Description

This is the Communication and Key Skills component of the Physics practical laboratories (PHY1027 Practical Physics I and PHY1030 Practical Physics and IT Skills). It is run as a 3-day series of activity-based workshops in the Term 1 'Opportunities Week' of Stage 1. Each new activity is introduced by a course lecturer, who briefly describes the task and its relevance to the course. The activity is completed and followed by peer or demonstrator feedback, where appropriate. These include training for, and hands-on experience of, working as a team and a range of oral, written and inter-personal skills.

Module Aims

This component of the physics practical laboratories aims to develop the effective communication skills physics students need to complete many of their modules. After graduation, this need will intensify and communication and key skills often prove decisive in obtaining a job and in performing that job well.

Syllabus Plan

DAY 1

1. Introduction
   The importance of communication skills in the modern working environment. Introduction to different types of communication, and the importance of knowing your audience.
2. Order of magnitude estimation
   In this problem-solving exercise, you will be given a series of questions that require you to estimate certain quantities to within a factor of ten, given limited information and your own ingenuity. After a period of individual effort, you will then discuss the problems as a group, brainstorming different methods of solution and writing up your best estimates.
3. An afternoon as a scientific journalist
   You will be given a selection of recent peer-reviewed articles, highlighting important scientific results from the past few years. You will choose one, read it, and produce a 1-page written summary appropriate for a popular audience, to be given to your demonstrator (who will provide feedback as appropriate).

DAY 2

1. CVs and speculative applications
   A talk presented by the university careers service gives pointers for writing successful CV's and job applications, including an introduction to "speculative applications" (for students who are too junior for standard internship or placement schemes). The importance of this as a communications exercise is emphasised.
2. Speaking to an audience
   Your scientific article from the previous day is used as the basis for you to produce a 10 minute talk, using visual aids. Your talk is then delivered to an audience comprising of your peers and a postgraduate demonstrator, who will give feedback on your performance.

DAY 3

1. Making a group video.
   In groups of 10, you will choose a scientific topic of your choice as the basis for a group video. Groups must decide who the audience for their video will be, and choose communication strategies and visual aids appropriate for that group. The tasks of script writing, filming, etc, must be delegated amongst the members of the group, and a clear plan for this must be presented by the end of the day. (The video itself will be submitted following the course, allowing time for students to film and edit.)

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• XX-03 Working in groups and teams

Description

This module uses lectures and guided self-study to develop students' understanding of Newtonian classical mechanics and special relativity. Although some of the concepts will be familiar from A-level, vector notation will be used throughout. Particular emphasis is placed on the precise and consistant application of the laws and methods.

Module Aims

Our interest in mechanics arises from its general applicability to a vast number of familiar phenomena. This module provides meaningful and easily visualizable problems which allow development of the skills of problem solving, required in all the fields of physics. It provides the necessary background to later modules that will apply the principles of mechanics to the solution of more complex problems.

Syllabus Plan

1. Vectors and Scalars
   1. Introduction
   2. Definition of vectors and scalars
   3. Scalar and vector algebra
   4. Transformations and the transformation matrix
   5. Study Package 1: displacement and distance, equations of lines and planes, triple products
2. Newtonian Physics
   1. Newton's laws and the principle of relativity, Galilean transformations
   2. Study Package 2: average and instantaneous velocity, motion under constant acceleration, relative velocity
   3. Translational and rotational dynamics, moments, moment of inertia
   4. Work done by forces, kinetic and potential energy, power
   5. Conservative and non-conservative forces
   6. Study Package 3: physics of friction, tensile forces in free body diagrams, concept of impulse
   7. Conservation theorems, energy diagrams, friction
   8. Two-particle systems, centre of mass, rocket motion, collisions, kinetic energy, zero-momentum frame
   9. Rigid bodies, moment of inertia, axis theorems
   10. Study Package 4: rotation with constant angular acceleration, moment and product of inertia, rotation about a moving axis
3. Einsteinian Physics
   1. A brief history, the special theory of relativity, Lorentz transformations
   2. Study Package 5: Michelson-Morley experiment, Doppler effect, Newton's laws
   3. The invariance of the space-time interval, the light cone, relativistic kinematics
   4. Relativistic dynamics, collisions

Core Text

• Young H.D. and Freedman R.A. (2015), University Physics with Modern Physics (14^th edition), Pearson, ISBN 978-1-292-10031-9

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• CM-01 Newton's laws and conservation laws including rotation.
• MT-08 Three-dimensional trigonometry.
• SR-01 Lorentz transformations.
• SR-02 The energy-momentum relationship.

Description

This module will introduce students to the theories of quantum mechanics and special relativity and show how they are used to explain to a wide variety of astrophysical phenomena.

Module Aims

Students will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the key ideas and language used by modern astronomers to describe and explain the observed Universe.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey.
2. Quantum Mechanics
   1. Black body radiation
   2. Photoelectric effect
   3. Wave-particle duality
   4. Zero-point motion; vacuum fluctuations
   5. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
3. Quantum Structure and Spectra of Simple Atoms
   1. Bohr model
   2. Pauli Exclusion Principle
   3. Quantum numbers and Hund's rules
4. Nuclear Matter and Particle Physics
   1. Spin, Bosons and Fermions
   2. α, β and γ; neutrons and protons
   3. Quarks gluons and the standard model
   4. Feynman Diagrams
5. The Force of Gravity, Gravitational Potential Energy
   1. The motion of satellites
   2. The motion of the planets
   3. The gravitational sling-shot
   4. Spherical mass distributions
   5. Apparent weight and the Earth's rotation
6. Stars and Planets
   1. The structure of stars
   2. Neutron stars & white dwarfs
   3. Black holes
   4. Formation of stars and planets
   5. Extra-solar planets
7. Galaxies
   1. Large-scale structure
   2. Interstellar medium
   3. Redshift
8. The Universe
   1. Birth
   2. Expansion
   3. Dark matter
   4. Dark energy

Core Text

• Young H.D. and Freedman R.A. (2015), University Physics with Modern Physics (14^th edition), Pearson, ISBN 978-1-292-10031-9

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• CM-02 Newtonian gravitation, Kepler's laws.
• QM-01 Black body radiation.
• QM-02 Photoelectric effect.
• QM-03 Wave-particle duality.
• QM-04 Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.
• QM-09 Quantum structure and spectra of simple atoms.

Description

The module first considers the characteristic parameters of a forced, damped harmonic oscillator, and relates them to the characteristic parameters of wave propagation. Later stages discuss the propagation and reflection of waves, using waves on a stretched string as the model system. Longitudinal waves in solids, sound waves in gases, and waves in periodic structures (key to much of solid-state physics) are also discussed, followed by an introduction to geometrical optics and optical systems.

Module Aims

The concepts of oscillation amd wave propagation permeate the whole of physics. This module identifies and applies the underlying principles enabling the student to understand many apparently unrelated systems. A wide range of physical phenomena are used as examples. The concepts introduced in this module underpin, and will be developed in later modules, e.g. in PHY2021 Electromagnetism I, PHY2022 Quantum Mechanics I and PHY2024 Condensed Matter I.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey.
2. The Physics of Simple and Damped Harmonic Motion (SHM)
   1. SHM - mass on a spring, equation of motion
   2. Phase angle, displacement, velocity, acceleration
   3. Energy of simple harmonic motion
   4. Damped SHM (mechanical system) - oscillatory and logarithmic decrement (exponential notation)
   5. Quality factor, Q - energy dissipation
   6. Critical-, under- and over-damped mechanical systems
3. Forced Oscillator
   1. Steady-state solution for mass on a spring plus driving force
   2. Mechanical impedance (complex impedance, amplitude, phase factor); amplitude resonance; power supplied by the driving force, Q-value
4. Alternating Electrical Currents (Steady State)
   1. Alternating voltage, phasor diagram, amplitude, phase, period
   2. Resistance, inductance and capacitance in an AC circuit: current-voltage relationships
   3. Complex impedance in AC circuits; power in AC circuits; series and parallel resonance
5. Introduction to Waves
   1. The electromagnetic spectrum
   2. Definition and examples of wave motion; transverse and longitudinal waves; polarization; plane and spherical waves
   3. Basic wave concepts: amplitude and phase; wave number k and angular frequency ω; phase velocity
   4. The wave equation and its solutions
   5. The Doppler effect
   6. Example: transverse waves on a string
   7. Energy transfer in wave motion
6. Superposition of Waves
   1. Standing waves and normal modes
   2. Partial standing waves
   3. Fourier series
   4. Wave packets, dispersion and group velocity
   5. Example: dispersed wave on a string
7. Reflection and Transmission of Waves
   1. Characteristic impedance; reflection and transmission coefficients of amplitude and energy
   2. Example: Reflection and transmission of transverse waves on a string
   3. Impedance matching and the quarter-wave transformer
8. Waves on Periodic Structures
   1. Transverse waves on a one-dimensional periodic structure: dispersion relation, low-pass characteristic, first Brillouin zone
   2. Normal modes on a one-dimensional periodic structure
9. Other Examples of Waves
   1. Longitudinal waves in a solid
   2. Sound waves in a gas
10. Optics
    1. Geometrical optics
       Imaging and ray tracing; thin-lenses; total internal reflection
    2. Interference and diffraction
       Young's experiment; diffraction limited resolution; diffraction-grating spectrometer; thin films and anti-reflection coatings; Fabry-Perot interferometer; Michelson interferometer
    3. Dispersion by prisms and diffraction gratings
    4. Polarization
       Electromagnetic interpretation; Generation by polarizers, reflection and scattering; Birefringence
    5. Optical cavities and laser action

Core Text

• Young H.D. and Freedman R.A. (2015), University Physics with Modern Physics (14^th edition), Pearson, ISBN 978-1-292-10031-9

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• WV-01 Free, damped, forced and coupled oscillations to include resonance and normal modes.
• WV-02 Waves in linear media to the level of group velocity.
• WV-03 Waves on strings, sound waves and electromagnetic waves.
• WV-04 Doppler effect.
• EM-02 DC and AC circuit analysis to the level of complex impedance, transients and resonance.
• EM-05 Electromagnetic spectrum.
• OP-01 Geometrical optics to the level of simple optical systems.
• OP-02 Interference and diffraction at single and multiple apertures.
• OP-03 Dispersion by prisms and diffraction gratings.
• OP-04 Optical cavities and laser action.

Description

In this module, topics such as elastic properties and hydrostatic properties are explained using experimental observations and macroscopic (large-scale) theories. Surface tension in liquids is explained using a molecular-level theory. This is followed by a microscopic treatment of interatomic interactions, the ground-state electronic structure of atoms, and rotational and vibrational energy levels in molecules. The structure of liquid crystals is discussed in terms of different molecular arrangements. Finally, atomic structure and bonding in crystals with diamond structures and sodium chloride structures is described.

