The course “Key Concepts in Experimental Physics” (3 SWS lecture + 1 SWS exercise) is part of the Phy-Ma-Exp module of the Master's program in Physics. It deals with common strategies in the experimental investigation of the structure and excitation of physical systems on different energy and size scales and relates physical concepts and methods from different experimental fields to each other.
Some video recordings of Michael Kobel are collected in this playlist. You have to login into Videocampus Sachsen to see them.

Nr	Date Lecturer	Topics	Slides (optional Videos)	recommended English reading (nearly all online via SLUB access)	further reading in German (not all online)
1	13.10.25 Kobel	0. Introduction 1. Energy scales 1.1. Scales and units in physics	slides	1.1 SI redefinition natural units
2	16.10.25 Kobel	1.2. Primary energy scales in bound systems. 1.2.1. Momenta and energies in a potential well 1.2.2. Fundamental inter-actions and their potentials 1.2.3. Covalent bindings and their potentials 1.2.4. Binding energies and radii 1.2.5. Excitation spectra and naming conventions	slides (with AMCS)	1.2.1. *Gaponenco, Demir* 2.1.2. Quantum particle in a rectangular well 1.2.2 *Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann* Ch.13: The Standard Model Ch 14.3: Quark-Antiquark Potential *Griffiths,* Chapter 2 Elementary Particle Dynamics (klick on pdf and select institutional SLUB login) Povh, Rosina: 3.3. Coupling Constants 1.2.3. Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann Ch 17.2: The Deuteron Ch 17.3: Nuclear Force 1.2.4. Ch 14.1-2: Hydrogen, Charmonium 1.2.5: *Das, Ferbel:* Ch 11: Discrete Transformations	1.2.1. *Bienlein, Wiesendanger* 1.3.2 a) Das Kastenpotential 1.2.2. *Netzwerk Teilchenwelt* 2.2 Aufbau der Materie und Wechselwirkungen (bis 2.4.3.) 1.2.3.: *Bienlein, Wiesendanger* 3.4 Kernkräfte 1.2.5: Bethge-Schröder 3.7-3.10 *Berger-Herten* Kap 2.2 Drehungen Kap 2.5 Spiegelungen Kap 2.7-2.8 Innere Symmetrien
3	20.10.25 Eng	1.3. Secondary energy scales 1.3.0 Universality of the electromagnetic coupling α 1.3.1 Molecular Bond and Hydrogen molecule	slides	1.3.0. Fine Structure Constant defines Visual Transparency of Graphene (Nair et al 2008) 1.3.1. Manini, Physics of Matter 3.2.1. H2+	1.3.1.Demtröder, Experimentalphysik 3 9.1. Moleküle: das H2+
4	27.10.25 Eng	1.3.2 Angular momentum coupling A) Spin-orbit coupling in the hydrogen atom B) -Clebsch-Gordan coefficients C) Atoms in weak and strong magnetic fields (Zeeman Effect)	slides	1.3.2.: Manini, Physics of Matter 2.1.7. Fine Structure 2.1.10 Spectra in a Magnetic Field	1.3.2.: Demtröder, Exp.physik 3 5.5.3. Spin-Bahn-Kopplung;Feinstruktur 5.5.4. Zeeman Effekt
5	30.10.25 Kobel	1.3.3. Hyperfine Structure (ss coupling) 1.3.4. LS and ss-couplings in Mesons 1.3.5. ls-coupling in the nuclear shell model	slides video	1.3.3. Manini, Physics of Matter 2.1.8 Nuclear Spin and Hyperfine Structure 1.3.4. *Griffiths,* Chapter 5 (klick on pdf and select institutional SLUB login) 5.5. Hyperfine Structure 5.8. Light Quark Hadrons Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann 15.2 Meson Masses 16.3 Baryon Masses 1.3.5. 18.3 The Shell Model	1.3.3: Demtröder, Exp.physik 3 5.6.Hyperfeinstruktur Kalvius Physik IV, Kap 7 7.8 ff Spektren der Vielelektronenatome 1.3.4. Bethge-Schröder, Kap. 3.12 Starker Isospin 1.3.5. Bethge-Wiedemann, Kap 4.2.1. Schalenmodell in sphärischen Koordinaten
