PHYM007 - Module Description

MODULE TITLE	Ultrafast Physics					CREDIT VALUE	15
MODULE CODE	PHYM007		MODULE CONVENER			Dr V.V. Kruglyak

DURATION	TERM	1	2	3	Number Students Taking Module (anticipated)		5
	WEEKS		T2:01-11

DESCRIPTION – summary of the module content (100 words)

This module covers areas of physics that emerged as a result of application of the state-of-the-art ultrafast measurement techniques in the study of spintronics, magnonics, plasmonics and metamaterials. In particular, topics explored in this module include ultrafast sources, time resolved spectroscopy and imaging, ultrafast magnetisation reversal, excitation of non-Fermi electron distributions, coherent phonons, magnons, etc., ultrafast demagnetisation, nonlinear electro- and magneto-optical effects (including electromagnetic radiation).

MODULE AIMS – intentions of the module

Ultrafast physics is revolutionising our understanding of matter and offering many new exciting opportunities, for example some speculate that table-top particle accelerators might become possible. This module aims to give the student in-depth understanding of the non-equilibrium phenomena observed in condensed matter samples that have been excited by ultrafast optical pulses.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

describe and explain the principles of operation of ultrafast lasers and amplifiers;
describe and explain the time domain hierarchy of ultrafast processes in various solid state materials;
give clear and technically detailed explanations and sketch diagrams of a range of ultrafast measurement techniques;
predict the types of information that the different ultrafast measurement techniques can yield from samples with various electrical and magnetic properties and understand the limitations inherent to the techniques;
interpret ultrafast measurements in semiconductors in terms of the main dynamical processes triggered by ultrafast optical pulses;
use quantum mechanics and electromagnetic theory to describe and explain properties and different types of spin and magnetisation relaxation in semiconductors and metals;
apply the Landau â Lifshitz equations and three temperatures model to problems of ultrafast physics;
describe and explain the concept of metamaterials;
calculate the âeffectively homogeneousâ properties of electromagnetic and acoustic metamaterials of basic structure;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

select an ultrafast measurement technique appropriate for characterisation of dynamic properties of specific solid state samples;
apply the fundamentals of electromagnetism and condensed matter physics to design of novel measurement techniques and to interpretation of state-of-the-art experimental results;
analyse limitations imposed upon the laws of core physics derived in equilibrium by ultrafast measurements of non-equilibrium solid state phenomena;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

engage with new knowledge that surpasses or seemingly contradicts accepted views;
retrieve and evaluate information from specialist research literature.

SYLLABUS PLAN – summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Revision
1. Maxwell's Equations for the electromagnetic field, constitutive equations, electromagnetic waves
2. Electronic band theory and its relation to optical properties
3. Classification of materials according to their electric and magnetic properties
Ultrafast Lasers and Amplifiers
1. Absorption, spontaneous and stimulated emission, Einstein coefficients
2. Three- and four-level systems
3. Amplification and lasing — population inversion, optical gain and feedback
4. Cavities and cavity modes
Ultrafast Measurement Mechniques
1. Pulse width control
2. Magneto-optics
3. Time resolved measurements
4. Principles of Gaussian beam optics
5. Time-resolved microscopy
Ultrafast Processes in Semiconductors
1. Ultrafast dynamics of electrons
2. Electromagnetic emission
3. Ultrafast lattice dynamics and coherent phonons
4. Ultrafast spintronics of semiconductors: spin orientation and relaxation
Ultrafast Spintronics and Magnonics of Magnetic Metals and Dielectrics
1. Phenomenological description of magnetisation dynamics in ferromagnets, Landau-Lifshitz equations, spin waves
2. Relaxation of magnetisation dynamics
3. Two and tree temperature models of electron, lattice and spin dynamics in metallic ferromagnets
4. Ultrafast demagnetisation
5. Optical excitation and coherent control of spin waves in metals and dielectrics
Ultrafast Plasmonics and Nano-Photonics
1. Surface plasmon-polaritons
2. Mie resonances
3. Amplification and guiding of electromagnetic fields by nanostructured metallic surfaces
Metamaterials
1. Photonic metamaterials and applications
2. Plasmonic metamaterials and applications
3. Magnonic metamaterials and applications
4. Acoustic metamaterials and applications

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities

22 hours

Guided independent study

128 hours

Placement/study abroad

0 hours

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS