crystallite domains