• What Brock calendar entry says:
  
  • An experimental course that focuses on sample preparation. Projects may include the synthesis of ceramic materials and fabrication of thin films of these materials, nano particles of ceramic materials prepared by methods such as sol-gel and solid-state reactions, alloys and amorphous materials.
  
  

• Prerequisite(s)
  • Students must have completed either PHYS 5P79 successfully or obtain the instructor's permission.
  
  

• What does student need to bring into the course?
  • This course is designed for students with a strong passion for working as experimental physicists. Those enrolled in this course should be capable of conducting independent research by searching for scientific concepts through the internet and text books and obtaining practical ideas. Furthermore, students are expected to possess the ability to plan and design their experiments effectively. In the event of unsuccessful attempts, they should be able to adapt and switch to alternative logical plans to continue their scientific investigations.
  
  

• Course Goals

  The objective of the couese PHYS 5P81 is to achieve the following:

  • Learn to synthesize various types of materials, including bulk, thin film, and alloy.
  
  
  • Gain experience in the characterization of the prepared samples and study their properties.
  
  
  • Enhance scientific writing skills and effectively present scientific achivements.
  
  
  • Finally, develop capabilities for working in the industry or research areas.
  
  

  In summary, the aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge and skills in material synthesis, characterization, scientific communication, and preparation for professional work in the industry or research sector.

  
  

• Textbook
  • Synthesizing a material depends on several factors, such as the type, size, shape, and intended application of the material. Due to this complexity, researchers may need to extensively review various references to determine the optimal conditions and methods for synthesis. In cases where the initial attempts are unsuccessful, modifications to the synthesis method might be necessary based on theoretical knowledge and previous experiences. This iterative process of refinement and adjustment is crucial to achieve succesful material synthesis. Hence, there is no specific individual references assigned for this course.
  
  

• Communication with the Instructor
  • your instructor operates with an open-door policy, allowing you to seek one-on-one assisstance and ask questions at any time, except during restricted hours.

This is a provisional list, drawn from past experience. Overtime, some topics may be omitted, while others might be introduced on yearly basis.

• Synthesis and structural properties of a bulk ceramic
  
  • Synthesis of La_(1-x)(Sr/Ca)_xMnO₃ via conventional solid-state reaction method
  • Compositional analysis of the prepared sample using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • Study of morphology of the prepared sample using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Elemental analysis of the prepared sample using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
  
  
• Fabrication and structural properties of thin films
  
  • Preparation of thin films of La_(1-x)(Sr/Ca)_xMnO₃ using Pulsed Laser deposition (PLD)
  • The investigation of the orientation properties of thin films
  
  
• Synthesis and structural properties of a superconductor
  
  • Synthesis of a binary superconductor using arc-melting fabrication method
  • Compositional analysis of the prepared sample using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • Study of morphology of the prepared sample using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Elemental analysis of the prepared sample using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
  
  

  After completing each characterization, students are required to interpret their results accurately based on scientific evidence.

Note: To receive a grade in this course, it is mandatory to compelete all lab assignments and attend all lab sessions and cooperate well with your laboratory fellow.

Outlined below are the expectations and responsibilities we have for you.

• Students are required to attend all laboratory sessions and schedulled lecture according to Brock's Attendance Requirements


• All students must be familiar with and adhere to the rules outlined in Brock University's Academic Integrity Policy. Additionally, all graduate students must engage in their studies with the utmost integrity in accordance with Brock's integrity policy.


• Graduate students undertaking an experimental thesis project or other experimental Physics courses, are obligated to register for Health and Safety online Brightspace Training before attending to the 5P81 lab.

Note: Individuals who have compeleted any of PHYS 5P79, or PHYS 5P80, is expected to hold valid certificates for all necessary Health and Safety courses obtained prior to enrollment.



• All the lab reports must be written in LaTeX. Students can access to the Physics Template from here.


• Late lab report will Not be accepted.


• Students are responsible for their own learning. While the experiments are designed to guide and assist them, the real effort of mastering the course material lies with student themselves. To maximize their learning experience, it is crucial to dedicate time to update your knowledge with recent research achivements in your field. Consistent reading, studying, and working on their project, helps solidify student's learning into long-term memory. This ensures student to build upon their knowledge and skills in their future career.

