• 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.——————————————————————————————————————————————–Retake exam offered If a student has passed the homework part, he/she can retake the exam without redoing the homework assignments. 

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

• Course title: Advanced experimental and Theoretical Laboratory Classes (Part 1)
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-49
• Module(s): Module 1.8
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The module aims at

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

fostering the student’s ability to autonomously achieve scientific tasks

introducing the student to modern experimental techniques and challenging theoretical approaches

strengthening the student’s experimental and analytic skills

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

A student who passes this course is expected to be able

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

to familiarize himself with modern experimental tools and challenging theoretical approaches

to work on a modern research topic with a proper autonomy

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.

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

 

 

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

 

• Course title: Magnetism
• Number of ECTS: 2
• Course code: MCMP-54
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

The lecture aims at•introducing the student to the basic principles of magnetism and magnetic materials•applying these principles to problems in fundamental and applied magnetism•developing the ability to critically assess certain issues in the field

After completion of the course, the student is expected to understand and explain•the basic quantities in magnetism (magnetic moments, magnetic fields, magnetization, units, etc.)•the basic phenomenology and the various manifestations of magnetism (hysteresis loop, domains and domain walls, spontaneous magnetization, Dia-, Para-, Superpara, Ferro-, Antiferro-, Ferrimagnetism, etc.)•the basic magnetic interactions and anisotropies (exchange interaction, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, magnetostriction, magnetodipolar interaction, Zeeman interaction, etc.)•simple models for magnetism (Mean-Field theory, Curie-Weiss law, Bloch law (magnons), Stoner-Wohlfarth model, micromagnetism, etc.)•the basics of the main experimental techniques (ac+dc magnetization, neutron scattering, spin-polarized STM, Kerr microscopy, Lorentz microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, Mössbauer spectrocopy, etc.)•the basics of magnetic materials (hard and soft magnets, ferrofluids, nanoparticles, thin films and multilayer structures, etc.)

Introduction- Basic Quantities (magnetic moment, orbital and spin angular momentum, Hund rules, …)- Units, Fields, …- Bohr-van Leeuwen TheoremBasic Forms of Magnetic Media- Dia-, Para-, Superpara-, Ferro-, Antiferro-, Ferrimagnetism- Magnetic Susceptibility (Curie and Curie-Weiss-Law)- Weiss Molecular Field TheoryMagnetic Interactions and Anisotropies- Heisenberg Exchange Interaction- Crystal Fields- Spin-Orbit Interaction ( magnetocrystalline anisotropy)- Magnetostriction- Dipole-Dipole Interaction ( shape anisotropy)Theory of Micromagnetism- Magnetic Energies (continuum approximation)- Magnetic Domains (Bloch and Néel walls)- Stoner-Wohlfarth Model- Magnons (Bloch T3/2-Law)Observational Techniques- Neutron Scattering- Kerr Microscopy- Lorentz Microscopy- Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy- Magnetic Force Microscopy- Mössbauer SpectroscopyMagnetic Materials- Hard and Soft Magnets- Nanoparticles- Ferrofluids- Nanowires- Thin Films and Multilayers

ORAL EXAM (about 30 minutes) at the end of the semester during exam session Retake exam offeredRetake exam modalities: Oral exam (about 30 minutes) as before

Support: PowerPoint presentation[1] C. Kittel, Physical Theory of Ferromagnetic Domains, Reviews of Modern Physics 21, 541 (1949).[2] S. Blundell, Magnetism in Condensed Matter (Oxford University Press, 2001).[3] A. Aharoni, Introduction to the Theory of Ferromagnetism (Oxford University Press, 2000).[4] S. Chikazumi, Physics of Ferromagnetism, 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, 1997).[5] A. Hubert and R. Schäfer, Magnetic Domains (Springer, Berlin, 1998).[6] B.D. Cullity and C.D. Graham, Introduction to Magnetic Materials, 2nd ed. (Wiley, 2009). 

• Course title: Discrete-time stochastic processes
• Number of ECTS: 6
• Course code: F1_MA_MAT_FM-1
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

Introduction to basic concepts of modern probability theory

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:Understand and use concepts of modern probability theory (e.g., filtrations, martingales, stopping times)Apply the notion of martingale to model random evolutionsKnow and apply classical martingale convergence theoremsDescribe and manipulate basic properties of Brownian motion 

Radon-Nikodym Theorem, conditional expectations, martingales, stopping times, optional stopping theorems, Doob’s inequalities, martingale convergence theorems, martingale central limit theorem, Brownian motion.

