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• Course title: Solid State Physics
• Number of ECTS: 6
• Course code: MCMP-27
• Module(s): Module 1.1
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The course introduces the students to the atomic and electronic structure of solid crystalline materials. The goal of solid-state physics is to understand the macroscopic properties (such as hardness, color, electrical conductivity, heat capacity, etc.) from the microscopic structure of the material. The lattice dynamics (phonons) of crystalline materials will be studied in oder to understand the thermal properties of matter. The electronic structure of metals, semiconductors, and insulators will be treated in detail, as well as their optical properties.

A student who passes this course will be able to:
– explain the most common crystal structures and their determination by X-ray scattering
– describe the reaction of crystals to various stresses
– understand the storage and transport of heat in solids
– explain the difference between metals, semiconductors and insulators based on their electronic structure
– understand the link between optical properties and electronic excitations
-understand the basic concepts that dictate superconductivity

The course will enable the student to study the literature on current research topics in the field of solid-state physics.

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crystal structures (reciprocal lattice, X-ray diffraction, crystal bonds, crystal defects)
elastic properties (continuum mechanics, elastic tensors)
phonons (quantisation, dispersion, Debye and Einstein model, specific heat and heat conduction)
electrons (band structure, Sommerfeld model, Bloch functions, quasi free electrons, tight binding model, defects in semiconductors)
solid state optics (model dielectric functions, electronic transitions)
superconductivity

Task 1:�� home-assignment (the student must achieve at least 50% of the total possible marks to be allowed to take the oral exam). Final oral exam at the end of the semester


Assessment rules:�� 80% oral exam and 20% TD mark

Mark consists of two parts: 20% TD mark + 80% oral exam mark
TD: Exercise sheet, 1 week time to solve the problems
1 exercise sheet per week
Oral final�� exam – entrance requires at least 50% of total points in the TD
Oral exam – 50 minutes (25min: Dale; 25min: Redinger)

Assessment criteria:��
QA during oral exam. Questions will be based on the content of the course. Written notes will be taken. Marks will be discussed by the two Professors after all the exams in order to assure a fair assessment of all students. Both parts (Prof. Dale Prof. Redinger) will be weighted equally.

Retake exam offered��

Retake exams can only be accepted if oral exam requirement fulfilled

Retake exam – rules:

Marks from TD 50% or 10/20 minimum
Marks from TD will be carried over and 80%-20% rule still applies

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Support : Lecture Slides
Literature :
– C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, Wiley
– H. Ibach and H. Lüth, Solid-State Physics, An Introduction to Principles of Materials Science,Springer
– N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin, Solid State Physics, Saunders College Publishing
– Rudolf Gross, Achim Marx, Festkörperphysik, Oldenbourg Verlag (in German)
– P. Yu and M. Cardona, Fundamentals of Semiconductors: Physics and Materials Properties, Springer
– K. Kopitzki, Einführung in die Festkörperphysik, Teubner (in German)
– G. Burns, Solid State Physics, Academic Press, used only

• Course title: Classical and Quantum Transport
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-32
• Module(s): Module 1.2
• Language:
• Mandatory: Yes

In this course, students will learn to describe transport in nonequilibrium systems. Transport phenomena (electric current, heat transport, motion of fluids) are ubiquitous both in classical as well as in quantum physics. We will discuss the most important equations of classical transport theory (Boltzmann equation, Navier-Stokes equation). Regarding quantum systems, we will mostly focus on electronic transport for which we will use scattering theory and the theory of open quantum systems. The student will learn the basic techniques applicable to noninteracting systems (Landauer-Büttiker theory) and interacting systems (master equations, Born-Markov approximation).

A student who takes this course will become familiar with the most important transport phenomena, which are ubiquitous in both classical and quantum physics and engineering. He/she will understand how to derive them and how to solve them by applying them to simple situations.

See “Objectives”.

Task 1:

Students must hand in solutions to the homework assignments every week. Homework solutions will be graded, and students must present their solutions regularly during the exercise class. Students must reach more than 50% of points to pass.
Task 2:
The students need to pass the final written exam at the end of the semester. Students need to reach more than 50% of the points to pass.
Assessment rules:��
Books, notes, devices, etc. are not allowed during the final exam. The students can work in groups in the homework assignments, but each students must submit individually.
Assessment criteria:
Final grade will be weighted average.

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Retake exam offered��

If a student has passed the homework part, he/she can retake the exam without redoing the homework assignments.

