87949 - Electronics for Applied Physics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will learn modern methods to design electronic circuits for analog and digital signals coming from experimental apparata. He/she will also acquire knowledge of the technological processes that are the basis of digital integrated circuits. In particular, in the laboratory sessions he/she will be able to design circuits with analog components and discrete programmable digital circuits (FPGA) and verify their operation. Also, the student will possess the knowledge to design relatively complex electronic circuits for high-speed data acquisition systems. The student will finally face real-world problems with dedicated laboratory sessions addressing the main sensors used in the Applied Physics field.

Course contents

1. Generalities, type of signals, basic semiconductors
1.1 The BJT
1.2 The FET
1.3 basic skills, in relation to modern methods of electronic design and processing analog and digital signals, to treat signals from devices used in experimental physics
1.4 Digital electronics and logic families

2. The Operational Amplifier
2.1 the operational amplifiers in the various configurations and negative-feedback amplifiers.

3. The MOSFET
3.1 small signals model, study of configurations of amplifiers with MOSFETs
3.2 technological processes as base of the CMOS digital integrated circuits.

4. transmission lines
4.1 equations, constants and termination methods for good transmission of waveforms.

5. AD Conversion
5.1 design and test relatively complex digital architectures through the use of VHDL. Technological parameters and characteristic times of the logic gates and sequential logic.

6. Filters
6.1 the approach of all the experimental problems which emerge during the transmission of high frequency signals. We study the passive and active analog filters with operational.

7. Principles of Digital Signal Processing

8. Sensors and Transducers

8.1 Physical principles

8.1.1 Temperature sensors

8.1.2 Strain sensors

8.1.3 Piezoelectric sensors

8.1.4 Optical sensors

8.1.5 MEMS technologies

8.1.6 Position, displacement and level sensors

8.1.7 Velocity and acceleration sensors

8.2 Biological and medical sensors

8.2.1 ECG electronics

8.2.3 Wearable sensors

8.2.4 DNA sequencing

9. Industrial Applications

9.1 Embedded processors and Distributed Intelligence

9.2 Smart Sensors

9.2.1 Applications with raspberry PI and embedded Microchip PIC

9.2.2 Wireless sensors

9.2.3 Introduction to Robotics

10. Radiation detectors

10.1 Advanced semiconductor radiation detectors

10.1.1 The linear and digital front-end

10.2 Advanced scintillator detectors

10.3 X and gamma-ray spectrometry

10.3.1 Analog conditioning electronics

10.3.2 Digital synthesis of pulse shapes

10.3.3 Applications in physical research

10.4 Detectors for Space

10.4.1 Satellite detectors for the X and gamma spectrum

10.4.2 Nanosatellites

 

Laboratory experiences

Readings/Bibliography

Millman & Halchias, Electronic devices and circuits, McGraw-Hill

Jacob Fraden, Handbook of modern sensors, Springer (third ed.) 2004

Gerhard Lutz, Semiconductor radiation detectors, Springer 1999

Sabrie Soloman, Sensors Handbook, Mc Graw Hill 2010

G.F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, J. Wiley & Sons

Slides and other educational material provided by the lecturer

Teaching methods

Frontal didactics and practical demonstrations/laboratory

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Optional: development of a significant project using sensors / transducers managed by a microcontroller (hardware and software development).

The final exam aims to evaluate the achievement of the teaching objectives: knowledge of sensors and transducers and of the physical principles that characterize them; knowledge of front-end circuits, conditioning, acquisition; basic knowledge on microcontrollers

Teaching tools

Practical demonstrations/laboratory

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Baldazzi