• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 1

An introduction to mechanics and its applications, covering: Newton's Laws; particle dynamics; work and kinetic energy; potential energy and energy conservation; momentum, impulse and collisions; rocket propulsion; rigid-body rotation; torque and angular momentum; gyroscopes and precession; statics and equilibrium; fluid statics and dynamics; gravitation, satellite motion and Kepler's laws.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 1

Topics covered include:

1. Introduction to functions: functions and graphs;
2. Classical functions: trigonometry, exponential and logarithmic functions, hyperbolic functions;
3. Differentiation: standard derivatives, differentiation of composite functions;
4. Curves and functions: stationary points, local/global minima/maxima; graph sketching;
5. Integration: standard integrals, integration by parts and substitution, areas, volumes, averages, special integration techniques;
6. Power series expansions: Taylor expansions, approximations, hyperbolic and trigonometric functions;
7. Convergence of series: absolute convergence; integral test; ratio test
8. Complex numbers: complex conjugates, complex plane, polar representation, complex algebra, exponential function, DeMoivre's Theorem;
9. Vectors: working with vectors, scalar product of vectors, vector product of vectors;
10. Determinants and matrices: definition and properties, matrices and matrix algebra, solutions of systems of linear equations.

The computer lab component of the module will introduce you to Maple.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 1

This module covers:

• Dimensions and units
• Estimation of uncertainties: significant figures and decimal places; reading Vernier scales
• Introduction to spreadsheets
• Mean, standard deviation and standard error: weighted averages, and the uncertainty thereon
• Error propagation: simple formulae covering addition, multiplication and powers; general formula for small error propagation
• Histograms, and manipulation of distributions
• The Gaussian distribution
• Chi squared, and (straight) line fitting
• Identifying and dealing with systematics
• Assessing data quality
• Circuit simulation
• DC circuits: introduction, Ohm's Law, Non-Linear circuit elements, oscilloscopes
• Capacitors: RC circuits, differentiator, integrator, low pass filter, high pass filter

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 1

This module is focused around three main areas:

Electromagnetism:
-Electric forces and fields in systems with static discrete electric charges and static observers.
-Continuous charge distributions, Gauss's law. Electric potential energy and electric potential. 
-Energy stored by the electric field. Motion of charged particles in static electric fields.
-Conductors and insulators in electric fields. Capacitance and capacitors. Energy storage in capacitors. Dielectrics. Drude's model of conduction. 
-Creation of magnetic fields from linear motion of charges (ie, a current) electron spin and orbital motion; motion perpendicular to an electric field. Force on a charged particle moving perpendicular to magnetic field.

Thermodynamics:
-Phases of matter; the zeroth law of thermodynamics; temperature and temperature scales
-Thermal expansion coefficients
-The ideal-gas law
-The kinetic theory of gases; the Maxwell speed distribution; mean free paths; transport properties of gases; the equipartition theorem
-Heat capacity; latent heat
-The first law of thermodynamics; internal energy of gases
-PV diagrams; work
-Adiabatic processes

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 1

In this module, you cover:

Integration of scalar and vector fields

• surface integrals of functions of two variables using Cartesian and polar coordinates
• surface integrals of functions of three variables using Cartesian, spherical polar and cylindrical polar coordinates
• volume integrals of functions of three variables using Cartesian, spherical polar and cylindrical polar coordinates
• line integrals along two- and three-dimensional curves.

Differentiation

• partial differentiation of functions of several variables
• definition and interpretation of partial derivatives
• partial derivatives of first and higher order.

Differentiation of scalar and vector fields

• directional derivative
• gradient, divergence and curl and their properties
• theorems of Gauss, Stokes and their applications.

You are also introduced to Python in the computer lab component of this module.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 1

This module covers:

• Simple harmonic motion
• Forced oscillations and resonance
• Mechanical waves
• Properties of sound
• Phasors
• Coupled oscillators and normal modes
• Geometrical optics to the level of simple optical systems
• Huygens' principle, introduction to wave optics
• Interference and diffraction at single and multiple apertures
• Dispersion
• Detectors
• Optical cavities and laser action
• Practical introduction to the use of telescopes.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 1

This module introduces you to fundamental experiments in physics. You will do a series of classic experiments to build up basic experimental and analysis skills. The experience of preparing, performing and analysing experiments will also deepen the understanding of the fundamental physical concepts involved.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 1

This module gives you an introduction to the foundations of modern physics. 

