Handbook

The course will give an overview of modern research topics in material physics with the purpose of encouraging students to engage in the latest research. The focus will be on introducing a simple physical model with just enough mathematical formalism to explain the physics in complex materials. In the first two parts of the course, the fundamentals of modern electronic structure theory and electrical conductions in solids will be introduced. In the third part of the course, some fundamental excitation processes will be discussed, including phonons and optical properties of materials. Non-covalent interactions, which plays an important role in determining the stabilities of low-dimensional and molecular materials, will be discussed, particularly their deep root to the electronic structures of materials. Finally, students will have a chance to gain knowledge on the latest researches in understanding structure-property relationships in complex materials with computation modellings using techniques such as machine-learnings. Stronger focus geared towards research at postgraduate level are incorporated into the second half of the course, and students will be giving group presentations to discuss specific topics on the latest research in physical properties of materials.