Exam modalities for the first session Combined Assessment (40% Homeworks, 60% Written In-person Final Exam).Exam modalities for the retake examCombined Assessment (40% Homeworks, 60% Written In-person Final Exam).Absence PlanIn the case of justified absence in the final exam a replacement exam during the same semester will be offered.  

Rick Durrett: Probability Theory and ExamplesYuval Peres, Peter Morters: Brownian Motion

• Course title: Partial Differential Equations I
• Number of ECTS: 7
• Course code: F1_MA_MAT_GM-3
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

The goal of the course it to get acquainted with Partial differential equations (PDE) as a powerful tool for modeling problems in science, providing functional analytic techniques in order to deal with PDE.

On successful completion of the course the student should be able to: Apply methods of Fourier Analysis to the discussion of constant coefficient differential equationsWork freely with the classical formulas in dealing with boundary value problems for the Laplace equationProve acquaintance with the basic properties of harmonic functions (maximum principle, mean value property) and solutions of the wave equation (Huygens property)Solve Cauchy problems for the heat and the wave equationsGive a pedagogic talk for peers on a related topic 

Fourier transform, the classical equations, spectral theory of unbounded operators, distributions, fundamental solutions.

Written exam

LiteraturRudin: Functional analysisJost: Postmodern analysisFolland: Introduction to partial differential equations.Reed-Simon: Methods of mathematical physics I-IV

• Course title: Physics didactics 1
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: BA_PHYS_GEN-36
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language: FR, DE, EN
• Mandatory: No

•découvrir la richesse de l’enseignement de la physique•planifier et vivre des situations d’enseignement en classe•planifier des expériences de démonstration•analyser ses propres performances pour mieux s’orienter dans son choix professionnel•comprendre l’enseignement de la physique dans différents ordres d’enseignement.

Connaître les multiples facettes de l’apprentissage et de l’enseignement de la physique et les défis posés à l’enseignant.

Students will get the opportunity to teach in a ‘real life’ situation in a secondary school class. Furthermore there are courses on how to prepare, student pre – and misconceptions, evaluative and formative assessment, practical work and latest multi media methods e.g. Chat GPT, online teaching pros and cons

Assessment is done by handing in a portfolio at the end of the semester.This portfolio documents the different course subjects, activities, lesson plans, teaching performance etc. Attendance is mandatory to fulfill the requirements and no ECTS will be given for non-attendance. Elements evaluated: regular attendance, participation, assignments, preparation, execution and analysis of practical partGraded to 20 marks.Assessment rules: portfolio has to be handed in by a deadline announced to the students Assessment criteria: Practical part : 50 %Courses, assignments, participation : 50% Retake exam not offered

 Notes de cours:G. de Vecchi, L’enseignement scientifique, Delagrave, 2002, ISBN: 2-206-08471-6H. Gudjons, Handlungsorientiert lehren und lernen, Klinkhardt, 2008, 2008, ISBN: 978-3-7815-1625-0Kirchner Girwidz Häußler, Physikdidaktik, Springer, 2001, ISBN: 3-540-41936-5H. Klippert, Methodentraining, Beltz 2005, ISBN: 3-407-62545-6A.B. Arons Teaching Introductory Physics, Wiley, 1996, ISBN: 978-04711-37078M. Reiss Understanding Science Lessons, Open University Press, 2001, ISBN: 978-0335-197699H.K. Mikalsis (Hrsg.) Physik Didaktik, Cornelsen Scriptor, 2006, ISBN: 378-3589221486Edited by J.Osborne and J. Dilon Good Practice in Science teaching, OUP 2010 ISBN: 978-033523858-3  

• Course title: Scientific Python
• Number of ECTS: 1
• Course code: F1_MA_MAT_MMCS2-4
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

IntroductionGetting startedBasics of PythonArray computations with numpyArray computations with numpy (cont.)Plotting with matplotlibTabular data manipulation with pandasTabular data manipulation with pandas (cont.)Writing good quality and robust Python code

First sessionYou should feel comfortable writing basic scientific programs in Python, and be able to participate fully in future courses that require an element of programming.Retake examRetake exam not possible, course must be retaken.

This course covers the basics of scientific programming with Python. It is aimed at people who have done some programming before, perhaps on an undergraduate course, but need a refresher before starting their Masters or Doctoral degrees at the University.https://jhale.github.io/scientific-python/ 

A coursework will be distributed at the end of the class. To pass the course and receive the ECTS credits you must complete the coursework.

