Time Schedule:
Kannan Krishnan
MSE 510
Seattle Campus
Rigorous introduction to the fundamentals of bonding, symmetry, crystallography, and related properties. Quantum mechanical foundation of cohesion and properties of solids. Geometric approach to understanding symmetry elements in 2-D and 3-D, including point groups, space groups, stereographic projections, and bravais lattices. Tensor properties of crystals related to crystallography and symmetry. Offered: A.
Class description
This is the first required graduate course for MSE students. It will lay the foundation in MSE and give the students a "bag of tricks" to describe and understand the structure /properties of materials.
Bonding (1-8): a rigorous introduction based on elementary quantum-mechanics leading to an understanding of the cohesion and properties of solids. van der Waals, ionic, metallic and covalent solids will be discussed.
Symmetry (9-10): An introductory, geometric approach of the fundamental symmetry elements in 2D and 3D structures. 2D point and space groups will be rigorously derived. A logical extension to 3D will be presented.
Crystallography(12-17): Students will develop a working knowledge of three dimensional crystallography including point groups, stereographic projections, Bravais lattices, space groups and representative crystal structures.
Crystal Physics (18-20): Description of the physical properties of crystals with emphasis on their relationship to the crystallography and symmetry.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Two lectures a week; 1.5 hrs each. The lectures will be presented using power-point slides.
A copy of the overheads in pdf format will be posted on the course website before noon on the Monday of the week. A password will be required to access this site. Students are expected to print a copy of the overheads and bring them to the class - this will eliminate the need to draw complicated figures during the lectures.
Recommended preparation
Graduate standing in MSE, Engineering or the Sciences. Senior UG students may enroll in the class with the permission of the instructor.
Basic background in materials science and introductory knowledge of quantum mechanics or solid state physics will be helpful.
Students should refresh their basic mathematical skills, including elementary concepts of differential equations, trignometry and matrices.
Regular work throughout the quarter will pay off, not only in terms of good grades, but also in terms of a working knowledge of critical concepts in materials science
Class assignments and grading
Regular reading of the required / recommended texts.
3-4 homework assignments (each one will take about 4-6 hours) that will help understand and assimilate the material.
A term project - this will be discussed on the first day of class. Please work on this throughout the quarter as it will be impossible to do it just in the end !
Home Work - 25% Mid Term – 20 % Final –30% Project –25 %
