EC
Project
Description
Students may choose to perform an experimental research project on a modern research topic in condensed matter physics. These projects will be conducted during one week (full-time) in research laboratories on the University campus. The project can entail a numerical part related to data acquisition, data analysis and/or data modelling.
Compétences visées
• Applying knowledge in physics
• Apply methods from mathematics and digital technology
• Produce a critical analysis, with hindsight and perspective
• Interact with colleagues in physics and other disciplines
• Develop and manage an experimental project, including digital aspects
• Operate an experimental device, including digital aspects, from use to data analysis
• Take on responsibilities in a team working on an experimental project
• Research a physics topic using specialised resources
• Communicate in writing and orally, including in English
• Contribute to research work in physics
• Respect ethical, professional and environmental principles in the practice of physics
Syllabus
Proposed experimental topics include:
- Optical spectroscopy of atomically thin materials
- The Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) center in diamond: a solid state qubit
- Single-photon counting and application to time-resolved molecular fluorescence
- Imaging molecular orbitals with a liquid- scanning tunnelling microcope (STM)
- The quantum hall effect in graphene
- Primer on magnonics
- Optical tweezers
- Non axisymmetric minimal surfaces
Alternatively, students may opt for a computational physics course coupled to a numerical project. The objectives of the computational physics course is to provide students with the basic tools for modeling and numerical simulations: knowledge of the basis of Linux operating system, know how to model physico-chemical phenomena, know how to transform the equations resulting from modeling into algorithms to solve them numerically. In particular, teach numerical methods to (1) minimize functions & functionals, (2) integrate differential equations and (3) diagonalize matrices. The student learns also how to develop & compile (where applicable) computer codes that allow numerical resolution of problems.
We will provide students with a series of topics, proposed each year and used as a basis for code development. At first, we will propose 5 themes:
- Monte Carlo method for condensed matter (C. Goyhenex, J. Baschnagel);
- Solving the Schroedinger equation (H. Bulou, M. Alouani);
- Poisson equation in finite elements (R. Herthel);
- Molecular Dynamics (M. Boero, Ori G., C. Goyhenex, J. Baschnagel);
- Tight binding models for electronic structure of solids (M. Alouani, H. Bulou).