lecture goals

• Understand what kinds of properties arise when a huge number of atoms are bound together in a solid. These properties are the subjects encountered in Condensed Matter Physics, the largest branch of modern physics.
• Understand electrical conductivity, or lack thereof, in terms of energy level bands and gaps.
• Learn about "doping" of semiconductors with impurity donor (n-type) or acceptor (p-type) atoms, which enables a small flow of electricity in one direction or the other at a boundary between two materials.
• Learn about electronic devices, made from p-n semiconductor junctions.
• See how electric current can cause an on-off, yes-no, 0-1 switch, applied to computer logic.
• Learn what a computer chip is.
• Learn a bit about how particles used in cancer therapy interact with human tissue.