After completing this course the student should be able to:
- Specify the basic assumptions and the application limits of the existing theoretical models in solid-state physics.
- Decide whether a quantum- or a classical-mechanical modeling is applicable to a particular problem in materials science and engineering.
- Choose an optimal model (in terms of accuracy versus complexity) for a given material or process.
- Apply the model and critically assess the model predictions by relating them to experimental observations on real materials.
- Rationalize experimental data obtained on complex systems in terms of simple atomistic models.