Topics covered include:

• Historical context, physics in the 19th century
• black-body radiation, Planck's quanta, photons, photoelectric effect, Compton effect
• atoms, atomic spectra, Franck-Hertz and Stern-Gerlach experiments
• Bohr theory of the atom
• De Broglie waves
• Heisenberg uncertainty principle
• bosons and fermions, antimatter, Bose-Einstein condensates
• periodic system of elements
• relativity: Historical perspective
• inertial frames and transformations, Newton's laws in inertial frames
• Michelson-Morley experiment - observed constancy of speed of light, Einstein's assumptions
• Lorentz-Einstein transformations, Minkowski diagrams, Lorentz contraction, time dilation
• transformation of velocities - stellar aberration, variation of mass, mass-energy equivalence
• Lorentz transformations for momentum and energy. 

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 1

This module aims to explain the contents, dimensions and history of the Universe, primarily at a descriptive level. It applies basic physical laws to the study of the Universe, enabling simple calculations. This module also includes an introduction to special relativity, which is shared with the Introduction to Modern Physics module. This module covers:

• A brief history of astronomy
• The scale of the universe
• Time and motion in the universe
• Planets, asteroids and comets
• Stars: their birth and death
• The Milky Way and our place within it
• Nebulae
• Galaxies: types, distance, formation, structure
• Cosmology: dynamics of the universe, the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background
• Relativity: Historical perspective
• Inertial frames and transformations; Newton's laws in inertial frames
• Michelson-Morley experiment – observed constancy of speed of light. Einstein's assumptions
• Lorentz-Einstein transformations; Minkowski diagrams; Lorentz contraction; time dilation
• Transformation of velocities – stellar aberration. Variation of mass, mass-energy equivalence
• Lorentz transformations for momentum and energy.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 2

This is a first module on electro/magnetostatics and electrodynamics in differential form with key applications.

Topics covered include:

1. Mathematical Revision
2. Electrostatics: equations for the E-field, potential, energy, basic boundary-value setups
3. Electrostatics: dielectrics, displacement and free charge
4. Magnetostatics: forces, equations for the B-field, vector potential, Biot-Savart, dipole field of current loops
5. Magnetostatics: diamagnetism and paramagnetism, auxiliary field H, ferromagnetism
6. Electrodynamics: Faraday's law, inductance and back emf, circuit applications, Maxwell-Ampere law, energy and Poynting's theorem
7. Electromagnetic waves: wave equation, plane waves, polarization, waves in dielectrics, reflection at an interface, wave velocity/group velocity/dispersion
8. Potentials and dipole radiation

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 2

This module teaches mathematical techniques that are of use in physics, in particular relating to the solution of differential equations. It also aims to give experience of mathematical modelling of physical problems. The module includes:

• Fourier series
• Ordinary differential equations
• Some linear algebra
• Fourier and Laplace transform
• Series solutions of differential equations
• Partial differential equations.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 2

This module aims to teach you how to perform experiments, make measurements, analyse data, and present conclusions in the form of a report. 
You will become familiar with a number of basic measurement techniques employed in experimental physics and with the instrumentation associated with these. Learn how to estimate the uncertainties in various measurement techniques and how to quote statistically significant uncertainties in derived quantities.
You will also be able to report clearly on the conduct of an experiment and on the conclusions drawn from the data obtained.

You will choose a selection from the following experiments:

• Transmission lines
• Doppler effect
• Velocity of light
• Hall effect
• Stirling cycle heat engine
• High-temperature superconductivity 
• Mercury spectroscopy
• Zeeman effect
• Guitar experiment I (Fourier analysis)
• Refractive index of gases
• Analogue electronics

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 2

This module covers the revision of representation of numbers and basics of Python programming. You also study the application of numerical methods to model simple physical problems, involving:

• solution of algebraic equations
• interpolation
• numerical integration and differentiation
• numerical solution of ordinary differential equations
• numerical solution of linear systems of equations
• visualisation of data.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 2

