Course Content (Syllabus)
Optical Techniques and Spectroscopy: Classic regard of the absorption and dispersion of matter. Absorption coefficient, penetration depth in matter. Dispersion relations and sum rules. Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the matter (photon-electron). Dielectric function and refractive index. Experimental techniques for the study of optical properties (Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (from the IR in the UV energy region), IR Spectroscopy and Raman). Optical techniques for in-situ and real-time monitoring the growth process and formation of matter and the materials.
Crystal Structure: Small Scale Materials: X-ray diffraction, and small angle diffraction of high resolution. X-rays reflectivity (determination of density, study of multilayer films and nanostructures). Quality and morphology of surfaces and interfaces. Non specular x-ray scattering (topography and morphology of surfaces, fractal dimension of surfaces and length of correlation).
Polymers: X-ray diffraction from polymers, co-polymers and polymer mixtures. Structure of monocrystalline polymer of low molecular weight multilateral and helical polymers. Diffraction linewidth and crystallite sizes. Determination of crystallinity and ageing of polymers. Determination of particles size of polymers.
Proteins: Introduction (the cell, the nucleic acids, the amino-acids, the hydrocarbons). Structural elements of proteins. Cleaning of proteins. Growth of protein crystals. Crystalic symmetry and diffraction from macromolecules, Acquisition and treatment of diffraction data, and structure solving and Molecular replacement. Databases on macromolecules. Crystallographic programs of resolution, imaging and improvement of structure. Comparisons with other methods. Laboratorial familiarization with techniques and methods of Spectroscopy and Crystallography.