Admission requirements
- Astronomy master's course Detection of Light a
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