Module topics include

• Introduction to quantum mechanics, wave functions and the Schroedinger equation in 1D.
• Statistical interpretation of quantum mechanics, probability density, expectation values, normalisation of the wave function.
• Position and momentum, Heisenberg uncertainty relation.
• Time-independent Schroedinger equation, stationary states, eigenstates and eigenvalues.
• Bound states in a potential, infinite square well.
• Completeness and orthogonality of eigenstates.
• Free particle, probability current, wave packets, group and phase velocities, dispersion.
• General potentials, bound and continuum states, continuity of the wave function and its first
• derivative.
• Bound states in a finite square well.
• Left- and right-incident scattering of a finite square well, reflection and transmission probabilities.
• Reflection and transmission at a finite square well.
• Reflection and transmission at a square barrier, over-the-barrier reflection, tunnelling, resonant
• tunnelling through multiple barriers.
• Harmonic oscillator (analytic approach).
• Quantum mechanics in 3D, degeneracy in the 3D isotropic harmonic oscillator.
• Orbital angular momentum, commutators and simultaneous measurement.
• Motion in a central potential, Schroedinger equation in spherical polar coordinates.
• Schroedinger equation in a Coulomb potential.
• H atom.
• Spin, identical particles, spin-statistics theorem.
• Helium, basics of atomic structure. 
• Time-independent perturbation theory for non-degenerate bound states.
• Applications of perturbation theory, fine structure in the H atom.
• Schroedinger equation for a particle coupled to an electromagnetic field.
• Summary and revision

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 2

The aims and objectives of the module are to develop and enhance the deployment of a range of skills and knowledge, which should have been acquired in Year 1, to elucidate real problems and/or phenomena. The idea is to improve your abilities to make use of information from appropriate basic modules to solve problems, and to wean you away from the notion that real problems can be solved with the knowledge from a single module.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 2

Topics covered include:

• Review of kinetic theory of gases and first law of thermodynamics.
• Basics of statistical mechanics. Microstates, entropy, second law.
• Classical thermodynamics. Engines and refrigerators.
• More statistical mechanics. Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions.
• Blackbody radiation.
• Elements of phase transitions.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 2

Module topics include:

• Equations of stellar structure
• Star formation
• Stellar evolution and end points
• Proto-planetary disks
• Exoplanets
• Binary systems

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 2

Topics covered include:

• electrostatics – electrostatic potentials and electric fields, methods of images, Laplace and Poisson equations, introduction to Green's functions, and Gauss' and Stokes' theorems
• magnetostatics – vector potential
• elementary considerations of Function Theory – complex numbers, Cauchy-Riemann differential equations, line-integrals, Cauchy's theorem, Power series, Laurent series, residue theorem, applications in electrostatics
• vector calculus in space-time – four-vectors and tensors, metric tensor, energy-momentum four-vector relativistic electrodynamics, charges seen by different observers, four-vector potential, Maxwell's equations using four-vectors
• calculus of variations, Fermat's principle, Euler-Lagrange equation, definition of action, applications to mechanics and electromagnetism.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 3

This module will cover the following topics:

• Physics of the hydrogen atom
• Relativistic hydrogen atom (fine structure, antimatter)
• Hyperfine structure of hydrogen and the 21-cm line
• Interaction with external fields (Zeeman Effect, Stark Effect)
• Helium atom
• Multi-electron atoms and the periodic system
• Molecules and chemical binding
• Molecular structure: vibration and rotation
• Radiative processes, emission and absorption spectra

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 3

Topics covered on this module include:

Classification of solids

1. Types of solids; classification of elements and compounds by physical properties
2. Types of bonding
3. Basic band theory of metals, electrical insulators and semiconductors

Crystal structures

4. Crystals; unit cells and lattice parameters
5. Bravais lattices; crystallographic basis; crystal axes and planes
6. Cubic and hexagonal structures
7. Reciprocal lattice

Diffraction by crystals

8. Physical processes; Braggs law; atomic and geometrical scattering factors
9. Diffraction crystallography

Lattice vibrations

10. Thermal properties of electrical insulators: specific heat and thermal conductivity
11. Vibrations of monatomic and diatomic 1-D crystals; acoustic and optical modes
12. Quantisation of lattice vibrations; phonons
13. Einstein and Debye models for lattice specific heat

The free electron model

14. Classical free electron gas
15. Quantised free electron model
16. Specific heat of the conduction electrons
17. Electrical and thermal conductivity of metals
18. AC conductivity and optical properties of metals

Dielectric and optical properties of insulators

1. Dielectric constant and polarisability
2. Sources of polarisability; dipolar dispersion.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 3

This module on nuclear and particle physics covers:

• Chronology of discoveries.
• Basic nuclear properties.
• Nuclear forces.
• Models of nuclear structure.
• Magic numbers.
• Nuclear reactions, nuclear decay and radioactivity, including their roles in nature.
• The weak force.
• Existence and properties of neutrinos.
• Qualitative introduction to neutrino oscillations.
• C, P and T symmetries.
• Classification of elementary particles, and their reactions and decays.
• Particle structure.
• Qualitative introduction to Feynman diagrams.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching, Year 3

