Prospectus

nl en

Detection of Light b

Course
2019-2020

Admission requirements

Description

Part b of this course covers recent detector technologies, such as:

  • Microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs)

  • Transition edge sensors (TES)

  • Avalanche photodiodes

  • Detection of high energy photons

In addition, the course covers the uncertainty principle in photon detection as well as the development, testing and characterization of infrared (IR) detectors. The emphasis of part b is on applications and technical realization. Since the lectures will be given by external guest lecturers, the topics covered in this course may change, depending on their availability.

Course objectives

The main objectives of this course are to provide an overview of:

  • Technologies and underlying physics used to detect electromagnetic radiation from UV to sub-millimeter wavelengths

  • State-of-the-art superconducting detector devices

  • Future detector technologies for astronomy

  • Acquisition, selection and compilation of technical information into a research project

Soft skills

In this course, students will be trained in the following behaviour-oriented skills:

  • Problem solving (recognizing and analyzing problems, solution-oriented thinking)

  • Analytical skills (analytical thinking, abstraction, evidence)

  • Project management – planning, scope, boundaries, result-orientation

  • Motivation – commitment, pro-active attitude, initiative

  • Verbal communication – presenting, speaking, listening

  • Written communication (writing skills, reporting, summarizing)

  • Critical thinking (asking questions, check assumptions)

  • Creative thinking – resourcefulness, curiosity, thinking out of the box

  • Integrity (honesty, moral, ethics, personal values)

Timetable

See Astronomy master schedules

Mode of instruction

Lectures given by guest lecturers, most of them from outside Leiden University

Assessment method

  • Mandatory attendance of the guest lectures

  • Literature study/research report related to one of the topical guest lectures, to be completed within six weeks after the topic has been chosen (deadlines will be listed on the course website, see below). Grading will be according to the classification insufficient/sufficient/good. If the report is graded ‘insufficient’ the student will be offered to resubmit an improved version of the report within two weeks. In this case, the grade of the resubmitted report cannot be higher than 6.0.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used to communicate with students and to share lecture slides, homework assignments, and any extra materials. You must enroll on Blackboard before the first lecture. To have access, you need a student ULCN account.

Reading list

Detection of Light – from the Ultraviolet to the Submillimeter, by George Rieke, 2nd Edition, 2003, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-01710-6. (Recommended)

Registration

Via uSis. More information about signing up for your classes can be found here. Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.

Contact information

Lecturer: Prof.dr. B.R. (Bernhard) Brandl
Assistant: Dr. L.H. (Leonard) Burtscher, Patrick Dorval