• Course title: Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: MEEE-3
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

To evaluate the students’ understanding of FEM method, including its stability, convergence, and application to solve basic fluid dynamics problems.and to assest their ability to generate mesh using gmsh.

The students will learn to assess the quality of numerical results and the efficiency of numerical methods for basic fluid flow model problems

Written exam – 100%.

Withe assessment rules: To solve the gmsh questions, the students are allowed to use the university computer.

• Course title: Français général A2.1 (Kirchberg)
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: LC_CAT-236
• Module(s): Module electives 1.9
• Language:
• Mandatory: No

L’objectif de ce cours est d’acquérir les connaissances suffisantes en français pour accéder au cours de français général niveau B1. Cette remise à niveau est faite grâce à : de nombreux exercices de grammaire et de vocabulaire, des jeux de rôles et des situations de communication de la vie réelle. 

 À l’issue de ce cours vous serez capable de :•Donner une explication simple •Parler de vos goûts, de vos projets •Fixer, accepter/refuser un rendez-vous•Parler de votre expérience universitaire et professionnelle•Établir des comparaisons •Demander et donner des conseils•Raconter une expérience passée

Ce cours a pour but de renforcer vos connaissances et vos pratiques en langue française, principalement écrite, afin d’enrichir vos productions d’écrits, non seulement dans le cadre de vos études ou de votre métier mais aussi dans les situations de communication avec d’autres personnes. Les premières heures se concentreront sur la révision des points de grammaire essentiels notamment :- Le présent de l’indicatif – Le futur proche – Le passé composé – La forme interrogative Nous approfondirons ces acquis et aborderons : – Les pronoms relatifs simples- La négation – Les pronoms Y/EN – La place de l’adjectif – La comparaisonAu-delà de l’aspect grammatical, nous aborderons la langue française à travers l’étude de documents authentiques issus de la vie quotidienne.

L’évaluation seferaainsi:50 % : Notes des devoirs écrits rendus (deux devoirs composés d’une production orale et écrite)50 % : Participation orale en cours et préparation des devoirs maison.La présence aux cours est obligatoire afin de valider les crédits ECTS attribués au cours de français général A2. Au-delà de deux absences, l’étudiant/étudiante ne peut plus valider le cours.

 Édito A1, Éditions DidierÉdito A2, ÉditionsDidierObjectif express A1/A2Grammaire essentielle du français A2, 100 % FLE, DidierFle 

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

 

 

• 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: 

Q&A 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 minimumMarks from TD will be carried over and 80%-20% rule still applies

Support : Lecture SlidesLiterature :- 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: 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 learningEach 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. 

 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 20The final mark is calculated as a weighted average according to the abovementioned weights. 

 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 Objectives1.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.  

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. 

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: 978-981-4293-07-5Additional 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 978-0-521-42600-8Total score, sum between the following scores: 10% from the activity in TDs, written test (30%) – if any – and oral (60%), otherwise 90% oral exam. 

• 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 Objectives1. To understand what a laser is and how it works2. To understand the properties of a laser beam3. To know fundamental aspects of interaction between light and matter4. To learn what are the principal uses of lasers in a scientific environment5. To understand different type of lasers and different regimes of operation6. To introduce nonlinear optics 

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 lightThis 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. 

– 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 examAssessment 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 offeredRetake 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  

• Course title: Classical and Quantum Information Theory
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-45
• Module(s): Module 1.6
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

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 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, presenting essential topics such as information measures, channel capacity, hypothesis testing, complexity and information geometry. 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% exam, 40% participation and assignments Retake exam offeredRetake 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).

 

• Course title: Advanced Materials Characterization Techniques
• Number of ECTS: 2
• Course code: MCMP-4
• Module(s): Module 1.7
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

Knowledge of advanced materials characterization techniques, including fundamental background, instrumental aspects and applications.

The student who passes this course will be able:- to describe the theoretical background of the discussed methods- to apply the methods to concrete problems in solid state and materials physics

  1. Phonon spectroscopya) Raman spectroscopyb) Infrared spectroscopiesc) Inelastic neutron and X-ray scatteringd) Introduction to Group Theory for phonon spectroscopy2. Photo-electron spectroscopya) X-ray and UV Photon-Spectroscopyb) Auger Spectroscopy3. Nano- and atomic scale imaging and analysisa) Introduction to charged particle opticsb) Electron microscopy (SEM & TEM)c) Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS)d) Atom Probe Tomography (APT)e) Helium Ion Microscopy (HIM)

Oral examination (20 minutes).

