This book teaches solid state physics in a comprehensive way, covering all areas. It begins with three broad topics: how and why atoms bind together to form solids, lattice vibrations and phonons, and electrons in solids. It then applies this knowledge to interactions, especially those between electrons and phonons, metals, the Fermi surface and alloys, semiconductors, magnetism, superconductivity, dielectrics and ferroelectrics, optical properties, defects, layered materials, quantum Hall effect, mesoscopics, nanophysics and soft condensed matter. Further important topics of the book are the evolution of BEC to BCS phenomena, conducting polymers, graphene, iron pnictide superconductors, light emitting diodes, N-V centers, nanomagnetism, negative index of refraction, optical lattices, phase transitions, phononics, photonics, plasmonics, quantum computing, solar cells, spin Hall effect and spintronics.
In this 3rd edition, topics such as topological insulators, quantum computing, Bose–Einstein transitions, highly correlated electron systems and several others have been added. New material on magnetism in solids, as well as a discussion of semiconductors and a changed set of problems with solutions, are also included. The book also discusses “folk theorems” to remind readers of the essence of the physics without mathematics, and includes 90 mini-biographies of prominent solid state physicists of the past and present to put a human face on the subject. An extensive solutions manual rounds out the book.
James D. Patterson: obtained his AB degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, SM degree from the University of Chicago, Illinois, and PhD degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. He has held academic positions at Idaho State College, SD School of Mines and Technology, and Florida Institute of Technology (Head of Physics and Space Science 1988–1999). He has held visiting positions in Physics at the University of Notre Dame and University of Nebraska, Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil, Marshall Space Flight Center, Sandia, Wright Patterson AFB, Ames Laboratory of Iowa State University, Argonne National Laboratory, and others. He is the author of many refereed articles on defects in crystals, magnetism, semiconductors and other areas, as well as previous editions of this Solid State Physics book. He has extensive teaching and advising experience in all areas related to Solid State Physics.
Bernard C. Bailey: obtained his BS, MS and PhD degrees, all from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. He has an engineering career of 31 years in Manned Space Flight with the Space Shuttle Program. The author of numerous refereed journal articles on optics, he is the co-author of all previous editions of this Solid State Physics book.
