History of Solid State Physics

This book describes systematically the historical aspects of the development of Solid State Physics. The book has been divided into two parts. In the first part, the early developments in science have been described starting from 600BC. Along with this the historical developments of subjects like Classical Mechanics, Optics and Quantum Mechanics, which form the basis for the understanding of Solid State Physics, have been described. The second part of the book is devoted to the historical developments of different fields of Solid State Physics. These are Structure of Crystalline and Amorphous Solids; Lattice Defects in Crystalline Solids; Heat and Thermodynamics of Solids; Radioactivity and Nuclear Power; Electron Energy Bands, Electronic Structure of Solids; Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetism and in Solids; Diamagnetism, Paramagnetism, Ferromagnetism, Antiferromagnetism and Ferrimagnetism; Quantum Hall Effect, Magnetic Resonance in Solids; Dielectric Properties of Solids; Lattice Vibrations in Crystalline Solids; Superconductivity and High Temperature Superconductivity; Solid State Electronics and Electronic Communication; Smart Materials; and Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology.

Early developments in science.- Classical mechanics.- Optics.- Quantum mechanics and relativity theory.- Structure of crystalline solids.- Structure of amorphous solids.- Lattice defects in crystalline solids.- Heat and thermodynamics of solids.- Radioactivity and nuclear energy.- Electronic structure and band theory of solids.- Electricity magnetism electromagnetism and magnetic solids.- Magnetic resonance in solids.- Dielectric properties of solids.- Lattice vibrations in crystalline solids.- Superconductivity.- Solid state electronics.- Smart materials.- Nanophysics and nanotechnology.- Epilogue.- References and bibliographies.

Dr. Joginder Singh Galsin obtained his Ph.D. in Theoretical Solid State Physics from Panjab University, Chandigarh. In 1977, he started his professional career as Assistant Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and worked there for the next 30 years. But from 1984 to 1986, he worked as Reader in Physics in the Department of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. In 2007, he retired at the age of 60 as Professor and Head of Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics. After his retirement he served for another 7 years in three different institutions in various capacities: as head, Department of Physics, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar (Punjab); as senior professor, Ludhiana Institute of Engineering & Technology Katani Kalan, Ludhiana; and as director, Gulzar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Khanna, Ludhiana. The areas of his professional and personal experience & interest include Lattice Dynamics of Transition Metals, Band Magnetism in Metals and Electronic Structure of Metallic Alloys.