This book fills a gap between many of the basic solid state physics and materials science
books that are currently available. It is written for a mixed audience of electrical
engineering and applied physics students who have some knowledge of elementary
undergraduate quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. This book, based on a
successful course taught at MIT, is divided pedagogically into three parts: (I) Electronic
Structure, (II) Transport Properties, and (III) Optical Properties. Each topic is explained
in the context of bulk materials and then extended to low-dimensional materials where
applicable. Problem sets review the content of each chapter to help students to understand
the material described in each of the chapters more deeply and to prepare them to master
the next chapters.
Mildred S. Dresselhaus is professor of physics and electrical engineering and emeriti institute professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. She is recipient of numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science, the Enrico Fermi Award (2012) and the Kavli Prize in Nano science (2012). Known for her work on carbon nano tubes, graphite, graphite intercalation compounds, fullerenes and low dimensional thermoelectric, she lends her name to several physical theories. Positions and awards of Mildred Dresselhaus:
• Professor, MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1968–present
• Professor, MIT Department of Physics, 1983–present
• Treasurer, National Academy of Sciences, 1992–96
• Director, Office of Science, US Department of Energy, August 2000–January 2001
• Chair, American Institute of Physics Governing Board, March 2003–2008
• Awarded National Medal of Science by President George Bush, November 1990
• 20 x Doctorate Honoris Causa
• Professor Honoris Causa, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil, September 2006
• Elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering, 1974
• Corresponding Member, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 1976
• Elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences, 1985
• Elected as a Foreign Associate of the Engineering Academy of Japan, 1993
• Elected to Membership in the American Philosophical Society, 1995
• Sigri-Great Lakes Carbon Lifetime Achievement Award, American Carbon Society, 1997
• Hall of Fame Award by Women in Technology International (WITI), 1998
• Elected to Fellow of the American Carbon Society, 1999
• Nicholson Medal for Humanitarian Service, American Physical Society, 2000
• Weizmann Women & Science Millennial Lifetime Achievement Award, 2000
• National Materials Advancement Award of the Federation of Materials Societies, 2000
• Karl T. Compton Medal for Leadership in Physics, American Institute of Physics, 2001
• Honorary Member of the Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2001
• Honorary Fellow, Institute of Physics (UK), January 2005
• Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment, May 2005
• Elected Foreign Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of India, 2006
• North American Laureate L’Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, February 2007
• Honored Academician of the International Thermoelectric Academy, July 2007
• Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize of the American Physical Society, March 2008
• Elected Fellow of the Materials Research Society, April 2009
• 2008, advising the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman pursuant to the Energy Policy Act
• Member of National Academy of Engineering
