Advanced Experimental Methods

To familiarize the student with the measurement and analysis of physical phenomena using up-to-date experimental techniques.
Ultimately, to strengthen the student’s capacity for observation, classification and modelling of natural phenomena in accordance with his or her knowledge of physics.


LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student:
- Will have the capacity to evaluate the parameters and fundamental conditions of the type of measurement required and to determine the most appropriate techniques.
He will master some of the following techniques:
- Non-destructive optical characterization.
- Electromagnetic characterization of radiant systems and biological systems.
- Characterization of complex fluids and fluids.
- Characterization of surfaces.
- Characterization of particles and nanoparticles.

A selection will be made from the following:
1 Advanced microscopy
2 Interferometry and its applications
3 Wavefront sensors
4 Spectrometry
5 The shielded anechoic chamber
6 Electromagnetic test chambers
7 Antenna array design
8 Bioelectromagnetism
9 Characterization of simple and complex fluids
10 Characterization of surfaces
11 Thermal analysis
12 Characterization of particles, including nanoparticles

The professor of each subject will specify in the Campus Virtual what bibliographic material can be found in electronic format in the USC library when the funds are available.

Scenario 1

- Geary, J.M.: Introduction to wavefront sensors. Tutorial Text Vol. TT18 SPIE, 1995.
- J. M. Hollas: Modern spectroscopy 4th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2004.
- D. Malacara & B.J. Thompson: Handbook of Optical Engineering . Edt. Marcel Dekker, 2001.
- M. Pluta: Advanced Light Microscopy. Vol 2. PWN, Elsevier, 1989.
- A. Requena Rodríguez & J. Zúñiga Román: Espectroscopía. Pearson Educación S.A., 2004.
- A. Cardama, Ll. Jofre, J. M. Rius, J. Romeu, S. Blanch & M. Ferrando: Antenas. Edicions UPC, 1998.
- C. A. Balanis: Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, 1997.
- W. L. Stutzman & G. A. Thiele: Antenna Theory and Design, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
- J. D. Kraus & R. Marhefka: Antennas for All Applications, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2002.
- C. Tropea, A.L. Yarin & J.F. Foss (Eds.): Springer Handbook of Experimental Fluid Mechanics. Springer, 2007.
- A. W. Adamson & A. P. Gast: Physical Chemistry of Surfaces, Sixth Ed. Wiley Interscience, 1997.
- M. J. Assael, A. R. H. Goodwin, V. vesovic, W, A. Wakeham. Experimental Thermodynamics Volume IX Adcances in Transport Properties of Fluids, RSC, 2014

Virtual Classroom: it will include teaching material and links to online resources.

BASIC AND GENERAL SKILLS

CB1 - That students have demonstrated to possess and understand knowledge 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 their field of study.
CB2 - That students 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 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include a reflection on relevant issues of social, scientific or ethical nature.
CB4 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized public.
CG1 - Possess and understand the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Physics, with a historical perspective of their development.
CG2 - 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 - Apply both the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired as well as the capacity for analysis and abstraction in the definition and posing of problems and in the search for their solutions both in academic and professional contexts.

TRANSVERSAL SKILLS

CT1 - Acquire analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT2 - Have the capacity for organization and planning.
CT4 - Being able to work as a team.
CT5 - Develop critical reasoning.
CT6 - Develop creativity, initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.

SPECIFIC SKILLS

CE1 - 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 - 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 - Be familiar with the most important experimental models, also be able to perform experiments independently, as well as describe, analyze and critically evaluate the experimental data.
CE4 - 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 - Be able to perform the essentials of a process or situation and establish a work model of it, as well as perform the required approaches in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. He will demonstrate critical thinking to build physical models.
CE6 - Understand and master the use of mathematical and numerical methods most commonly used in Physics.
CE7 - Be able to use computer tools and develop software programs.

The general methodological indications established in the USC Degree Physics Report will be followed. When possible, there will be on site classes and the distribution of master clases and interactive hours follow the one specified in the Grade Report. A course will be activated on the Moodle platform of the Virtual Campus, where all the information of interest to the student will be uploaded, as well as diverse teaching material.



The theoretical foundations of the techniques studied will be taught in class together with general notions of the calibration and set-up of the instruments and of measurement procedures.
In laboratory work, these general notions will be particularized and put into practice for the available instruments.

Tutorships may be on site or online, if they are online they will require an appointment, which is also recommended for on site ones.

Students will initially be assessed by continuous evaluation, involving evaluation of one or more of the following:

i) Class attendance
ii) Performance of laboratory work
iii) Delivery of practice reports
A final examination may be set for students failing continuous evaluation, or for those who wish to improve their marks, provided that they have attended to the laboratories. In these cases the final mark will be the greater of the following two quantities: a) the examination mark; b) 50% of the examination mark plus 50% of the continuous evaluation mark.

For the cases of fraudulent realization of exercises or tests the USC document: "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións" will be of application.
The fraudulent performance of any exercise or test required in the evaluation of a subject will imply a failure grade in the corresponding call, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be followed against the offending student. It will be considered fraudulent, among others, the realization of plagiarized works or obtained from sources accessible to the public without reworking or reinterpretation and without citations to the authors and the sources.

The subject has a total of 4.5 ECTS credits distributed throughout the semester. The total workload is 112.5 hours, distributed as follows

Theoretical classes: 12 h
Laboratory practicals: 24 h
Tutorial assistance: 3 h
Other instruction 6 h
Private study, including computer-aided study 38 h
Write-up of projects and other tasks 20 h
Preparation of presentations 9.5 h

Students will be expected to have acquired the knowledge and skills taught in first- and second-year physics courses.
It is recommended to review the basic concepts of Optics.
Sufficient mastery of English to allow use of the English-language recommended reading.