Module Aims

Understanding properties of matter is both a basic aspect of physics and very important in view of its increasing technological importance. The coverage of condensed matter within the degree programmes is spread over a number of modules, this being the first. The aim of this module is to develop a sound understanding of the basic concepts of properties of matter.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey.
2. Temperature and Related Topics
   Thermometric systems and properties; Constant-volume gas thermometer; Triple point of water; The ideal-gas temperature; Temperature scales; Equations of state; State variables; p/V isotherms; Van der Waals equation of state; Thermal expansion; Quantity of heat; Heat Capacity and latent heat; Phase changes; Mechanisms of heat transfer: Conduction, convection and radiation.
3. The Ideal Monatomic Gas
   Pressure; Microscopic interpretation of temperature; Internal energy of an ideal gas; Equipartition of energy; Polyatomic gases; Distribution functions; The one-component Maxwell velocity distribution; The Maxwell speed distribution; The mean speed, mean square speed and 'most probable' speed; The mean free path and thermal conductivity; Equipartition of energy.
4. Elasticity
   1. Elastic behaviour
   2. Types of stress and strain: tensile, shear, bulk; Young's modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, Poisson ratio
   3. Plastic behaviour
   4. Isotropic materials
   5. Elastic energy
5. Hydrostatics
   1. Pressure in liquids
   2. Variation of pressure with height
   3. Pressure transmission: Pascal's law and its applications
   4. Buoyancy: Archimedes' principle and its applications
6. Surface Tension
   1. Definition
   2. Measurement of surface tension
   3. Molecular theory
   4. Surface energy
   5. Pressure inside a soap bubble and a liquid drop
   6. Capillarity
   7. Negative pressure and the cohesion of water
7. Microscopic Considerations for the Study of Properties of Matter
   1. Rough calculation of molecular size and interatomic distance
   2. Forces holding atoms in condensed matter
   3. Short-range and long-range interatomic forces
   4. Interatomic potential
      1. in inert gas solids - the Lennard-Jones form
      2. in ionic solids - the Born-Meyer form
   5. General features of the interatomic potential-energy curve: energy depth; equilibrium interatomic distance; slope of the repulsive part of the curve; shape of the curve near its minimum; bulk modulus and the harmonic part of the curve; atomic vibrations and the harmonic part; speed of sound and the harmonic part; anharmonic part of the curve - thermal expansion and thermal conduction
   6. Heat-capacity
   7. Thermal expansion: coefficients of linear and volume expansion
   8. Thermal Conductivity
   9. Thermal stress
   10. Grüneisen's constant
8. Atomic and Molecular Structure
   1. Periodic table of the elements
   2. Ground state electronic configuration
   3. Structure of molecules: monatomic, diatomic, triatomic
   4. Shapes of molecules: linear, planar, three-dimensional
   5. Molecular spectra: rotational and vibrational energy levels
9. Structure of Solids
   1. Atoms in gases, liquids, and solids
   2. Interatomic forces in simple liquids
   3. Liquid crystals: nematic and smectic
10. Structure of Amorphous Solids
    1. Lack of long-range forces
    2. Radial distribution function
    3. Glasses
11. Structure of (Single) Crystals
    1. Lattice: cubic lattice system and Bravais lattices (sc, fcc, bcc)
    2. Crystal structure = lattice & basis
    3. Rock-salt and diamond structures
12. Broad Classification of Solids
    1. Metals and non-metals
    2. Metallic, ionic, covalent, molecular, and hydrogen-bonded crystals
13. X-Ray Diffraction and the Reciprocal Lattice
    1. Examples of X-ray diffractometers
    2. Bragg scattering
    3. Miller indices
    4. Reciprocal lattice
    5. Laue conditions for diffraction
    6. Bragg scattering (k-space)
    7. Ewald sphere

Core Text

• Young H.D. and Freedman R.A. (2015), University Physics with Modern Physics (14^th edition), Pearson, ISBN 978-1-292-10031-9

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• QM-09 Quantum structure and spectra of simple atoms.
• SM-01 Kinetic theory of gases and the gas laws to the level of Van der Waals equation.
• SS-01 Mechanical properties of matter to include elasticity and thermal expansion.
• SS-02 Inter-atomic forces and bonding.
• SS-04 Crystal structure and Bragg scattering. (See also PHY2024.)

Description

This module covers areas such as differential calculus, complex numbers, and matrices that have wide applicability throughout physics. It emphasises problem solving with examples taken from physical sciences.

Module Aims

All physicists must possess a sound grasp of mathematical methods and a good level of 'fluency' in their application. The aim of this module is to provide a firm foundation on which the follow-up module PHY1026 Mathematics II will build.

Syllabus Plan

1. Foundation Mathematics (Preliminary Self-Study and Self-Evaluation Pack)
   1. Algebra
   2. Trigonometric functions
   3. Trigonometry and the binomial theorem
   4. Methods of differentiation and integration
   5. Curve sketching
2. Matrices
   1. Matrix addition, subtraction, multiplication
   2. Inversion of matrices
   3. Applications to the solution of systems of homogeneous and inhomogeneous linear equations
   4. Evaluating numerical determinants
   5. Introduction to eigenvalues and eigenvectors
3. Calculus with a Single Variable
   1. Advanced methods of Differentiation
   2. Advanced methods of Integration
4. Calculus with Several Variables
   1. Partial differentiation, the differential, Reciprocal and Reciprocity Theorems, total derivatives of implicit functions, higher order partial derivatives
   2. Coordinate systems in 2- and 3-dimensional geometries - Cartesian, plane-polar, cylindrical and spherical polar coordinate systems
   3. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional integrals and their application to finding volumes and masses
   4. Line integrals: parametrisation; work as a line integral
5. Series Expansions, Limits and Convergence
   1. Taylor and Maclaurin series, expansions of standard functions
6. Complex Numbers
   1. Argand diagram, modulus-argument form, exponential form, de Moivre's theorem
   2. Trigonometric functions
   3. Hyperbolic functions

Core Text

• Stroud K.A. and Booth D.J. (2013), Engineering Mathematics (7^th edition), Paulgrave MacMillan, ISBN 978-1-137-03120-4

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• MT-01 Trigonometric functions.
• MT-02 Hyperbolic functions.
• MT-04 Series expansions, limits and convergence.
• MT-11 Matrices to the level of eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Description

This module introduces students to some of the mathematical techniques that are most frequently used in physics. Emphasis is placed on the use of mathematical techniques rather than their rigorous proof.

Module Aims

This module aims to consolidate students' skills in foundation topics in mathematics and to give students experience in their use and application.

Syllabus Plan

1. Multi-Variable Calculus
   1. Green's Theorem in the plane
   2. Surface integrals and their application to finding surface areas
   3. Evaluation of multiple integrals in different coordinate systems and using parameterisation
2. The Dirac delta-function
3. Vector Calculus
   1. The grad operator and its interpretation as a slope
   2. The divergence operator and its physical interpretation
   3. The divergence theorem
   4. The curl operator and its physical interpretation
   5. Stokes's theorem
4. Fourier series, Fourier transforms including the convolution theorem
5. Solution of linear ordinary differential equations
   1. First-order separable, homogeneous, exact and integrating-factor types
   2. Linear second-order equations with constant coefficients; damped harmonic motion

Core Text

• Stroud K.A. and Booth D.J. (2011), Advanced Engineering Mathematics (5^th edition), Paulgrave, ISBN 978-0-23-027548-5

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• MT-05 Calculus to the level of multiple integrals.
• MT-06 Solution of linear ordinary differential equations.
• MT-09 [Vectors to the level of] div, grad and curl.
• MT-10 The divergence theorem and Stokes's theorem.
• MT-12 Fourier series and transforms including the convolution theorem.

Description

This module provides a broad foundation in experimental physics, upon which practical work in the stage 2 and subsequent years builds. It starts with a short series of lectures, supplemented with problems sets, on error analysis and graph plotting. Laboratory work is normally undertaken in pairs, with support from demonstrators. Experiments are recorded in lab-books and presented as formal reports. One of the experiments involves working as a larger group. Preparing and delivering oral presentation on an important physics experiment from the past in a conference-like environment is another component of this module, as is the PHY0000 Communication and Key Skills course held in 'Opportunities Week', i.e. T1:06.

Module Aims

Experimentation is one of the central activities of a scientist. Experimental observations form the bases for new hypotheses and also test scientific theories. In this module, you will learn to understand and apply the experimental method, develop your ability to make reliable measurements and report them in an effective and ethical manner.

Syllabus Plan

Each experiment is described in a brief laboratory script and a short video. General guidance on experiments, data analysis and result reporting is provided in the Laboratory Manual.

General supervision and assistance are available from the demonstrators during the timetabled practical sessions. Each demonstrator conducts the initial discussion and monitors the progress of the assigned students, taking a pastoral role and reporting any problems to the Module Coordinator. Feedback is given on each experiment during a 15-minute final discussion with a demonstrator. For the oral presentation in the Student Conference, the assessment is made by demonstrators.

Note: The Communication and Key Skills content and activities are described in the PHY0000 component description.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• XX-01 Experimental work in a practical laboratory

Description

The practical laboratory work section of this module provides a broad foundation in experimental physics, upon which experimental work for the Stage 2 year and project work in Stage 3 builds. It starts with a short series of lectures, supplemented with problems sets, on error analysis and graph plotting. Laboratory work is normally undertaken in pairs, with support from demonstrators. Experiments are recorded in lab-books and presented as formal reports. One of the experiments involves working as a larger group.

In the IT Skills section of this module students learn to use Python for scientific applications. Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language that can be used for a range of academic and research-based activities including high level mathematics and data processing work. Python is widely used in commercial and research environments.

The PHY0000 Communication and Key Skills course held in 'Opportunities Week', i.e. T1:06 constitutes the the third section of this module.

Module Aims

Every physicist must be able to analyse data, evaluate theoretical models, and present their work in the form of a technical report. They must also be able to perform investigations, such as experiments, and solve the problems they encounter in a systematic and logical manner.

Experimentation is one of the central activities of a scientist. Experimental observations form the bases for new hypotheses and also test scientific theories. In this module, you will learn to understand and apply the experimental method, develop your ability to make reliable measurements and report them in an effective and ethical manner.

Syllabus Plan

Part A: Practical Laboratory

Each experiment is described in a brief laboratory script and a short video. General guidance on experiments, data analysis and result reporting is provided in the Laboratory Manual.

General supervision and assistance are available from the demonstrators during the time-tabled practical sessions. Each demonstrator conducts the initial discussion with and monitors the progress of the assigned students, taking a pastoral role and reporting any problems to the Module Coordinator. Feedback is given on each experiment during a 15-minute final discussion with a demonstrator. For the oral presentation in the Student Conference, the assessment is made by demonstrators with partial input from the students.

Note: The Communication and Key Skills content and activities are described in the PHY0000 component description.

Part B: IT Skills

1. Introduction to Python
   1. Running interactive Python; loading modules and packages; using Python as a graphical calculator; simple calculations, maths, simple functions and plotting.
   2. Using Jupyter notebooks with Numpy and Matplotlib.
2. Core Python programming
   1. Objects, variables and assignments. Dynamic 'Duck' typing. Numerical datatypes.
   2. More datatypes: strings, lists, tuples, and dictionaries.
   3. Control flow I: Conditionals, comparisons and Boolean logic.
   4. Control flow II: Loops.
   5. Functions: keyword and positional arguments, default arguments, *args and **kwargs, docstrings, variable scope.
   6. Program structure and documentation, error handling, testing and debugging.
3. Python for labs
   1. Numpy arrays and datatypes.
   2. Using Numpy for reading and writing data; simple statistics; plotting data with errorbars.
   3. Fitting a straight line with a least-squares fit.
   4. Nonlinear least-squares fitting with Scipy.
   5. Publication-quality plots with Matplotlib: multiple axes, control of plot elements.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• XX-01 Experimental work in a practical laboratory
• XX-02 IT Skills

Description

A knowledge of a computing language and how to write programs to solve physics related problems is a valuable transferable skill. This module teaches the Python programming language, but the principles involved are applicable to almost every procedural programming language. Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language that is widely used in commercial and academic environments and for scientific research including high level data analysis work.