Support:

PowerPoint presentation (distributed before lecture)

• Course title: Ferroelectrics and multiferroics
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-5
• Module(s): Module 2.1
• Language:
• Mandatory: Yes

– Introducing the student to the basic principles of ferroelectricity and related phenomena, including the simultaneous occurrence of (and interaction between) ferroelectricity and magnetism (magnetoelectric multiferroism),- Applying these principles to problems in fundamental and applied ferroelectricity and multiferroicity- Developing the ability to critically assess basic experimental and simulation results in the field

After completion of the course, the student is expected to understand and explain- the basic quantities and phenomenology of ferroelectricity and multiferroicity- the basic theoretical and experimental approaches in the field- the basic understanding of the main effects, at both atomistic and macroscopic levels- the basics of model ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and magnetoelectric multiferroic materials- the basics of the application of these materials in devices- the current trends in the field 

Basics of dielectrics and ferroelectric phase transitions- Polarization, polarizability and dielectric response- Model ferroelectric materials- Crystallographic and symmetry considerations- Soft phonon modes, dielectric relaxations and response anomalies- Coupling to strain, piezoelectricity- Ferroelectric domains and domain walls Experimental characterization techniques- Dielectric and vibrational spectroscopies- Diffraction methods for structural resolution- Local-probe microscopies Theoretical approaches to ferroic phenomena- Phenomenological Landau theory of phase transitions- Predictive quantum mechanical theoriesBasics of magnetism and magnetic materials- Basic concepts and quantities in magnetism- Classification of magnetic materials- Key magnetic and magnetostructural interactions Multiferroics- Type I multiferroics (strong ferroelectric and magnetic orders)- Type II multiferroics (strong magnetic order, slave polar order)- Artificial multiferroics- Examples of magneto-electric coupling

– Oral exam (80%)- Take-home assignment (10%)- Presentation (10%) 

• Course title: Physics of Living Matter
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-39
• Module(s): Module 2.3
• Language:
• Mandatory: Yes

Cross Disciplinary course in Biological Physics targeted for Masters and PhD level students from PhyMS RU, LS RU, LCSB, RU ES, LIH, and LIST.

The cross-disciplinary field of biophysics has seen major expansion in the recent years, thanks to the advancements in physical, engineering and computational tools. Luxembourg is at the forefront of scientific activities in biological physics with its exciting landscape of experimental and theoretical research on biological questions that require a strong quantitative physical approach. The Physics and Materials Research Unit offers an introduction to this exciting interdisciplinary field, interfacing fluid mechanics, microbiology (of virus, bacteria, and algae), physical ecology, and materials physics. This course will explore how quantitative approaches in biological sciences could provide a mechanistic framework for the rich myriad of emergent phenomena observed in living systems. 

Main Objectives

1. To be able to quantify biological processes at the level of individual cells, populations, and multi-species communities, and their relation to the environments they inhabit.2. To have an overview of the main relevant experimental and statistical tools, and respective working principles, relevance, and limitations.3. To understand cross-interactions between cellular behavior and physiology.4. To understand how single cell dynamics lead to emergent functional properties at the scale of population and communities.

A student who passes this course will be able to:- Identify and quantitatively analyze biological systems and their dynamics, and suggest underlying physical principles driving biological functions. – Propose appropriate methods and tools for tracking and analyzing biological processes, and comment on the statistical significance of the obtained data.- Analyze the impact of changes in the environmental conditions, whether induced artificially or due to natural patterns in the ecosystem. – Identify original problems from biological systems, relevant from environmental and human sciences, and develop testable hypotheses toward investigating these open questions.This course will enable the student to read, understand, and analyze academic literature related to biological physics in a wide range of contexts. The course provides a fundamental basis to follow more advanced courses in biophysics, in particular those related to biological transport processes, emergent phenomena and the inter-relation of form and function in biology.

