The basics of solid-state physics are very clearly discussed in this book in a total of 13 chapters with the help of classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. This is an excellent book and gives very good fundamental knowledge for beginners in the field of solid-state physics. This book is written for bachelor’s and master’s level students in various disciplines, such as physics, materials sciences, and chemistry.
The first chapter gives a very brief introduction to atomic models from classical and quantum mechanical perspectives. The theory of free electrons and related physical properties are discussed in the second and third chapters with the classification of classical and quantum approaches, respectively. Fundamentals and applications of band theory are discussed in the fourth and fifth chapters. Various models and approaches are considered to explain band theory as well as the difference between types of conductors in these two chapters. In addition, a few experimental methods such as the cyclotron resonator and the Pippard experimental setup are discussed to explain how physical properties are experimentally measured. Basics about semiconductors, including physical properties and their different types, are discussed from a quantum mechanical perspective in the sixth chapter.
Applications of semiconducting devices such as diodes, transistors, and metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors, as well as experimental material preparation techniques are very well discussed in the seventh chapter. Different types of magnetism, the associated theory, and the experimental methods to meas-ure magnetic properties are elaborately discussed in the eighth and ninth chapters. An explanation about concepts of domains at the end of the ninth chapter is very interesting, and will give the readers a very clear idea about what happens in magnetic materials in the presence of a magnetic field. In chapter 10, with the help of crystallography and neutron diffraction, different magnetic structures are discussed. Basic components of a neutron diffractometer, an early neutron experimental device (chopper), and a modern-day neutron reactor and their functionalities are pictorially demonstrated. Chapter 11 is dedicated to explaining the fundamentals, theory, and applications of magnetic resonance with the help of experimental tools. Basics and experimental techniques of fast ion conductors with a few example materials are discussed in chapter 12. This chapter will be very interesting for students to learn about the battery and fuel-cell field. The final chapter is dedicated to explain the fundamentals and different types of superconductors along with their applications.
Illustrations in this book that explain the models are very useful to understand concepts. The pictorial representation of random motion of electrons (chapter 2), band filling of electrons at T = 0 K (chapter 3), and what happens to the p–n junction when it is biased (chapter 7) are a few examples of clarifying concepts with clear illustrations. Regarding references, the authors might have included more, especially recent ones. In summary, the fundamentals of electrical, electronic, and magnetic materials are well discussed in this book. I strongly recommend this book to all undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in solid-state physics.
Reviewer: K. Kamala Bharathiof the National Institute of Standards and Technology/University of Maryland, USA.
