Course syllabus for Spectroscopy

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-09 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSpektroskopi
  • CodeTIF300
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPPHS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyEngineering Physics
  • DepartmentPHYSICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 85115
  • Maximum participants60 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0119 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH
0 c7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 15 Jan 2025 am J
  • 15 Apr 2025 pm J
  • 22 Aug 2025 am J

In programmes

Examiner

Go to coursepage (Opens in new tab)

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Optics and electromagnetism. It is beneficial but not necessary to have training in quantum mechanics, symmetry, and condensed matter physics.

Aim

- To provide a broad introduction to the field of modern spectroscopy with particular emphasis on modern solid-state and nano-related experimental techniques and theoretical background.

- To familiarize students with central unifying concepts and experimental as well as theoretical methods needed for the understanding of modern spectroscopy.

- To highlight the importance of symbiosis between experimental and theoretical approaches in the spectroscopy disciplines.

- To introduce the key physical concepts of spectroscopy of materials and microscopy, as well as give an overview of their applications.


Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • explain the basic concepts to describe phenomena that are responsible for the importance of spectroscopy in modern science and technology.
  • name and explain some of the most important experimental and theoretical methods commonly used.
  • apply theoretical reasoning to account for experimental observations, and to build simple physical models for properties and processes occurring in atoms, molecules, and solids upon interaction with electromagnetic radiation.
  • explain the key phenomena for the interaction of electrons with matter.

Content

  • Electron and photoelectron spectroscopies, atoms (hydrogen atom) and small molecules. Classification of electronic states.
  • The concept of dielectric function. Lorentz model of optical permittivity. Transmission, Reflection, Absorption and Scattering spectroscopy.
  • Raman spectroscopy and modern methods, CARS, hyper-Raman, stimulated Raman, Fourier Transform Raman, polarization methods, etc. (including surface-enhanced Raman).
  • Infrared and far-infrared absorption spectroscopy: vibrations and rotations (FTIR microscope, IR selection rules, symmetry).
  • Bohr's model of atom, excitons in solids.
  • Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy (including advanced techniques, such as single molecules, FCS, FRET, FLIM, antibunching, super-resolution, etc.).
  • Non-linear optical spectroscopies, such as second- and third-harmonic generation, four-wave mixing, etc.
  • Cathodoluminescence and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).

Organisation

  • The main course content will be given during the lectures.
  • In addition to the lectures, there will be two complulsory laboratory works, devoted to optical spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy correspondingly. The optical part will include Raman and FTIR microscopy and spectroscopy, while the electron spectroscopy part will include cathodoluminescence and EELS.
  • The course also included optional homeworks, which will give bonus points at the exam.

Literature

  • D. Long: The Raman effect, Wiley, 2002.
  • E. Wilson: Molecular vibrations: The theory of infrared and Raman vibrational spectra.
  • E. Le Ru and P. Etchegoin: Principle of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, Elsevier, 2009.
  • J. Lakowicz: Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Springer, 2006
  • Boyd: Nonlinear Optics, Academic Press, 2008
  • B. Williams and C.B. Carter, Transmission electron microscopy, Springer Science +Business Media, LLC, 2009, New York.
  • Handouts and articles distributed during lectures are made available on the course homepage.

Examination including compulsory elements

  • a written exam at the end of the course.
  • getting a "pass" at the compulsory labs.
  • bonus points for the homeworks will be added to the points scored at the exam.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.