• PHY3001        Quantum Mechanics and Relativity           (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:            PHY2001

Lecturers:                   Prof Ian Williams, Prof Gianluca Sarri

Course Content: 

Relativity:

Einstein's postulates. The Lorentz transformation and consequences.  4-vector formulation. Relativistic particle dynamics.  Relativistic wave dynamics.  Relativistic electrodynamics.

Quantum Mechanics:

The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism. Wavefunctions and operators. The Schrödinger equation. The harmonic oscillator. Three-dimensional systems:  angular momentum. Three-dimensional system: spherical harmonics. Composition of angular momenta and spin. The Hydrogen atom. Special distributions: Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Bell inequality and quantum entanglement. Perturbation theory: time-independent perturbations. Perturbation theory: periodic perturbations

 

Compulsory Element:   None

Assessment:                  Examination 80%   Assignments 20%  

 

 

• PHY3002        Advanced Solid State Physics          (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:            PHY2002

Lecturers:                   Prof Marty Gregg, Prof Robert Bowman, Dr Solveig Felton

Course Content: 

Electrons in metals, including Drude classical theory, Sommerfeld quantum free electron model, nearly free electron model, effective mass, tightly bound electron model, Brillouin zones and energy bands, quantum wells and 2D electron gases, quantum hall effect, introductions to spintronics and superconductivity.

Magnetism, including: underlying origin of magnetism, the link between dipole moment and angular momentum, diamagnetism, paramagnetism (classical and quantum treatments), ferromagnetism and the Weiss molecular field, antiferromagnetism.

Dielectrics, including: concepts of polarization, polarisability, Mossotti field, contributions to polarization, the Mossotti catastrophe, ferroelectricity, soft mode descriptions of ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity, Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory, displacive versus order-disorder ferroelectrics.

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:    Examination 80%   Assignments 20%  

 

 

• PHY3003        Astrophysics II         (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:            PHY2003

Lecturers:                   Dr Peter Keys, Prof Michail Mathioudakis, Prof Alan Fitzsimmons

Course Content: 

Advanced stellar structure and evolution: physics of stellar interiors; concepts of single-star evolution; end points of stellar evolution

Radiative transfer: radiative transfer in solar and stellar atmospheres; statistical and ionization equilibrium, plasma diagnostics and line broadening processes

Galaxies: the Milky Way galaxy; galaxy properties and structure; physics of the interstellar medium; stellar dynamics and gravitational potentials; theories of galaxy formation and evolution.

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:                  Examination 80%   Assignments 20%  

 

 

• PHY3004        Advanced Electromagnetism and Optics   (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:            PHY2004

Lecturers:                   Dr Jason Greenwood, Dr Mark Yeung

Course Content: 

Maxwell's equations, propagation of EM waves in dielectrics, conductors, anisotropic media, non-linear optics.   Polarisation, reflection and transmission at boundaries, Fresnel's equations.  Thin/thick optical lenses, matrix methods, aberrations and diffraction. Optical fibres/waveguides.

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:                  Examination 80%   Assignments 20%  

 

 

• PHY3005        Nuclear and Particle Physics            (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:                  None

Lecturers:                         Prof David Riley, Dr Stuart Sim

Course Content: 

Nuclear reaction classifications, scattering kinetics, cross sections, quantum mechanical scattering, nuclear shell model and scattering experiments, partial waves. Beta decay and neutrino mass, Fermi theory of beta decay and parity violation. Elementary particles; symmetry principles, unitary symmetry and quark model, particle interactions.

 

Compulsory Element:   None

Assessment:                  Examination 80%   Assignments 20%  

 

 

• PHY3006        Physics in Medicine   (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:                  None

Lecturers:                         Dr Satya Kar, Prof Marco Borghesi

Course Content: 

Fundamental principles, and technical and clinical applications of: interaction of electromagnetic radiation and ionising radiation with the body, lasers for therapy and imaging, ultrasound, radiation imaging techniques, radiotherapy, magnetic resonance imaging.

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:                  Examination 50%   Assignments 30%   Group Project 20%

• PHY3007        Physics Single Project           (20 CAT Points)    (2nd semester)

Pre-Requisites:                  None

Lecturers:                         Dr Solveig Felton

Course Content: 

Students will undertake a single physics project in one of the semesters involving an open-ended experimental or computational investigation of a specific area of physics. Outcomes of the studies will be reported through oral, written and poster presentations. 

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:               Project Report 50%   Lab Performance 25%   Oral Presentation 10% Poster Presentation 10%   Risk Assessment 5%

 

 

• PHY3008        Professional Skills     (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:                  None

Lecturers:                         Prof David Jess, Prof Brendan Dromey

Course Content: 

Development of oral presentation skills. Presentations to large groups/peers in a research or popular science context. Probing scientific understanding, critiquing presentations, peer review. Entrepreneurship, career guidance, CV writing, interview techniques. Essay writing and scientific writing skills.

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:                50% oral/poster presentations, 35% logbook, 10% abstract, 5% peer review

• PHY3009        Computational Projects       (20 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:                  None

Lecturers:                         Dr Tom Field, Dr Ernst De Mooij

Course Content: 

Numerical methods for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). Classification of PDEs. von Neumann stability analysis. Numerical solutions to advection & diffusion problems and elliptic equations.
Concepts of how to fit a model to data: Bayesian statistics, likelihood functions, parameter estimation.

Learning outcomes:

Proficient computing skills, algorithm development, familiarity with statistical methods, problem solving.

Skills:

Problem solving and algorithm development with computing methods and computer programming. Searching for and evaluating information from a range of sources. Communicating scientific concepts in a clear and concise manner both orally and in written form. Working independently and with a group of peers. Time management and the ability to meet deadlines..

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:                Computational Projects 100%

• PHY3010        Physics Projects         (40 CAT Points)

Pre-Requisites:                  None

Lecturers:                         Dr Solveig Felton

Course Content:

Students will undertake two different physics projects (one in each semester). Each will involve an open-ended experimental or computational investigation of a specific area of physics. Outcomes of the studies will be reported through oral, written and poster presentations. 

 

Compulsory Element:   None         

Assessment:               Project Report 50%   Lab Performance 25%   Oral Presentation 10% Poster Presentation 10%   Risk Assessment 5%