The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the basic physical properties of solids including:

• general concepts, atoms, types of bonds;
• electrons and nuclei in periodic potentials; adiabatic approximation;
• crystal structure; reciprocal lattice and Brillouin zone;
• electron theory of solids;
• crystal vibrations;
• collective properties of electrons in solids;
• transport in metals and semiconductors;
• types of order in solids, spontaneous symmetry breaking; examples: magnetism, superconductivity;
• new developments;

On completion of the course, the students should be able to:
• demonstrate an understanding of the basic physical properties solids;
• apply this understanding to simple problems.