26 hod., optionally

Physics of two dimensional structures (surfaces and interfaces) and thin films – definition and impact. Preparation of surfaces and interfaces of defined properties. Ultimate condition – ultrahigh vacuum (UHV), methods of preparation (cleaving or breaking under UHV, ion bombardment and annealing of a sample, evaporation and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), epitaxy by chemical reactions and other methods), monitoring of surface quality. Morphology and structure of surfaces and interfaces: Surface tension and macroscopic shape, relaxation, reconstruction and defects, phase transitions, 2D-lattice, superstructure and reciprocal lattice, structural models of solid state interfaces, vibration of 2D lattices and surface electronic structure: elementary excitations, work function and methods of its measurement, surface states and the bending of bands at surfaces and interfaces. Scattering at a solid state surface: Kinematic theory of scattering at solid state surface, classical limit of theory of scattering. Interaction of surfaces/interfaces with surroundings: Physisorption, chemisorption, 2D-phase transitions, work function changes due to adsorption, energy transport on a solid state surface, kinetics and dynamics of elementary processes on a surface - adsorption, diffusion, desorption, sputtering. Surface reactions and thin film growth: catalysis, nucleation and growth of thin films, in situ study of thin film growth. Properties of thin films: Mechanical properties, electrical and magnetic properties (optical properties).
Application of thin films: Improvement of mechanical properties and material protection, application of thin films in electronics and microelectronics, applications in optics, optoelectronics and integrated optics.