THEORY OF METALS Elementary Quantum mechanical ideas: Wave Particle Duality, Wave function, schrodinger’s equation, operator notation, expected value, Infinite Potential Well: A confined electron. Finite Potential Barrier: Tunnelling Phenomenon. Free electron theory of metals: Electron in a linear solid, Fermi energy, Degenerate states, Number of States, Density of States, Population Density. Fermi-Dirac Distribution Function. Thermionic Emission: Richardson’s Equation, Schottky Effect. Contact Potential: Fermi level at Equilibrium.

FREE ELECTRON THEORY OF CONDUCTION IN METAL Crystalline structure: Simple cubic structure, Body centered cubic, Face centered cubic. Band Theory of Solids. Effective mass of Electron. Thermal Velocity of Electron at equilibrium. Electron mobility, conductivity and resistivity.

DIELECTRICS and INSULATING MATERIALS DIELECTRICS: Dielectric, polarization under static fields- electronic ionic and dipolar polarizations, behavior of dielectrics in alternating fields, Factors influencing dielectric strength and capacitor materials. Insulating materials, complex dielectric constant, dipolar relaxation and dielectric loss. INSULATING MATERIALS: Inorganic materials (mica, glass, porcelain, asbestos), organic materials (paper, rubber, cotton silk fiber, wood, plastics and bakelite), resins and varnishes, liquid insulators(transformer oil) gaseous insulators (air, SF6 and nitrogen) and ageing of insulators.

SEMICONDUCTORS Mechanism of conduction in semiconductors, density of carriers in intrinsic semiconductors, the energy gap, types of semiconductors. Hall effect, compound semiconductors, basic ideas of amorphous and organic semiconductors.

Magnetic materials Magnetic materials: Classification of magnetic materials- origin of permanent magnetic dipoles, ferromagnetism, Magnetic Domains: Domain structure, Domain Wall motion, Hysteresis loop, Eddy current losses, Demagnetization, hard and soft magnetic materials, magneto materials used in electrical machines, instruments and relays.