Is Hopping A Science? Selected Topics Of Hopping Conductivity

In this review of Is Hopping A Science? Selected Topics Of Hopping Conductivity the reviewer finds a focused, research-driven monograph aimed at students and researchers interested in electronic transport in disordered systems. The book compiles Issai Shlimak's experimental work on hopping conduction and highlights concrete methods and results that matter to experimental condensed matter physicists. The single biggest reason to buy is the clear presentation of experimental techniques, including the developed hopping spectroscopy method that reveals density-of-states details near the Fermi level.

Key Features

• Comprehensive experiments: Presents a systematic overview of the author's experimental studies on hopping conductivity, allowing readers to follow empirical approaches and results.
• Metal-insulator transition analysis: Includes the author's solution to critical indices of the metal-insulator transition in doped semiconductors, useful for interpreting phase behavior in real samples.
• Hopping spectroscopy method: Describes a practical technique to probe density-of-states near the Fermi level and observe features such as a hard magnetic gap.
• Coverage of gap phenomena: Documents temperature induced smearing of the soft Coulomb gap and emergence of a hard gap, aiding understanding of interaction effects in localized systems.
• Photoconductivity chapter: Devotes a chapter to hopping photoconductivity and inter-impurity radiative recombination, offering experimental context for optical measurements.
• Advanced phenomena: Discusses less conventional topics such as phononless hopping, expanding the experimental reader's perspective on transport mechanisms.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to undergraduate and graduate students in physics who are specializing in condensed matter or semiconductor physics, and to experimental researchers who need a concise source of empirically grounded methods like hopping spectroscopy. The review finds it particularly valuable for those designing transport and optical experiments on doped semiconductors.

It is less appropriate for readers seeking a broad textbook treatment of solid state physics or for engineers needing practical device-level design guidance; this is a focused research monograph rather than a general introduction to electronics or materials engineering.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear presentation of experimental techniques that let readers reproduce or adapt measurements.
• Authoritative treatment of metal-insulator critical indices that clarifies a difficult topic.
• Practical discussion of photoconductivity and inter-impurity recombination useful for optical experiments.
• Inclusion of novel topics like phononless hopping broadens the conceptual toolkit for specialists.

Cons

• The specialized research focus means it is not a general introductory textbook for broader electronics audiences.
• The material assumes familiarity with condensed matter concepts, which can challenge casual readers.

Specifications

Title	Is Hopping A Science? Selected Topics Of Hopping Conductivity
Author	Issai Shlimak
Subject focus	Hopping conductivity and related experimental studies
Key methods	Hopping spectroscopy; photoconductivity measurements
Topics covered	Metal-insulator transition, Coulomb gap, phononless hopping
Audience	Undergraduate and graduate physics students, experimental researchers

Our Verdict

Is Hopping A Science? is a compact, research-oriented book that delivers practical experimental insight into hopping conductivity and related optical effects. Experimentalists and advanced students will find strong value in the documented methods and results; its narrow focus makes it a worthwhile buy for specialists but less useful as a general electronics reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book explain experimental techniques?
Yes. It develops and explains methods such as hopping spectroscopy and photoconductivity measurements for probing density-of-states and recombination.

Is it suitable for beginners?
The book assumes prior knowledge of condensed matter concepts, so it is best for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, or researchers rather than complete beginners.

Does it cover theoretical analysis?
It focuses on experimental study and interpretation, including solutions to critical indices of the metal-insulator transition, rather than serving as a purely theoretical text.