You will carry out three separate half-term experimental investigations. Experiments to be allocated include: Stern-Gerlach; Optical Pumping; beta-Ray Spectrometer; Optical Spectroscopy; Electron Spin Resonance; Atomic Force Microscopy; Schmidt Cassegrain; Telescope; Doppler-Free Absorption Spectroscopy.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 3

This module on quantum mechanics employing Dirac notation and algebraic methods. Topics covered include:

• Dirac's formulation of quantum mechanics - bras&kets, observables, algebraic treatment of harmonic oscillator, x&p representation, compatibility, uncertainty
• Symmetries and conservation laws - generators of translations&rotations, parity, time evolution, Heisenberg picture
• Angular momentum - algebraic treatment, spin, "addition" of angular momenta, explicit form of rotation operators
• Approximation methods - time-independent perturbation theory: first and second orders, degeneracies; WKB approximation & tunneling
• Interaction picture and time-dependent perturbation theory
• Basics of field quantisation - creation and annihilation operators, EM transitions
• Basic scattering theory
• Mixed states and quantum measurement - density matrix, Bell's inequality
• Elements of relativistic QM and antiparticles

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 3

This module covers the following topics:

• Electronic Energy bands in Solids. Electrons in periodic potentials; Brillouin Zones; Bloch states. Nearly Free Electron (NFE) model. Tight-Binding Approximation (TBA) model. Band structure of selected metals, insulators and semiconductors. Optical Properties.
• Electron Dynamics. Electrons and holes. Effective Mass. Mobilities. Magneto-transport.
• Semiconductors. Classification; Energy Gaps. Donor and Acceptor doping. Equilibrium carrier statistics in intrinsic and doped materials. Temperature dependence of electrical and optical properties.
• Semiconductor Devices. p-n junctions. Diodes, LEDs, Lasers, Transistors. Superlattices and 2DEG devices. 
• Lattice Defects. Types of defects. Electronic and optical effects of defects in semiconductors and insulators.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 3

This module covers:

• Light-matter interaction. 
• Rate equations of lasers. 
• Principles of Gaussian optics and optical cavities. 
• Types of lasers and their applications.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 3

This module is a first introduction to basic concepts in Elementary Particle Physics. It presents an introductory discussion of leptons and quarks and their interactions in the standard model. Particular emphasis will be given to experimental methodologies and experimental results. A selection of topics covered in this course include: 

• Cross-sections and decay rates 
• Relativistic kinematics
• Detectors and accelerators
• Leptons
• Quarks and hadrons 
• Space-time symmetries
• The quark model 
• Electromagnetic interactions 
• Strong interactions: QCD, jets and gluons 
• Weak interactions and electro-weak unification
• Discrete symmetries
• Aselection of topics in physics beyond the standard model

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 3

The module will cover topics including:

• Efficient market hypothesis 
• Random walk 
• Levy stochastic processes and limit theorems
• Scales in financial data
• Stationarity and time correlation
• Time correlation in financial time series
• Stochastic models of price dynamics
• Scaling and its breakdown
• ARCH and GARCH processes
• Financial markets and turbulence
• Correlation and anti-correlation between stocks
• Taxonomy of a stock portfolio
• Options in idealised markets (to include Black & Scholes formula)
• Options in real markets

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 3

This module aims to develop the skills and understanding required for explaining scientific concepts to a range of audiences, with a particular focus on school aged pupils (11-18). At the start of the module there will be a lecture and a seminar to introduce the project. Tutorials will follow to aid the student with their research project.

The module will involve time in an educational institution carrying out a minor research project based on an aspect of science communication. You will consider an area of interest, relating to communicating STEM, and carry out some literature-based research. You will then design and carry out a small research project. This is likely to be based on a small number of class observations in a chosen school, possibly with some intervention activities that you would evaluate based on your literature review.

Assessment is in the form of a written assignment, to include a literature review and evaluations of observations (from the educational institution) based on theory.

• 45 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching, Year 4

You will undertake individually a significant two-term research project under the supervision of a member of teaching staff. The topic will be chosen from a list that will vary from year to year and will be made available to you during the second term of your third year.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

The module deals with the interaction of atoms with electromagnetic radiation. Starting from the classical Lorentz model, the relevant physical processes are discussed systematically. This includes the interaction of classical radiation with two-level atoms and the full quantum model of atom light interactions. Applications such as light forces on atoms and lasers are explored.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

This module introduces you to the mathematical and statistical techniques used to analyse data. The module is fairly rigorous, and is aimed at students who have, or anticipate having, research data to analyse in a thorough and unbiased way.