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Books will be recommended in class but are not essential. Lecture notes will be available.

• Course title: Computational Methods
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-21
• Module(s): Module 1.3
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The main idea of the course is to provide knowledge and practical experience of the numerical techniques that constitute the basis of Computational Physics and Chemistry. Some emphasis will be put on the analysis of the outcome of the variation of physical parameters and numerical hyperparameters for the given problem.

For a given physical problem, students will be capable of writing a program to find its numerical solution and analyze the resulting data.
Students will have an overview of standard numerical algorithms adopted in computational Physics and Chemistry as well as their limitations.

The main idea of the course is to provide knowledge and practical experience of the numerical techniques that constitute the basis of Computational Physics and Chemistry. Some emphasis will be put on the analysis of the outcome of the variation of physical parameters and numerical hyperparameters for the given problem.

The first part of the course will consolidate the basics of Python3 programming and cover the basic algorithms necessary to solve simple equations. The second part will introduce more advanced methods with applications to physical problems. Specifically, we will treat

Introduction to Python and relevant packages

Numerical differentiation and integration

Linear algebra solvers

Root finding and minimization

Ordinary differential equations

Partial differential equations

Monte Carlo methods

Molecular dynamics

Basics of machine learning

Each lecture will be comprised of an introduction to the theory behind a given technique, followed by a practical session centered on its implementation and application to well-known problems.

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Task 1: Homework’s weekly assignments.
Task 2: Final project.
Task 3: Written Exam.
Assessment rules:
Students hand in homework individually, no equipment is required/allowed for written exams.
Assessment criteria:��
Weights for final grade: Task 1: 20%, Task 2: 50%, Written Exam: 30%,
Each graded out of 20
The final mark is calculated as a weighted average according to the abovementioned weights.

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The most recommended textbooks
Numerical Methods in Physics with Python, Alex Gezerlis (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
Numerical Analysis 9th ed., Richard L. Burden and J. Douglas Faires (Brooks/Cole, 2011)
Computational Methods for Physicists, Simon Sirca and Martin Harvat (Springer, 2012)
Other textbooks of note
Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers, Richard W. Hamming (Dover publications)
Numerical Recipes series, William H. Press, Saul A. Teukolsky, William T. Vetterling and Brian P. Flannery (Cambridge university press)
Numerical Methods, E. A. Volkov (Hemisphere publishing corporation)
General resources on Python
https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-python-3
https://www.learnpython.org/en/
https://lectures.scientific-python.org

• Course title: Colloids and Liquid Crystals
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-41
• Module(s): Module 1.4
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the world of colloids and liquid crystals and make them discover these soft states of matter with their distinctive and useful physical properties.��
Main Objectives
1.To understand what a liquid crystal is and the distinctive characteristics from the anisotropic properties.
2.To be able to identify colloidal systems, understand the key colloidal scale interactions and the physics of colloid stabilization and destabilization.
3.To associate nano- or microscale to macroscopic properties as consequence of self-assembly/self-organization processes.
4.To get acquainted with the theories for describing colloids and liquid crystals.��
5.To get acquainted with some characterization tools and their working principles.��

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A student who passes this course will be able to:
– Identify liquid crystalline and colloidal systems and describe, prepare and analyze them using the proper physics and physical chemistry tools, both in terms of concepts and experimental equipment;
– Explain the characteristics of the two main classes of liquid crystals and account for their typical phase behavior in response to relevant thermodynamic control parameters.
– Describe the concept of liquid crystal director and account for its relation to macroscopic properties, its interaction with electric and magnetic fields, as well as the consequences of director field deformations.
– Master the concept of an order parameter and apply it to describe phase transitions as well as to correlate characteristics on the molecular and macroscopic scales.
– Elucidate the propagation of light in liquid crystals and colloids, in particular considering anisotropy (birefringence), periodic internal structures (structural color) and refractive index heterogeneity (scattering).
– Illustrate the basic mechanism of function of liquid crystal displays.
– Define the conditions for colloidal stability or instability, accounting for the effect of salts.
– Account for the impact of colloid dispersity and how it can be reduced by fractionation.
This course will enable the student to read the academic literature dealing with the fundamental properties of liquid crystals and colloids. It also provides a firm basis to follow more advanced courses in soft condensed matter.��

– Definition of colloids and liquid crystals and the key concepts for describing them.��
– Overview of liquid crystal classes (thermotropic/lyotropic) and phases (nematic, cholesteric, smectic, …) and colloid types (associated/unassociated, suspensions, emulsions, gels, …).
– Self-assembly and self-organization.
– Basics of optics of anisotropic media and application to the case of liquid crystals.
– Liquid crystal elasticity and topological defects.
– Viscosities, dielectric/magnetic properties of liquid crystals; response to electric/magnetic fields.
– Design and principles of liquid crystal displays (LCDs).
– Chiral systems and their peculiar properties.
– Key colloidal interactions: van der Waals attraction (and analysis by the Hamaker approach), hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic effect, electrostatic interactions in liquids, capillary forces.
– Poisson-Boltzmann and DLVO theories; electrostatic double layer, Debye screening length, hydrodynamic radius, Zeta potential, ionic strength, electrostatic screening.
– Steric versus electrostatic stabilization. Destabilization using salt, polymer bridging or depletion attraction. Sedimentation, centrifugation and flocculation.
– Experimental methods for studying colloids and liquid crystals.

Combined evaluation (mid-term exam + final exam).

Task 1:

mid-term exam

Task 2:

Attendance to TD classes and hand-in (not graded) homeworks for the TD classes (to be solved by students on the board)��

Task3:

Final exam(written)

Assessment rules:��
During the exam students need to use calculators, not connecting to online resources. No books or notes consultation.

Assessment criteria:��
Total score out of 20
(mid-term exam 30% + activity in TD participation 10% + final exam 60%)

Retake exam (oral) offered with additional required pre-exam test (written, 1 h) in case the intermediate evaluation (mid-term exam) was below threshold (10/20)�� and/ or the participation to the TDs was insufficient.

Retake exam – rules:��
Students need to use calculators, not connecting to online resources, no books or other consultation allowed (written test).
Total score: sum between the following scores: 10% from the activity in TDs, written test (30%) – if any – and oral (60%), otherwise 90% oral exam.��

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Support:

Lecture slides available on Moodle��
Literature:
Main course books:
“Introduction to Liquid Crystals: Chemistry and Physics”, by��
Peter J. Collings, Michael Hird, CRC Press, ISBN-13: 9780748404834 – CAT# TF1996
“An Introduction to Interfaces Colloids; The bridge to Nanoscience” by John C. Berg, World Scientific Press, ISBN-13: 978-981-4293-07-5
Additional reference books:
“The Physics of Liquid Crystals”, P.G. de Gennes, J. Prost,��
Oxford University Press, ISBN-0 19 8520247
“Intermolecular and Surface Forces” by Jacob Israelachvili, Academic Press, imprint of Elsevier, ISBN: 978-0-12-375182-9
‘Colloidal Dispersions”, W. B. Russel, D. A. Saville, and W. R. Schowalter. Cambridge University Press, 1989, ISBN 978-0-521-42600-8


Total score, sum between the following scores: 10% from the activity in TDs, written test (30%) – if any – and oral (60%), otherwise 90% oral exam.��

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• Course title: Laser Physics
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-40
• Module(s): Module 1.5
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The objective of this course is to introduce students to lasers and the fundamental concepts in optics and physics that are at the basis of their operations.��
Main Objectives
1. To understand what a laser is and how it works
2. To understand the properties of a laser beam
3. To know fundamental aspects of interaction between light and matter
4. To learn what are the principal uses of lasers in a scientific environment
5. To understand different type of lasers and different regimes of operation
6. To introduce nonlinear optics
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A student who passes this course will be able to:
– Describe the physical processes that make possible a laser
– Explain what the fundamental ingredients in a laser are��and what is their role in the lasing action
– Describe the propagation of a laser beam
– Elucidate the coherence properties of the light emitted by a laser
– Describe the continuous and pulsed operation regimes
– List typical laser and explain their peculiarities
– Explain the fundamental aspects of nonlinear optics
– Describe the main scientific applications of laser light
This course will enable the student to read the academic literature dealing with laser physics and acquire knowledge useful in advanced courses of optics and photonics.
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– Spontaneous and stimulated emission
– Gain media and rate equations
– Laser cavity and relative modes
– Solid state lasers
– Gas lasers
– Semiconducting lasers
– Coherence of laser radiation
– Propagation of a Gaussian beam
– Q-switching and mode locking
– Introduction to nonlinear optics
– Lasers in science

Oral exam


Assessment criteria: The oral examination accounts for 100% of the mark. But the submission of 2 out of 3 exercise sheets during the course of the semester is necessary condition to be ad mitted to the exam.
Retake exam offered

Retake exam rules: Same condition for the normal exam IF the exercise requirement has already been achieved

Support :
Lecture slides��
Literature :
Book:��Principles of Lasers, by O. Svelto, Springer, ISBN 978-1-4419-1302-9��
Advanced Book:��Ultrafast Optics, by A.M. Weiner, Wiley, ISBN 978-0-471-41539-8��
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• Course title: Classical and Quantum Information Theory
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-45
• Module(s): Module 1.6
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

Acquiring a working knowledge of fundamental concepts in classical and quantum information theory

Elements of classical and quantum information theory, probability and statistics.