The module is taught through a series of lectures and practical sessions based on Jupyter notebooks. The student will learn the building blocks of the language, and a logical approach to coding, and use these to create their own programs with physics applications.

Module Aims

Students learn to write clearly structured and documented programs in Python (Jupyter notebooks), and are able to find and use Python module functionality.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction to Python
   1. Running interactive Python; loading modules and packages; using Python as a graphical calculator; simple calculations, maths, simple functions and plotting.
   2. Using Jupyter notebooks with Numpy and Matplotlib.
2. Core Python programming
   1. Objects, variables and assignments. Dynamic 'Duck' typing. Numerical datatypes.
   2. More datatypes: strings, lists, tuples, and dictionaries.
   3. Control flow I: Conditionals, comparisons and Boolean logic.
   4. Control flow II: Loops.
   5. Functions: keyword and positional arguments, default arguments, *args and **kwargs, docstrings, variable scope.
   6. Program structure and documentation, error handling, testing and debugging.
3. Python for labs
   1. Numpy arrays and datatypes.
   2. Using Numpy for reading and writing data; simple statistics; plotting data with errorbars.
   3. Fitting a straight line with a least-squares fit.
   4. Nonlinear least-squares fitting with Scipy.
   5. Publication-quality plots with Matplotlib: multiple axes, control of plot elements.
4. Python packages and modules
   1. How to find out what's available and use the documentation.
   2. Further examples from Matplotlib e.g. histograms, 2D plots.
   3. Further examples from Numpy e.g. random numbers, matrices.
   4. Introduction and examples from Scipy e.g. root finding and numerical integration.
   5. Introduction and examples from Astropy e.g. reading and displaying FITS images.
5. Advanced Python
   1. File handling with contexts. Filename and process handling with 'sys' and 'os'.
   2. Classes and objects.
   3. Creating a Python program and /or module in an IDE. if __name_ == "__main__" and command-line arguments.
6. Projects
   1. Programming project based on the stage 1 Physics programme content.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• XX-02 IT Skills

Description

This module surveys the phenomena associated with electrostatics (charges at rest) and magnetostatics (the magnetic effects associated with steady currents). It introduces and develops the use of the electric and magnetic field vectors and relates them by considering electromagnetic induction at a classical level. The connection between these fields and conventional lumped-circuit parameters R, C and L is also developed.

This module relies on, and develops, student's ability to apply vector analysis. Maxwell's equations in differential form will be developed systematically, starting from the force between two charged particles, thereby building a firm foundation for the study of more advanced material in PHY3051 Electromagnetism II.

Module Aims

The electromagnetic force holds atoms, molecules and materials together and plays a vital role in our understanding of almost all existing and potential technological developments. Electromagnetism is the second strongest of the four basic interactions of Physics. Its laws, as enunciated by James Clerk Maxwell, enable physicists to comprehend and exploit an enormous range of phenomena.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   1. Brief historical survey
2. Revision of Vector Analysis
   1. Transformation properties
   2. Gradient of a scalar field
   3. Vector properties of the 'Del' operator
   4. Divergence of a vector field
   5. Curl of a vector field and Stokes's theorem
   6. Curvilinear coordinate systems
3. Fields
   1. The force between two charged particles
   2. Definition and properties of E
   3. Interpretation of divergence; the continuity equation
   4. Flux and the divergence theorem
   5. Charge distribution and Gauss's law
   6. Electrostatic potentials
4. Electrostatic Fields in Matter
   1. Simple electric dipole
   2. Multipole distributions
   3. Capacitors
   4. Electric permitivity (constant)
   5. Polarisation P and displacement D in linear dielectric media
   6. Surface and volume polarization
   7. Boundary conditions for electric fields
   8. Energy density of the electrostatic field
5. Electrostatic Systems
   1. Laplaces's and Poisson's equations
   2. General properties of solutions to Laplaces's equation
   3. Analytic solutions to Laplace's equation in special cases
   4. Solutions to single-variable problems
   5. Solutions to two-variable problems
   6. Electrostatic images
6. Magnetostatic Fields in Matter
   1. Definition and properties of B
   2. Ampère's law
   3. Magnetic vector potential A
   4. Faraday-Lenz law
   5. Magnetic permeability (constant)
   6. Magnetisation M and Magnetic-field intensity H in linear magnetic media
   7. Boundary conditions for macroscopic magnetic fields
   8. Energy density of magnetic field
7. Electromagnetic Systems
   1. Steady currents in the presence of magnetic materials
   2. Forces in magnetic fields
   3. Electromagnetic induction for stationary magnetic media
   4. Inductors and transformers
   5. Faraday's law
   6. Measurement of susceptibilities
8. Conclusions
   1. Maxwell's equations
   2. Energy density of an electromagnetic field
   3. The Poynting vector
   4. Summary

Core Text

• Griffiths D.J. (2014), Introduction to Electrodynamics (4^th edition), Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0-321-85656-2

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• EM-01 Electrostatics and magnetostatics.
• EM-02 DC and AC circuit analysis to the level of complex impedance, transients and resonance.
• EM-03 Gauss, Faraday, Ampère, Lenz and Lorentz laws to the level of their vector expression.

Description

This module introduces the mathematical expression of the basic principles of quantum mechanics and methods for finding solutions of problems that permit straightforward mathematical analysis. These solutions demonstrate many of the general features of the subject and will be applied in subsequent modules in the Physics programme.

Module Aims

Quantum Mechanics is one of the fundamental building-blocks of Physics. It affects profoundly the way we think about the universe and is the basis for much of condensed-matter, nuclear and statistical physics. It also has a strong influence on technological developments, for instance in optical and electronic devices. This module aims to give students a firm grounding in the subject and to prepare them for future modules such as PHY3052 Nuclear and High-Energy Particle Physics.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey; recap of PHY1022; what is required of the theory; the wave equation; time-dependent Schrödinger equation
2. Wave Functions and their Interpretation
   The Born probability interpretation; normalization of the wave function; first postulate; wave function of a free particle; wave function of a confined particle; Gaussian wave packets (Self-study pack): the uncertainty principle; time evolution of wave packets
3. Dynamical Variables
   Observables as operators; the second postulate; the third postulate; physical significance of eigenfunctions; Schrödinger equation revisited
4. Stationary States and the Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation
   Time-independent probability distributions; the time-independent Schrödinger equation; stationary states: eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian; example: region of constant potential; method of solution ; boundary conditions
5. Particle in a Box - the Infinite Square Well
   Internal solution; boundary conditions; energy quantization; normalized wave functions
6. The Finite Square Potential Well (Self-study pack)
   Interior and exterior solutions; boundary conditions; symmetric solutions - energies and wave functions; antisymmetric solutions - energies and wave functions
7. Flow of Particles
   Probability flux; continuity equation; persistence of normalization; derivation of probability flux
8. Barrier Problems
   Boundary conditions at a potential discontinuity; a potential step; tunnelling: reflection and transmission by a barrier; practical examples of tunnelling
9. Quantum Measurement and the Structure of Quantum Mechanics
   Properties of Hermitian operators; the superposition principle: fourth postulate; measurements of a general quantum state; commutation relations and simultaneous observables; the uncertainty principle; commutation with the Hamiltonian; summary: the postulates of quantum mechanics
10. The Quantum Harmonic Oscillator
    Hamiltonian in operator form; ladder operators; eigenvalues and eigenfunctions
11. The 3D Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation
    Momentum eigenfunctions in 3D; Schrödinger equation in 3D Cartesian coordinates (Self-study pack); example: particle in a 3D box; Schrödinger equation in spherical polar coordinates
12. Angular Momentum
    Cartesian representation of angular momentum operators; commutation relations; polar representation of angular momentum operators; eigenfunctions and eigenvalues; example: Rotational energy levels of a diatomic molecule
13. The Hydrogen Atom
    Solutions of the angular equation; solutions of the radial equation; energy eigenvalues - the hydrogen spectrum; electron density distributions
14. First-Order Time-Independent Perturbation Theory
    Perturbation theory for non-degenerate levels; perturbation theory for degenerate levels

Core Text

• Rae A.I.M. (2007), Quantum Mechanics (5^th edition), Chapman and Hal, ISBN 1-584-88970-5

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• QM-05 Wave function and its interpretation
• QM-06 Standard solutions and quantum numbers to the level of the hydrogen atom
• QM-07 Tunnelling
• QM-08 First order time independent perturbation theory

Description

This module builds on the discussion of thermal properties in the Stage 1 PHY1024 Properties of Matter module, introduces classical thermodynamics and shows how its laws arise naturally from the statistical properties of an ensemble. Real-world examples of the key ideas are presented and their application in later modules such as PHY2024 Condensed Matter I and PHY3070 Stars from Birth to Death is stressed. The concepts developed in this module are further extended in the PHYM001 Statistical Physics module.

Module Aims

The aim of classical thermodynamics is to describe the states and processes of of systems in terms of macroscopic directly measurable properties. It was largely developed during the Industrial Revolution for practical purposes, such as improving the efficiency the steam-engines, and its famous three laws are empirically based.

The aim of statistical mechanics, which had major contributions from Maxwell, Boltzmann and Gibbs, is to demonstrate that statistical methods can predict the bulk thermal properties of a system from an atomistic description of matter. The theory provides the only tractable means of analysing the almost unimaginable complexity of an N-body system containing 10²³ particles. The classical second law of thermodynamics finds a natural explanation in terms of the evolution of a system from the less probable to the more probable configurations.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   1. Brief historical survey.
2. Basic Thermodynamics
   1. Temperature: thermodynamic equilibrium and the Zeroth Law; temperature and heat.
   2. Ideal gases: quasistatic and reversible processes; reversible work.
   3. Internal energy: adiabatic work; equivalence of work and heat; the First Law.
   4. Thermal engines: the Second Law; heat-engine cycle analysis; Carnot's theorem.
   5. Entropy: Clausius theorem; entropy; maximum-entropy principle.
3. Advanced Thermodynamics
   1. Thermodynamic potentials
      1. Energetic potentials, Legendre transform, Maxwell relations.
      2. Entropic potentials, physical interpretations, stability.
   2. Real gases: Joule–Thomson expasion; the van der Waals gas.
   3. Phase transitions
      1. Theory of saturated vapours.
      2. Clapeyron's equations, classification of phase transitions.
   4. Nernst's postulate: the Third Law; unattainability principle.
4. Statistical Mechanics
   1. Boltzmann's principle
      1. Non-interacting gases, statistical entropy, the partition function.
      2. Connection with thermodynamics, Boltzmann's factor, the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution.
   2. Specific heat: The monoatomic and diatomic ideal gas.
   3. Quantum gases
      1. Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac statistics.
      2. Planck's radiation law, the electron-gas model.

Core Text

• Blundell S.J. and Blundell K.M. (2010), Concepts in Thermal Physics (2^nd edition), Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-191-71823-6

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• TD-01 Zeroth, first and second laws of thermodynamics
• TD-02 Temperature scales, work, internal energy and heat capacity
• TD-03 Entropy, free energies and the Carnot Cycle
• TD-04 Changes of state
• SM-02 Statistical basis of entropy
• SM-03 Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
• SM-04 Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions
• SM-05 Density of states and partition function

Description

This module will explain how electrons, and other waves, propagate within crystalline materials and affect their properties. The properties of periodic structures are discussed, particularly the relationship between real space and reciprocal space and the representation of elastic and inelastic scattering in both spaces. Both phonons and electrons are profoundly influenced by the crystal structure in which they propagate. The last section of this module considers the transport of electrons in the free-electron and nearly-free-electron approximations, which give a good description of the behaviour of electrons in metals and semiconductors. The vibrational excitations of the crystal lattice (phonons) are of particular importance to the properties of insulators.

