Examination
Exam for the course Introduction to
theoretical surface physics will be in the form of a
seminar. The students will present their scientific essays on how
the theory can (or cannot) contribute to their PhD projects.
What should be in your essay
First, you should shortly summarize the state of art of the
topic of your PhD project. Following you should relate some of the
lectures presented in this course to your topic. This will include an
overview of what is known about the phenomena or processes you are
investigating from the theory and theoretical simulations. The core
of your essay will be an analysis how theoretical results could be
used for interpreting your experiments. In this you should consider
whether current calculations are accurate enough, whether you could
make use of calculations done for different setups, in which respect
your project might mostly benefit from calculations and so on. If you
come to the conclusion that in your case the theory cannot help, it is
also fine. Just present qualified arguments for this.
The essay will contain at least five pages of A4 size and will be
submitted in the PDF format. The title of the essay and your name
will be on the first page (which will, however, contain other text as
well). You should also prepare a presentation of your essay that will
be given at the seminar.
When will your essay be unsatisfactory
Please have in mind that you are writing a scientific essay on how the
theory may or may not help in advancing your PhD project
and not a report on the methods you are using or on the
phenomena you are examining. This certainly should be mentioned and
concisely explained in the introduction but the emphasis must be
elsewhere. You are supposed to (i) analyze a scientific issue, (ii)
try to suggest a solution based on factual information and (iii)
provide some of your opinions on the matter as well.
If your essay will be a mere description of the topic of your PhD
project with few sentences added at the end that it would be great if
someone calculated what you need, you will not pass.
You are not required to claim that theoretical simulations are
extremely important for your research. You can safely state the
opposite. However, you should present factual arguments in favour of
your statements.
Deadline
The essays must be delivered by e-mail to Ondřej Šipr at the address
no later than on Tuesday 16. January 2024.
Tentatively, there will be two examinations seminars, at 26.1.2024
and 2.2.2024. Who will defend his/her essay at which of these days
will be decided later.