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PHY441 Experimental project in Physics

Serena BASTIANI-CECCOTTI
Antonello de MARTINO


A “Modal” course (= experimental project in physics) is aimed primarily at turning the traditional pedagogical approach round, starting from experimental phenomena and ending up with the theory. A project-oriented approach will teach the student to observe, to make measurements, and to modify experimental conditions in order to get a grasp of the phenomenon and then to study the theory.

In order to allow the largest possible number of students to follow such courses, two series of modexes are programmed in the periods from January to April (P3) and from April to June (P4) respectively.

The (non-limitative) list of subjects proposed can be divided into the following thematic categories:

Materials science:
Materials science is a multi-disciplinary science, at the crossroads where physics and chemistry meet. The pupils will be making return trips from synthesis to characterization to interpretation and back again, with the aim of improving the physical properties of the materials covered.
  • Materials synthesis (superconductors, ferroelectric materials, optical materials) and optimization of their electrical, magnetic or optical properties.
  • Manufacture of photovoltaic cells (solar cells) and the optimization of their output.

The more applied topics:
  • Acoustic vibration modes of a musical instrument, studied using holography with the help of vibration sensors.
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance: assembly of a spectrometer and its application to a physical (phase transition) or chemical (structure of an organic molecule) problem.
  • Emission of light and the laser effect in semiconductors.
  • Construction and operation of a gyroscope using fibre-optics.
  • Instability and chaos in hydrodynamics.
  • Dynamics of “soft materials” (droplets, thin films, foams…).

The more fundamental topics:
  • Study of the fundamental interactions between particles. Showing the evidence for special relativity, matter-antimatter annihilation, or the half-life of an unstable particle… Radioactive imaging.
  • Manufacture of lasers and an introduction to non-linear optics (frequency doubling: generation of green light from infra-red).
  • Plasmas created by the action of powerful lasers on a solid or gaseous target.
  • Quantum effects in the conductivity of quasi-one-dimensional systems (nanogaps).


Last Modification : Tuesday 17 May 2011

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