Topics include: probability distributions; error propagation; maximum likelihood method and linear least squares fitting; chi-squared testing; subjective probability and Bayes' theorem; monte Carlo techniques; and non-linear least squares fitting.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

Topics covered include:

• Review of 4-vector notation and Maxwell equations. 
• Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-Gordon equation and antiparticles.
• Time-dependent perturbation theory. Application to scattering processes and calculation of cross-sections. Feynman diagrams.
• Spin-1/2 particles and the Dirac equation. Simple fermionic scatterings.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

This module provides an introduction to the general theory of relativity, including:

• Brief review of special relativity
• Scalars, vectors and tensors
• Principles of equivalence and covariance
• Space-time curvature
• The concept of space-time and its metric
• Tensors and curved space-time; covariant differentiation
• The energy-momentum tensor
• Einstein's equations
• The Schwarzschild solution and black holes
• Tests of general relativity
• Weak field gravity and gravitational waves
• Relativity in cosmology and astrophysics.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

This module covers:

• Observational Overview: in visible light and other wavebands; the cosmological principle; the expansion of the universe; particles in the universe.
• Newtonian Gravity: the Friedmann equation; the fluid equation; the aceleration equation.
• Geometry: flat, spherical and hyperbolic; infinite vs. observable universes; introduction to topology
• Cosmological Models: solving equations for matter and radiation dominated expansions and for mixtures (assuming flat geometry and zero cosmological constant); variation of particle number density with scale factor; variation of scale factor with time and geometry.
• Observational Parameters: Hubble, density, deceleration.
• Cosmological Constant: fluid description; models with a cosmological constant.
• The Age of the Universe: tests; model dependence; consequences
• Dark Matter: observational evidence; properties; potential candidates (including MACHOS, neutrinos and WIMPS)
• The Cosmic Microwave Background: properties; derivation of photo to baryon ratio; origin of CMB (including decoupling and recombination).
• The Early Universe: the epoch of matter-radiation equality; the relation between temperature and time; an overview of physical properties and particle behaviour.
• Nucleosynthesis: basics of light element formation; derivation of percentage, by mass, of Helium; introduction to observational tests; contrasting decoupling and nucleosynthesis.
• Inflation: definition; three problems (what they are and how they can be solved); estimation of expansion during Inflation; contrasting early time and current inflationary epochs; introduction to cosmological constant problem and quintessence.
• Initial Singularity: definition and implications.
• Connection to General Relativity: brief introduction to Einstein equations and their relation to the Friedmann equation.
• Cosmological Distance Scales: proper, luminosity, angular distances; connection to observables.
• Structures in the Universe: CMB anisotropies; galaxy clustering
• Constraining Cosmology: connection to CMB, large scale structure (inc BAO and weak lensing) and supernovae.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

After a review of the basic concepts of the C++ language, you are introduced to object oriented programming in C++ and its application to scientific computing. This includes writing and using classes and templates, operator overloading, inheritance, exceptions and error handling. In addition, Eigen, a powerful library for linear algebra is introduced. The results of programs are displayed using the graphics interface dislin.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

This module is an introduction into quantum field theory, covering:

1. Action principle and Lagrangean formulation of mechanics
2. Lagrangean formulation of field theory and relativistic invariance
3. Symmetry, invariance and Noether's theorem
4. Canonical quantization of the scalar field
5. Canonical quantization of the electromagnetic field
6. Canonical quantization of the Dirac spinor field
7. Interactions, the S matrix, and perturbative expansions
8. Feynman rules and radiative corrections.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching, Year 4

The module will introduce you to quantum optics and quantum information, covering:

• Quantum systems and the qubit
• Non-locality in quantum mechanics
• Methods of quantum optics
• The density matrix
• The process of measurement
• Introduction of irreversibility
• Decoherence and quantum information
• Quantum and classical communication
• Measures of entanglement and distance between states
• Logic operations and quantum algorithms
• Requirements for quantum computers
• Physical systems for quantum information processing.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

You will acquire an overview of the current status of modern particle physics and current experimental techniques used in an attempt to answer today's fundamental questions in this field. 

