Understanding Solid State Physics ─ Problems and Solutions

The goal of solid state physics is to find the correlation between the microscopic composition of solids and their macroscopic (electrical, optical, thermal) properties. There are many good books that provide clear explanations and have made solid state physics look easier. However, clear explanations do not necessarily involve complete understanding, and the best test for the reader is to try an alternative point of view: solve exercises or problems.

The aim of this textbook is to teach solid state physics by challenging the readers through exercises and their worked solutions. The magnitude of the numerical applications will provide learners the opportunity to make useful errors and to learn by drawing figures and graphs. Simple questions that are free of mathematical considerations are given at the end of each chapter to be solved by common sense and will permit another view of the subject.

Jacques Cazaux (1934–2014) was emeritus professor at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France. He did his undergraduate work in physics at the Paris–Sorbonne University, France. He received his PhD from the College de France, Paris, in 1970 with a work on "Anisotropy of Plasmons in Graphite." He then moved to the University of Reims, France, as a professor of solid state physics where he initiated a research laboratory on surface analysis [X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES)] and material characterization (electron probe microanalysis; electron and X-ray microscopies). His research field included the physics of secondary electron emission and he has authored more than 150 papers published in scientific journals. This scientific activity gave him the opportunity to be invited speaker in more than 50 international meetings and to be member of the board of various scientific committees.