L3 - Physics and Applications (PA)

Practical work in various fields of physics.

The topics covered include the study of mechanical oscillating systems (simple pendulum, torsion pendulum, coupled pendulums), acoustic waves, some notions of wave optics (diffraction and interference), the use of electronic circuits for the study of components or electrical systems (diodes, LEDs and photodiodes, transmission line) and the study of some properties of matter (magnetism, photoelectric effect, Faraday effect).

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Introduction to the synthesis of chemical elements in the Universe (Big Bang, stars)

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This optional course introduces the physics concepts used in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. It will allow students to better understand the particular phenomena related to the nanometric scale. It also includes an introduction to the 4 microscopies that allow to observe and measure at this scale: AFM, STM, SEM, TEM

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This optional course focuses on solving physics problems on a computer. It includes the use of the Python language for scientific programming with a special focus on visualization and animation. It offers an introduction to the possibilities offered by numerical physics through different simulations (FDTD simulation of the propagation of a 1D electromagnetic wave, etc.)

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The course aims to give a first general introduction of physics to the biological sciences and to put in context the use of modern physics concepts, methods and approaches to describe biological systems and their complexity from the molecular to the cellular scale. It is thus necessary to understand the central role of physics for a century now to learn today the principles of organization and dynamics of living and complex matter (from the cell to populations of individuals). At the same time it is necessary to understand that biological systems represent a new opportunity for physicists to learn more about the complexity of living matter and its capacity for self-organization, regulation and control with a view also to new biomimetic applications.

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Learning of analog and digital electronics.

For the analog part, the teaching is based on the study and the implementation of the main components of electronics: diodes, transistors and operational amplifiers.

For the numerical part, the basics of sequential logic will be covered.

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At the beginning of this course, we will review the notions of light rays and the approximation conditions of geometrical optics on the one hand, and on the other hand, the important notions for physical optics in wave physics.

Then from the scalar approximation of light waves, a particular case of electromagnetic waves, we will describe the light sources, the phenomena of interference with 2 waves, N waves and then the diffraction in the Fraunhofer approximation.

We will continue with the study of different physical systems widely used by focusing on their power of resolution and their applications: microscope, telescope, Michelson interferometer, grating spectrometer, Fabry-Perot interferometer.

Finally we will finish with the concepts of spatial coherence and temporal coherence of light waves and their use (stellar interferometry, speckle ...)

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This course is a simplified introduction to quantum physics.
We will start with a historical overview of the beginnings of quantum mechanics: atomic emission line spectrum, black body radiation (we will see the logic of this name), photo-electric effect, ...
A simplified presentation of the Fourier transforms will allow us to understand the link between spectral line width and temporal evolution at first,
and further on to understand the Heisenberg inequalities.
An important part of the course will be devoted to matter waves, through the Schrödinger equation, in very simple particular cases.
Finally, we will finish with some aspects of magnetism (necessarily quantum).

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Statistical physics is one of the fundamental branches of modern physics which, through its probabilistic approach, establishes relations between the microscopic and the macroscopic. It deals with the evolution of systems with a very large number of particles (atoms, molecules, photons, etc.) and links macroscopic quantities such as pressure, temperature, etc. characterizing their state at thermodynamic equilibrium to quantities defining the microscopic state of their constituents. This introductory course in statistical physics will deal with the microcanonical and canonical sets, and will make the link between the partition function and thermodynamic quantities such as average energy, pressure, temperature and entropy. These results will be illustrated on perfect gases and on some simple quantum systems.     

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This UE is made up of two blocks of 18 hours each (9h CM+ 9h TD).

For the first "acoustic" block, after the establishment of the propagation equation of mechanical vibrations in an infinite medium, the plane wave solutions will be presented. The emphasis will then be put on the notion of scalar potential. The solutions in spherical waves will be presented. A large part will be devoted to the notion of acoustic impedance. The energetic aspects will also be discussed. Various applications (in particular ultrasonic) will be discussed.

The second "thermal" block of the EU consists in studying the heat transport properties in solids and fluids in stationary regime (independent of time). We first define the diffusive and convective heat transfer regimes, and introduce the Fourier equation relating the heat flow to the temperature variation via the thermal conductivity or the conducto-convective coefficient. We then establish the heat propagation equation that we apply to the simple cases of walls and pipes. We then recall the main laws describing heat transfer by radiation (Planck's law, Stefan-Boltzmann's law) and study the case of radiative flux between two bodies under total influence. All this knowledge will be used to perform the heat balance of homogeneous or composite walls, building models, bars and fins. We will also treat the case of heat exchangers.

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This UE includes a refresher and deepening of programming techniques as well as an introduction to numerical physics. We will start with a review of procedural programming with the Python 3 language. The use of numerical methods relevant to the simulation and solution of physical problems will then be presented.

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This UE is in the continuity of the lessons of dynamics of the point and the rigid solid of L1 and L2. The aim is to give elements of mechanics of deformable continuous media essentially in the limit of small deformations, linear elasticity, viscoelasticity and viscosity. The emphasis is on simple cases and common applications.

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The tutored project is an experimental or digital simulation project carried out in groups of 3 students. It takes place in the practical work room, on one of the many physics and chemistry themes offered. It confronts the students with the project approach, and mobilizes their creativity, their spirit of initiative, their autonomy and their rigor in the experiments. The project concludes with a report and a defense, which is evaluated by peers and then by the jury.

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This UE is composed of two parts. The first part concerns more particularly the Dirac formalism in quantum mechanics with illustrations in the case of the 1D harmonic oscillator and the angular momentum, in particular for the spin. The second part is an introduction to the use of quantum mechanics in solid state physics through its application to semiconductors.

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Classification of solids. Crystalline structures. Energy bands. Metals. Semi-conductors. Insulators. Electrical, dielectric and magnetic properties.

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Study of the basic principles of the physics of the nucleus in view of concrete applications in everyday life. This course aims at giving the basic elements of nuclear physics in order to present the applications of radioactivity and nuclear energy in the industrial field (Physics of Nuclear Reactors, Fuels), in the medical field (Nuclear Imaging), or in the field of radioprotection (Measuring devices, units...)

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Practical work and application of analog and digital electronics in connection with the UE HLPH507.

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