FY511: Nanostructure characterisation (5 ECTS)

STADS: 07012001

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: kloesgen@memphys.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None.

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of introductory physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics including some optics, basic concepts of bonding and aggregation state of matter).
• Be able to do basic calculations like power laws, conversion of powers of ten, use and conversion of physical units, read and assemble tables for the presentation of properties.
• Be able to apply basic algebra. Be able to convert algebraic equations formally right and to apply them for the description of physical phenomena.

Course introduction
In this course the students learn how structures can be formally described and how they can be studied. The investigation of nanoscopic phenomena will be especially addressed. The students get acquainted with some of the currently most important experimental techniques available for (nano)structure characterization. The course provides lectures on experimental methods and includes two hands-on experimental activities. Throughout the course, exercises train basic mathematical tools and serve to elucidate details related to the experimental methods by problem solving. The course will also use, as part of the instruction, material available on the Internet. Finally, each student will write a scientific text about a chosen example of structure characterization as individual in –depth project. Working on the individual project will base on class teaching about how to implement the project subject by literature search and identification of terms and topics followed by an assembly through reading. Tools as spider maps and project flow charts will be introduced, aiming at scientific presentation and, finally, scientific writing.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses of the first two years of the bachelor education, and gives an academic basis for applying and expanding the previous knowledge towards complex methods. Focus is on techniques to study and characterize structures, as part of the degree’s preparation for professional applications.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give the competence to collect new knowledge and combine it towards a specific goal.
• Give skills to break down a problem/project topic  into its specific aspects, and to systematically present their connection by graphical tools.
• Give knowledge and understanding of basic physics applied for the acquisition of data to study structure in condensed matter.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• identify parameters that are significant for structural details in condensed matter
• connect basic physical concepts, and apply them towards a method to study structures in condensed matter
• identify the essential aspects beyond a chosen technique and compile them into a sort comprehensive presentation
• write a short text in scientific format that describes the method chosen

Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:

• introduction into physical methods of structure characterization
• acquisition of in-depth knowledge on a selected topic of structure characterization
• spider-maps and flow-charts as tools for the process of knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer plans
• writing a text in scientific format

Literature

• Richard Wolfson: Essential University Physics, 2nd international edition, vol. 1 og 2..

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
Preparation of project writing: spider map, flow chart, 4-slide summary PowerPoint. Pass/fail, internal marking by teacher.

Assessment and marking:

1. A project text written on a structure method. The topic will be chosen by the students as agreed with the supervisor. The final version of the text must be handed in two weeks before the examination. Internal marking by teacher, pass/fail. (2,5 ECTS). (07012012).
2. Oral examination with internal second examiner and marks according to the Danish 7-mark scale. The examination will be based on the project text. Allowed exam aids: All material used during the course; no IT-aids allowed. (2,5 ECTS). (07012002).

Re-examination in the same exam period or immediately thereafter. The mode of exam at the re-examination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 20 hours
Skills training phase: 30 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 22 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 8 hours

Educational activities

Educational form
Activities during the study phase:

• reading about physical concepts beyond structure determination methods
• in-depth reading on a selected topic
• preparation of spider map on the selected topic
• preparation of flow chart for presentation of concepts beyond selected topic
• preparation of (short) powerpoint on selected topic (5 pages)
• preparation of comprehensive text on the selected topic in scientific format (~10 pages)

Language
This course is taught in English.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.