Syllabus 2011/2012 FAFA50

Syllabus academic year 2011/2012
(Created 2011-09-01.)

WAVES, OPTICS AND ATOMIC PHYSICS

FAFA50

Credits: 7,5. Grading scale: TH. Cycle: G1 (First Cycle). Main field: Technology. Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish. FAFA50 overlaps following cours/es: FAFA05. Compulsory for: BME1. Course coordinator: Elisabeth Nilsson, elisabeth.nilsson@ftf.lth.se, Department of Physics. Assessment: Written examination and passed laboratory work. The result on the written examination settles the final grade. Home page: http://kurslab.fysik.lth.se/nano.

Aim
The aim of this course is for the student to acquire a fundamental knowledge of waves, optics, atomic physics and applications within the areas. A good understanding of these parts of physics is essential for concept-building within rapidly developing research areas.

The course will also train the students ability of problem solving, modelling, experimental work and written as well as oral communication. The course is also aiming at stimulating the student to apply physics in explaining everyday phenomena.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

For a passing grade the student must:

be able to analyze problems and perform and interpret calculations within the area of knowledge.
understand how mathematical models, analogies and pictures interact with experiments and reality.
be able to explain everyday phenomena using correct concepts and a physics language.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

For a passing grade the student must:

be able to use and interpret models.
be able to use the knowledge of basic physics to understand the areas or research presented in parallell courses.
be able to apply the experimental methods presented in the course.
be able to write a well structured project report in which experimental data are presented and analyzed.
be able to search for and use relevant information within the area of knowledge.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

For a passing grade the student must:

be able to evaluate experimental methods used in the course.
be able to evaluate results of different experimental methods.

Contents
It is important that the student understands how different parts of the course relate to each other and to rapidly developing research areas like e.g. nanotechnology. The laboratory work is essential for visualizing important concepts of physics.

The first part of the course deals with: Mechanical waves, interference and the Doppler effect. Sound intensity level and human hearing. Reflection of sound, ultrasound. Electromagnetic waves. Geometric optics and optical instruments. Diffraction and resolution. The grating spectrometer.

The latter part of the course deals with: Relativistic mechanics. Charge and wave properties of the electron. Atomic size and mass. Thermal radiation. Photoelectric effect. Models of the atom - from Bohr to a wave model. The world according to quantum mechanics. Matterwaves. Structure of the periodic system. Spontaneous and stimulated emission. Lasers, X-rays and radioactivity.

Literature
Jönsson, G och Nilsson, E: Våglära och optik. Teach Support 2010. ISBN: 9789197249966.
Jönsson, G och Nilsson, E: Tillämpad atomfysik, Teach Support 2009. ISBN: 9789197249942.
Laborationshandledning för Medicin och teknik.