Over the last decades, physics has evolved to identify the role of information as a unifying umbrella, transforming the understanding of biophysics, statistical mechanics, and condensed matter theory. Quantum Information theory has emerged as a new field merging quantum physics, information theory, and computer science.
This course covers elements of information theory both in the classical and quantum levels. The first part introduces the elements of the classical theory, introducing various information measures and their relation to physics. The second part focuses on the quantum information science, including measurement theory, quantum metrology, quantum information processing, and quantum computation.

Task 1: Written exam.
Task 2: Participation during CM and TD and working out assignments in TD.
Assessment rules: No electronic devices or lecture notes are allowed during the exam.
Assessment criteria:�� 60% theory, 40% exercises
Retake exam offered
Retake exam rules : The retake exam will have the same format as the final exam.
No special conditions apply. Continuous evaluation carries over to retake exam.

References:

J. A. Thomas and T. M. Cover, Elements of Information Theory , 2nd ed. ( Wiley , 2006)
Isaac Chuang, Michael Nielsen, Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (Cambridge, 2000).

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• Course title: Advanced experimental and Theoretical Laboratory Classes (Part 1)
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: MCMP-49
• Module(s): Module 1.8
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The module aims at

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  familiarizing the student with modern research topics in experimental and theoretical condensed-matter physics;
  


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  fostering the student’s ability to autonomously achieve scientific tasks;
  


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  introducing the student to modern experimental techniques and challenging theoretical approaches;
  


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  strengthening the student’s experimental and analytic skills;
  


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  developing the student’s capability to interpret and properly describe scientific results.
  

A student who passes this course is expected to be able

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  to tackle new scientific tasks in experimental and theoretical condensed-matter physics;
  


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  to familiarize themselves with modern experimental tools and challenging theoretical approaches;
  


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  to work on a modern research topic with a proper autonomy;
  


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  to work out and defend scientific reports.
  

Students must undertake 40 hours of TP classes from the following:

• Electrochemical and thin film properties of copper (8 hours);
• Raman spectroscopy I��(8 hours) + Raman spectroscopy II��(8 hours);
• Photoluminescence spectroscopy��(16��hours);
• Ellipsometry (8 hours).
• Rheology (16 hours);
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (8 hours);
• Scanning Force Microscopy and Spectroscopy (16 hours);
• Scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (16 hours);
• X-ray diffraction (8 hours);
• Quantitative Microscale Imaging in Biological Physics (16 hours);
• Numerical simulation of many-body quantum systems (16 hours);
• Solar cells (8 hours).

Subjects are not final and may change before the start of the semester and from one semester to another.

Abstracts of the different TP classes will be provided to students at the beginning of the semester.

Students will be paired in groups by the class coordinator, who will also decide which classes they must attend.

Groups and class schedules will be communicated on the first day of the semester via Moodle.

All communications will be delivered through Moodle

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Task 1: Two weeks before the start of the class, students must contact the class supervisor to obtain information and study materials. This step is compulsory to be allowed into the class.
Task 2: Participate in the lab class.
Task 3:�� Write a scientific report, which will be evaluated by the TP class supervisor.
Assessment rules:�� Before being allowed into a lab class, students will receive preparatory materials from the supervisor. The supervisor will evaluate the students’ responses to determine if they acquired sufficient knowledge on the topic before starting the class.

Assessment criteria:�� The final grade will be determined by averaging the marks obtained in the various TP classes

Each student must complete 40 hours of lab classes. After each lab class, the student must write a scientific report, which will be evaluated and marked by the supervisor. All the marks will be combined and averaged to determine the final grade.

Retake exam not offered

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Support Literature :��Handouts describing topics and tasks and literature references indicated therein

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• Course title: Master Thesis 1
• Number of ECTS: 30
• Course code: MCMP-50
• Module(s): Module 3.1
• Language:
• Mandatory: Yes