Homepage of Stefan Stroemsdoerfer

        the study of physics
 

I'm already studying physics since october 1.st 1997 in Erlangen/Bavaria.

what's to tell about this...?

the beginning (first year)
 

In the first term I was shocked how much math I had to learn. We had lessons in linear algebra, analysis, experimental physics and chemistry. Additionally I visited a lecture about programming with C.

In the second term I got my preliminary certificate in chemistry and I'm now of the opinion that I'll survive the math somehow. I hope that math is not all you have to do when you study physics. After visiting a lecture about programming with C++ half of the term, I now know a little bit of programming with C++.

In the holidays (aug.-sep.) I took a job in the laboratory concerning superconductors. There the effects of temperature, electromagnetic waves and magnetic fields on small structures on the superconductor are investigated. The far aim is to find the mechanism of high-temperature superconducting. During this job I got experience in using a scanning elektron microscope (SEM) and doing electron-beam lithography with it. So I'm able to produce structures with a resolution of about 100 nanometers. If you are only looking with the SEM, the resolution is better than 10 nanometers. I've once used a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), too. With this microscope you may see single atoms (0.1 nanometers!!), if everything runs without problems.

In october I had to take part at a beginners practical course and in November the study continued with it's third term.

The third term was not as difficult as I thought, because I already had the practical course and so I had more free time. But that's already a long time ago and I can't remember the details (I hope I can do so in the exams this Summer). I especially care about math (once again!), but I did it 'till now and somehow the problems will be solved.

Now I'm in the 4.th term and and the (real theoretical and mathematical) problems are getting started with Quantum Mechanics, part I. Even if the lecturer is very good, this stuff is hard to understand (especially to calculate). Additionally there are those exams for the preliminary certificate in math and physics and also, if this wasn't enough, a new type of practical course, called "Projektpraktikum". There we have to imagine our own experiments including theory, construction and final calculation of errors and so on..

During october I did the first part of the advanced practical course and this november the lectures start again. This term I listen to theoretical electrodynamik and solid state physics, also some not important, but interesting lectures. I also started the little job in the superconductor laboratory again and my aim is to contact small structures (<1 µm) with the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and so do some measurements high Tc-superconductors.

In the 6.th term I started my subsidiary subject - High frequency technics. This is part of electrotechnics and seems a good addition to physics. Also I got my last theorie-certificate that I had to: quantum mechanics II. There's only one course left for the winter: thermodynamic and statistics.

Here's the link to the computer-pool of the physik-department in Erlangen. There are homepages of the other people studying physics and more information about physics in Erlangen.

Because of so much free space in this page, one more dog: 

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