Lecture 1 - Introduction to Solid State Physics - University of Surrey

What is a Solid?Could be a bulk composite with weakly bondedconstituents. The atomic arrangement is completelyrandom. Such materials are relatively weak, and are poorthermal and electrical conductors (e.g. wood).In amorphous solids there may be shortrange order between atoms but the atomsdo not overall form a periodic structure.The atoms themselves are at equilibriumspacing (e.g. glasses)In crystalline solids the atoms form a periodicstructure and there is long range order in the positionof the atoms (e.g. metals, diamond, silicon etc.).More than 90% of solids form crystalline structures.Solid State Physics - Lecture 1