Entry requirements

120 credits in biology, chemistry or physics.

Learning outcomes

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

• summarise and explain the basic physics of synchrotron radiation,
• compare the performance of synchrotron radiation with other X-ray sources and identify their advantages/disadvantages,
• describe the experimental methods and measurement techniques accessible in synchrotron radiation,
• identify the suitable methods and techniques to study biological, chemical and physical properties of materials,
• give an oral presentation of a scientific topic based on experiments performed with synchrotron radiation.

Content

Synchrotron radiation: X-ray radiation (angular and energy distribution), brilliance, undulators and wigglers, polarisation, X-ray optics, monochromators, detectors, beamline components.

Synchrotron radiation applications in physics, chemistry, and biology: spectroscopy, imaging, tomography, holography, X-ray diffraction.

Instruction

Lectures and problem-based learning.

Assessment

Written report and oral presentation of individual project.

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.