Syllabus for Modern Physics

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Classify the smallest constituents of matter and their interactions,
• explain the subatomic structure of matter based on conservation laws, 
• perform calculations of nuclear reactions and particle decays and explain how they occur spontaneously or artificially  and explain how they can be detected,
• perform simple experiments in semiconductor and nuclear physics,
• classify and identify cubic crystal structures,
• explain the basic concepts that are used to describe the structure and physical properties of 

  crystalline substances,

• explain thermaland electrical properties of solid materials based on models of electronic structure and phonons,
• use physical models perform calculations of the properties of solids.

Content

Nuclear and Particle Physics: 

Structure: early universe and Big Bang theory, atomic nucleus, , hadrons, baryons, mesons, fundamental particles, antiparticles and antimatter.

Reactions: relativistic kinematics, nuclear reactions, cross-section, radioactivity and nuclear reactions.

​Interactions: the electroweak interaction and bosons, the strong interaction and gluons.

Solid State Physics:

Building blocks of crystals : Bravais lattices, crystal structure (cubic structures and their lattice).

Periodicity in a crystal: the concept of reciprocal lattice and Brillouin zones.

How to measure periodicity: Diffraction - Theory and experimental methods.

Thermal properties of a solid in terms of lattice vibrations and phonons, specific heat and thermal conductivity.

Electrical conduction in solids: free electron model, energy bands, metals and semiconductors.

Instruction

Lectures, lessons and laboratory supervision.

Assessment

Written exam (4 credits). Oral and written presentation of laboratory work (1 credit).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

Other directives

The course cannot be included in a degree together with 1TE045 - Quantum Physics Continuing Course, or 1TE701 - Quantum Physics II.