Core Topics- Physics of cell: random walks, transport processes, molecular motors, and active matter- Life at micro-scales; fluctuations and dissipation in the cell- Scaling up single cell physics to population and community scales – Living in fluctuating environmentsTools and Techniques- Live cell imaging, spectroscopy, and image analysis- Microfluidics, micromanipulation, and optical techniques- Complex systems approach: probabilistic, deterministic, and network analyses- Biostatistics: Statistical tools and inference in biological systems

Continuous evaluation: Students will be graded based on their engagement during lectures, participation and performance in the tutorials, and end-of-semester presentation. No retake exam is foreseen if a student scores below 50%. Students securing below 50% have to undergo continuous evaluation (see above) during the next year to successfully complete the course. 

Support

Lecture slides and relevant resources will be made available after each lecture. Students are responsible for taking down personal notes for the lectures based on chalk talksLiteraturRelevant course books:Physical Biology of the Cell by Phillips, Kondev, Theriot and Garcia (ISBN: 0815344503)Random Walks in Biology by Howard C Berg (ISBN: 0691000646)E. coli in motion by Howard C Berg (ISBN: 978-0387008882)A Mechanistic Approach to Plankton Ecology by Thomas Kiørboe (ISBN: 978-0691134222)

• Course title: Semiconductors and Solar Cells
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-33
• Module(s): Module 2.4
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

This course aims at:• giving a short overview/repetition on the electronic structure of semiconductors (bands and defects)• introducing the students to charge carrier statistics• educating the students on the optical properties of semiconductors• training the students in basics of pn junctions• introducing the students to junctions under illumination and the functioning of solar cells• introducing the students to the thermodynamic balances in solar cells

A student who passes this course will be able to:- understand the role of doping in semiconductors- describe qualitatively and quantitatively absorption and light emission in semiconductors- delineate qualitatively and quantitatively the behaviour of pn junctions in the dark and under illumination- explain qualitatively and quantitatively the efficiency limits in solar cellsThe course will enable the student to study the literature on current research topics in the field of semiconductor physics.

• Electronic structure of semiconductors• Charge carrier statistics• Excitation and recombination• The equilibria in a solar cells • p/n junction in the dark and under illumination

Task 1: active and successful participation in TDAssessment rules: submit homework via moodleAssessment criteria: regular participation and at least 2/3 of the problems attempted – are prerequisite to participate in oral examTask 2: Written mid term examAssessment rules: first part no resources besides the students’ brain, second part: open book (any paper resources allowed), no electronic devicesAssessment criteria: weight on final grade 1/3At least 6/20 point prerequisite to take oral examTask 2: Oral exam in exam periodAssessment rules: 30min oral examAssessment criteria: weight on final grade 2/3

Support :Lecture Slides Literature :- R. F. Pierret, Advanced Semiconductor Fundamentals, Prentice Hall- P. Yu and M. Cardona, Fundamentals of Semiconductors: Physics and Materials Properties, Springer- K. Seeger, Semiconductor Physics, Springer- S.M. Sze, K.K. Ng, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, Wiley- P. Würfel, Physics of Solar Cells, Wiley- M. Grundmann, The Physics of Semiconductors, Springer- J. Pankove, Optical Processes in Semiconductors, Dover- W. Mönch, Electronic Properties of Semiconductor Interfaces, Springer 

• Course title: Nonequilibrium soft and active matter
• Number of ECTS: 4
• Course code: MCMP-47
• Module(s): Module 2.5
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

Students will be given an overview of the techniques required to model and analyze fluctuations for a large class of systems in soft and living matter. First, we will present the equivalence between Langevin equation, Fokker-Planck equation, and path probability to describe the time-evolution of a stochastic process. On this basis, we will establish the essential properties of equilibrium, including steady-state properties (Boltzmann distribution, equipartition theorem) and relaxation to steady state (linear response, fluctuation-dissipation theorem, Green-Kubo formulas). We will also discuss how the laws of thermodynamics extend to stochastic processes (stochastic thermodynamics, fluctuation theorems), with applications to colloidal engines. Then, we will introduce a specific class of nonequilibrium systems, which extract energy from their environment to sustain an individual directed motion, known as *active matter*. We will discuss the consequences of self-propulsion in specific examples. For many-body systems, we will show that it can lead to collective effects without any equilibrium equivalent, which will be rationalized based on coarse-grained hydrodynamic equations.

Students will become familiar with techniques of statistical mechanics to analyze fluctuations beyond steady state, both for equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, including recent progress in stochastic thermodynamics.

> Modeling fluctuations: Langevin equation, Fokker-Planck equation, path probability> Symmetry of fluctuations: fluctuation-dissipation, linear response, fluctuation theorems> Stochastic thermodynamics: energetics at microscopic scale, first and second laws, engines> Active matter: particle-based approach, collective effects, consequences of irreversibility> Field theories: coarse-graining microscopic dynamics, extended Landau-Ginzburg approach

Oral and/or written exam.

