Simulations for Solid State Physics Hardback with CD-ROM: An Interactive Resource for Students and Teachers

This new and exciting interactive resource centers around fourteen high quality computer simulations covering essential topics in solid state physics, at advanced undergraduate or graduate level. The computer simulations provided on CD–ROM cover x-ray diffraction, phonons, electron states and dynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, and dislocations. Users can vary different characteristics and immediately see the results in animations and graphical displays. See http://www.ruph.cornell.edu/sss/sss.html for example simulations. The companion book is essential for effective use of the simulations. It guides the user through hundreds of exercises and examples, illustrates fundamental physical principles, and contains notes on the relevant physics. The hardcover edition includes the simulations on CD–ROM and a licence for use on a local area network on a single geographical site. The paperback edition (without CD–ROM) is intended for students who have access to the simulations on a local area network.

Table of Contents:
Preface; System requirements; 1. How to use this book; 2. 'Bravais' - Crystal structure and x-ray diffraction; 3. 'Laue' - x-ray diffraction in perfect and imperfect crystals; 4. 'Born' - dynamics of perfect and imperfect linear crystals; 5. 'Debye' - lattice dynamics and heat capacity in three dimensions; 6. 'Drude' - dynamics of the classical free electron gas; 7. 'Sommerfeld' - dynamics of the quantum free electron gas; 8. 'Bloch' - electron energy bands and states in a periodic potential; 9. 'Ziman' - dynamics of a single band-electron; 10. 'Peierls' - transport in a partially full band of electrons; 11. 'Fermi' - carrier densities in homogeneous semiconductors; 12. 'Poisson' - space charge and band bending in semiconductors; 13. 'Ising' - ising model and ferromagnetism; 14. 'Néel' - antiferromagnetism and ferromagnetism domains; 15. 'Burgers' - dislocations and plastic flow; Epilogue; Bibliography; Appendices: A. How to run and install the SSS programs; B. Detailed system requirements; C. Presets.

Review :
'The simulations use many different types of animation and graphical display … How will the electron orbits change if I decrease the magnetic field? And how does the magnetization change if the temperature increases? At the click of a button the student can find out, and in doing so is drawn into exploring the statistical and quantum world that lies at the heart of the solid state … After trying out the simulations, it is hard for me to imagine that students will not benefit greatly from this type of experience … Alongside the software and guidebook, the authors also provide a dedicated Web site at http://www/ruph.cornell.edu/sss/sss/html. ... I would encourage anyone interested in these solid-state simulations to check out the site.' Simon Crampin, Physics World ' … as a stunning example of what can be achieved by first-class teachers in a world-class institution, it will take a lot of beating. It must surely be an essential purchase in every physics department in the UK, if not the world.' M. J. M. Leask, European Journal of Physics 'The authors, physicists at Cornell University, have produced a remarkable work, a combination of computer simulations of basic physical processes at the atomic level, contained on a CD-ROM, and associated tutorials and exercises presented in the book. … They have provided teachers and students of diffraction and highly useful tool to help understand fundamental concepts and the often elusive link between algebraic function and physical form. The license agreement included with the hardcover edition allows for network installation of the programs at an educational institution and a paperback edition of the book without CD-ROM is available for student use.' Robert Bryan 'This new and exciting interactive resource package centers around fourteen high quality computer simulations covering essential topics in solid state physics.' Zeitschrift für Kristallographie