Module Aims

Condensed matter physics, particularly in the solid-state, underpins modern technology and is also important because it provides the physical realisation of much fundamental physics. This module aims to give the student a firm grounding in the traditional areas of the subject but also to introduce some of the latest developments in one- and two-dimensional systems that are being studied in the research groups at Exeter.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey.
2. Crystal Structures
   1. Direct and reciprocal lattices (Revision)
   2. General features of scattering by solids (Revision)
   3. Scattered-wave amplitude, structure factor, form factor
   4. Brillouin zones
3. Free-electron model
   1. Free-electron Fermi gas
   2. Energy dispersion in k-space
   3. Reduced and extended zones
   4. Effective mass
   5. Density of states
   6. Electron-distribution function; Fermi level
   7. Heat capacity
4. Nearly-Free-Electron Model
   1. Effect of crystal potential on the free-electron picture
   2. Bloch electron
   3. Origin of energy-band gaps
   4. Holes
5. Band Picture for Classification of Solids
   1. Formation of energy bands in solids
   2. Band picture for insulators, semiconductors and metals
6. Fermi surfaces
   1. Fermi surfaces in metals
   2. Harrison's construction of the Fermi sphere
7. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Semiconductors
   1. Donor and acceptor levels in semiconductors; ionization energy of a donor electron, and the Bohr radius
   2. Free-charge-carrier concentration and the Fermi level at different temperatures
   3. The significance of the Fermi level; band structure of a p-n junction
   4. Elementary Optical Properties of Semiconductors: Fundamental absorption; direct and indirect transitions; absorption coefficient; recombination
8. Phonons
   1. Lattice vibrations of the monatomic linear chain
   2. Diatomic linear chain.
   3. Lattice vibrations of three-dimensional crystals
      1. Longitudinal and transverse phonons;
      2. Plotting of dispersion relations
   4. Heat Capacity
9. Transport Properties (Electrical and Thermal)
   1. Relaxation times: phonon/lattice; electronic
   2. Drift and diffusion in semiconductors; the Einstein relation
   3. Thermal conduction in semiconductors and insulators
   4. Drift and thermal conduction in metals
   5. The Wiedemann-Franz law
10. Introduction to Nanostructures and Nanomaterials
    1. Quantum Wells, Wires and Dots
    2. Carbon nanotubes
    3. Graphene

Core Text

• Kittel C. (2005), Introduction to Solid State Physics (8^th edition), Wiley, ISBN 978-0-471-41526-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• SS-03 Phonons and heat capacity
• SS-05 Electron theory of solids to the level of simple band structure
• SS-06 Semiconductors and doping

Description

The emphasis in this module is on practical skills rather than formal proofs. Students will acquire skills in some key mathematical techniques that relate directly to the advanced modules they will meet in the later stages of their degree programme, but also have wide applicability across the mathematical sciences.

Module Aims

This module aims to enable the student to build on the knowledge and skills developed in PHY1026 in order to achieve a deeper understanding of and greater competence in some central mathematical ideas and techniques used throughout physics.

Syllabus Plan

1. Probability theory
   1. Random variables
   2. Conditional probability
   3. Probability distributions
      1. Discrete
      2. Continuous
2. Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics
   1. Calculus of variations
   2. Euler-Lagrange equations
3. Solution of linear partial differential equations
   1. Simple second order differential equations and common varieties: Harmonic oscillator, Schrödinger equation, Poisson's equation, wave equation and diffusion equation.
   2. Separation of variables: The Laplacian family of equations in physics, separation of variables, mechanics of the technique, form of solutions, general solutions in series form, relation to Fourier series, spatial boundary conditions, time dependence, initial conditions.
   3. Examples: rectangular drum, classical and quantum harmonic oscillator, waves at a boundary, temperature distributions, wavepacket/quantum particle in a box
   4. Role of symmetry: Cylindrical and spherical polar co-ordinates, appearance of special functions. Use of special functions by analogy to sin, cos, sinh, cosh etc.
   5. Examples: circular drum, hydrogen wave function
4. Linear Algebra
   1. Revision: Row and column vectors, matrices, matrix algebra, the solutions of systems of linear equations.
   2. Eigenvalue equations I: The matrix equation Ax=ax, solving the matrix equation, the secular determinant, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, canonical form, normal modes/harmonics, simple coupled oscillators.
   3. Eigenvalue equations II: Properties of eigenvectors: orthogonality, degeneracy, as basis vectors.
   4. Eigenvalue equations III: Differential equations as eigenvalue equations and the matrix representation Ax=ax; choosing the basis, solving the equation, the secular determinant, eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
   5. Examples: classical coupled modes, Schrödinger wave equation
   6. Approximate solutions to differential equations (perturbation theory): use of eigenvectors, first- and second-order through repeated substitution, problem of degeneracies.
   7. Examples: quantum particle in a well, a mass on drum, coupled particles

Core Text

• K.F. Riley, Hobson M.P. and Bence S.J. (2006), Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide (3^rd edition), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521679718

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• MT-07 Solution of linear partial differential equations
• MT-13 Probability distributions.

Description

Laboratory work is an important part of the process of learning physics where students apply their knowledge practically. It allows students to deepen their understanding and improve problem solving techniques, and enables them to take an active part in the enquiry into the natural world. This Stage 2 module builds upon the Stage 1 module PHY1027 Practical Physics I, introducing more advanced techniques and equipment, with more detailed and often open-ended experiments that require an active engagement by the student. The experiments complement lecture material of the Stage 2 and 3 modules. A number of the experimental topics are not directly covered in lectures and aim to extend the student's overall vision of physics and their ability to define and solve problems independently. In addition, the module aims to develop a wide range of experimental skills, as well as careful record keeping, critical interpretation of data and their presentation in reports and talks.

Module Aims

This module pre-dates the current template; refer to the description above and the following ILO sections.

Syllabus Plan

The range of experimental topics and associated techniques are detailed in the Laboratory Manual. They include experiments in optics, electromagnetism, mechanics and nuclear physics. Some of the experiments involve computer controlled data acquisition.

Students work in pairs and within the 32 sessions undertake three 'standard' experiments totalling 20 sessions, in accordance with their individual plan which has been formed for the whole academic year.

Before tackling the experiment students study the worksheet and necessary literature, discuss the underlying physics and plan the experiment. Experimental work commences after the student has proved to their demonstrator in the initial discussion that they have a fair grasp of the background of the experiment and knows how to undertake it. The experiment is completed by the student writing a report and the demonstrator marking the work in the final discussion with the student.

These standard experiments are followed by an extended experiment chosen by the student. It lasts twelve sessions in Term T2 and is completed by writing up a report and giving an oral presentation of results to fellow students. It is aimed at allowing the students a more active role in deciding what and how to investigate and giving them more time for a deeper study of one particular topic.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

A knowledge of a computing language and how to write programs to solve physics related problems is a valuable transferable skill. It is taught though a series of practical sessions in which the student will initially learn to understand the logic of the source code and are required to modify the code for a number of prepared projects. This module yeaches the C programming language, but the principles involved are applicable to almost every procedural programming language.

Module Aims

This module aims to give students the ability to write clearly structured, debuggable and maintainable computer programs in ANSI C and to be able to understand such programs written by others.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey.
2. ANSI C
3. The Xcode Integrated Development Environment and C-compiler
4. Local and global variables (integers, real, character)
5. Arithmetic expressions, relational, logical, increment and decrement operators
6. Input/output (formats, data files, etc.)
7. Functions and program structure (standard functions, user-defined functions)
8. Header files
9. Arrays (strings, multidimensional arrays)
10. Rounding errors and accuracy considerations
11. Good programming practice
12. Program design
13. Data design
14. Functions
    1. Variables and scope.
    2. Initialisation.
    3. Function Prototypes.
15. Memory
    1. Pointers
    2. Arrays
    3. Memory allocation
16. Structures
    1. Pointers to structures
    2. Using structures to pass data between functions
    3. Linked lists
17. Projects
    A number of projects based upon the Stage 2 physics course. The background physics required for each project is provided for the student in the project description.

Core Text

• McGrath M. (2002), C Programming in Easy Steps (3^rd edition), Computer Step, ISBN 1-840-78203-X

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

Students are introduced to the basic physical concepts and principles required to understand and study living systems. A synthetic approach is adopted: molecules-cells-tissue, emphasising the contributions of physics and the outstanding challenges. It starts at the molecular level and works up the scale of size and complexity to cover several major systems found in complex organisms.

Module Aims

This module aims give physics students a sound grasp of the interdisciplinary knowledge required to undertake biophysics projects at Stage 3/4.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   Brief historical survey
2. Biomolecules
   1. Proteins
   2. Introductory biochemistry: amino acids and the peptide bond
   3. Physics of proteins
      1. Intra-and intermolecular interactions: electrostatic, hydrophobic, van der Waals
      2. Conformation and folding
      3. Functions: structural and transport
   4. Nucleic acids
      1. Introductory biochemistry
      2. Structure
      3. Dynamics, molecular motors
3. The Physics of Cells
   1. Introduction to cellular organisation and some unanswered questions
   2. The plasma membrane
      1. Functions
      2. Structure: the physical properties of phospholipids
      3. Mechanics
      4. Permeability
   3. The cytoskeleton
      1. Structure
      2. Functions: mechanics, transport and motility
4. Biological Solid Mechanics
   1. The structure of tissues
   2. The mechanics of the extracellular matrix
   3. Soft tissue mechanics, e.g. cartilage
   4. Bone biomechanics
   5. Mechanics in tissue growth and remodelling
5. Biological Fluid Mechanics
   1. The rheology of blood
   2. Blood flow in the heart and large vessels
   3. Blood flow in the microcirculation
   4. Flow in the lymphatic system
   5. Respiratory gas transport and heat exchange
   6. Mucus rheology
6. The Physics of Nerve and Muscle Function
   1. Generation and propagation of the action potential in nerves
   2. Synaptic transmission
   3. Muscle contraction: an introduction to molecular motors
7. The Physics of Perception
   1. Tactile perception
   2. The structure of the eye and ear
   3. Transduction of optical and acoustic signals

Core Text

• Kuriyan J., Boyana K. and Wemmer D. (2013), The Molecules of Life, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 978-0-815-34188-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

In this module students will gain a basic knowledge of the universe and its contents, and good understanding of astrophysical measurement. As such it is crucial for the astrophysics project work, and when combined with the detailed understanding of stars, galaxies and cosmology obtained from the subsequent modules, PHY3070, PHY3066 and PHYM006, will provide a well-balanced grounding in astrophysics.

Module Aims

The specific aims of the module are to impart: a basic knowledge of the hierarchy of objects in the universe, including their structural and evolutionary relationship to each other; an understanding the underlying principles of key instrumentation used for observational astrophysics; an understanding of how we can obtain structural information and physical parameters from distant, often unresolved, objects.

