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Condensed Matter Stuff
phy140a
32
Physics
Undergraduate 4
03/21/2008

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Term
Types Of bonds
Definition
1. Ionic
2. Covalent
3. Metallic

4. Van Der Waals (secondary)
5. Hydrogen
Term
Ionic Bonds
Definition
transfer of valence electrons (NaCl)

Spherically Symmetric

Coulomb force
Term
Covalent Bonds
Definition
Sharing valence electrons (diamond)

isolinear (favors certain directions)
Term
Metallic Bond
Definition
Delocalized electrons

explains conductivity/ heat ductility
Term
Van Der Waals Bond
Definition
electron stays with original molecule (solid nitrogen
Term
Hydrogen Bond
Definition
dipole interaction
Term
Main weakness of the Einstein model?
Definition
at low temps, the model suggests the specific heat approaches 0 exponentially while experiments show that it is T^3
Term
Assumptions of the Debye model?
Definition
Assumed that lattice vibrations behaved like sound waves obeying the dispersion relation.

Treats the lattice as a set of modes which vibrate independently, but atoms still interact.
Term
at high T, which modes are excited
Definition
all modes
Term
at low T which modes are excited?
Definition
only long-wavelength phonons

g(w)~w^2

T^3
Term
What are degenerate branches
Definition
there are two or more (acoustic/optical) branches which are the same
Term
What are the flaws of the Debye model for Specific Heat?
Definition
it approximated using the linear dispersion relation to describe all vibration modes. This only works near the center of the Brillouin Zone in reality. Doesn't work near the edges because of dispersion.

Also it completely ignores the optical branches
Term
How is heat transferred in metals?
Definition
mostly by electrons, also by lattice waves or phonons
Term
How is heat transferred in insulators?
Definition
entirely by phonons because there are no conduction electrons
Term
In the so called "phonon gas" what factors determine the mean free path?
Definition
1. T
2. phonons colliding with phonons: "anharmonic interaction" producing scattering
3. collisions with imperfections in the crystal - destroy periodicity causing scattering
4. collisions with the boundary - primarily for low T
Term
Why is there not a lot of scattering going on at low T?
Definition
There aren't too many phonons
Term
What is the standard method for measuring dispersion curves
Definition
X-ray
Term
What is a disadvantage of using the x-ray method
Definition
determining frequency shift (hard to get good resolution)
Term
what is the energy of an x-ray vs phonon?
Definition
10^4 versus 10^-2
Term
Light scattering
Definition
only long wavelength phonons participate in scattering

only good for small k phenomena (optical branch)
Term
Types of scattering yielding information about the mode
Definition
1. x-ray scattering
2. neutron scattering
3. light scattering
Term
Applications of scattering:
Definition
1. Microwave ultrasonics
2. Coherent phonons (laser)
3. Magnetism
4. Phonon Amplifier
5. Surface phonons
Term
What is so good about using phonons in magnestism?
Definition
can study spin-phonon interaction

gives the coupling strength between spins and phonons
Term
why is the free electron gas model valid?
Definition
the coulomb attractions is offset by quantum effects which negate the interactions between electrons and ions

also electrons with parallel spins tend to stay away from due to the Pauli exclusion principle

and electrons tend to minimize the energy of the system thus trying to avoid other electrons.
Term
What is a fermi hole?
Definition
it is a space around the electron where no other electrons are likely to be found
Term
differences between the electron gas and regular gas models?
Definition
1. charged, so it behaves like a plasma
2. N for electrons ~ 10^29
N for gas ~ 10^25

its way denser
Term
Origin of collision time
Definition
Theory states that the electron would travel farther that we would expect if the electron collided with an ion. This can be explained using quantum mechanics
Term
Concerning the wave nature of electrons
Definition
waves don't scatter when passing through a lattice,
atoms absorb energy from the wave and radiate it back which
results in no change in direction or intensity

velocity propagation changes

if it is a perfect lattice, should be no collision at all
in reality there is an observed discrepancy
Term
What is the observed discrepancy in electron scattering in a lattice due to?
Definition
1. Lattice vibrations due to thermal excitation
2. foreign impurities and crystal defects
Term
what is the Kondo Effect?
Definition
deviation from the accepted model for electrical resistivity vs. temperature (seen in Fe for example) at low T. This is due to additional scattering of electrons by magnetic moments on impurity centers
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