Modern Physics

Course aim

To extend the student’s knowledge and understanding of some of the laws, principles and theories of physics, and to develop an appreciation of how these laws, principles and theories operate in experimental and applied physics.

Course content

Introduction to Quantum Physics: one dimensional analysis of the Schroedinger equation and the influence of various potentials.
Quantum Physics: Schroedinger equation for one-electron atom, eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for hydrogen, orbital angular momentum, electron spin, identical particles, Hartree theory for multi-electron atoms. Statistical Mechanics: Boltzmann distribution, entropy and disorder, Bose-Einstein distribution, specific heats, theories of Einstein and Debye, Fermi-Dirac distribution, electronic specific heat and examples.

Optical Communications: Optical fibres: mode analysis, solutions for step-index fibre, dispersion and losses, graded-index fibre, single-mode fibre, fibre manufacture, cables and components, connectors, joints and couplers, fibre transducers. Optical sources: laser principles, semiconductor junction lasers, light emitting diodes, fibre interface, couplings, laser safety. Detectors: avalanche photo-diode, pin photo-diode. Electro-optic devices and Integrated optics. Fibre communications: digital transmission requirements, fibre bandwidth, rise-times, optical transmitters, regenerators, system losses, rise-time calculations, performance standards, design of digital fibre systems.
Applied Electromagnetics: propagation and reflection of plane electromagnetic waves, polarization, intrinsic impedance, Electromagnetic theory of guided waves: Maxwell's equations, ray optics, wave optics. Bragg gratings, wave guide lasers. 

Physics of Advanced Materials: Structure and properties, metals, ceramics and glasses, polymers, semi-conductors, superconductivity, magnetic properties of materials, rheology, non Newtonial fluids, special materials, eg shape memory alloy, nanomaterials and quantum dots. 

Textbook(s)

Nil

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Assignments, Examination, Quizzes (in-class assessment)

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 2)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.