Relevant literature- Van Kampen, ‘Stochastic processes in physics and chemistry’- Gardiner, ‘Handbook of stochastic methods’- Risken, ‘The Fokker-Planck equation’- Chaikin, Lubensky, ‘Principles of condensed matter physics’- Chandler, ‘Introduction to modern statistical mechanics’.

• Course title: Advanced experimental and theoretical laboratory classes (Part 2)
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: MCMP-13
• Module(s): Module 2.6
• Language:
• Mandatory: Yes

The module aims atfamiliarizing the student with modern research topics in experimental and theoretical condensed-matter physicsfostering the student’s ability to autonomously achieve scientific tasksintroducing the student to modern experimental techniques and challenging theoretical approachesstrengthening the student’s experimental and analytic skillsdeveloping the student’s capability to interpret and properly describe scientific results

A student who passes this course is expected to be ableto tackle new scientific tasks in experimental and theoretical condensed-matter physicsto familiarize himself with modern experimental tools and challenging theoretical approachesto work on a modern research topic with a proper autonomyto work out and defend scientific reports

Scanning Tunneling 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)One dimensional quantum systems (16 hours)Rheology (16 hours)Scanning Tunneling 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)One dimensional quantum systems (16 hours)Rheology (16 hours)

Written reports on experiments; continuous control

Support :Handouts describing topics and tasks and literature references indicated thereinLiterature :Handouts describing topics and tasks and literature references indicated therein

• Course title: Literature Seminar
• Number of ECTS: 2
• Course code: MCMP-7
• Module(s): Module 2.7
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The course aims at introducing the student to basic topics of condensed-matter physics as well as teaching him/her to read scientific literature, and to present and defend its contents in an oral presentation.

A student who passes this course will be able to:• read and understand the main ideas of a scientific article• present and defend a piece of scientific research to an audience

Seminar topics are proposed by the professors from the Departement of Physics and Materials Science along with a corresponding corpus of scientific literature. The seminar is prepared during one-to-one appointments between students and teachers and delivered in front of the group at the end of the semester. Examples of past topics include – for illustration purposes only: • Solution of the 1D Ising model• Capillary waves at gas liquid interfaces• Skyrmion lattices in metallic and semiconducting B20 transition metal compounds• Dynamic nuclear polarization• Graphene and other two-dimensional materials: physical properties and potential technological applications.• Topological insulators: what are they, how do they work, and what is their technological relevance?

Oral presentation (seminar)

Support / Literature: Scientific articles and references therein as provided by the teachers.

• Course title: Didactics for Physics 2
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: BA_PHYS_GEN-26
• Module(s): Module Options 2.8
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

découvrir la richesse de l’enseignement de la physiqueplanifier et vivre des situations de TP en classeexpérimenter différentes méthodes modernes d’enseignementanalyser ses propres performances pour mieux s’orienter dans son choix professionnelévaluer la performance des élèvescomprendre l’enseignement de la physique au secondaire et secondaire technique

Connaître les multiples facettes de l’apprentissage et de l’enseignement de la physique et les défis posés à l’enseignant.

Engagement régulier, élaboration d’un portfolio personnel (pièces créées à partir des éléments traités en cours), présentation du portfolio

Notes de coursG. de Vecchi, L’enseignement scientifique, Delagrave, 2002, ISBN: 2-206-08471-6H. Gudjons, Handlungsorientiert lehren und lernen, Klinkhardt, 2008, 2008, ISBN: 978-3-7815-1625-0Kirchner Girwidz Häußler, Physikdidaktik, Springer, 2001, ISBN: 3-540-41936-5H. Klippert, Methodentraining, Beltz 2005, ISBN: 3-407-62545-6A.B. Arons Teaching Introductory Physics, Wiley, 1996, ISBN: 978-04711-37078M. Reiss Understanding Science Lessons, Open University Press, 2001, ISBN: 978-0335-197699H.K. Mikalsis (Hrsg.) Physik Didaktik, Cornelsen Scriptor, 2006, ISBN: 378-3589221486

• Course title: Partial Differential Equations II
• Number of ECTS: 8
• Course code: MAMATH-156
• Module(s): Module Options 2.8
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

Learning tools in order to deal with PDE, understanding the interplay between local and global problems and techniques.

