Materials Science program
Master
Levels
6
Courses
15
Credits
39
Number of students
0
Overview
The Master of Materials Science program in the Department of Physics aims to study the properties of materials and their various applications at an advanced level. The program aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions and technological applications. The program also aims to prepare highly qualified researchers and ensure creativity in scientific research in various physics research specializations by ensuring the optimal use of modern technologies and effective cooperation with local and international institutions to meet development plans in the surrounding community and in the Kingdom.
Program content
Admission requirements
General Requirements for Admission to Master’s Programs in the College of Science
• The applicant must be a Saudi national, or born to a Saudi mother, or hold a scholarship.
• The applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from a Saudi university or another recognized university, and meet the minimum GPA as specified in the program’s specific requirements.
• Degrees obtained from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must be officially accredited (equivalency required).
• The applicant must achieve the minimum required score in the General Aptitude Test for University Graduates, and the test must not be older than five years, for programs that require it.
• The applicant must achieve the minimum required score in one of the English language tests (STEP, IELTS, or TOEFL). The validity period must not exceed:
o Two years for IELTS and TOEFL
o Three years for STEP
This applies to programs that require English proficiency.
• Applicants who obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a university in an English-speaking country are exempt from the English language requirement.
• The applicant must meet any additional specific requirements set by the program.
Program levels
Level One
PHS 611 - Computational methods in Physics - mandatory
Credits
3
Theoretical
2
Pratical
2
Training
Total Content
4
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Students will learn how to plan and develop their modelling programs and algorithms to imitate the underlying processes of a physical system, and how to analyze and test the results of their calculations. In the negotiated learning framework, the students will be able to take modules in programming, mathematical, and numerical methods and deepen their knowledge in modern theoretical and experimental physics research projects such as Fundamental of digital processing and numerical errors in computer; Simulation software; Numerical Analysis; differentiation, integration, solution of differential equation; Graphics; Stochastic methods; Linear and Non-linear least-squares method, optimization, solution of complex equation; Finite Element Method; Introductory to Phase-Field Method; Molecular Dynamics: Fundamentals; Introductory to First Principles Calculations: Fundamentals
PHS 600 - Ethics and Editing of scientific research - mandatory
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Introduction to Ethics, Ethical Problem Solving, Interpersonal Relationships, Where it Begins: Ethics in the Laboratory, Research Misconduct; professional ethics and bias in research design, Data acquisition, management and sharing; 6. Sloppiness vs Fabrication, Publishing: Credit and responsibility in Science, Intellectual Property, conflicts of interest, Peer review process and Conflicts of interest, Funding, proposals, and manuscripts, Safety and the Laboratory, Science and Society, Safety and the environment, Hiring and the workplace: supervisors and advisors, Bad ethics versus Bad Science.
PHS 612 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics - mandatory
Credits
3
Theoretical
3
Pratical
Training
Total Content
3
Prerequisite
Course Description:
The basic ideas and concepts of quantum mechanics: Wave function, physical states of a quantum system. Dirac notation. Measurements, observables, and operators. Dynamical evolution of quantum states: Schrödinger equation. Energy and Hamiltonian. Time-independent Schrödinger equation. The theory of angular momentum: ladder operators, spin, addition of angular momentum. Solution of the 1-dimensional harmonic oscillator using creation and annihilation operators. Properties of the creation/annihilation operators. Spectrum of the Hamiltonian. Eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian. Approximation methods for time-independent and time-dependent problems. Many-particle Theory and Second Quantization. Scattering Theory.
Level Two
PHS 631 - Thermodynamics and equilibrium processes - mandatory
Credits
3
Theoretical
3
Pratical
Training
Total Content
3
Prerequisite
Course Description:
The contents of the course are: Thermodynamic equilibrium; phase equilibria and phase diagrams; heat transport; mass transport in solids and fluids; Properties of quantum fluids: superfluid 3He and 4He, normal-fluid 3He, properties of solids at low temperatures, superconductivity, cooling techniques, and thermometry.
PHS 630 - Advanced materials science - mandatory
Credits
3
Theoretical
3
Pratical
Training
Total Content
3
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Introduction to the many-body aspects of crystalline solids. Crystal structures and bonding in materials. Momentum-space analysis and diffraction probes. Lattice dynamics, phonon theory and measurements, thermal properties.
