This is a seminar and discussion class which will cover a wide range of topics which are subject to intense interest in present-day Solid State Physics. Students will read about a specific topic (chosen by themselves, with the guidance of the Professor), before giving a short presentation in the class. Students should try to give a clear introduction to the basic principles of the topic, and emphasize applications which may arise.

Students may choose any topic in modern Solid State Physics, including (but not limited to) the following:

Graphene: Physics, Synthesis, and Applications
Transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g. MoS2) and other 2-D semiconductors
Superconductivity (including high-Tc superconductors)
Dielectricity and ferroelectricity
Multiferroic materials
Memristors
Phase-change memory
Spintronics and spin dependant transport
Topological Insulators and Quantum Spin Hall systems
The Rashba and Dresselhaus effects
The Hanle effect and spin-FETs
Ferromagnetism and anti-ferromagnetism
Half-metallic materials
The Tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) effect and magnetic tunneling junctions
Organic spintronics
Organic photovoltaics
Molecular electronics
The Kondo effect and the quantum blockade
Plasmons, polarons and polaritons
Optical processes and excitons
Advanced nano-scale characterization techniques
Scanning probe microscopy (SEM, STM, AFM, SPEM,...)
etc...