Distributions as generalized functions continued, Sobolev spaces, elliptic regularity, elliptic operators on compact manifolds, some non-linear equations.

Written exam

LiteraturJost: Postmodern analysisFolland: Introduction to partial differential equationsReed-Simon: Methods of mathematical physics I-IVAubin: Nonlinear analysis on manifolds

• Course title: Principles of Software Development
• Number of ECTS: 5
• Course code: MICS2-50
• Module(s): Module Options 2.8
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern software development principles, from fundamental programming concepts to advanced topics in mobile and native development, including cutting-edge areas like AI in software engineering.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:    • Understand fundamental programming concepts and execution models    • Implement CI/CD pipelines for software projects    • Evaluate software quality using various metrics    • Leverage AI tools in software development    • Generate and maintain comprehensive test suites    • Develop mobile and native applications    • Apply modern software development practices in real-world scenarios 

Course StructureSetup Class: Development Environment ConfigurationDuration: 1 session    • Installation and setup of Visual Studio Code    • Essential extensions for development    • Version control setup (Git)    • Basic VS Code features and shortcuts    • Terminal integration    • Debugging tools configurationChapter 1: Introduction to Programming ConceptsDuration: 2-3 sessions    • Compilation Process        • Source code to machine code        • Preprocessing, compilation, assembly, and linking        • Object files and executable generation        • Common compilation errors and debugging    • Execution Models        • Native execution vs. virtual machines        • Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation        • Interpreted languages        • Bytecode and intermediate representations        • Performance implications of different execution models    • Practical Exercises        • Comparing compilation and interpretation        • Analyzing compilation outputs        • Debugging common issuesChapter 2: Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)Instructor: Aicha War Duration: 2-3 sessions    • Continuous Integration Fundamentals        • Version control best practices        • Automated building and testing        • Integration strategies        • Code quality metrics    • Continuous Deployment        • Deployment pipelines        • Environment management        • Release strategies        • Rollback procedures        • Monitoring and logging    • Tools and Practices        • GitHub Actions/GitLab CI        • Jenkins        • Docker containerization        • Infrastructure as CodeChapter 3: Software Cost Measurement and Complexity MetricsDuration: 2 sessions    • Cost Estimation        • Function Point Analysis        • COCOMO model        • Agile estimation techniques        • Project planning and resource allocation    • Complexity Metrics        • Cyclomatic complexity        • Halstead metrics        • Maintainability index        • Code coupling and cohesion        • Technical debt measurement    • Practical Applications        • Using static analysis tools        • Complexity reduction techniques        • Cost-benefit analysis        • Project estimation exercisesChapter 4: AI in Software EngineeringInstructor: Xunzhu Tang Duration: 2-3 sessions    • Large Language Models in Software Development        • Code generation and completion        • Documentation generation        • Code review assistance        • Test case generation    • AI Agents for Development        • Automated bug detection        • Intelligent refactoring        • Performance optimization        • Code search and recommendation    • Practical Integration        • GitHub Copilot        • Amazon CodeWhisperer        • Custom AI tools integration        • Best practices and limitationsChapter 5: Test Generation for Software EngineeringInstructor: Marc Christian Ouédraogo Duration: 2-3 sessions    • Automated Test Generation        • Unit test generation        • Integration test generation        • Performance test generation        • Security test generation    • Testing Strategies        • Model-based testing        • Property-based testing        • Mutation testing        • Fuzzing techniques    • Tools and Frameworks        • JUnit/TestNG        • Selenium        • JMeter        • Modern testing frameworksChapter 6: Mobile Development with AndroidDuration: 3 sessions    • Android Development Fundamentals        • Activity lifecycle        • UI development with XML and Jetpack Compose        • Data storage and management        • Background processing    • Modern Android Development        • MVVM architecture        • Kotlin fundamentals        • Material Design implementation        • App publishing process    • Best Practices        • Performance optimization        • Security considerations        • Testing mobile applications        • User experience designChapter 7: Native DevelopmentDuration: 2-3 sessions    • Native Development Concepts        • Platform-specific development        • Cross-platform considerations        • Performance optimization        • Native APIs and SDKs    • Implementation Strategies        • Memory management        • Platform-specific features        • Hardware acceleration        • Native interfaces    • Tools and Frameworks        • Native development kits        • Cross-platform frameworks        • Performance profiling        • Debugging native code

