Introduction to Solid State Physics by Charles Kittel

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on Charles Kittel's "Introduction to Solid State Physics," particularly its 3rd, 7th, and 8th editions. Users express mixed reviews, with some praising the book for its comprehensive coverage and clear explanations, while others criticize the recent editions for inaccuracies, particularly regarding crystal structures like NaCl and CsCl. The discussion highlights the lack of coverage on contemporary topics such as Cooper pairing and BCS superconductivity theory, suggesting a gap in the book's ability to address modern advancements in solid state physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of solid state physics fundamentals
  • Familiarity with crystal structures and lattice types
  • Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics
  • Awareness of superconductivity theories
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the 3rd edition of "Introduction to Solid State Physics" for a more reliable resource
  • Explore contemporary theories of superconductivity, including BCS theory
  • Study the Bloch theorem and its implications in superconductivity
  • Investigate alternative textbooks on solid state physics for broader perspectives
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in physics, particularly those studying solid state physics and superconductivity, as well as researchers seeking foundational knowledge in these areas.

For those who have used this book


  • Total voters
    8
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi,

I'm taking a course on Solid State Physics using this book. The reviews here and on amazon aren't very positive. Is there a good book you would suggest as a companion?


Thanks,

A_B
 
I think this is a wonderful book, with wide coverage of topics and nice explanations. Kittel always provides references to experimental results to compliment the discussions. I read many complaints about recent editions, especially the 7th and 8th. I highly recommend the 3rd edition.
 
I'm reading the part about phonons in diatomic bases on pages 95-99 in the 8th edition. I might have confused myself but it seems like Kittel switched the directions for the NaCl and CsCl structure around on page 97. CsCl is a crystal with a simple cubic lattice and a basis of Cs at 000 and Cl at 1/2,1/2,1/2 so I would expect that one to be the one with a [111] direction. This doesn't show up in the errata pages I've found.
 
Nevermind. I took a long hard look at the 3D structures and it seems to be (mostly) correct.
 
Greg Bernhardt said:

Exellent book. Especially 1953 year edition.

Kittel said:
Recently there have been a number of attempts to give a quantum-
mechanical explanation of superconductivity. We mention work by
Heisenberg,28 Tisza,29 Slater,30 Born and Cheng,»1 Frohlich,32 and
Bardeen.32 At the present time all these theories are highly contro-
versial, and the difficulties do not lend themselves to analysis in an
introductory textbook.

It has no subsequent ideas of Cooper pairing, preventing us of from understanding of HTS.

Kittel said:
In every theory the apparent contradiction between the Bloch theorem and the observed persistence of currents in a superconducting ring is explained by the presumed metastable nature of the current distribution.

Anticipating words!
Bloch theorem must be corrected!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
873
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
8K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • Poll Poll
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K