Principles of the Theory of Solids [Paperback]

J. M. Ziman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1979 | ISBN-10: 0521297338 | ISBN-13: 978-0521297332 | Edition: 2

Professor Ziman's classic textbook on the theory of solids was first pulished in 1964. This paperback edition is a reprint of the second edition, which was substantially revised and enlarged in 1972. The value and popularity of this textbook is well attested by reviewers' opinions and by the existence of several foreign language editions, including German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Polish and Russian. The book gives a clear exposition of the elements of the physics of perfect crystalline solids. In discussing the principles, the author aims to give students an appreciation of the conditions which are necessary for the appearance of the various phenomena. A self-contained mathematical account is given of the simplest model that will demonstrate each principle. A grounding in quantum mechanics and knowledge of elementary facts about solids is assumed. This is therefore a textbook for advanced undergraduates and is also appropriate for graduate courses.

Editorial Reviews

Review

' ... this is an admirable book. Indeed, it scarcely needs my commendation: it is already being widely used as a graduate text on both sides of the Atlantic.' Nature

' ... this book is admirably suited to anyone wishing to learn about the mathematical methods used in the physics of the solid state, who has adequate preparation ... and the book should serve well as a text for a graduate course.' American Journal of Physics

'An outstanding account of the theoretical principles of the physics of perfect crystalline solids.' Choice

Book Description

"...an admirable book. Indeed, it scarcely needs my commendation: It is already being widely used as a graduate text on both sides of the Atlantic." Nature

Product Details

• Paperback: 452 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (November 30, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521297338
• ISBN-13: 978-0521297332
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joy to read, January 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Principles of the Theory of Solids (Paperback)

This book deserves to be much more widely used. Ziman's prose is simply wonderful, where Kittel is unreadable, and Ashcroft & Mermin often dense. It's a bit quirky (how on earth did he find the epigrams for each chapter?) but that is what makes it lovable. Anyone who doubts his scientific soundness should check out his massive "Electrons & Phonons."

The main advantage of this book is that it emphasizes conceptual understanding over mathematical manipulation. That's also its weakness: Ziman often glosses over or just sketches what in other texts would be occasions for massive algebra. Perhaps if you are a true theorist type, you can fill in the blanks on your own. As an experimentalist, I feel like I need some other intro texts to make me feel like I can do *some* math in the field. On the other hand, I don't know of any textbook that makes me feel I could do the truly heavy lifting.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good; not really intro level, though., August 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Principles of the Theory of Solids (Paperback)

For students who have Kittel or Ashcroft/Mermin under their belt, this book provides a somewhat more mathematical presentation of fundamental concepts in solid state theory, as is clear from the contents shown on this site. I might add, that Ziman is a highly respected physicist, well known for his work on superconductivity. This was the first book I got into my hands that said something like "as the group of lattice translations is abelian, Bloch functions that are translated change only by a phase factor", which made me hungry for more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No doubt as good as the first edition, March 16, 2002

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Principles of the Theory of Solids (Paperback)

I used heavily the first edition of this book, and have not seen the second, but it is no doubt as good as the first, which was packed full of insights into the many rich phenomena that exists in solids. It has served, and will serve, future generations of students in the 21st century in their development of new ideas and technologies based on condensed matter physics.

Writers of physics texts should follow the strategy that this author does, in his statement that "a treatise expounds; a textbook explains". The emphasis of any book in physics should be in developing the reader's intuition; the mathematics sometimes takes hold and moves the reader away from the essential ideas. The author is one of the few who has not done this, and that is no doubt the reason for this book's popularity.