STB415 Advances in Experimental Physics
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | STB415 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Admission to ST10 or (Admission to ST20 and completion of 288 credit points (CP)) |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,680 |
| International unit fee | $5,244 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | STB415 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Admission to ST10 or (Admission to ST20 and completion of 288 credit points (CP)) |
| Coordinator: | Nunzio Motta | n.motta@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit is offered at the Honours level for students who wish to build on their knowledge in Physics, obtained during their undergraduate studies. The unit will provide an essential platform for further studies and theoretical and experimental research concerning the study of the physical world, from subatomic particles to the universe with a strong emphasis on the statistical approach to data analysis.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Be able to apply experimental approaches to problems of physics.
- Develop general skills in statistical analysis of data and problem solving, that will be applicable to various areas of pure and applied physics.
- Acquire a range of skills in experimental physics techniques by using the most modern equipment.
- Develop an understanding of the relationships between the physics theory and experiments, as well as the capacity to design new experiments in physics.
Content
The content will be delivered in three modules, with specific modules selected each year to suit the cohort of students and their project needs. Content will include advanced theory of experimental techniques applicable to the study and analysis of the physical world including details of instrumentation, experimental methods, data acquisition, data quality and reliability and interpretation of experimental data.
Lectures on the approach to the experiments in physics supported by a strong statistical analysis will be reinforced by problem solving and practical activities in a flexible learning program.
Modules will cover techniques such as, but not limited to:
- Error Analysis and Statistical Methods
- Multivariable data fitting
- Improving Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- Vacuum Science and Technology
- Surface Physics and Surface Technologies
- Photons and Electrons: Sources, Monochromators and Detectors
- Nuclear Accelerators and Detectors
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging
- Radiation Therapy
- Cryogenic Temperature Methods
- Structural Analysis: Xray diffraction, Electrons, Ions and Probe Microscopies,
- Electron and optical Spectroscopies with lab and Synchrotron radiation sources
- Optics and photonics
- Materials growth and modification (plasma CVD, Epitaxy)
- Advanced Observational Astronomy
Learning Approaches
This unit will be given as a series of 12 two-hour lectures on theory and on experimental techniques. You will also be expected to devote considerable time to individual study. This includes working with the textbook, solving practise problems, apply computational approaches to complete tutorial problem sets, and reading selected research papers from the field of physics. Strong emphasis will be placed on the experimental/computational approach with up to 9 practical sessions to acquire skills in at least three of the techniques presented at the lectures. You will choose one of these techniques to develop your final project which is to be presented in the final exam as a case study, where you will demonstrate how one of the techniques learned in the unit is applied in a current research project to solve a specific problem.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback will be provided in this unit through workshop activities, tutorials, and case study, where specific examples of experimental techniques will be analysed and assessed via peer and academic feedback.
Assessment
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Problem Solving Task
Tutorial or data analysis problems to be solved by a computational or analytical approach.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Case study
Presentation about a case study in experimental physics
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There is no prescribed text for this unit. Students will be directed to a range of resource material that will be related to their specific area of study.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.