Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory 2

The course aims to provide the skills needed for a correct implementation, analysis, and interpretation of measurements on some physical properties of materials, with particular reference to optical and vibrational spectroscopy measurements on thin films. The objective of the course is to train students forming their attitude towards a critical analysis of all the elements involved in the experimental realization of the measure: from the details of sample preparation, to the choice of a measurement scheme; from the setup construction fine details, to the implementation of all the processing steps on the acquired data.

At the end of the course, students are expected to have:

1) Learned some techniques for samples preparation in the form of thin films: in particular PVD techniques under high-vacuum conditions.

2) Learned the basics of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and how to perform all the numerical operations needed to extract the spectroscopic information from the interferometric data.

3) Learned how to correctly implement UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy measurements.

4) Understood the peculiar features and the criticalities connected with the different optical spectroscopy measurement schemes and techniques.

5) Learned to compare their results with those extracted from literature and to place their observations in the context of research on new materials at international level.

6) Developed the ability to present synthetically the result of an experimental activity and to discuss the validity of their own observations.