Assessment Structure    • Continuous Assessment (40%)        • Weekly programming assignments        • Project milestones        • Class participation    • Final Project (60%)        • Team-based software development project        • Documentation        • Presentation        • Code quality assessment 

Required Tools    • Visual Studio Code    • Git    • Android Studio    • Various CI/CD tools (as specified in Chapter 2)    • Testing frameworks (as specified in Chapter 5)

• Course title: Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
• Number of ECTS: 5
• Course code: MICS2-13
• Module(s): Module Options 2.8
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: No

We understand Data Mining (Knowledge Discovery) as a life-cylce process from  data to information and insights. In times of Big data, Data Mining has become a central interest both for industry and academia. In this course, we discuss several data-related aspects like preprocessing or pricacy as well as selected aspects of Machine Learning. An expansive definition of Data Mining, which is the derivation of insights from masses of data by studying and understanding the structure of the constituent data, and selected applications complete the course.

* Explain the fundamental concepts of data mining and knowledge discovery* List the properties of data relevant for deriving interesting and useful information/observation from that.* Explain machine learning algorithms and strategies to deploy the discovered results* Argue the importance of domain knowledge during the data analysis with its scope and limitations

* Definition and Process. * Data Mining, Data Science, and the Big Data Hype.* Data Quality and Preprocessing* Data Privacy and Security.* Data and Information Visualization.* Machine Learning for Clustering, Classification, Association Discovery, Sequential Pattern Analysis, and/or Time Series Analysis.

60% oral or written examination; 40% midterm tests

Selected references:* M. Berry, G. Linoff: Mastering Data Mining, John Wiley & Sons, 2000.* U. Fayyad, G. Piatetsky-Shapiro, P. Smyth, R. Uthurusamy: Advances in KnowledgeDiscovery and Data Mining, AAAI/MIT Press, 1996.* J. Han, M. Kamber: Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques, 2nd edition, MorganKaufmann, ISBN 1558609016, 2006.* I. Witten, E. Frank, M. Hall: Data Mining: Practical Machine Learning Tools andTechniques, 3nd Edition, Morgan Kaufmann, 2011.

• Course title: Communicating science
• Number of ECTS: 3
• Course code: MCMP-48
• Module(s): Module Options 2.8
• Language:
• Mandatory: No

Learn to simplify without loss of accuracy when dealing with non-expertsKnow your audienceLearn how to deal with nervousness Learn how to explain things simplyImprovement of presentation skills (interactive, body language, pace)

Presentation skillsOrganizational skills Teaching skillsOutreach skills

The course is a mix of theoretical introductions, practical experiences within the group and finally outreach activites in direct contact with the public (high school students, general public at events). All field work will be performed within the frame of the Scienteens Lab’s workshops. This requires some flexibility regarding the personal schedule.

Active participationAttendanceWritten final project, report, presentation or movie

Support :The course material is dynamically evolving within the group and part of the course process. Exemplary material will be provided and the participants can bring examples themselves.Literature :Pierre Laszlo: Communicating Science, A Practical Guide Carmine Gallo: Talk Like TED…and many more

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

• Course title: Master Thesis 2
• Number of ECTS: 30
• Course code: MCMP-52
• Module(s): Module 4.1
• Language: EN
• Mandatory: Yes

The objective of the master thesis is to develop the student’s autonomy in the different dimensions of a research work. 

By the end of the project, the student shall be able to know and report on the state of the art in the research field, master relevant research methods, produce original results and defend them in writing and orally.

Master thesis 2 is a continuation of the research project started in Master thesis 1.

Task 1: Master thesisAssessment rules: The Master thesis is an original document written by the student. It has to undergo a plagiarism check. The length of the document is left to the appreciation of the supervisor(s) and may depend on the nature of the research work. The grade is agreed on by the supervisor and the co-evaluator. Assessment criteria: The report is graded based on the clarify of the hypothesis, the quality and presentation of the scientific results, the compliance with the standards of scientific writing. Task 2: Oral defense of the Master thesisAssessment rules: The defense is held in front of the supervisor(s) and co-evaluator and is open to other members of the department. The defense consists in a 30-minute presentation followed by about 20 minutes of questions. All attending professors may participate in the deliberation. Assessment criteria: In addition to the intrinsic scientific content evaluated in the written report, the defense is graded based on the quality of the oral presentation and the ability to answer scientific questions raised by the audience. The final mark is the average of the two marks for the written thesis and the oral defense. 

Depending on the research topic