PHYS 423/523: Physical Methods of Materials CharacterizationFall 2009
Location:    MP-208     Time:  Mon, Wed 4:40 pm - 5:55 pm
Prerequisites:    PHYS 309 (Introductory Modern Physics) or permission of instructor.
Textbook:    Microstructural Characterization of Materials by D. Brandon and W.D. Kaplan (recommended)
Instructor:   Dr. Dmitri Tenne   Office: MP-422   Phone: 208-426-1633   Email: DmitriTenne@boisestate.edu
Office Hours:    Monday and Wednesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, or by appointment
Lecture notes/Homework/reading materials:  blackboard.boisestate.edu


Week Lecture Topics/HW assignment
08/24/2009 Overview. Review of microstructure and basic crystallographic concepts. X-ray Diffraction: Generation of x-rays; Bragg's law.
08/31/2009 Reciprocal lattice. Experimental XRD techniques. HW set 1
09/07/2009 Holiday; Diffraction Analysis. Atomic and Structure Factors. HW set 2
09/14/2009 Electron and neutron diffraction. HW set 3
09/21/2009 Optical and Confocol Microscopy. HW set 4
09/28/2009 Optical spectroscopic techniquesa. HW set 5
10/05/2009 Exam I; Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  
EXAM I: Monday, October 5
  
10/12/2009 Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM); HW set 6;
10/19/2009 Microanalysis in Electron Microscopy (EDS, WDS, and EELS); HW set 7
10/26/2009 Photoelectric effect. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
11/02/2009 Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES);Secondary ion mass spectrometry. HW set 8. Exam II
  
EXAM II: Wednesday, November 4
  
11/09/2009 Ion-Beam Techniques: Backscattering spectrometry (RBS, HIBS), ERD; Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), HW set 9
11/16/2009 Scanning Probe Microscopy (STM, AFM, PFM, MFM, NSOM), HW set 10
11/23/2009 Thanksgiving Break
11/30/2009 Magnetometry. Magnetic resonance techniques.
12/07/2009 Other Materials Characterization Techniques* - Graduate Student Seminar Presentations (15 minutes each). Course review.
  
FINAL EXAM: MOnday, December 14


GOAL: To obtain a basic understanding of the physical principles and practical methods used in the structural, electronic, chemical, optical, and magnetic characterization of materials.

     The course objectives will be accomplished through lecture and discussion of selected topics in class, through exercises, and by students working through the assigned parts of the text, and all assigned homework problems. Assessment will come from the tests (which will be based on the assigned parts of the text, lecture notes, the assigned homework problems and reports, and the lectures), project reports, seminar presentations and the homeworks assigned every week.

     Graduate students will perform a research project on a characterization technique of their choice, other than the ones that are taught in this course. These individual projects will focus on the principle, working and application of a materials characterization technique. The applicability of the specific technique should be illustrated by discussing an experimental investigation performed using the chosen technique or by reviewing scientific journal articles which focus upon these issues. A formal report will be written, with a typical length of approximately 10 pages (double spaced). The report will be graded based on its originality, clarity of expression, and technical accuracy. These reports are due on 13 November, 2009. Graduate students will also give a 10 minute presentation based on their project report.

EXAMS: 60% of your grade is based on the exams (Two in-class exams and a final comprehensive exam, each worth 20%). ALL EXAMS WILL BE COUNTED, AND NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. You may bring sheets of major formulas for each exam, along with your formula sheets from your previous PHYS 423/523 exams. All formula sheets must be labeled at the top by exam number, be signed and handwritten by you, and be turned in with your exam. It is your responsibility to know the meaning of every symbol on your formula sheet, and to understand the meaning, applicability, and use of every equation you include on your formula sheet.

HOMEWORK: For those registered for PHYS 423, 40% of your grade will be based on the weekly homework assignment. For PHYS 523 students, 25% of your grade will be based on homework assignments, and your project report and seminar presentation will together count for 15%. NO LATE HOMEWORK/PROJECT REPORT ACCEPTED. Hand in what you have on the due date, at the beginning of class. Look over your graded homeworks carefully and make sure you can work and understand every assigned homework problem. You are strongly encouraged to talk to the instructor about homework problems that you do not understand.

  • Homework should be clearly written and easy to follow. It should be clear that the student understands the solution for full credit. Homework that is not legible will not be graded (i.e. too much crossing out, erasing, solution doesn't follow in a linear fashion, or written on paper with dark lines/grids). Homework written on both sides of papers is acceptable as long as the writing from one side is not visible on the opposite side, otherwise the work is not visible.
  • Show all of your work for the solution. Physical quantities have units. Solutions should include unit notation throughout for all physical quantities used. This makes the homework more readable and is more beneficial to the student.
  • Results should be clearly marked.
  • Diagrams and drawings must have labels. Plot axes should contain labels and units, as well as the plot having a meaningful title. "y" vs "x" is not a meaningful title.
  • Rows and columns in tables need labels and units.
  • Incorrect solutions that have the correct result at the end will receive zero points. Incorrect or partially correct solutions that have the result that can be found with the solution given will receive partial credit.
  • All of the homework in this class can be done by hand with the aid of basic scientific calculator functions. Use computers and advanced calculators to check solutions, but show the calculation (calculus based problems might be easy to use a computer to solve, but this does not demonstrate understanding by the student). "Magic answers" that show no work, or were only solved by a computer or advanced calculator will receive no credit.
READING: Consult the syllabus and read the corresponding sections of the book or sections posted in the Blackboard before the material is covered in class. As you read, write down any questions you have and bring them to class. Ask questions in class.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Although you are encouraged to discuss the class lectures, readings, and home work assignments with your classmates, all the work that you turn in must be your own. No cheating or plagiarism (presenting other people's work as if it were your own) will be tolerated, including any use of homework solutions found on the web. If you make use of sources besides the class lectures or textbooks, you must provide explicit written references to the sources you used. Failure to follow this rule or any others listed in the Academic Handbook could have drastic consequences, including (but not limited to) ejection from the course with a failing grade.

GRADING:
A: 88-100% (A-: 88-89%, A+: 99-100%) B:76-88% (B-: 76-77%, B+: 86-87%)
C: 60-75% (C-: 60-62%, C+: 73-75%); D: 45-60%


ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
  1. .J. Goldstein et al., "Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis", Third Ed.
  2. E. N. Kaufmann, "Characterization of Materials", Vol. 1 and 2.
  3. C. R. Bundle, C. A. Evans, Jr. and S. Wilson, "Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization".
  4. Flewitt and Wild, "Physical Methods for Materials Characterization".
  5. V. K. Pecharsky and P. Y. Zavalij, "Fundamentals of Powder Diffraction and Structural Characterization of Materials".