What is the Best Solid State Book for Graduate Level Study?

[plxmny]

Hi Guys,

I use this forum when I want to speak directly to the experts and not mess with
the rabble.

What is the best graduate level solid state book?

 

[Evo]

Sorry, but Forum Feedback is for questions about the forum. Also, you are not likely to get an answer there.

 

[las3rjock]

In my opinion, the best, albeit somewhat dated, graduate-level solid-state textbook is Ashcroft & Mermin's Solid-State Physics. Kittel's Introduction to Solid-State Physics is more elementary and more up-to-date, but it is also less general (most analyses are in 1D, whereas Ashcroft & Mermin perform most analyses in 3D), and has less depth (some topics that Ashcroft & Mermin analyze quantitatively in a chapter are briefly described qualitatively in a page or less).

I personally would recommend first reading Kittel to learn the concepts, then reading Ashcroft & Mermin to bring your understanding of the concepts up to the graduate level. Both books will require careful reading in order to learn the material--I used to hate Kittel until I read it carefully for a solid-state course last semester, whereupon I came to appreciate how pedagogical his presentation is. Finally, be aware that the most recent (eighth) edition of Kittel has typos that are not in the previous (seventh) edition.

 

[Repetit]

I believe that the Solid state physics book from the Manchester series might also be a great book. I have not read it myself, but I've read other books from the series and they have been great.

 

[plxmny]

Ok I will go with both (Aschcroft and Mermin) and Kittel 7th edition.

Thanks, dudes

 

[J77]

Hi Guys,

I use this forum when I want to speak directly to the experts and not mess with
the rabble.

What is the best graduate level solid state book?

If ever an opening post was not worthy of a reply