PHS 610 - Classical Electrodynamics - mandatory
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Classical electrodynamics aims to study mathematical methods for electrostatic and magnetostatic source and boundary value problems, Electromagnetic fields from time-dependent source distributions, Interaction between electromagnetic fields and media, and Special theory of relativity applied to electromagnetics
Level Three
PHS 633 - Magnetism materials in modern technologies - mandatory
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Atomic origin of magnetism, Diamagnetism, Paramagnetism, Spontaneous magnetism, Magnetism of elements and alloys, Ferro-, Ferri- and Antiferromagnetic, Saturation magnetization, Exchange interaction, Phase transition, Dipolar forces, Ising model, Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation and Spin dynamics, Magnetic anisotropies, Stray field, Demagnetization effect, Reversible and irreversible reversal processes, Hysteresis, Domain walls, Dc and Ac magnetic susceptibility, Magnetoelastic coupling, Exchange bias, Hard and Soft magnets, Magnetoelectronics (spintronics), Magnetooptics, Magnetocaloriceffect
PHS 632 - Semiconductor Materials: Processing and Devices - mandatory
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Introduction and overview, Semiconductor crystals, Semiconductor processing (structuring of layers and devices): fundamental aspects of crystal growth, Physical vapor deposition methods and Chemical vapor deposition methods, semiconductor devices: Transistors (FET, HEMT), Semiconductor lasers, LED & detectors, Solar cells.
Level Four
PHS 634 - Surface physics of materials - mandatory
Credits
3
Theoretical
3
Pratical
Training
Total Content
3
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Hysteresis. Dielectric spectroscopy. Capacitors and insulators. Dielectric breakdown. Aging. Insulating materials for electronic packaging. Piezoelectric effect. Polar dielectrics. Coupling of thermal, mechanical and electrical properties. Electrostriction. Ferroelectricity. Ferroelectric and ferroelastic domains. Piezoelectric ceramics and polymers. Composite materials. Piezoelectric resonance. Applications of piezoelectric materials: actuators, sensors and ultrasonic transducers. Medical application of piezoelectric materials. Environmentally friendly piezoelectric material; biocompatibility and functional materials. Selected topics in multiferroic materials. Pyroelectricity and pyroelectric materials and devices. Thermistors. PTC and NTC effects.
PHS 635 - Nanomaterials - mandatory
Credits
3
Theoretical
3
Pratical
Training
Total Content
3
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Without nanomaterials, there is no nanotechnology. As such, this course covers the basic principles associated with nanoscience and nanotechnology including the fabrication and synthesis, size dependent properties, characterization, and applications of materials at nanometer length scales with an emphasis on recent technological breakthroughs in the field.
Level Five
PHS 697 - Selected Topic(2) - optional 1
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Technology issues for a secure energy future; role of materials science in energy technologies. Topics include the physics principles behind future technologies related to solar energy and solar cells devices.
PHS 638 - Solar cell materials and devices - optional 1
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Technology issues for a secure energy future; role of materials science in energy technologies. Topics include the physics principles behind future technologies related to solar energy and solar cells devices.
PHS 637 - optoelectronic - optional 1
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Introduction, definitions and review in Optics, Semiconducting nanostructures ( photonic crystals and growth techniques) , Electroluminescence (light emitting diodes, quasi-Fermi levels, emission spectra), Doping , Solar Cell, Currents (Diffusion and drift), Photo diode (pn junction reverse bias, photocurrent), Laser diodes (Band gap engineering, quantum well laser diodes, separate confinement heterostructures, Relaxation oscillation frequency)
PHS 636 - Dielectric properties of materials - optional 1
Credits
2
Theoretical
2
Pratical
Training
Total Content
2
Prerequisite
Course Description:
Dielectric polarization. Dielectric relaxation in ceramics and polymers. Dielectric loss. Nonlinear dielectric properties.
Level Six
PHS 699 - Thesis - mandatory
Credits
9
Theoretical
Pratical
18
Training
Total Content
18
Prerequisite
Course Description:
The Master's Thesis in Microbiology is the cornerstone of the Master's program, as it represents an opportunity for the student to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during his studies, and conduct original research in a specific field within the specialization of microbiology. The course aims to develop the student's research skills, and his ability to critically analyze, formulate scientific problems, propose solutions, and write scientific research.