The topics discussed will be: 

• Essential skills for the experimental particle physicist
• Neutrino physics: Neutrino oscillations and reactor neutrinos
• Neutrino physics: SuperNova, geo- and solar- neutrinos and direct neutrino mass measurements
• Cosmic ray physics
• Dark matter
• Introduction to QCD (jets, particles distribution functions, etc)
• Higgs physics
• BSM (including supersymmetry)
• Flavour physics & CP violation
• Electric dipole measurements
• Future particle physics experiments.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

An advanced module on cosmology.

Topics include:

• Hot big bang and the FRW model; Redshifts, distances, Hubble law
• Thermal history, decoupling, recombination, nucleosynthesis
• Problems with the hot big bang and inflation with a single scalar field
• Linear cosmological perturbation theory
• Quantum generation of perturbations in inflation
• Scalar and tensor power spectrum predictions from inflation
• Perturbation evolution and growth after reheating; free streaming and Silk damping
• Matter power spectrum and CMB anisotropies.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

Topics covered include:

• Basics of Penning trap technology. Motion and eigenfrequencies of a trapped particle.
• Electrostatics and design of planar Penning traps. 
• Electronic detection of a single trapped particle. 
• The continuous Stern-Gerlach effect. Measurement of the Spin. 
• Applications 1: Measurement of the electron's g-factor. Test of QED.
• Applications 2: Measurement of the electron's mass. Mass spectrometry.
• Trapping of neutral atoms with magnetic fields: Ioffe-Pritchard traps and the atom chip. 
• Basics of Bose-Einstein condensation. 
• Matter wave interferometry in atom chips: the adiabatic RF dressing technique.
• Introduction to circuit-QED. Superconducting microwave resonators and artificial atoms.
• Coherent quantum wiring of electrons, cold atoms and artificial atoms in a chip.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

The module will introduce you to the practical implementation of quantum technologies. Topics include:

• general introduction to quantum computers
• ion trap quantum computers
• quantum computing with superconducting qubits
• quantum computing with neutral atoms
• linear optics quantum computing
• other quantum computing implementations
• hybrid quantum technologies
• quantum simulators
• quantum cryptography
• quantum effects in macroscopic systems
• quantum effects in biological systems
• foundations of quantum physics
• quantum physics and philosophy

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

Learn the most important analytical techniques used in the nano-physics laboratory today and discuss some of their applications in Materials Physics and nanotechnology where designing devices and functionality at the molecular scale is now possible.

In this module, you cover:

• the basic physical mechanisms of the interaction between solid matter and electromagnetic radiation, electrons and ions
• the principles and usage of microprobes, electron spectroscopy techniques (AES and XPS), x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), light optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and time-resolved optical spectroscopy.

The module includes a coursework component. This involve preparing and giving a presentation on a selected advanced topic related to recent breakthroughs in nanophysics.

Each group will carry out an extensive literature review on a given topic and subsequently prepare and present a 30-minute presentation on their findings.

In your presentation, you are expected to highlight the usefulness of advanced analytical techniques used by researchers in the given subject area.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

The module will cover topics including:

• Introduction to R 
• Pseudo-random number generation 
• Generation of random variates 
• Variance reduction 
• Markov-chain Monte Carlo and its foundations 
• How to analyse Monte Carlo simulations 
• Application to physics: the Ising model 
• Application to statistics: goodness-of-fit tests

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching, Year 4

The module explores the technical manner in which some of the scientific questions in the fields of experimental particle physics, including high energy physics, neutrino physics etc., are being addressed. The student is introduced to many of the experimental techniques that are used to study the particle phenomena. The focus is on the demands those scientific requirements place on the detector technology and current state-of-the-art technologies.

This module will provide you with:

• an introduction to some of the basic concepts of particle physics
• an overview of some of the topical cutting edge questions in the field
• an understanding of some key types of experiments
• a detailed understanding of the underlying detector technologies.

Topics covered include:

1. Intro to particle structure
1. particles and forces, masses and lifetimes
2. coupling strengths and interactions
3. cross sections and decays
2. Accelerators
1. principles of acceleration
2. kinematics, center of mass
3. fixed target experiments, colliders
3. Reactors
1. nuclear fission reactors, fission reactions, types of reactors
2. neutron sources, absorption and moderation, neutron reactions
3. nuclear fusion, solar and fusion reactors
4. Detectors
1. gaseous
2. liquid (scintillator, cerenkov, bubble chamber)
3. solid-state
4. scintillation
5. calorimeters, tracking detectors
6. particle identification
5. Monte Carlo modelling
1. physics