1

SOLID STATE PHYSICS PHY 432

Prof. Odo Ayodele
Ayodele.odo@fuoye.edu.ng

Books
1. Introduction to Solid State Physics by Kittle
2. Solid State Physics An Introduction to
Theory Joginder Singh Galsin.
3. Internet materials
 2

Course Outline
1. Band theory of metals
2. Wave equation of electron in a periodic potential
3. Semiconductors and insulators
4. Introduction to electrical properties of materials

1. Magnetic properties of materials

2. optical properties of materials
3. Superconductivity
4. Introduction to dielectric properties of materials.
 3

Band theory
In our first class, we introduced the concept of free electron theory, in this chapter, we are going to discuss the
molecular orbital theory as a pedestal to the band theory as applied to solids in general.
Consider what happens when two hydrogen atoms approach each other to form the hydrogen molecule. This is the 𝐻 -
𝐻 (or 𝐻2) system.
When the atoms are infinitely separated, each atom has its own set of energy levels, labelled Is, 2s, 2p, etc.
The electron energy in each atom is -13.6 𝑒𝑉 with respect to the "free" state (electron infinitely separated from the parent
nucleus). The energy of the two isolated hydrogen atoms is twice -13.6 𝑒𝑉.

As the atoms approach closer, the electrons interact both with each other and with the other nuclei. To obtain the
wavefunctions and the new energy of the electrons, we need to find the new potential energy function 𝑃𝐸 for the electrons
in this new environment and then solve the Schrodinger equation with this new 𝑃𝐸 function. The new energy is actually
lower than -27.2𝑒𝑉, which means that the 𝐻2 formation is energetically favourable.
 4

MOLECULAR ORBITAL THEORY OF BONDING

In the 𝐻 2 molecule, we cannot have two sets of identical atomic  1s orbitals, for two reasons. First, this would
violate the Pauli exclusion principle, which requires that, in a given system of electrons (those within the 𝐻2
molecule), we cannot have two sets of identical quantum numbers.

Second, as the two atoms approach each other, as shown in Figure, the atomic  1s wavefunctions overlap. This
overlap produces two new wavefunctions with different energies and hence different quantum numbers. When
the two atomic wavefunctions interfere, they can overlap either in phase (both positive or both negative) or out of
phase (one positive and the other negative), as a result of which two molecular orbitals are formed.
 5

In generating two separate molecular orbitals  and  *

from a linear combination of two identical atomic
orbitals  1𝑠, we have used the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method.
6
7
 8

THEORY OF BONDING (He Molecule)

 9

BAND THEORY OF SOLIDS

10
 11

BAND STATE OF METALS

12
13
14
 15

Energy Levels of a Free Electron in a Metal

16
17