6	3.11.25 Eng	1.3.6. Multi-electron atoms - LS coupling, Hund's rule - j-j coupling, heavy atoms 1.4. Collective Excitations 1.4.1. Giant Dipole Resonances in nuclei (Kobel) 1.4.2. Surface plasmons in nano particles	slides video	1.3.6. Manini, Physics of Matter 2.2 Many-Electron Atoms 1.4.1. Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann 19.2. Dipole Oscillations Speth, van der Woude (Rep. Prog. Phys 44, 1981) Giant resonances in Nuclei 1.4.2.+4.: A. Moores, F. Goettmann (New Jour. Chem, 2006, 30, 1121): Plasmon band in noble nanoparticles The surface of compact systems: From Nuclei to stars (Surface Science 2002) Prodan et al., Plasmon Response of Complex Nanstructures, Science 2003 arcticles on application of nanoparticles in biophysics 2022 review article collection	1.3.6: Kalvius Physik IV, Kap 6 6.5 ff Elektronen-struktur der Vielelektronenatome 1.4.1. Mayer-Kuckuk, Kernphysik: 6.6, 6.7 Wagner, Physik in unserer Zeit: Riesenresonanzen
7	10.11.25 Kobel	1.4.3. Phonons in Solids (Eng) 1.4.4. Polaritons (Eng) 1.4.5. Rotational and Vibrational Excitations of Molecules and Nuclei 2.Transitions between Quantum States 2.1. Radiative Transitions 2.1.1. Emag multipol radiation in atoms and nuclei	slides video	1.4.3. Manini, Physics of Matter 5.3. The Vibration of Crystals 1.4.5.: Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann 19.3. Shape Oscillations 19.4. Rotational States Demtröder: Atoms, Molecules and Photons 9.5. Rotation and Vibration of Diatomic Molecules Manini, Physics of Matter 3.3 Intramolecular Spectra 3.3.1 Rotational and Rovibrational Spectra 2.1.1.: Povh/Rith/Scholz 19.1. Electromagnetic Transitions	1.4.3.: Ibach/Lüth: Festkörperphysik 4.3 Lineare 2-atomige Kette 1.4.5.: Demtröder, Exp.physik 3 9.5. Rotation u. Schwingungen 2-atomiger Moleküle 2.1.1.: Bienlein, Wiesendanger, 3.6.1 Mayer-Kuckuk, Kernphysik: 3.5 elektromagn Übergänge
8	13.11.25 Kobel	2.1.2. Emag and strong Transitions in hadrons 2.1.3. Transitions in molecules 2.2. Scattering Processes 2.2.1. Elastic, quasi-elastic and inelastic scattering	slides video	2.1.2. Quarkonia and their Transitions (Eichten et al, 2007) Recent Results in Bottomonium (Rosner et al, 2013) 2.1.3.: Demtröder: Atoms, Molecules and Photons 9.6.2 Vibrational-Rotational Transitions 9.6.3 The Structure of Electronic Transitions Manini, Physics of Matter 3.3.2 Electronic Excitations 2.2.1: Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann 4.1. General Observations 4.2. Cross Sections 5.1. Kinematics 5.2. Rutherford X-Section	2.1.3.: Demtröder Experimentalphysik 3 9.6.2. Schwingungs-Rotations-Übergänge 9.6.3. Elektronische Übergänge 9.6.4. Franck-Condon Haken/Wolf: Atom- und Quantenphysik
9	17.11.25 Eng	2.2.2. Inelastic neutron scattering in solids	slides	2.2.2.: Manini, Physics of Matter 5.1.3. Diffraction Experiments 5 3.1.Normal Modes of Vibration	2.2.2.: Schatz-Weidinger Kap. 10