Academic misconduct is a serious offence. The principle of academic integrity, particularly of doing one’s own work, documenting properly (including use of quotation marks, appropriate paraphrasing and referencing/citation), collaborating appropriately, and avoiding misrepresentation, is a core principle in university study. Students should consult “Academic Misconduct” section in the Undergraduate Calendar to view a fuller description of prohibited actions, and the procedures and penalties. The University takes academic misconduct extremely seriously and will follow its strict procedures to the letter in all cases.

A helpful website explains Brock's Academic Integrity Policy. Please consult it, as all students are expected to know and abide by its provisions.

Courses may use turnitin.com, a phrase-matching software, to verify originality of your submitted lab reports and written assignments. If you object to uploading your assignmentsr to turnitin.com for any reason, please notify the instructor to discuss alternative submissions.

Be aware that it is the policy of the Department of Physics that any academic misconduct including (but not limited to) possessing, using or accessing unauthorized material in any form (including online) during final exams or assessments will automatically result in zero grade for the exam. Since most courses require a minimum passing grade on the final exam to complete the course, this will likely lead to a failure in the course.

Unless otherwise specified, the Department of Physics follows the following minimum penalty guidelines for cases of academic misconduct in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science (FMS). Please be aware that the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs, may assign different penalties than those listed here, depending on the details of individual cases. Also note that cheating on exams carries significantly higher penalties.

First offence:

Zero grade on the assignment, additional penalty of 100% of the weight of the assignment to be subtracted from the final grade, mandatory completion of the AZLS Academic Integrity workshop

Second offence:

Zero grade on assignment, additional penalty of 200% of the weight of the assignment to be subtracted from the final grade, 4-month suspension

Third or additional offence:

Zero grade in the course, 1-year suspension, permanent removal from major program.

Cheating on exams:

Zero grade in the course, including for first offenses.

All slides, presentations, handouts, tests, exams, and other course materials created by the instructor in this course are the intellectual property of the instructor. A student who publicly posts or sells an instructor’s work, without the instructor’s express consent, may be charged with misconduct under Brock’s Academic Integrity Policy and/or Code of Conduct, and may also face adverse legal consequences for infringement of intellectual property rights.

Please be aware of all the important dates, such as the first/last days of classes, snow days and reading week, as well as the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty. For the current academic term, this information can be found here.

The University is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and will adhere to the Human Rights principles that ensure respect for dignity, individualized accommodation, inclusion and full participation. The University provides a wide range of resources to assist students, as follows:

1. If you require academic accommodation because of a disability or an ongoing health or mental health condition, please contact Student Accessibility Services at askSAS@brocku.ca or 905 688 5550 ext. 3240.
2. Medical Self-Declaration Forms (brief absence up to 72 hours)

   In the case of a short-term medical circumstance, if a student wishes to seek an academic consideration, please use the Medical Self-Declaration Form. The request is to be made in good faith by the student requesting the academic consideration due to a short-term condition that impacts their academic activities (e.g., participation in academic classes, delay in assignments, etc.). The period of this short-term medical condition for academic consideration must fall within a 72-hour (3 day) period. The form must be submitted to the instructor either during your brief absence or if you are too unwell, within 24 hours of the end of your 3 day brief absence.

   Medical Verification Form (extended duration)

   In cases where a student requests academic consideration due to a medical circumstance that exceeds 72 hours (three days) and will impact their academic activities (e.g., participation in academic classes, delay in assignments, etc.), or in the case of a final exam deferral, the medical verification form must be signed by the student and the health professional as per process set out in the Faculty Handbook III:9.4.1.

3. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, contact the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre. Good2Talk is a service specifically for post-secondary students, available 24/7, 365 days a year, and provides anonymous assistance. Follow the above link or call 1-866-925-5454. For information on wellness, coping and resiliency, visit: Brock University (Mental Health).
4. If you require academic accommodation on religious grounds, you should make a formal, written request to your instructor(s) for alternative dates and/or means of satisfying requirements. Such requests should be made during the first two weeks of any given academic term, or as soon as possible after a need for accommodation is known to exist.
5. If you have been affected by sexual violence, the Human Rights & Equity Office offers support, information, reasonable accommodations, and resources through the Sexual Violence Support & Education Coordinator. For information on sexual violence, visit Brock's Sexual Assault and Harassment Policy or contact the Sexual Violence Support & Response Coordinator at humanrights@brocku.ca or 905 688 5550 ext. 4387.
6. If you have experienced discrimination or harassment on any of the above grounds, including racial, gender or other forms of discrimination, contact the Human Rights and Equity Office at humanrights@brocku.ca.

For a full description of academic policies in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, consult brocku.ca/mathematics-science/