Coronavirus information for applicants and offer-holders

We understand that prospective students and offer-holders may have concerns about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The University is following the advice from Universities UK, Public Health England and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

MPhys Physics with Astrophysics

Year of entry: 2021

View tabs
View full page

Course unit details:
Frontiers of Solid State Physics

Unit code	PHYS40411
Credit rating	10
Unit level	Level 4
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	Department of Physics & Astronomy
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

Frontiers of Solid State Physics

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title	Unit code	Requirement type	Description
Properties of Matter	PHYS10352	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Fundamentals of Solid State Physics	PHYS20252	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Condensed Matter Physics	PHYS30051	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory

Aims

To achieve awareness and basic understanding of several inter-related topics of modern solid state physics.

Learning outcomes

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates

On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to

1. Describe main techniques for fabrication and characterisation of nanostructures.

2. Rationalise the concept of topology in solid state physics.

3. Analyse important quantum (charge and spin) electronic properties of graphene and other low dimensional systems.

4. Apply concepts of magnetism and spin-dependent transport to magnetic nanostructures and

spintronic devices.

5. Describe main scanning probe techniques for characterisation of low dimensional systems.

6. Conduct elementary calculations and estimations of quantities relevant to various parts of the

syllabus

Syllabus

Mishchenko (8 Lectures)

Techniques of nanofabrication and characterisation.

Quantum confinement, low dimensional systems : 2D, 1D and 0D.

Electronic transport in graphene

Topology in solid state physics

I Vera Marun (8 Lectures)

Introduction into nanomagnetism.

Fundamentals of spin-dependent transport.

Spintronic devices and techniques.

Graphene spintronics

Fumagalli (8 Lectures)

Fundamentals of scanning probe microscopy.

Advanced scanning probe microscopy techniques.

Scanning probe microscopy applied to low dimensional systems (nanowires, quantum dots, single molecules).

Scanning probe microscopy of 2D materials.

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Other	33%
Written exam	67%

Feedback methods

Feedback will be available on students’ individual written solutions to examples sheets, which will be marked, and model answers will be issued.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam	1.5
Lectures	24

Independent study hours
Independent study	74.5

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Artem Mishchenko	Unit coordinator
Ivan Vera Marun	Unit coordinator
Laura Fumagalli	Unit coordinator

Return to course details