10	24.11.25 Kobel	2.2.3. Neutron scattering on nuclei from meV to MeV 2.2.4.A) Scattering of electrons on nuclei, form factors	slides video	2.2.3: Paetz gen. Schieck: 13.1-13.4. Compound Nucleus Reactions Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann 3.3-3.4 Nuclear Fission, Excited Nuclear States 2.2.4 A): 5.4 Nuclear Form Factors 5.5 Inelastic Nuclear Excitations	2.2.4. A)) Musiol: 4.4, 10.1.3-4 Mayer-Kuckuk:Kap 7
11	27.11.25 Eng	2.2.4. B) Scattering of electrons on nuclei and hadrons (Kobel) 2.3. Electrons in Solids 2.3.1. Optical Absorption A) Free electrons B) Lattice absorption	slides	2.2.4. B) Povh, Rith, Scholz, Zetsche, Rodejohann Chapters 6.2-7.3 Quasi-Elastic Scattering, Excited States of Nucleons, Structure Functions, Parton Model 2.3.1. Manini, Physics of Matter A) 4.3.2.1 Fermions B) 5.2.3 Spectra of electrons in solids	2.3.1 A) Demtröder: Exphy 3 Kap 13.1 Freies Elektronengas Ibach/Lüth:Festkörperphysik 6.1. Das freie Elektronengas 2.3.1. B) 11.1-11.4 Dielektrische Eigenschaften der Materie
12	1.12.25 Eng	2.3.1. Optical Absorption C) Interband excitation 2.3.2. Electrons in a periodic potential, Bloch Waves 2.3.3. A) Electronic band structure	slides	Manini, Physics of Matter 2.3.1. 5.2.2. Metals and Insulators 2.3.2. 5.2. Electrons in Crystals 2.3.3.A) 5.2.1.2. The Plane-Waves Method Ashcroft/Mermin: Solid State physics	2.3.1. Ibach/Lüth:Festkörperphysik 11.10. Interband-Übergänge 2.3.2 Demtröder: Exphysik 3 Kap 13.2 Elektronen im periodischen Potenzial 2.3.3 Ibach/Lüth: Festkörperphysik Kap 7 Elektr. Bänder in Festkörpern
13	8.12.25 Eng	2.3.3. B) Photoelectron Spectroscopy, ARPES 3. Spectroscopy by quantum state mixing 3.1. A) Examples of mixed Two-State Systems 3.1. B) Time Evolution in - Connected potential well - Ammonia Molecule	slides	2.3.3 B) A. Damascelli ARPES-Review-Damascelli 3.1: Henley, Garcia:Chap 9.6 (The Two-State Problem) Feynman III: Chap 8-6 The Ammonia Molecule
14	11.12.25 Kobel	3.2.Meson- Antimeson Oscillations 3.2.1. Time evolution of coupled mesons 3.2.2. Experimental evidence 3.2.3. Overview of meson-antimeson Oscillations 3.2.4. CP Violation in Kaon-mixing 3.2.5. Analogy to coupled pendulums 3.3. Neutrino Flavor Oscillations 3.3.1. Three Flavor Oscillations 3.3.2. Atmospheric Neutrinos 3.3.3. Reactor-Neutrinos 3.3.4. Solar Neutrinos -> 05.01.2026	slides	3.2.1: K.R.Schubert, J. Stiewe http://arxiv.org/abs/1108.2772v2 Leader, Predazzi, Vol.2, Ch.19.1.1 (online probe reading) 3.2.2. Henley, Garcia: Subatomic Physics, Chap 9.7 3.2.3. Leader, Predazzi, Vol.2, Ch.19.1.3 (online probe reading) 3.2.4. Das/Ferbel: Chapter 12 Neutral Kaons, Oscillations, and CP Violation 3.2.5: K.R.Schubert, J. Stiewe http://arxiv.org/abs/1108.2772v2 3.3. Povh/Rith/../Rodejohann: Chapter 11 Povh/Rosina: Chap 16.1.4
15	15.12.25 Eng	3.4. Dynamic effects in level crossings 3.4.1. Landau-Zener theory of avoided crossings 3.4.2. Ammonium-molecule in an electric field 3.4.3. Level crossings of molecular magnets in a magnetic field	slides	3.4.1: Rubbmark et al. Dynamical effects at avoided level crossings 3.4.2. Feynman III: Chap 9 The Ammonia Maser 3.4.3: Gatteschi, Sessoli, Villain. Molecular Nanomagnets (Chap 1, 2, 6).
