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CODE 90693
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR FIS/03
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

"Elementi e Applicazioni di Fisica Moderna" (EAFM, code 90693) is a 7 credits worth class held during the second semester of the First year of the "Laurea Magistrale". Lectures are held in Italian. Study material for subscribing students can be found on the AulaWeb website.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides a basic knowledge on several topics concerning modern physics, with a particular emphasis on quantum mechanics and some topics of special relativity. The aim is stimulating interest and comprehension of several physical phenomena related to these topics and to highlight important applications, especially in the field of the structure of matter.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student should acquire a knowledge of the fundamental quantum and relativistic phenomena and their role in shaping the principal physical and chemical phenomena (e.g. the electronic structer of atoms) as well as how general purpose devices (such as lasers), innovative technologies (such as the GPS) and even advanced instrumentation (such as electron microscopes) work.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional: oral lectures and examples worked out by teachers.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

  1. Introduction to Special Relativity

    Short recapitulation about classical relativity, the electromagnetic waves equation
    The Michelson-Morley experiment
    Einstein postulates
    Lorentz transformations
    A brief introduction to relativistic dynamics
    Applications
     
  2. Quantum mechanics

    2.1 Wave-matter dualism for electromagnetic radiation
    Recapitulations about the interference of electromagnetic waves
    The photoelectric effect, the concept of photon
    Blackbody radiation
    Principle of complementarity, probabilistic interpretation
    Uncertainty relationship for photons

    2.2 Wave-matter dualism for matter 
    Atomic phenomena: emission spectra and the Bohr model
    The De Broglie hypothesis
    Interference effects among particles
    The Heisenberg uncertainty principle and wave packets

    2.3 The Schroedinger equation
    Stationary and time-dependent equation
    Probabilistic interpretation of the wave function
    Particle in a box
    Tunnel effect
    Application: scanning tunnel microscope and atomic force microscope

    2.4 Atomic models and particle statistics
    Hydrogen atom, spin, statistics
    The Pauli exclusion principle
    Fermi and Bose statistics
    Many-electron atoms
     

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

K. S. Krane "Modern Physics, 3rd edition" (Wiley)
V. A. Ugarov "Special Relativity" (MIR)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MAURA SASSETTI (President)

DARIO FERRARO

FABIO CAVALIERE (President Substitute)

GIOVANNI RIDOLFI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The class will start according to the lecturing calendar approved by the "Consiglio di Corso di Studi".

Class schedule

L'orario di tutti gli insegnamenti è consultabile all'indirizzo EasyAcademy.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination will allow to assess the knowledge of the fundamental quantum and relativistic phenomena and the ability to identify their role in the explanation of natural phenomena and of the working principles of devices and technologies as discussed in the course.