School: Science
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Advanced PhysicsUnit Code
SCP3318Year
2018Enrolment Period
1Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Unit Coordinator
A/Prof Steven HINCKLEY
Description
This unit covers a selection of advanced topics in physics, which may include quantum physics, solid state physics, experimental techniques, relativity, nuclear physics, optics, environmental physics, astrophysics, computational physics, history and philosophy, innovation and ethics.
Prerequisite Rule
Students must pass 1 unit from SCP2211
Equivalent Rule
Unit was previously coded SCP3314
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Apply appropriate concepts, principles and theories in advanced physics.
- Apply process and problem solving skills.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the nature of scientific knowledge and its historical development.
Unit Content
- ADVANCED QUANTUM PHYSICS: Total angular momentum and many-electron atoms. Quantum computation, cryptography, measurement, and teleportation. Quantum devices - quantum dots, wires and wells. Nanostructures and their application in microelectronics. Microphotonics, optoelectronics and quantum optics.
- ASTROPHYSICS: Observational properties of stars, luminosity, magnitudes, surface temperature, stellar distance, stellar masses, spectral types, spectroscopic binary systems, chemical composition, mass-luminosity relationship, stellar formation, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Dynamic, thermal and nuclear time scales, equation of hydrostatic support, assumption of spherical symmetry, central pressure of a star, virial theorem, physical state of stellar matter, mean temperature, energy release and energy transport, sources of opacity, structure of stars, evolution of stellar structure. Elemental and isotropic abundances in solar systems, fusion reactions, heavy element production in s-process and r-process, explosive nucleosynthesis.
- COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS: The application of computers and computer techniques to the solution of theoretical problems in physics. For example, density functional theory, WKB approximation, and perturbation theory in quantum mechanics; application of commercial software such as MATLAB, FEMLAB and Excel to problems in Physics. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS AND SCIENCE Science as knowledge, observation, facts, laws and theory, fallibility, experiment, induction, Popper and falsification, limitations, Kuhn's paradigms, Lakatos's methodology, Feyerabend's anarchistic account of science, realism and anti-realism, historical examples.
- ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS: Energy and the sun, interaction of light with matter, atmospheric physics, weather and climate, fossil fuels, nuclear energy, renewable energy, transport of pollutants, diffusion, flow, fluid dynamics, turbulence, spectroscopy, social and economic considerations.
- EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES: Experimental characterisation techniques will be examined both theoretically and experimentally. These methods may include the following: X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling & atomic force microscopy, surface analysis techniques, and ellipsometry. Semiconductor and photonic device characterisation techniques.
- INNOVATION AND ETHICS IN SCIENCE: Occupational health and safety aspects of science; intellectual property and patents; record keeping and the scientific notebook/diary; communication techniques - writing scientific articles, presenting seminars and posters; publishing and the peer review process; professional societies - their role in scientific engagement and communication; employment strategies and opportunities.
- NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS: Natural radioactivity and early discoveries, exponential decay law, half life of radioactive decay, nuclear equations, series of radioactive transformations, properties of alpha, beta and gamma emission. Artificial radioactivity, bombardment induced radiation, energy associated with nuclear reactions. Stability of nuclei, valley of stability, nuclear models, magic numbers, binding forces in nucleus, mass defect. Fission, fission products, prompt and delayed neutrons, chain reactions, transuranic elements, fusion reactions, stellar energy. Particle physics.
- OPTICS AND PHOTONICS: Light as waves, rays and photons, geometric optics, optical instruments, electromagnetic theory, superposition, polarization, absorption and scattering, interference, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, gratings, Fourier optics, spectrometry, coherence theory, photonics, lasers, interferometry, holography, fibre optics, communications, biomedical optical engineering.
- RELATIVITY: Frames of reference, Newtonian relativity, Galilean transformations, Michelson-Morley experiment, Einstein's postulates, Lorentz transformations, simultaneity, time dilation, twin paradox, length contraction, velocity addition, Doppler effect, relativistic dynamics, energy, mass, momentum, space time diagrams, General relativity.
- SOLID STATE PHYSICS: Structural properties, types of materials and atomic bonding. Crystal Structure, lattice and unit cells. Crystal defects and noncrystalline structure. Electrical conduction, superconductivity, band theory and semiconductors. Thermoelectric properties. Magnetic properties and materials. Optical properties of solids.
- The unit content will be selected from the topics listed below:
Learning Experience
Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.
| Joondalup | Mount Lawley | South West (Bunbury) |
|---|
| Semester 1 | 13 x 3 hour lab | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Semester 1 | 13 x 1 hour seminar | Not Offered | Not Offered |
For more information see the Semester Timetable
Additional Learning Experience Information
Seminars, discussion sessions, self study, tutorials and laboratory sessions.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Assignment ^ | Tests and/or Assignments | 40% |
| Laboratory Work ^ | Laboratory and/or project work. | 30% |
| Research Paper | Research review paper and seminar * | 30% |
^ Mandatory to Pass
* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
SCP3318|1|1
School: Science
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Advanced PhysicsUnit Code
SCP3318Year
2018Enrolment Period
2Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Unit Coordinator
A/Prof Steven HINCKLEY
Description
This unit covers a selection of advanced topics in physics, which may include quantum physics, solid state physics, experimental techniques, relativity, nuclear physics, optics, environmental physics, astrophysics, computational physics, history and philosophy, innovation and ethics.
