2023-2024 / PHYS2026-2

Physics 4 : Microscopic physics (part a : waves optics, part b : introduction to nuclear physics)

Duration

30h Th, 15h Pr, 15h Labo.

Number of credits

 Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering Physics5 crédits 

Lecturer

Ngoc Duy Nguyen

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course is an introduction to the concepts of quantum physics, with an emphasis to the microscopic description of solid state matter.

Table of contents (titles) :
- Introduction to special relativity, relativistic effects in mechanics
- Particle properties of waves
- Wave properties of particles, wave-particle duality
- Structure of the atom, Heisenberg's principle
- Schrodinger equation and applications
- Quantum model of the hydrogen atom
- Many-electron atoms
- Nucleus and applications of nuclear physics

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students are expected to have acquired the basic concepts of quantum physics which will allow them to approach the advanced formalisms of 3rd year courses dealing with atomic physics and nanoscale physics.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, III.1, III.2, IV.2, V.2, VI.2, VII.2 of the BSc in engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Physics and mathematics courses of the first year of the Bachelor curriculum.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Lab assignments
  • Project

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

The course contains about twelve theoretical lectures. These sessions, delivered in person on site, will also be recorded as podcasts which will be made available to enlisted students, in the case the infrastructure of the lecture room allows the teacher to record the sessions.

Concerning practicals, lab sessions will allow the students to put into practice the concepts introduced in the lectures while a project to be performed in group will allow the students to develop their physical intuition through the numerical solving of a quantum physics problem.

Optional assignments will be proposed on eCampus and an online discussion platform will give the students the opportunity to interact with their peers, under the guidance of the pedagogical team.

Recommended or required readings

An electronic copy of the slides will be available on eCampus.

A list of reference books will be given during the introductory course.

Exam(s) in session

May-June exam session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

August-September exam session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Additional information:

The evaluation consists in three parts :
- Reports of the lab works (to be delivered by each group)
- Report of the project (to be delivered by each group)
- Evaluation of the mastering of the theoretical concepts via open-ended questions (to be performed individually)

The weight of each part will be given during the introductory course.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Lab works are performed by groups of two or three students. These groups are defined during the week of the first lecture.

Contacts

Teacher : N. D. Nguyen

Secretary : A. Ortega

Labs : Ch. Prosperi

Association of one or more MOOCs

There is no MOOC associated with this course.