FK020 Electrodynamics of Solids

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Adam Dubroka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Josef Humlíček, CSc. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Dominik Munzar, Dr. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Josef Humlíček, CSc.
Department of Condensed Matter Physics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Adam Dubroka, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Condensed Matter Physics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
Introduction to the theory of the optical response of solids and to optical properties of both common materials and advanced materials that are currently studied at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics, FSci, MU.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to describe the propagation of radiation in a solid in terms of classical electrodynamics, to understand fundamentals of the quantum description of the optical response, to understand common mechanisms of optical response, and to be familiar with optical properties of common materials and with common spectroscopic techniques.
Syllabus
  • 1. Microscopic and macroscopic Maxwell equations, phenomenological description of electromagnetic response, response functions, classical description of propagation of radiation in a solid in terms of response functions, the dielectric function and the complex refractive index.
  • 2. General properties of the response functions: Kramers-Kronig relations and the sum rules.
  • 3. Classical models: optical response of bound charge carriers and of free charge carriers.
  • 4. Quantum theory of the optical response of solids.
  • 5. Mechanisms: one- and two-phonon absorption, response of the free carriers, interband transitions and critical points.
  • 6. Survey of optical properties of metals, semiconductors, insulators, nanostructures, superconductors and further materials studied at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics, FSci, MU.
  • 7. Effective medium approximations.
  • 8. Survey of spectroscopic methods.
Literature
  • Martin Dressel a George Gruner: Electrodynamics of Solids – Optical properties of Electrons in Matter, Cambridge University Press 2002.
  • Mark Fox: Optical Properties of Solids, Oxford University Press 2010.
  • Eduard Schmidt a kol.: Optické vlastnosti pevných látek, SPN 1986.
  • Frederick Wooten: Optical Properties of Solids, Academic Press 1972.
  • Hans Kuzmany: Solid State Spectroscopy, Springer, 2009
Teaching methods
Lectures and laboratory exercises.
Assessment methods
Oral exam involving discussion of results obtained within the laboratory exercises. The students can enroll the exam only after completion of reports on their measurements within the laboratory exercises.
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
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