University of Surrey - Guildford
Registry
  
 

  
 
Registry > Module Catalogue
View Module List by A.O.U. and Level  Alphabetical Module Code List  Alphabetical Module Title List  Alphabetical Old Short Name List  View Menu 
2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: PHYM026 Module Title: ASTRONOMICAL DETECTOR TECHNOLOGY AND INSTRUMENTATION
Module Provider: Physics Short Name: ASTRO DETECTORS
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: SELLIN PJ Prof (Physics)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Semester 2
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment

 

Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)

 

Problem Sheets

 

Individual Seminars on Telescopes/Instruments

 

Presentations on Science requirements

 

Presentations on Detector selection

 

Report on detector selection

 

20

 

 

10

 

15

 

20

 

35

 

Part-time Students:

 

Same as for full-time students

 

Qualifying Condition(s)

 

Module Overview
The module addresses the detector technology required for Astronomical research.

This module is taught at the University of Sussex.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Students should normally have an undergraduate degree in Physics or Mathematics

Module Aims

Specific aims are to provide students with:
(i) An overview of instrumentation and detectors
(ii) An overview of some of the topical cutting edge questions in the field
(iii) An appreciation of how scientific requirements translate to instrument/detector
requirements and design

Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing the module, the students will be able to:
(i) Display a basic understanding of detectors in astronomy
(ii) Display communication skills
(iii) Distil technological requirements from scientific drivers
(iv) Make informed choice of detector for given application with justification

Module Content

1. A crash course in Astronomy and Astrophysics (6hrs + directed reading)
(i) Fluxes, luminosities, magnitudes, etc.
(ii) Radiation processes, black bodies, spectra
(iii) Stars
(iv) Galaxies
(v) Planets
(vi) Cosmology
(vii) Key questions
(viii) Key requirements

2. Telescopes & Instruments (3 hours student led seminars – from reading)
(i) Optical telescopes
(ii) Interferometry
(iii) Cameras
(iv) Spectroscopy
(v) Astronomy beyond the e/m spectrum

3. Detectors by wavelength (6 hours taught & 3 hours seminars)
(i) Gamma
(ii) X-ray
(iii) UV
(iv) Optical
(v) NIR
(vi) Mid-IR
(vii) FIR
(vii) Sub-mm
(ix) Radio

4. Detector selection for a future space mission X (4X3 hours)
(i) Scientific motivation and requirements
(ii) Detector options
(iii) External Constraints, financial, risk, etc.
(iv) Detector selection

Methods of Teaching/Learning

Lectures: 12 hours of formal lectures, 6 hours of student led seminars, 12 hours of problem based learning activity
Private study of specified topics
The module is 100% coursework assessed, based on open-book problem sheets, seminar presentations, and a written report.

Selected Texts/Journals

1. Detection of Light: Rieke
2. Fundamental Astronomy: Karttunen
3. Handbook of CCD astronomy: Howell
4. Handbook of Infrared astronomy: Glass

Last Updated

17th December 2010