Unit information: Surface Physics in 2021/22

Unit name	Surface Physics
Unit code	PHYSM0007
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Vasiljevic
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	PHYS30021 Solid State Physics, or equivalent including as part of PHYSM0003 or CHEMM4000
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Physics
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

The aims of this course are as follows:

• To develop concepts from previous condensed matter courses, thereby showing how the reduced dimensionality of the surface affects fundamental physical properties and processes such as electronic structure, magnetism and phase transitions in metals and semiconductors.
• To demonstrate the importance of surface structure for processes such as crystal growth and catalysis.
• To introduce chemical physics at the solid-liquid interface.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: Describe the structure of ideal and reconstructed surfaces. Be familiar with different contributions to surface energy. Identify the appropriate experimental technique to address problems in surface science. Relate surface electronic structure to magnetic and catalytic properties. Describe surface processes including growth, relaxation and adsorption at the atomic level.

Teaching Information

The unit will be taught through a combination of

• asynchronous online materials, including narrated presentations and worked examples
• synchronous group problems classes, workshops, tutorials and/or office hours
• asynchronous directed individual formative exercises and other exercises
• guided, structured reading

Assessment Information

Summative Assessment Written, timed, open-book examination (100%)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYSM0007).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.