Syllabus Plan

1. Broad Overview and Background
   1. The contents of the Universe.
   2. Celestial co-ordinate systems.
   3. Ages in the Universe (our Sun, clusters, galaxies).
   4. Broad outline of Stellar evolution.
2. Measuring the following properties.
   1. Parallax and distance to the Sun.
   2. Luminosity of stars — main-sequence distances.
   3. The temperatures of stars.
   4. The masses of stars and planets (Kepler's Laws the importance of binaries).
   5. The radii of stars and planets
3. Telescopes, Instruments and Interferometers.
   1. Statistics of photon counting instruments. Energy integrating instruments.
   2. Ideal and non-deal telescopes (angular resolution, platescales and aberrations).
   3. Classical imaging systems.
   4. Spectrographs, polarimeters and heterodyne techniques.
   5. Charge coupled devices.
   6. Interferometry & sparse apertures.
   7. Radio Astronomy, X-ray, gamma-ray astronomy.
   8. Turbulence, adaptive optics, coronographs and higher resolution.
4. Additional topics
   1. Spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres.
   2. Diffuse gas.
   3. Modern instruments: SKA, JWST, SPHERE.
   4. Cosmology, the expanding universe and its evolution.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

This module introduces some fundamental concepts in analytical dynamics, and illustrates their applications to relevant problems. The module covers the calculus of variations, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of dynamics, Poisson brackets, canonical transformations, and Hamilton-Jacobi equations. The approach is necessarily mathematical and students are advised to take this optional module only if they have got marks of at least 60% in both PHY1021 Vector Mechanics and PHY1026 Mathematics for Physicists (or in equivalent modules in other departments).

Module Aims

This module will be of interest to students wishing to develop their grasp of theoretical physics. The subject of analytical dynamics provides advanced theoretical developments which prove elegant and versatile in solving dynamical problems.

Syllabus Plan

1. Generalized coordinates. Holonomic and nonholonomic constraints
2. Virtual displacement. D'Alembert's principle
3. The Lagrangian formulation
4. The Hamiltonian formulation
   1. Configuration space; generalized (canonical or conjugate) momentum
   2. Phase space
   3. Legendre transformation
   4. Hamiltonian; Hamilton's equations
   5. Cyclic co-ordinates and conservation theorems
   6. Liouville's theorem
5. Calculus of variations
6. Poisson brackets
   1. Lagrange brackets
   2. Poisson brackets
7. Hamilton-Jacobi equations and action-angle variables
8. The transition to quantum mechanics
9. Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
   1. Chaos and its relevance to mechanics
   2. The stability of non-linear equations
   3. The non-linear oscillator
   4. Phase-Space Methods
   5. The pendulum revisited
   6. Mappings
   7. Characterisation of chaotic systems

Core Text

• Gregory R.D. (2006), Classical Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-534097

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

This module provides a basic foundation in experimental physics for Physics Majors on one-semester study-abroad programmes. It starts with a short series of lectures, supplemented with on-line notes, on error analysis and graph plotting. Laboratory work is normally undertaken in pairs, with support from demonstrators. Experiments are recorded in lab-books and presented as formal reports. An optional component of this module is particiption in the PHY0000 Communication and Key Skills course held in week T1:06.

Module Aims

Experiment is one of the central activities of a scientist. Experimental observations form the basis for new hypotheses, and also test scientific theories. In this module, you will learn to understand and apply the experimental method, develop your ability to make reliable measurements and report them in an effective and ethical manner.

Syllabus Plan

Students are provided with a Laboratory Manual in which the experiments for this module are summarised. There is some choice of which experiments are undertaken. Each experiment is described in detail in a 2-4 page laboratory script.

General supervision and assistance are available in the laboratory from the demonstrators. Each demonstrator monitors the progress of the assigned pairs, taking a pastoral role and reporting any problems to the Module Coordinator. Feedback is given on each experiment during a 15-minute marking session with a demonstrator. For the oral presentation in the Student Conference, the assessment is made by all demonstrators with partial input from the students.

Note: The Communication and Key Skills course is an optional element of this module. It held over three days in the middle of term; this exercise is described in the PHY0000 component description.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• XX-01 Experimental work in a practical laboratory

Description

A knowledge of a computing language and how to write programs to solve physics related problems is a valuable transferable skill. It is taught though a series of practical sessions in which the student will initially learn to understand the logic of the source code and are required to modify the code for a number of prepared projects. This module teaches the Python programming language, but the principles involved are applicable to almost every procedural programming language.

Module Aims

This module aims to build on the introduction to programming in Python given in the IT Skills training in Stage 1 (e.g. PHY1027) in order to develop students' ability to write clear, structured, debuggable and maintainable computer programs in Python and to understand such programs written by others.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction to Python 3 and Revision
   1. Running Python and Jupyter notebook
   2. Loading modules and packages
   3. Using Python as a graphical calculator; simple calculations, maths, functions and plotting
2. Core Python.
   1. Objects, assignments and variables, dynamic typing
   2. Numbers, comparisons and logic
   3. Strings and print statements
   4. Lists and tuples
   5. Sets and dictionaries
   6. Control flow: loops and if-statements
   7. File I/O
   8. Functions
3. Program Design and Practice
   1. Python scripts
   2. Self-documenting code with comments, docstrings and markdown cells
   3. Testing and debugging
   4. Handling errors and exceptions
4. Modules/Packages and Applications
   1. NumPy
   2. Matplotlib
   3. SciPy
   4. Astropy
5. Advanced Python
   1. Creating a Python module
   2. Introduction to classes and Object Oriented Programming
6. Projects
   A number of projects based upon the Stage 2 physics course. The background physics required for each project is provided for the student in the project description.

Core Text

• Hill C. (2020), Learning Scientific Programming with Python (2^nd edition), Cambridge, ISBN 978-1-108-74591-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

Elective modules at study abroad host institutions must be approved by the Stage 3 Study Abroad Co-ordinator and should normally be at NQF Level 5 or above while not substantially overlapping modules that have already been taken as part of the degree. Students are encouraged to select electives that are characteristic of the culture of the host country and/or that will broaden their education.

Module Aims

Elective modules within the Study Abroad programmes are intended to enable the student to develop their understanding of the educational system and culture of of the host country and institution.

Syllabus Plan

As specified by host institution.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

Nonlinear optics provides access to light-matter interactions that are not accessible with conventional (linear) optical imaging techniques and can give novel information regarding the microscopic structure and chemical composition of a wide range of materials. This module will introduce the fundamental principles of non-linear optics (NLO) and explain how it can be applied to reveal novel information regarding material structure and function. Examples from recent research publications will be used to highlight how NLO is making a significant contribution towards advancing our understanding in key materials and life-science research challenges.

Module Aims

Nonlinear optical imaging has emerged as a powerful tool offering significant advantages over conventional optical methods. This module aims to give students an introduction into the fundamental Physics underpinning these techniques, an overview of the instrumentation used, and their application in modern research applications.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction and Historical Perspective
2. Overview of Conventional (Linear) Optical Imaging
   1. Microscopy and spectroscopy in materials and life-sciences
   2. Optical contrast (phase, absorption, fluorescence)
   3. Vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman)
   4. Confocal detection
   5. Performance (depth penetration, photodamage, speed trade-off, photobleaching, staining, spatial resolution)
3. Fundamentals of Non-Linear Optical Processes
   1. Revision of light-matter interactions
   2. Non-linear optical interactions (non-linear susceptibility)
   3. Second-order processes
   4. Third-order processes
4. Instrumentation for NLO imaging and spectroscopy
   1. Properties of ultrafast laser pulses and requirements for NLO
   2. Oscillators and amplifiers
   3. Frequency conversion
   4. Fibre-Sources
   5. Practical considerations for use of ultrafast lasers (pulse shapes, autocorrelations, dispersion, laser safety)
   6. Microscope and spectrometer design
5. Non-Linear Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy
   1. Multi-photon fluorescence
   2. Harmonic Generation (SHG and THG)
   3. Coherent anti-Stoke Raman Scattering (CARS and SRS)
   4. Other techniques – Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) and transient absorption
   5. Multi-modal imaging
   6. Performance (depth penetration, photodamage, speed trade-off, photobleaching, staining, spatial resolution)
6. Applications and Future Perspectives
   1. Biological applications
   2. Clinical applications
   3. Materials and chemical applications

Core Text

• Boyd R.W. (2008), Nonlinear Optics (3^rd edition), Academic Press, ISBN 978-0-080-48596-6

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

Human-induced climate change is the defining issue of our time, and how we act over the next 10-15 years will determine humanity's future over the next millennium. Global temperature has already risen 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. We are already seeing many of the environmental and socio-economic consequences of climate change today. Climate change leads to rising seas, flooding, fires and drought. As a result, millions of people worldwide are being displaced, driven to poverty and hunger, denied access to health and education. Climate change is expanding inequalities, stifling economic growth and causing conflict.

Module Aims

This purpose-driven Physics module will give you an understanding of the physics underlying climate and climate change and empower you to take action. We will examine anthropogenic climate change in context of planetary climates and build our own toy models of climate. We will look at evidence for, and future predictions of climate change; and consider scenarios for mitigation and adaption.

During the course, you will actively engage with the lecturer(s), guest lecturers and your peers. You will work together to apply your understanding of the physics concepts at play. Throughout the module, you will be expected to develop your own critical, evidence-based positions on contemporary news and reports about climate change impacts and predictions.

Syllabus Plan

1. 1. Overview of the challenges facing humanity today, introduction to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals;
   2. Definition of climate and anthropogenic climate change;
   3. Causes, current status and future predictions of anthropogenic climate change;
   4. Overview of the history of Earth and its climate;
   5. Monitoring and modelling climate change and climate variability;
   6. Atmospheric physics: thermodynamics, radiative processes, vertical structure, energy budget, greenhouse effect;
   7. Water and carbon cycles and climate feedback;
   8. Gaia hypothesis, influence of life on climate, planetary climates, planetary habitability;
   9. Non-linearity and tipping points: in climate systems, and in other physical and social systems;
   10. Scenarios for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

This is the second electromagnetism module taken by Physics students. It builds on PHY2021 (Electromagnetism I) and covers fundamental physics that students are capable of directly observing. The early part of the module provides a brief recap and reinforces the difficult material treated at the end of PHY2021. The Maxwell equations are stated and manipulated to obtain the wave equation, and the form of the solutions discussed. The dielectric and magnetic properties of solids are then introduced, with emphasis on the frequency dependence of their real and imaginary components, and the consequences for wave propagation. Wave propagation at interfaces between dissimilar materials is considered, leading to derivation of Fresnel reflection and transmission coefficients. The need to guide electromagnetic waves of different frequency is discussed, and guiding by transmission lines, waveguides and optical fibers is introduced. Finally the electromagnetic fields generated by charges moving with uniform or oscillatory velocity are discussed. A number of interesting physical phenomena are considered that are important in a wide variety of areas and in many key technologies. This is a core subject for Physics programmes and is supported by Stage 3 tutorials and problems classes.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop students' understanding of Maxwell's equations and their applications including some advanced topics. Specifically, students will get to the point where they can handle the fundamentals of fields due to moving charges and also to begin to explore the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.

