Unit information: Practical Techniques in 2025/26

Unit name	Practical Techniques
Unit code	PHYSM0068
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Carrington
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	none
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	none
Units you may not take alongside this one	none
School/department	School of Physics
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit will introduce many of the practical techniques used in superconductivity research. This will give you firsthand experience in using these techniques so you can see how they are applied in practice, which will help you understand and critically appraise data from others in the literature. The modules will cover basic experimental techniques such as those needed to perform low noise electrical measurements, use of advanced instruments such as a SQUID magnetometer, x-ray diffractometer, electron and focussed ion beam microscopes and elemental analysis, sample synthesis and thin film device fabrication. There are also practical modules on numerical techniques and high-performance computing.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study

This is a mandatory unit.

Your learning on this unit

Overview of content

Students will take 8 modules from a defined list. Each module lasts 2 days. The list may vary year-on-year. An example list is as follows:

1. Numerical Techniques (1): Introduction to Matlab / Python. Monte-Carlo simulation exercise.
2. Numerical Techniques (2): Modelling / analysis of data. Model fitting with robust error estimation.
3. Finite element modelling COMSOL (1): Electromagnetic properties.
4. Finite element modelling COMSOL (2): Thermal / mechanical stress properties.
5. Electronic-Structure Calculations (1): Density Functional Theory. Fermi surface and band-structure.
6. Electronic-Structure Calculations (2): Phonon-calculations and superconductivity.
7. Machine Learning: Application to data analysis or materials discovery.
8. CAD: Design of mechanical parts.
9. Low Noise Signal Detection: Noise and shielding, lock-in amplifiers, low level dc measurements.
10. Instrument Control: Python, Matlab or Labview.
11. Laboratory Electronics: Build and test amplifier and current source circuits.
12. Electronic Transport Measurement: Low temperature and high magnetic field.
13. Magnetic Measurements: DC SQUID, torque or ac-susceptibility.
14. Critical Current Measurements (I): Direct measurements with pulsed current tapes/ wires.
15. Critical Current Measurements (II): From magnetization measurements.
16. X-ray Diffraction: Crystallography using in-house diffractometer.
17. Angle Resolved Photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES): Fermi surface determination using in-house nanoESCA ARPES spectrometer.
18. Material Synthesis: Bulk samples or single crystals of superconductors.
19. SEM and EDX : Structure and compositional analysis.
20. Focussed ion beam: Device fabrication.
21. Thin Film deposition :Including clean room introduction and materials characterisation.
22. Nano fabrication: Lithography - e-beam and conventional, etching, metallisation, testing.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

You will have gained practical experience in a number of experimental or computational techniques used in superconductivity research. Although you will not be expert in these techniques after the modules, you will have gained sufficient experience in order to: (a) plan further practical sessions to gain further expertise in the techniques and (b) engage with literature where such techniques are reported. You will also gain proficiency in keeping comprehensive laboratory notes while performing the activities.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

1. use particular experimental and computational techniques used in superconductivity research at an introductory level,
2. engage with the scientific literature on the experimental and computational techniques used in superconductivity research,
3. keep good quality notes detailing practical studies.

How you will learn

Supervised experimental and computational work.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative): Exercises given by module leader during each practical module.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative): Assessment of each module will consist of an appraisal of the laboratory notebook which you will complete during the activity (LO 1,3)

When assessment does not go to plan

If you do not pass the unit you will usually be offered reassessment. The reassessment may not be in the same form as the original assessment but will test the same learning outcomes.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYSM0068).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.