ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Particle Physics
Areas: Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics, Condensed Matter Physics
Center Faculty of Physics
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
This course has two distinct parts, the Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics and Laboratory of Solid State Physics, although its two main objectives are common:
- To familiarize students with basic experimental techniques used in Nuclear and Particle Physics and Solid State Physics.
- To complement the theoretical knowledge acquired in the subjects of Nuclear and Particle Physics and Solid State Physics with practical knowledge.
LEARNING RESULTS:
With respect to Técnicas Experimentales IV, the student should demonstrate:
- Ability to gather and interpret data, information and relevant results, to obtain conclusions and to redact reasoned reports
about technological and scientific problems or any other related area that requires the knowledge of Particle and Nuclear Physics or
Solid State Physics.
- Ability to compare new experimental data in Particle and Nuclear Physics and Solid State Physics with available models, in order to check and review their validity and suggest modifications to improve the agreement between models and data.
- Become familiar with experimental methods used in Particle and Nuclear Physics and Solid State Physics, and the ability to perform experiments in an independent way, to describe and to evaluate critically the experimental data.
- In the case of the Particle and Nuclear Physics, to know the details of the radiation detectors and the mechanisms for the interaction of the radiation with matter.
I. SOLID STATE LABORATORY
A selection among the following laboratory practices (as per availability of experiment):
-Structural and crystallographic characterization of solids (x-ray diffraction, advanced microscopy, etc.).
-Electrical transport in solids (resistivity as a function of temperature and/or non-ideal geometries, photoconductivity, semiconductor gap, etc.)
-Magnetic properties (Hall effect, magneto-resistance, etc.) in solids
-Thermal properties in solids
-Cryogenic properties and/or superconductivity
II. NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS LABORATORY
A selection among the following laboratory practices (as per availability of experiment):
1. Characterization of ionizing radiation using Geiger counters.
2. Gamma spectroscopy
3. Compton scattering
4. Nuclear spin characterization in gamma-gamma coincidence measurements
5. Cosmic rays analysis
6. Alpha and beta spectroscopy
I. SOLID STATE LABORATORY
- Física Del Estado Solido. Manuales Universitarios de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, J. Maza, J. Mosqueira, J.A. Veira. https://www.unebook.es/es/ebook/fisica-del-estado-solido_E1000002499
- C. Kittel, Introducción a la Física del Estado Sólido, Ed. Reverté (3ª edición española, 1993).
https://www.worldcat.org/title/introduccion-a-la-fisica-del-estado-soli…
- L. Marton, Methods of Experimental Physics: Volumen 6 Solid State Physics, Academic Press, 1959.
- L. Marton, Methods of Experimental Physics: Volumen 1 Classical Methods, Academic Press, 1959.
- C. Sánchez del Río, Análisis de Errores, Ed. Eudema, 1989.
- N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin, Solid State Physics, Philadelphia : Saunders College, cop. 1976.
- K.V. Shalimova, Física de los Semiconductores, Ed. MIR, Moscú, 1975.
II. NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS LABORATORY
- G.F. Knoll, Radiation detection measurement, John Wiley and Sons, New York (1979) (A20 199 A). https://www.wiley.com/en-es/Radiation+Detection+and+Measurement%2C+4th+…
- N. Tsoulfanidis, Measurements and detection of radiation, McGraw-Hill, New York (1983) (A20 185). https://www.routledge.com/Measurement-and-Detection-of-Radiation/Tsoulf…
- W.R Leo, Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments, Springer-Verlag (1987) (3 A20 42). https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783540572800
- L. M. Varela, F. Gómez, J. Carrete. “Tratamiento de Datos Físicos”. Servizo de Publicacións e Intercambio Científico. Universidade de Santiago, (2010) (A ES 80)
- S. N. Ahmed, “Physics and Engineering of Radiation Detection”, Elsevier, 2007. (A20287 )
- E. B. Podgorsak, “Radiation Physics for Medical Physicists”, Springer, 2006. (A87443 )
- C. Leroy, P. Rancoita, “Principles of radiation interaction in matter and detection”, World ScientiAc, 2004. ( A20 212 )
- H. Nikjoo, “Interaction of radiation with matter”, Taylor, 2012. ( A20 311 )
Resources in the net:
Several books in the main bibliography are available as ebooks (links included).
I. SOLID STATE LABORATORY
- Campus Virtual, with additional teaching material made by the teachers or links to other online resources.
II. NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS LABORATORY
- Data bases of source radiation characteristics: National Nuclear Data Center, https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/, The Lund/LBNL Nuclear Data Search http://nucleardata.nuclear.lu.se/toi/
- Campus Virtual, with additional teaching material made by the teachers or links to other online resources.
Electronic books:
https://biblioteca-usc.gal/nova-coleccion-de-libros-electronicos/
Any new electronic material will be announced in the Campus Virtual, when available.
COMPETENCES
BASIC AND GENERAL COMPETENCES
CB1 - Students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding in an area of study that starts from the base of general secondary education, and is usually found at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that imply knowledge coming from the vanguard of his field of study.
CB2 - Students should know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
CB3 - Students should have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include a reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
CB4 - Students should be able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized public.
CG1 - To possess and to understand the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Physics, with historical perspective of their development.
CG2 - To have the ability to gather and interpret data, information and relevant results, obtain conclusions and issue reasoned reports on scientific, technological or other issues that require the use of knowledge of Physics.
CG3 - To apply both acquired theoretical and practical knowledge as well as the capacity for analysis and abstraction in the definition and posing of problems and in the search for solutions in both academic and professional contexts.
TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCES
CT1 - To acquire analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT2 - To have capacity for organization and planning.