Prerequisite Rule
Students must pass 1 unit from SCP2211
Equivalent Rule
Unit was previously coded SCP3314
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Apply appropriate concepts, principles and theories in advanced physics.
- Apply process and problem solving skills.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the nature of scientific knowledge and its historical development.
Unit Content
- ADVANCED QUANTUM PHYSICS: Total angular momentum and many-electron atoms. Quantum computation, cryptography, measurement, and teleportation. Quantum devices - quantum dots, wires and wells. Nanostructures and their application in microelectronics. Microphotonics, optoelectronics and quantum optics.
- ASTROPHYSICS: Observational properties of stars, luminosity, magnitudes, surface temperature, stellar distance, stellar masses, spectral types, spectroscopic binary systems, chemical composition, mass-luminosity relationship, stellar formation, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Dynamic, thermal and nuclear time scales, equation of hydrostatic support, assumption of spherical symmetry, central pressure of a star, virial theorem, physical state of stellar matter, mean temperature, energy release and energy transport, sources of opacity, structure of stars, evolution of stellar structure. Elemental and isotropic abundances in solar systems, fusion reactions, heavy element production in s-process and r-process, explosive nucleosynthesis.
- COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS: The application of computers and computer techniques to the solution of theoretical problems in physics. For example, density functional theory, WKB approximation, and perturbation theory in quantum mechanics; application of commercial software such as MATLAB, FEMLAB and Excel to problems in Physics. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS AND SCIENCE Science as knowledge, observation, facts, laws and theory, fallibility, experiment, induction, Popper and falsification, limitations, Kuhn's paradigms, Lakatos's methodology, Feyerabend's anarchistic account of science, realism and anti-realism, historical examples.
- ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS: Energy and the sun, interaction of light with matter, atmospheric physics, weather and climate, fossil fuels, nuclear energy, renewable energy, transport of pollutants, diffusion, flow, fluid dynamics, turbulence, spectroscopy, social and economic considerations.
- EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES: Experimental characterisation techniques will be examined both theoretically and experimentally. These methods may include the following: X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling & atomic force microscopy, surface analysis techniques, and ellipsometry. Semiconductor and photonic device characterisation techniques.
- INNOVATION AND ETHICS IN SCIENCE: Occupational health and safety aspects of science; intellectual property and patents; record keeping and the scientific notebook/diary; communication techniques - writing scientific articles, presenting seminars and posters; publishing and the peer review process; professional societies - their role in scientific engagement and communication; employment strategies and opportunities.
- NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS: Natural radioactivity and early discoveries, exponential decay law, half life of radioactive decay, nuclear equations, series of radioactive transformations, properties of alpha, beta and gamma emission. Artificial radioactivity, bombardment induced radiation, energy associated with nuclear reactions. Stability of nuclei, valley of stability, nuclear models, magic numbers, binding forces in nucleus, mass defect. Fission, fission products, prompt and delayed neutrons, chain reactions, transuranic elements, fusion reactions, stellar energy. Particle physics.
- OPTICS AND PHOTONICS: Light as waves, rays and photons, geometric optics, optical instruments, electromagnetic theory, superposition, polarization, absorption and scattering, interference, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, gratings, Fourier optics, spectrometry, coherence theory, photonics, lasers, interferometry, holography, fibre optics, communications, biomedical optical engineering.
- RELATIVITY: Frames of reference, Newtonian relativity, Galilean transformations, Michelson-Morley experiment, Einstein's postulates, Lorentz transformations, simultaneity, time dilation, twin paradox, length contraction, velocity addition, Doppler effect, relativistic dynamics, energy, mass, momentum, space time diagrams, General relativity.
- SOLID STATE PHYSICS: Structural properties, types of materials and atomic bonding. Crystal Structure, lattice and unit cells. Crystal defects and noncrystalline structure. Electrical conduction, superconductivity, band theory and semiconductors. Thermoelectric properties. Magnetic properties and materials. Optical properties of solids.
- The unit content will be selected from the topics listed below:
Learning Experience
Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.
| Joondalup | Mount Lawley | South West (Bunbury) |
|---|
| Semester 1 | 13 x 3 hour lab | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Semester 1 | 13 x 1 hour seminar | Not Offered | Not Offered |
For more information see the Semester Timetable
Additional Learning Experience Information
Seminars, discussion sessions, self study, tutorials and laboratory sessions.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Assignment ^ | Tests and/or Assignments | 40% |
| Laboratory Work ^ | Laboratory and/or project work. | 30% |
| Research Paper | Research review paper and seminar * | 30% |
^ Mandatory to Pass
* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
SCP3318|1|2
