Product Description

Since the publication of the first edition over 50 years ago, Introduction to Solid State Physics has been the standard solid state physics text for physics students. The author′s goal from the beginning has been to write a book that is accessible to undergraduates and consistently teachable. The emphasis in the book has always been on physics rather than formal mathematics. With each new edition, the author has attempted to add important new developments in the field without sacrificing the book′s accessibility and teachability.

∗ A very important chapter on nanophysics has been written by an active worker in the field. This field is the liveliest addition to solid state science during the past ten years
∗ The text uses the simplifications made possible by the wide availability of computer technology. Searches using keywords on a search engine (such as Google) easily generate many fresh and useful references

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59360 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 704 pages

About the Author
Charles Kittel did his undergraduate work in physics at M.I.T and at the Cavendish Laboratory of Cambridge University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. He worked in the solid state group at Bell Laboratories, along with Bardeen and Shockley, leaving to start the theoretical solid state physics group at Berkeley in 1951. His research has been largely in magnetism and in semiconductors. In magnetism he developed the theories of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic resonance and the theory of single ferromagnetic domains, and extended the Bloch theory of magnons. In semiconductor physics he participated in the first cyclotron and plasma resonance experiments and extended the results to the theory of impurity states and to electron–hole drops.

He has been awarded three Guggenheim fellowships, the Oliver Buckley Prize for Solid State Physics, and, for contributions to teaching, the Oersted Medal of the American Association of Physics Teachers, He is a member of the National Academy of Science and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Customer Reviews

Definite the book to understand Solid State!
This goes into better explanation of concepts and equations than most textbooks do, with well presented diagrams and introductions to basic concepts at the start of each chapter. Topics are wide ranging and very well-written, easy to comprehend first time round! Probably covers more than needed for an undergraduate course in Solid State. Highly recommended for reading and not just reference.

Gets the job done!
This book contains all the info you need for your average solid state physics course. However there are a great many other books available which can do the same job, but are eaisier to read and follow

Comprehensive but very difficult
First, let me say that this is by far the most comprehensive book on Solid State Physics which I have come across pitched at undergraduate level. Unfortunately, that is about the most positive thing I can say about it.

This textbook might be one of the most poorly written pieces of work I've ever come across. I found it very hard going, very confusing and many of the concepts are poorly explained. Unfortunately, it remains one of the recommended texts for many universities purely because of its comprehensive nature (and it's true, there is a lot of stuff in here).

As a reference book it's not so bad, but don't expect to learn anything from it.

The one star review which has been posted has as one of it's comments "What would you recommend?". Unfortunately, I don't have a recommendation which covers the bredth of this book, but some useful alternatives would be:

"Introduction to the physics of electrons in solids" by Tanner is very good for all the electrical content.
"Solid state physics" by Blakemore is very good for the structural content.

The real question comes in the form: "Is is better to buy two good books, or buy one bad book which says the same thing?"

If you want to learn: Yes.
If you want a reference book: No.
If you're on a tight budget: No.

But I would highly recommend buying an alternative to this book.