Syllabus Plan

1. Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves
   1. Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field.
   2. Scalar and vector potentials.
   3. The equation of continuity.
   4. The wave equation and wave solutions to Maxwell equations.
   5. Linear, circular and elliptical polarization states of a wave.
   6. Energy of a wave and the Poynting theorem.
   7. The electromagnetic stress tensor and the momentum of an electromagnetic field.
   8. Gauge invariance and Gauge fixing. The Weyl, Lorenz and Coulomb gauges.
   9. Covariance of Maxwell equations and Lorentz transforms
   10. Field generated by a moving charge. The Liénard-Wiechert potentials.
   11. Larmor formula
2. Electromagnetic materials
   1. Polarization of dielectric materials. Multipole expansion.
   2. Electric susceptibility and the displacement field.
   3. Clausius-Mossotti relation.
   4. Boundary conditions for the electric and the displacement fields.
   5. Magnetic dipoles and magnetization.
   6. Magnetic susceptibility and the magnetic field.
   7. Boundary conditions for the magnetic induction and the magnetic fields.
   8. Larmor precession.
   9. Paramagnetism and Curie law.
   10. Ferromagnetism, spontaneous magnetization, and magnetic hysteresis.
3. Electromagnetism at boundaries and guiding of waves
   1. Waves in non-conductive materials.
   2. Waves in conductive materials and the skin effect.
   3. Dispersive media and the group velocity.
   4. Fresnel coefficients and their consequences (Snell's law, Brewster angle, total internal reflection).
   5. Reflection and transmission from a conductive material.
   6. Transmission lines and impedance.
   7. The telegrapher's equation.
   8. The rectangular waveguide. TE and TM modes of a waveguide.
   9. Optical fibres.
4. Wave propagation
   1. Metals as plasmas, and the plasma frequency.
   2. Plasma oscillations and plasmons.
   3. Surface plasma polaritons.
   4. Anisotropic media and the susceptibility tensor.
   5. Biaxial and uniaxial media. Waveplates.
   6. Double refraction.
   7. Nonlinear media and the nonlinear polarization.
   8. Nonlinear susceptibility.
   9. Phase matching.
   10. Wave diffraction. The Fresnel (paraxial) approximation and the Fraunhofer (far field) approximation.

Core Text

• Griffiths D.J. (2014), Introduction to Electrodynamics (4^th edition), Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0-321-85656-2

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• EM-04 Maxwell's equations and plane electromagnetic wave solution; Poynting vector
• SS-07 Magnetic properties of matter
• EM-06 Polarisation of waves and behaviour at plane interfaces

Description

This module is an introduction to nuclear and particle physics delivered as a series of lectures and integrated self-study packs presenting topics as a series of keynote areas forming the foundations of the subject. This is a core module for all Physics programmes and is supported by Stage 3 tutorials and problems classes.

Module Aims

Investigations of the atomic nucleus and, of the fundamental forces that determine nuclear structure, offer fascinating insights into the nature of the physical world. The tools for probing these systems are high-energy particle accelerators and, more recently, colliding-beam systems. This module, aims to give students a broad overview of the subject matter, and encouragement to seek further information.

Syllabus Plan

1. Nuclear structure
   Nuclear forces; liquid-drop model; Segrè curve and interpretation. Shell model; evidence for 'magic' numbers;
2. Nuclear spin (SS1)
   Conservation of spin and parity in nuclear decays. Nuclear spin resonance and magnetic resonance imaging.
3. Instability and modes of decay
   α-decay, simple version of tunnelling theory; β-decay, neutrino theory, summary of Fermi theory; Kurie plot. γ-decay; nuclear decay schemes.
4. Beta decay theory (SS2)
   Fermi theory of beta decay. Selection rules. Breaking of parity conservation in beta decay.
5. Nuclear reactions
   Energetics; Q-values; reaction thresholds. Compound nucleus model, partial widths. Resonance reactions; Breit-Wigner formula. Fission and Fusion.
6. The neutrino (SS3)
   Neutrino mixing angles and oscillation lengths. Neutrino masses. Dirac vs Majorana neutrinos
7. Introduction to particle physics
   Leptons, nucleons, hadrons, quarks and baryons. Symmetries and groups.
8. QED
   Relativistic quantum theory of electromagnetic interactions; antiparticles, electrodynamics of spinless particles, Dirac equation, electrodynamics of spin-1/2 particles.
9. The Casimir force and QED (SS4)
   Origin of the Casimir force. Zero point energy. High order corrections to interaction strengths in QED. Calculating interactions strengths in QED. Extensions to strong and weak forces.
10. Partons
    Structure of hadrons, gluons.
11. QCD
    Relativistic quantum theory of the strong interactions of quarks and gluons.
12. Symmetry in the Standard Model (SS5)
    Local symmetry in the Standard Model. Discrete symmetry: parity, charge conjugation and time reversal, CPT theorem. CP violation in the weak and strong forces.
13. Weak-interactions
    General structure, non-conservation of parity, massive neutrinos, neutrino experiments. Inverse β-decay. Two-neutrino experiment. CP violation in β-decay.
14. Gauge symmetries
    Gauge bosons

Core Text

• Williams W.S.C. (1991), Nuclear and Particle Physics, Clarendon, ISBN 0-198-52046-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• QM-10 Nuclear masses and binding energies
• QM-11 Radioactive decay, fission and fusion
• QM-12 Pauli exclusion principle, fermions and bosons and elementary particles
• QM-13 Fundamental forces and the Standard Model

Description

Problem-solving is the process of answering questions by using reasoning beyond the mere application of pre-learned procedures. This is a synoptic module that presents students with unfamiliar problems to solve. It requires them to draw on the skills and knowledge of core physics they have built up over their three years at University in order to develop their own solutions to these problems.

Module Aims

Professional physicists are expected to able to tackle many problems by the appropriate application of basic physical laws and by doing so demonstrate their knowledge of the relevant laws and deepen their understanding of the physical world. The ability to solve problems is also an essential life-skill, and most physics graduates earn a living not from their detailed knowledge of physics, but from their ability to solve their employers' problems. The aim of this module is to develop students' problem-solving ability and experience.

Syllabus Plan

The examination may consist of problems on any area of physics. However, these will be soluble by applying laws and techniques included within the core modules common to the Physics programmes that include this module. Booklets of past questions and their mark schemes are publish on ELE (see link below). Past examination papers and the associated solutions and hints are useful guide to the style of problems that they can expect to encounter in the assessment.

This module is primarily taught through self-study. It is supported by video lectures, tutorials (including set work), and the ELE forum.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable

Description

This module is an Independent Study version of PHY3051. It is taken by students remote from Exeter, e.g. at Stage 3 of F304, who are therefore unable to attend traditional lectures and tutorials.

This is the second electromagnetism module taken by Physics students. It builds on PHY2021 (Electromagnetism I) and covers fundamental physics that students are capable of directly observing. The dielectric and magnetic properties of solids are introduced and a range of interesting phenomena are covered including the scattering of light the propagation of electromagnetic waves, etc., are important in a wide variety of areas and in many key technologies. The early part of the module is primarily a recap and a reinforcing of the difficult material treated at the end of PHY2021.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop students' understanding of Maxwell's equations and their applications including some advanced topics. Specifically, students will get to the point where they can handle the fundamentals of fields due to moving charges and also to begin to explore the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.

Syllabus Plan

1. Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves
   1. Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field.
   2. Scalar and vector potentials.
   3. The equation of continuity.
   4. The wave equation and wave solutions to Maxwell equations.
   5. Linear, circular and elliptical polarization states of a wave.
   6. Energy of a wave and the Poynting theorem.
   7. The electromagnetic stress tensor and the momentum of an electromagnetic field.
   8. Gauge invariance and Gauge fixing. The Weyl, Lorenz and Coulomb gauges.
   9. Covariance of Maxwell equations and Lorentz transforms
   10. Field generated by a moving charge. The Liénard-Wiechert potentials.
   11. Larmor formula
2. Electromagnetic materials
   1. Polarization of dielectric materials. Multipole expansion.
   2. Electric susceptibility and the displacement field.
   3. Clausius-Mossotti relation.
   4. Boundary conditions for the electric and the displacement fields.
   5. Magnetic dipoles and magnetization.
   6. Magnetic susceptibility and the magnetic field.
   7. Boundary conditions for the magnetic induction and the magnetic fields.
   8. Larmor precession.
   9. Paramagnetism and Curie law.
   10. Ferromagnetism, spontaneous magnetization, and magnetic hysteresis.
3. Electromagnetism at boundaries and guiding of waves
   1. Waves in non-conductive materials.
   2. Waves in conductive materials and the skin effect.
   3. Dispersive media and the group velocity.
   4. Fresnel coefficients and their consequences (Snell's law, Brewster angle, total internal reflection).
   5. Reflection and transmission from a conductive material.
   6. Transmission lines and impedance.
   7. The telegrapher's equation.
   8. The rectangular waveguide. TE and TM modes of a waveguide.
   9. Optical fibres.
4. Wave propagation
   1. Metals as plasmas, and the plasma frequency.
   2. Plasma oscillations and plasmons.
   3. Surface plasma polaritons.
   4. Anisotropic media and the susceptibility tensor.
   5. Biaxial and uniaxial media. Waveplates.
   6. Double refraction.
   7. Nonlinear media and the nonlinear polarization.
   8. Nonlinear susceptibility.
   9. Phase matching.
   10. Wave diffraction. The Fresnel (paraxial) approximation and the Fraunhofer (far field) approximation.

Core Text

• Griffiths D.J. (2014), Introduction to Electrodynamics (4^th edition), Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0-321-85656-2

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• EM-04 Maxwell's equations and plane electromagnetic wave solution; Poynting vector
• SS-07 Magnetic properties of matter
• EM-06 Polarisation of waves and behaviour at plane interfaces

Description

This module is taken by BSc students in stage 3. It develops students' knowledge of electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and illustrates the aspects in common and relationships between the two areas. It builds on the Stage 2 core modules PHY2021 (Electromagnetism I) and PHY2022 (Quantum Mechanics I). The starting point is the Maxwell equations introduced in PHY2021, which are manipulated to obtain the electromagnetic wave equation and the form of the solutions.

The dielectric and magnetic properties of atoms and materials are considered from both a classical and quantum perspective, with emphasis on the frequency dependence of their real and imaginary components, and the consequences for wave propagation. Wave propagation at interfaces between dissimilar materials is considered, leading to derivation of Fresnel reflection and transmission coefficients. Methods of guiding electromagnetic waves of different frequency by transmission lines, waveguides and optical fibers are discussed and this knowledge, along with the theory of quantum transitions is used to understand maser and laser operation.

This is a core module for BSc Physics programmes and is supported by BSc Stage 3 tutorials.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop students' understanding of quantum mechanics and Maxwell's equations and their applications including some advanced topics, fomalism and applications to the point where they will be able to engage with contemporary research literature. Students will gain an in-depth understanding number of interesting physical phenomena that are important in a wide variety of areas and in many key technologies.

