Learning ion-solid interactions hands-on: An activity based, inquiry oriented, graduate course

    Authors

    G. Braunstein

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. B-Beam Interact. Mater. Atoms

    Keywords

    ion-solid interactions; accelerator graduate course; learning by; discovery; activity based course; Instruments & Instrumentation; Nuclear Science & Technology; Physics, ; Atomic, Molecular & Chemical; Physics, Nuclear

    Abstract

    Experimental work, using state of the art instrumentation, is integrated with lectures in a "real life", learning by discovery approach, in the Ion-Solid Interactions graduate/undergraduate course offered by the Department of Physics of the University of Central Florida. The lecture component of the course covers the underlying physical principles, and related scientific and technological applications, associated with the interaction of energetic ions with matter. In the experimental section the students form small groups and perform a variety of projects, experimental and computational, as part of a participative, inquiry oriented, learning process. In the most recent offering of the class, the students deposited a compound semiconductor thin film by dual-gun sputtering deposition, where each group aimed at a different stoichiometry of the same compound (Zn1-xSxOy). Then they analyzed the composition using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, measured electrical transport properties using Hall effect and conductivity measurements, and determined the band gap using spectrophotometry. Finally the groups shared their results and each wrote a 'journal-like' technical article describing the entire work. In a different assignment, each group also developed a Monte Carlo computer program ('TRIM-like') to simulate the penetration of ions into a solid, in ion implantation, calculating the stopping cross-sections with approximate models, taught in class, which can be analytically solved. The combination of classroom/laboratory activities is very well received by the students. They gain real life experience operating state of the art equipment, and working in teams, while performing research-like projects, and simultaneously they learn the theoretical foundations of the discipline. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

    Volume

    241

    Issue/Number

    1-4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    150

    Last Page

    154

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000234260000035

    ISSN

    0168-583X

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