CT4 - To be able to teamwork.
CT5 - To develop critical reasoning.
CT6 - To develop creativity, initiative and entrepreneurial spirit
ESPECÍFICAS
CE1 - To have a good understanding of the most important physical theories, locating in their logical and mathematical structure, their experimental support and the physical phenomenon that can be described through them.
CE2 - To be able to clearly handle orders of magnitude and make appropriate estimates in order to develop a clear perception of situations that, although physically different, show some analogy, allowing the use of known solutions to new problems.
CE3 - To be familiar with the most important experimental models, also be able to perform experiments independently, as well as describe, analyse and critically evaluate the experimental data.
CE4 - To be able to compare new experimental data with available models to check its validity and suggest changes that improve the agreement of the models with the data.
CE5 - To be able to perform the essentials of a process or situation and establish a working model of it, as well as perform the required approaches in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. They will demonstrate critical thinking to build physical models.
CE6 - To understand and master the use of mathematical and numerical methods most commonly used in Physics.
CE7 - To be able to use computer tools and develop software programs.
The methodology of each of the practices is discussed in workshops prior to the start of the laboratory classes in which there will be a theoretical introduction and presentation of each of the available practices and, where appropriate, safety standards and management of radioactive sources. For the Nuclear and Particle Physics laboratory, there will be specific seminars for statistics, radiation detectors and radiation-matter interaction. Seminars will include 3 hours of face-to-face class and 5 hours remote.
In the laboratory, the students should work in the experimental setup, perform data collection and make preliminary analysis of the data using the theoretical models proposed in the seminars. Some of the practices will employ computer resources. Students will perform a written report, and other exercises, about their activity in the laboratory (see assessment system section).
There will be a Moodle course in the Campus Virtual, where the students could find all relevant information regarding the subject, including new teaching materials.
The tutorial session could be presential or remote, requiring a previous appointment.
It is mandatory, in order to pass, to attend to all the experimental sessions as well as to the introductory talks and seminars that will be given prior to the laboratory sessions.
==For the first opportunity:
The student evaluation is a 100% continuous assesment and will result from averaging the contributions indicated below for each of the two laboratories of the course (unless in any of these contributions less than 4 points are obtained, in which case the maximum global assesment obtainable will be 4).
-- The assesment for the Solid State Physics laboratory (S) will result from averaging the following two contributions, with 50% weight each:
S1- Written works done during and/or after each experience carried out in the laboratory.
S2- Written test on the experiences carried out in the laboratory
-- The grade for the Nuclear and Particle Physics laboratory (N) will be the result of averaging the following contributions, with the weights indicated:
N1- The answers to the questions asked in the laboratory, where the attitude, interest and initiative shown by the student in the practical work will be a fundamental assesment criterion. It will have a weight of 20%.
N2- Written report on the experiences carried out. There may be interactive sessions for evaluation and correction of the reports, and a new report correcting the first. This criterion will have a weight of 50%.
N3- Oral and/or written tests on basic concepts of the subject, introductory seminars and the content of the reports presented. This criterion will have a weight of 30%.
-- The overall assesment for the course will be the result of averaging the ones obtained in each laboratory (Global=0.5*S+0.5*N) unless in any of the contributions (S1 to N3) less than 4 points was obtained, in which case Global=Min{4,0.5*S+0.5*N}.
== Second opportunity:
The assesment will be obtained in the same way, after the presentation of new corrected and improved reports and the possible completion of final written tests replacing the previous continuous assessment ones. The global assesment will result from averaging the different contributions in the same way as in the first opportunity.
== Repeating students: The same criteria apply as for non-repeating students.
In case of fraud during the exercises or tests, it will be applied the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións".
Presential work (60 hours, 6 ECTS credits):
- Previous Seminars: 8 hours (part possibly in remote mode with attendance control)
- Practice sessions: 48 hours (24+24)
- individual or reduced group tutorial session: 4 hours
Nonpresential individual work: 90 hours, divided as follows:
- Independent individual or group study: 20 hours
- Writing exercises, conclusions or other works: 30 hours
- Programming/experimentation and other works on the computer/laboratory: 40 hours
Recommended previous studies: Solid State Physics and Particle and Nuclear Physics.
Manuel Vazquez Ramallo
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Phone
- 881813965
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Carlos Carballeira Romero
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Phone
- 881814015
- carlos.carballeira [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Manuel Caamaño Fresco
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- Phone
- 881813626
- manuel.fresco [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Hector Alvarez Pol
Coordinador/a- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- Phone
- 881813544
- hector.alvarez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Ramon Iglesias Rey
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Condensed Matter Physics
- ramoniglesias.rey [at] usc.es
- Category
- Investigador/a Miguel Servet
Francesc Yassid Ayyad Limonge
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- yassid.ayyad [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
José Paz Martín
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- jose.martin [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Martina Feijoo Fontan
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- martina.feijoo.fontan [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Miguel Fernandez Gomez
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- miguelfernandez.gomez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Miguel Lozano Gonzalez
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- miguellozano.gonzalez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Aaron Jose Alejo Alonso
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- aaron.alejo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
David Palacios Suárez-Bustamante
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- david.palacios.suarez-bustamante [at] usc.es
- Category
- Ministry Pre-doctoral Contract
Georgina Xifra Goya
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- georgina.xifra.goya [at] usc.es
- Category
- Ministry Pre-doctoral Contract
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Main Hall |
| Friday | |||
| 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Main Hall |
| 05.13.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 0 |
| 05.13.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 130 |
| 05.13.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 6 |
| 05.13.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 830 |
| 06.23.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 3 (Computer Science) |