Syllabus Plan

1. ELECTROMAGNETISM
   1. Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves
      1. Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field and constitutive equations
      2. The equation of continuity
      3. Electromagnetic plane waves in an insulating isotropic medium
      4. Polarization, momentum and energy, the Poynting vector
      5. Scalar and vector potentials
      6. Gauge invariance, the Coulomb and Lorentz gauges
   2. Electromagnetic materials
      1. Classical description of atomic polarisability, dispersion
      2. Metals and the skin effect
      3. Diamagnetism, paramagnetism and ferromagnetics: general concepts
      4. Langevin (classical) theory of paramagnetism and electron paramagnetism
      5. M–B loops
   3. Electromagnetic waves at boundaries and guiding waves
      1. Examples of metallic waveguides: cylindrical, rectangular
      2. Coaxial cables and distributed impedance: the Telegrapher's equations
      3. Fresnel's equations and their optical consequences
2. QUANTUM MECHANICS
   1. Heisenberg's Approach to Quantum Mechanics
      1. Matrix elements for a quantum harmonic oscillator
      2. Electron spin and Pauli matrices
   2. Few-Particle Systems
      1. Bose and Fermi particles, the Pauli principle
      2. Two-electron system: spin addition and exchange interaction
   3. Structure of Many-Electron Atoms
      1. Electron shells
      2. Hund's rules,
      3. The role of spin-orbit interaction
      4. LS coupling scheme.
      5. Zeeman effect in many-electron atoms
   4. Quantum Transitions
      1. Perturbation theory
      2. Fermi's golden rule formula
      3. Rate of spontaneous emission
      4. The ruby laser

Core Text

• Griffiths D.J. (2014), Introduction to Electrodynamics (4^th edition), Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0-321-85656-2
• Rae A.I.M. (2007), Quantum Mechanics (5^th edition), Chapman and Hal, ISBN 1-584-88970-5

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• EM-04 Maxwell's equations and plane electromagnetic wave solution; Poynting vector
• EM-06 Polarisation of waves and behaviour at plane interfaces
• QM-05 Wave function and its interpretation
• QM-06 Standard solutions and quantum numbers to the level of the hydrogen atom
• QM-09 Quantum structure and spectra of simple atoms
• QM-12 Pauli exclusion principle, fermions and bosons and elementary particles
• SS-07 Magnetic properties of matter

Description

This module is an Independent Study version of PHY3052. It is taken by students remote from Exeter, e.g. at Stage 3 of F304, who are therefore unable to attend traditional lectures and tutorials.

This module is an introduction to nuclear and particle physics delivered as a series of lectures and integrated self-study packs presenting topics as a series of keynote areas forming the foundations of the subject. This is a core module for all Physics programmes and is supported by Stage 3 tutorials and problems classes.

Module Aims

Investigations of the atomic nucleus and, of the fundamental forces that determine nuclear structure, offer fascinating insights into the nature of the physical world. The tools for probing these systems are high-energy particle accelerators and, more recently, colliding-beam systems. This module, aims to give students a broad overview of the subject matter, and encouragement to seek further information.

Syllabus Plan

1. Nuclear structure
   Nuclear forces; liquid-drop model; Segrè curve and interpretation. Shell model; evidence for 'magic' numbers;
2. Nuclear spin (SS1)
   Conservation of spin and parity in nuclear decays. Nuclear spin resonance and magnetic resonance imaging.
3. Instability and modes of decay
   α-decay, simple version of tunnelling theory; β-decay, neutrino theory, summary of Fermi theory; Kurie plot. γ-decay; nuclear decay schemes.
4. Beta decay theory (SS2)
   Fermi theory of beta decay. Selection rules. Breaking of parity conservation in beta decay.
5. Nuclear reactions
   Energetics; Q-values; reaction thresholds. Compound nucleus model, partial widths. Resonance reactions; Breit-Wigner formula. Fission and Fusion.
6. The neutrino (SS3)
   Neutrino mixing angles and oscillation lengths. Neutrino masses. Dirac vs Majorana neutrinos
7. Introduction to particle physics
   Leptons, nucleons, hadrons, quarks and baryons. Symmetries and groups.
8. QED
   Relativistic quantum theory of electromagnetic interactions; antiparticles, electrodynamics of spinless particles, Dirac equation, electrodynamics of spin-1/2 particles.
9. The Casimir force and QED (SS4)
   Origin of the Casimir force. Zero point energy. High order corrections to interaction strengths in QED. Calculating interactions strengths in QED. Extensions to strong and weak forces.
10. Partons
    Structure of hadrons, gluons.
11. QCD
    Relativistic quantum theory of the strong interactions of quarks and gluons.
12. Symmetry in the Standard Model (SS5)
    Local symmetry in the Standard Model. Discrete symmetry: parity, charge conjugation and time reversal, CPT theorem. CP violation in the weak and strong forces.
13. Weak-interactions
    General structure, non-conservation of parity, massive neutrinos, neutrino experiments. Inverse β-decay. Two-neutrino experiment. CP violation in β-decay.
14. Gauge symmetries
    Gauge bosons

Core Text

• Williams W.S.C. (1991), Nuclear and Particle Physics, Clarendon, ISBN 0-198-52046-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• QM-10 Nuclear masses and binding energies
• QM-11 Radioactive decay, fission and fusion
• QM-12 Pauli exclusion principle, fermions and bosons and elementary particles
• QM-13 Fundamental forces and the Standard Model

Description

This module describes the fundamental physical properties of biomolecules, cells and tissues and introduces some of the biophysical and biomechanical challenges in understanding the behaviour of normal tissues and their failures in disease.

Module Aims

The physical properties of tissues and their constituent cells and biomolecules are central to their biological functions. Physical processes are also vital to normal growth and development and diseases, ranging from arthritis to cancer, may be related to failures in these processes.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction to cells, tissues and the extracellular matrix
   1. Proteoglycans
   2. Diffusion of solutes
   3. Hydraulic conductivity
   4. Poroelasticity
   5. Viscoelasticity
   6. Fibrous proteins
   7. Fibre composites
2. Cells
   1. Cell membranes
   2. Membrane proteins
   3. Cytoskeleton
   4. Cell mechanics
   5. Mechanotransduction
3. Tissues
   1. Cartilage
   2. Tendon and ligament
   3. Bone
   4. Muscle
   5. Blood and vessels
4. Experimental models
5. Repair, replace, and regenerate

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

The mathematical techniques presented relate directly to the advanced modules at Stages 3 and 4 of Physics programmes, and also have wide applicability across the mathematical sciences. Practical skills are emphasised, rather than formal proofs.

Module Aims

This module aims to develop a deeper understanding of, and greater competence in using, some of the important mathematical methods and techniques of theoretical physics not covered in PHY2025.

Syllabus Plan

1. Functions of a Complex Variable
   1. Revision of basic notations and properties of complex numbers
   2. Analytic functions
   3. Cauchy's theorem
   4. Laurent expansion
   5. Calculus of residues
2. Evaluation of Integrals
   1. Elementary methods
   2. Use of symmetry
   3. Contour integration
3. Conformal Mapping
   1. Theory
   2. Applications
4. Approximate Methods
   1. Method of steepest descent
   2. The WKB method
   3. Variational method in quantum mechanics
5. Special Chapters
   1. Elements of group theory
   2. Elements of percolation theory
   3. Non-linear Shrödinger equation (an example)

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

In this module students work in groups to prepare presentations for the whole class and follow this by working individually on their own reports, which comprise the majority of the assessed components. The fundamental physics learned in previous core modules on quantum mechanics, solid-state and statistical physics, is used as a basis to describe and explain the operation of devices that exploit both quantum phenomena and the unique characteristics of graphene. As well as demonstrating the application of physics to technology, the module also provides a grounding that will be useful for careers in the electronics and photonics industries.

Module Aims

Our ability to transmit, process, and store information now depends upon the quantum properties of matter and radiation and in some cases may exploit the properties of single quanta. In addition to their potential applications, quantum phenomena continue to provide new ways of probing our understanding of the world and allow us to explore the new physics of nanostructures and nanomaterials, such as graphene.

Syllabus Plan

The schedule of work is as follows:

Because of the rapid change in this area, the topics will be drawn from current research and so those given below are indicative examples only.

1. Photon Detectors
   Semiconductor based photo detectors; Charge-coupled devices; Photomultipliers.
2. Microcavities and Photonic Crystals
   3D polaritons, microcavity polaritons; photonic crystal fabrication and optical properties.
3. Quantum Dots
   Fabrication; basic physics - energy spectrum and density of states; optical properties - oscillator strength and spectra; Coulomb blockade and single-electron transistors.
4. Quantum Dot Lasers
   Semiconductor lasers; Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting lasers; the advantages of quantum dots.
5. Physics of Graphene
   Crystal structure; the Dirac equation; single-, bi- and tri-layer graphene band structures; suspended vs supported graphene; Moiré patterns.
6. Graphene Transistors
   DC electrical transport; chemical sensors; oscillators.
7. Graphene Optoelectronics and Plasmonics
   Saturable absorber in laser; photovoltaics; touch-screens; plasmonics.
8. Production of Graphene and Other 2-D Materials
   Carbon nanotubes and nanoribbons; molybdenum sulphide, tungsten sulphide; topological insulators.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module applies the two main techniques of astronomy - astronomical observations and theoretical modelling - in order to understand galaxies in the Universe, including the Milky Way, and their physical processes. These systems are studied at a more advanced level than in PHY2030 and the module complements PHY3063 Stars, which covers the small-scale universe (e.g. stellar astrophysics).

Module Aims

This module aims to develop an understanding of the physics of galaxies, their constituents, and their evolution over cosmological time. The fascination that these objects hold is due in part to the challenge of extracting information from objects so faint and distant, and in part to the exotic physics of dark matter, black holes, non-Newtonian gravity, quasars and the expansion of the Universe. By the end of this module, students should be able to digest galaxy-related material on the web and in the popular scientific press, and begin to engage with the astrophysics literature, as a means of updating their knowledge in this fast-moving field. This module also provides the student with a practical primer in the radiation processes fundamental to astronomical observations.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction and astronomy background
2. Our Galaxy
   1. Structure and constituents of the Milky Way
   2. Disk kinematics: the Galactic rotation curve and kinematic distances
   3. Disk dynamics: circular motion in a gravitational potential; evidence for dark matter
   4. The Galactic Bulge / Bar and the Galactic Centre
   5. The black hole candidate Sgr A*: theory and observational evidence
   6. The Galactic Halo: globular clusters and the virial theorem
3. High energy radiation processes
   1. The equation of radiative transfer
   2. Continuum emission from stars and dust
   3. Bremsstrahlung or free-free radiation
   4. Synchrotron emission
   5. Compton and inverse Compton scattering
4. Galaxies beyond the Milky Way
   1. Beyond the Milky Way: introduction to galaxies from the Big Bang to the Local Group
   2. Galaxy classification
   3. Spiral galaxies: structure/constituents, the Tully-Fisher scaling relation, star formation, spiral arms and supernova feedback
   4. Elliptical galaxies: structure/constituents; the Fundamental Plane scaling relations
   5. Active Galactic Nuclei phenomenology and unification, black hole accretion and the Eddington luminosity
   6. Jet astrophysics: superluminal motion and relativistic beaming
   7. Galaxy formation and evolution
   8. Gravitational lensing

Core Text

• Sparke L.S. and Gallagher III J.S. (2007), Galaxies in the Universe: An Introduction (2^nd edition), CUP, ISBN 978-0-52-167186-6

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

Students will work individually and in groups in order to engage with the technical, economic and social issues arising from energy-use and environmental change. They will study these in sufficient depth to allow them to make informed and quantitative judgements about proposals to ameliorate environmental damage by policy and other changes. They also have the opportunity to exercise these skills by examining a 'real world' issue as the topic of a group research-project and report.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the interdisciplinary issues surrounding energy use and environmental change. Energy is mainly derived from fossil fuels; there are two problems with this energy source. The first is that it is finite, and so in the future we must move to sustainable energy sources. Secondly, fossil fuels pollute the environment on both a local and a global scale.