16	5.1.26 Kobel	3.3.4. Solar Neutrinos (<- from 11.12.2025) 3.4.4. MSW effect for solar neutrinos	slides video	3.4.4: Smirnow: The MSW Effect and Solar Neutrinos Zuber, Neutrino Physics Kayser: PDG Neutrino Review
17	8.1.26 Kobel	4. Symmetry Breaking 4.1. General Concept 4.1.1. Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking 4.1.2. Overview of Phenomena (Breaking Parameter, Order Parameter) 4.1.3. Nuclear Deformations 4.1.4. Phase Transitions and Energy Densities	slides video	4.1.1. S.Weinberg, CERN Courier From BCS to the LHC 4.1.3. Povh, Rosina: 14.3.4 Povh, Rith, Zetsche 18.4: Deformed Nuclei	4.1.4. Phasenübergänge: Skript W.Dieterich (Konstanz) Energiedichten
18	12.1.26 Eng	4.2. Ferromagnetism 4.2.1 Landau-Theory of the Ferromagnet 4.2.2 Microscopic Models: Weiss-Model, Heisenberg-Model, Ising-Model 4.2.3 Critical Phenomena 4.2.4 Ferromagnetic Excitations	slides	Scan: Blundell, Magnetism in Condensed Matter: (SLUB) Chap.6.1-6.6.: Order and broken Symmetry, Models, Phase Transitions, Excitations Chap.5.1: Ferromagnetism, Weiss-model
19	19.1.26 Eng	4.3. Superconductivity 4.3.1. History of Superconductivity 4.3.2. Ginsburg-Landau Theory 4.3.3. BCS Theory 4.3.4. Experimental Evidences	slides	Scan: Buckel, Kleiner, Superconductivity (SLUB books) Chap 4.4 - 4.7.1. Ginzburg-Landau Theory, Super-conductors in magnetic fields Annett: Superconductivity, Superfluids, Condensates	Buckel, Kleiner (E-Book): Supraleitung Kap 4.4 - 4.7
20	22.1.26 Kobel	4.4. Electroweak Symmetry Breaking and BEHiggs-Mechanism 4.4.1. The Breaking of SU(2)L 4.4.2. Comparison with Landau and Landau-Ginzburg 4.4.3. Mass Generation and Electroweak Mixing 4.4.4. Gauge Boson Mass as Field Screening 4.4.5. Excitation of massive “Higgs-like” modes in BEH and SC 4.4.6. Comparing Scales of BEH and BCS Superconductors	slides video, part 1 video, part 2	4.4.1. Povh et.al. (E): Chap 12.4. Symmetry Breaking. Djouadi: 1.1.1-3 (pg 13-24) in "The Higgs Boson in the Standard Model" 4.4.2. Melo: Higgs potential and fundamental physics (Ch 2-3) Weinberg: CERN Courier From BCS to the LHC Brout, Englert: Prize talk Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking and Gauge Theories 4.4.3. Diaz-Cruz (2019): The Higgs Profile in the Standard Model and Beyond (Ch 2) Griffiths "Elementary Particles": online pdf Chap 10.7-9 (eng) 4.4.4. Dixon: SLAC Beamline From Superconductors to Supercolliders 4.4.5. Kaiser et al (MPI) "The Higgs Boson and Superconductivity" Diaz-Cruz (2019): The Higgs Profile in the Standard Model and Beyond (Ch 3) Povh et al (E) Chap 12.5. Theory: Djouadi: Ch. 3 in "The Higgs Boson in the Standard Model" 3 Videos von Science in School	4.4.3. Griffiths "Einführung in die Elementarteilchenphysik": Kap 11.7-9 (deutsch) 4.4.4. Band 1, Netzwerk Teilchenwelt (2.4.1 und 2.7) 4.4.5. Kaiser (TUD) Das Higgs-Teilchen und die Supraleitung Kaiser (TUD): "Higgs Bosonen im Supraleiter" (Physik in unserer Zeit)
21	26.1.26 --> 2.2.26 Eng	4.6. Topological Effects 4.6.1. Topological Signatures, Winding Number 4.6.2. Non-collinear structures: Skyrmions 4.6.3. Topological Systems - Optics, Elektronics, Manetism
22	2.2.26 Kobel Eng	4.5. Phase Transitions in Particle Physics 4.5.1. Chiral Symmetry Breaking and Hadron-Masses from Nambu, Jona-Lasinio Model 4.5.2. Chiral Phase Transition for Quarks and Quark-Gluon Plasma 4.5.3. Electroweak Phase Transition and fate of the Universe 4.6. Topological Effects 4.6.1. Topological Signatures, Winding Number 4.6.2. Non-collinear structures: Skyrmions 4.6.3. Topological Systems - Optics, Elektronics, Manetism	slides	4.5.1. Koch: Aspects of Chiral Symmetry (advanced) 4.5.2.Povh/Rosina: 12.3(E) 4.5.3. Ivan Melo: Higgs potential and fundamental physics (Ch 6-8). Elias-Miro et al. : http://arxiv.org/pdf/1112.3022.pdf Mukhanov, Physical Foundations of Cosmology (SLUB)
23	5.2.26 Kobel Eng	5. Evaluation and Exam Preparation 5.1. Results of Lecture Evaluation 5.2. Consultation and hints for upcoming Oral Exams 5.3. FAQ Session for student questions to be collected beforehand in the OPAL Forum (please subscribe the forum!)	slides

Welcome to the Course "Experimental Physics (Key Concepts)"