Introduction
Crystal Clear: Bonding and Crystal Structures
The Rejection of Perfection: Defects, Amorphous Materials, and Polymers
Stressed Out: The Mechanical Properties of Solids
In, Out, Shake It All About: Diffraction, Phonons, and Thermal Properties of Solids
Unable to Resist: Metals, Semiconductors, and Superconductors
Chips with Everything: Semiconductor Devices and Dielectrics
Living in a Magnetic World: Magnetism and Its Applications
Appendix A: Some Useful Maths
Appendix B: Vibrations and Waves
Appendix C: Revision of Atomic Physics
Appendix D: Revision of Quantum Mechanics
Appendix E: Revision of Statistical Mechanics
Appendix F: Glossary of Terms
Index
Sharon Ann Holgate is a science journalist and broadcaster with credits including the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, and New Scientist. Dr Holgate was a Visiting Fellow in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex from April 2002-March 2011.
Where Sharon Ann Holgate has succeeded in this book is in packing it with examples of the application of solid state physics to technology. ! All the basic elements of solid state physics are covered ! . The range of materials is good, including as it does polymers and glasses as well as crystalline solids. In general, the style makes for easy reading. ! Overall this book succeeds in showing the relevance of solid state physics to the modern world ! . --Contemporary Physics, Vol. 52, No. 2, 2011 I was indeed amused and inspired by the wonderful images throughout the book, carefully selected by the author. These images and corresponding contexts, together with the thoughtful considerations of the difficulties of the freshmen to solid state physics, who may find it hard to follow the maths in the classics like Kittel's or Mermin's, fulfills very well the goal of the author ! this book is fun, at least for me! Why not have a copy together with Kittel's and Mermin's for the visiting undergraduate or even postgraduate students who are becoming frustrated with classics. --Yang Gan, Reviews, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2010 I enjoyed reading the book and it is a refreshing approach -- it is very up to date and pitched at a good level to engage undergraduates new to the subject. I am happy to recommend this book to my students. --Dr. Robert H. Hadfield, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland The book is written in a very user-friendly and engaging style, as one might expect from a science writer/journalist. This way, the author succeeds in making the material approachable and interesting. The presentation is not as formal as most treatments. The emphasis is less on the theoretical and mathematical basis of the subject and more on the intuitive understanding of ideas and concepts, but the approach is fresh and the explanations are clear. What I like most of all is that it brings solid-state physics up-to-date, introducing modern topics and showing how the core ideas in condensed matter physics underpin so much of the technology we use today. --Professor Andrew Boothroyd, Oxford University, UK
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
