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PX4516: NUCLEAR AND SEMICONDUCTOR PHYSICS (2022-2023)

Last modified: 20 Jan 2023 16:02


Course Overview

This course comprises two half units, Nuclear physics and semiconductor physics, both of huge technological  importance.  In the nuclear physics section, the competing forces that act within the nucleus will be examined and how this leads to the concept of binding energy.  How binding energy can be liberated in fusion and fission processes and reactors will then be explored.  In semiconductor physics, the physics of charge carriers and charge transport  in semiconductors will be examined and how this can be utilized in a huge variety of semiconductor devices such as diodes and transistors.


Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Geoffrey M. Dunn

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course will develop the basic ideas of band theory, followed by the development of semiconductor physics which builds on both Boltzmann and Fermi-Dirac statistics. The underlying concepts in semiconductor physics will develop from the movement of charge in solids, number densities of charge carriers, equilibrium then non-equilibrium semiconductors and will conclude with consolidation of these ideas through their application in the pn junction diode. In the second half, Nuclear models, nuclear shells and magic numbers; radioactive decay; fission, fusion, nuclear reactions and types of reactors; production of radionuclides; reactors, linear accelerators and cyclotrons will be covered.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 70
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Online Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Online Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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