lepl1203  2020-2021  Louvain-la-Neuve

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
5 credits
30.0 h + 30.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Charlier Jean-Christophe; Louveaux Jérôme; Oestges Claude (coordinator); SOMEBODY;
Language
French
Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Main themes
The course deals with wave physics, with a special emphasis on electromagnetic waves. It starts by writing Maxwell's equations, followed by a derivation of the wave equation from Maxwell's equations or from classical mechanics, and discusses its general solutions. The characteristics of simple waves are presented (frequency, wavelength, Doppler effect, polarisation,...). The behaviour of waves at the interface between two systems is then studied (Snell's and Fresnel's equations). Interference phenomena, including diffraction, are presented for local point and extended sources. Standing waves are then considered, as well as wave packets. The generation of electromagnetic waves is finally discussed (antennas and oscillating dipoles).
The second part of the course is an introduction to quantum physics: based on the notion of waves, it seeks to show the continuity and radical novelty of quantum physics compared to classical physics. It presents the limits of classical physics and the answer brought by quantum physics (wave-particle duality, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, Schrödinger equation), based on the concepts seen in the first part. It shows the interest of quantum physics in solving simple problems, and ends with a brief justification of the properties of atoms (hydrogen atom), providing a link to the notion of orbital necessary to understand chemistry and that of band structure used in solid-state physics.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1
Contribution of the course to the program objectives:

Regarding the learning outcomes of the program of Bachelor in Engineering, this course contributes to the development and the acquisition of the following learning outcomes:
  • LO 1.1
  • LO 2.7
  • LO 3.2
  • LO 4.2, 4.5

Specific learning outcomes of the course:
  
At the end of the course, he student will be able :
  • To write Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field and to explain their different terms;
  • To derive the wave equation from Maxwell's or Newton's equations, and to give the general solution of the wave equation for an electromagnetic or a mechanical wave;
  • To identify the main characteristics of a periodic wave (frequency, wavelength, speed), and the consequences of the Doppler effect on them;
  • To enumerate the possible polarizations for various waves, and to represent a wave of given polarization by an appropriate mathematical expression;
  • To define, explain and provide a mathematical justification for the following effects : refraction, reflection, interference (in the Fraunhofer approximation), diffraction, standing waves, beating;
  • To explain in simple words the origin of the electromagnetic radiation, and to compute the radiation intensity away from an elementary source;
  • To explain in simple words the limits of classical physics and the need for quantum physics;
  • To describe with quantum mechanics the behavior of particles in a flat potential, in a potential well, close to a potential barrier, as well as the tunnel effect and the atomic structure of the hydrogen atom;
  • To use the mathematical expressions describing the effects dealt with in the course in order to solve numerically small problems involving these effects; to characterize experimentally some of these effects.
The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled 'Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit'.
 
Content
Waves
1.1. Displacement current' integrated approach of electromagnetism
1.2. Maxwell's equations and the wave equation
1.3. Solutions to the wave equation; mechanical waves
1.4. Polarization; reflection et refraction
1.5. Interferences
1.6. Diffraction
1.7. Standing waves and wave packets
1.8. Electromagnetic radiation and antennas
Quantum Physics
2.1 Wave-particle duality, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
2.2 Schrödinger's equation and wave function
2.3. Quantum particles, potential wells and the tunneling effect
2.4. Hydrogen atom model and crystal band structure
Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Lectures (CM).
Learning based on exercises (APE), problems (APP) or laboratory (LABO) work by groups of students.
Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Evaluation is based upon:
  • a written exam at the end of the quadrimester
  • the mandatory participation to the laboratories
  • a mid-quadrimester interrogation (non necessarily certificative)
  • a public presentation by the students of their group work (APP or LABO) is also organized at the start of some lectures.
The students are provided for the exam (and the interrogation) with a reference formula sheet available for download on the course website.
Online resources
Moodle: https://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=7223
Faculty or entity
BTCI
Force majeure
Teaching methods
No change.
Evaluation methods
No change of evaluation methods (except that participation to the laboratories is not mandatory). However, the teachers might organize an oral exam for students for whom they have doubts about the grade obtained for the written exam.
Other information
See moodle for logistic details.


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Bachelor in Engineering