EP 411 Analytical Techniques (Autumn 2018-19)

Instructor: Prof. Kantimay Das Gupta

Course Name: Analytical Techniques ( EP 411 )

Course Type: Theory (Core)

Credits: 6

Pre-requisites: Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Mechanics 2

Course Content: 

X-Ray Diffraction - scattering, structure factors, form factors, line broadening, data analysis, small angle diffraction, x-ray reflections, reciprocal space maps. Electron diffraction - penetration depths, electrostatic and magnetic lenses, Laue zones, Kikuchi lines, data analysis. Neutron diffraction - structure factor, penetration depths and characteristics of diffraction data. Raman and Brillouin Scattering - motivation, cause, dynamic structure factor. Photoelectron spectroscopy - XPS, Auger process, UPS, ARPES, examples in determining band structure. NMR spectra - chemical shifts, isomer configurations, Bloch equations, lattice relaxation constants. 

Books:

XRD: Walter Schottky Institut - High Resolution X-Ray Diff􏰁raction, Electron Diffraction - Peter J. Goodhew Electron Microscopy and Analysis, C. N. Banwell Fundamentals of Molecular Spectroscopy.

Lectures:

No attendance was taken. All teaching was on slides. Classes and in particular the tutorials are extremely useful in order to understand the course content and do well in exams. Classes tend to cover a wealth of information regarding the practical aspects of conducting the respective experiments. 

Assignments:

All tutorials were solved exhaustively in class. Moderate preparation would help greatly.

Exams and Grading:

3/4 exams were straightforward. One quiz was quite tough requiring one to have paid good attention in class and have knowledge from previous courses at your fingertips.

Online Useful Material:
Links given in the slides were useful to check out.

Advanced Follow up Courses:

Pro-Tips:

Highly recommend attending all tutorial classes. And do read slides carefully for the exams. When a new topic is being introduced, make sure you attend the initial lectures and understand what's going on and why. That should be enough to follow the subsequent lectures quite easily.

Personal Comments:
The prof tends to go into practical details while introducing the topic itself. Not after covering all basics. If you're not so interested in those details, it's very easy to lose focus and feel extremely bored. Keep this teaching style in mind to make better use of his lectures. Once you understand the concept properly, by sifting through all the information dumped on you, it's a straightforward course.

Respondent: Hrishikesh Iyer