Syllabus Plan

1. Lectures
   1. Energy – an Introduction
   2. Fossil Fuels
   3. Climate Change
   4. Economics
   5. Nuclear Power
   6. Energy from Wind and Water
   7. Solar Energy and Photovoltaics
   8. Heat 1
   9. Heat 2
   10. Future Technologies
   11. Transport Sector
   12. Industrial Sector
   13. Energy in Buildings
   14. Industrial and Commercial
   15. Adaptation, Mitigation and Policy
2. Tutorials
   1. Data Precision and Accuracy
   2. Group Roles
   3. Project Management Tools
   4. Report Writing and Referencing
   5. Group Project Mentoring 1
   6. Data vs Information
   7. Group Project Mentoring 2
   8. Data Processing and Visualisation
   9. Group Project Mentoring 3
   10. Presentation Skills
   11. Student Presentations 1
   12. Student Presentations 2
3. Group Project
   Working in groups of about six, students will analyse and compare alternative approaches to a problem; possible topics include, for example, "Assessing the potential for a renewable Crediton", "A quantified strategy for zero carbon University of Exeter campuses", etc. A group will produce a report and present its findings to the rest of the class at the end of the module. Refer to the Learning and Teaching section for further details. Sharp's Method will be used to assign individual marks within each group.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

This module reviews the most important concepts of theoretical physics, in particular: the action, symmetries, and conservation laws. It shows how they help physicists to think about seemingly disconnected topics, ranging from mechanics to quantum field theory. The module is recommended as an option for students who wish to specialise in theoretical physics, and who are intending to take level 7 theory option(s), such as PHYM013 Quantum Many-Body Theory. The topics covered will be also of interest to the students who want to understand the language of theoretical physics without making it their field of research.

Module Aims

Theoretical physics aims to organise our knowledge about the physical world using a compact set of principles that are expressed mathematically.

Syllabus Plan

1. Analytical dynamics
   least action principle, Euler-Lagrange equations, symmetries, Noether's theorem, conservation laws.
2. Relativistic mechanics
   geometry of space time, Lorentz symmetry, action, equations of motion, particle in external fields, scalar and vector potentials.
3. Classical field theory
   scalar field, its action and conservation laws, sound waves in gases and solids as an example.
4. Electromagnetic Fields
   Electromagnetic field tensor, action for electromagnetic field, Maxwell's equations, gauge invariance and charge conservation. Electromechanical analogy and the effective action.
5. Quantum theory
   Schrödinger equation and its Green function, Heisenberg representation, path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, path integral treatment of quantum harmonic oscillator
6. Semiclassical Methods
   Semiclassical approximation in quantum mechanics, the saddle point method.
7. Electromagnetic fields in quantum theory
   Gauge invariance, Aharonov-Bohm effect, Landau levels
8. Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
   Interactions mediated by virtual particles

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

The study of stellar systems encompasses a wide range of physics, including gravitation, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. This module takes these fundamental physical concepts, learned in the core modules, and uses them to derive the properties of stars. The basic internal structure of stars is described in the first sections, while later sections deal with the ageing and death of both high- and low-mass objects. The final sections describe how stars form.

Module Aims

This module aims to develop familiarity with topics at the forefront of current astrophysical research, such as star formation and a detailed understanding of the physics that govern stellar structure and evolution.

Syllabus Plan

1. General Properties of stars
   1. Definition of a star
   2. Observable quantities
   3. Distance determination
   4. Mass determination
   5. Luminosity and effective temperature
   6. Black body radiation
   7. Magnitude, colors and spectral types
2. Basic approach: Dimensional analysis
   1. Hydrostatic Equilibrium
   2. Virial theorem
   3. Characteristic timescales
      1. Dynamical or 'free fall' timescale
      2. Thermal timescale or Kelvin-Helmholz timescale
      3. Nuclear timescale
      4. Stellar lifetime on the Main Sequence
   4. Mass-luminosity relationship
3. Stellar structure equations
   1. Coordinates and mass distribution
      1. Eulerian description
      2. Lagrangian description
   2. Hydrostatic equilibrium
   3. Equation of motion for spherical symmetry
   4. Energy conservation
   5. Energy transport mechanisms
      1. Radiative transport of energy
      2. Convective transport of energy
      3. Conductive transport of energy
4. Thermodynamical properties of matter
   1. Ideal gas with radiation
      1. Fully ionized matter
      2. Partial ionisation
   2. Degenerate electron gas
      1. Consequence of Pauli's principle
      2. Complete degenerate electron gas
      3. Partial degeneracy
   3. Effect of degeneracy on stellar evolution
   4. Non ideal effects
5. Nuclear reactions and main burning phases in stars
   1. Basics of thermonuclear reactions
      1. Mass excess
      2. Binding energy
      3. Coulomb barrier
      4. Tunnel effect or quantum tunneling
      5. Cross sections and reaction rates
   2. Major nuclear burning phases in stars
      1. Hydrogen burning
      2. Helium burning
      3. Advanced stages
   3. Ultimate stages
6. Energy transport properties
   1. Opacity of stellar matter
      1. Bound-bound absorption
      2. Bound-free absorption
      3. Free-free absorption
      4. Electron scattering (Thomson scattering)
7. Principles of stellar evolution
   1. Polytropes
      1. The Lane-Emden equation
      2. The polytropic equation of state
      3. Analytical solutions to the Lane-Emden equation
      4. Masses and radii of polytropes
   2. Numerical models
      1. Contraction toward the Main Sequence
      2. Evolution on the Main Sequence
      3. Final stages: the death of stars
         White dwarfs; Supernovae, Remnants of supernovae: Neutron stars, black holes
8. Instabilities and stellar pulsations
   1. Stability considerations
   2. Stellar pulsations
      1. Special case of Cepheids
      2. Basics of stellar pulsation theory
9. Star formation
   1. Properties of interstellar medium and clouds
   2. The Jeans length and mass
      1. Gravitational instability criterion
   3. Fragmentation process
10. Massive star formation
    1. Spherical accretion and the Eddington limit
    2. The role of rotation
11. Binary star evolution
    1. The lagrange points
    2. The Roche lobe
    3. Detached binaries
    4. Semi-detached binaries
    5. Contact binaries
12. Protostellar discs
    1. Kinematical and thermal structure
    2. The source of viscosity
    3. The inner disc and the sublimation radius
    4. Magnetospheric accretion

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

This module will discuss important approaches for describing and understanding the behaviour and interactions in soft matter systems. In particular, topics explored in this module will include electrostatic and other interactions in solutions, random walks, conformation of (bio)polymers, diffusion processes, mechanics of soft membranes and hydrodynamic interactions in liquid films. In addition, it will introduce important experimental methods used to study soft matter systems and will discuss their theoretical bases.

Module Aims

The module will offer insights into the complex and fascinating physics of various systems generally known as soft matter. It aims to develop students' understanding of the physical principles, interactions and processes governing the behaviour of such systems and provide the necessary tools for quantitative description of their behaviour.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction to Soft Matter
2. Colloidal systems
   1. Introduction to colloids
   2. Electrostatic forces between surfaces in liquids.
      1. Electric double layer.
      2. Poisson-Boltzmann equation and the distribution of the electrostatic potential. Debye-Hückel approximation. Grahame equation.
      3. Pressure and interaction energy between two charged surfaces in aqueous solutions.
      4. Stern model of the double layer.
      5. Limitations of the Poisson-Boltzmann theory.
   3. Van der Waals interactions between surfaces.
      1. Van der Waals disjoining pressure and energy of interaction.
      2. Hamaker constant. Lifshitz theory.
   4. The DLVO theory of the stability of colloidal suspensions.
      1. The DLVO potential
      2. Effect of Hamaker constant, surface electrostatic potential and electrolyte concentration. Secondary minimum.
   5. Experimental measurement of surface forces.
   6. Beyond DLVO: hydration forces, hydrophobic interaction, steric and fluctuation forces.
3. Diffusion processes
   1. Introduction to Brownian motion.
   2. Random walk model. Diffusion equation.
   3. Langevin equation. Einstein-Smoluchowski relation.
   4. Diffusion equation: classical approach.
   5. Solution to the diffusion equation. Laplace transform.
   6. Experimental methods for determination of diffusion coefficients.
4. Polymers in solutions
   1. Introduction to macromolecules.
   2. Random walk model and polymer conformation. End-to-end distance and radius of gyration.
   3. Polymers in solution: frictional coefficient and diffusion.
   4. Entropic elasticity.
   5. Single molecule elasticity: experiments.
5. Soft membranes and free liquid surfaces
   1. Amphiphilic molecules. Supramolecular self-assembly.
   2. Mechanical properties of thin membranes.
   3. Curvature of surfaces. Curvature energy and bending rigidity. Shapes of lipid vesicles and biological membranes.
   4. Thermal fluctuation spectrum of soft membranes.
   5. Experimental determination of the bending elastic modulus and the area modulus of soft membranes.
   6. Surface tension. Laplace equation.
   7. Equilibrium shapes of free liquid surfaces. Exact and approximate solutions.
   8. Experimental determination of the surface tension.
6. Hydrodynamic interactions in thin liquid films
   1. The Navier-Stokes equations. The equation of continuity.
   2. An exact solution: Poiseuille flow.
   3. Lubrication approximation.
   4. Hydrodynamics of thin liquid films.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

This module is being developed for 2021/22.

Module Aims

This module is being developed for 2021/22.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   1. Subtopic
   2. Subtopic
2. Topic A
   1. Subtopic
   2. Subtopic
3. Topic B
   1. Subtopic
   2. Subtopic
4. Topic C
   1. Subtopic
   2. Subtopic

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

Students will work on a project linked to one of the existing main research groups in the Department. Over the period of the project, they will learn how to work as part of a research group. The students will not only develop research skills and communication skills but also gain valuable experience in team work. Typically, between two and four students will work on a particular research topic, and within a group the students will normally work in pairs.

Module Aims

A major distinguishing feature of the MPhys degree is its substantial project which requires students to apply the knowledge they have acquired to a real problem in a research environment. The aim is to foster the skills in open-ended problem solving necessary for the practising physicist. PHY3122 constitutes the first part of a two-part 75-credit project extending over Stages 3 and 4 of MPhys programmes. PHYM009 forms the second part.

Syllabus Plan

1. Background Report and Project Planning
   In weeks T2:01-05 of Term 2 students will spend 1.5 days per week in background reading, team discussions
2. Project Proposal
   In weeks T2:06-09 each student will be engaging in team discussions of the project work. Again, 1.5 days per week will be assigned to this work. Each student will prepare an individual introductory report on the project, to be submitted by the deadline in the table of assessments.
3. Project Work 1
   During weeks T2:10 and T2:11 students spend 1.5 days per week preparing for project work, e.g. by completing any training needed to use equipment/software.
4. Project Work 2
   In Term 3 of Stage  3 the students will work full-time on their project during the the final three weeks of term T3:05-07, i.e. a further 14 days.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module comprises two one-term projects, which may be theoretical or experimental, and are normally undertaken in a pair. These projects are open-ended. Although normally inspired by research in the Department, students may propose their own topics for investigation. Students will produce a formal written scientific report of their first project, and will collaborate to make a poster presentation of their second project.

Module Aims

Project work not only gives students the opportunity to carry out research or a detailed investigation into a specific area of experimental or theoretical physics but it also requires them to develop and apply analytical and problem-solving skills in a context where they won't be told the 'right' answer but must discover, and validate it themselves. This may involve devising explanations or solutions, use of the library, computer, and other resources, working in small groups, and in the presentation and communication of their work, in both written and oral form.

Syllabus Plan

In the Term 1, students work on the first project and must write-up the project in a formal report which must be handed in before the Christmas vacation. This will be typset with LaTeX or word-processed (for word-limit see 'Assessment Methods' above). It will review the background to the project, outline the work done and the results obtained in the project. Work in Term 2 follows a similiar pattern, except that the final report is in the form of a poster presentation which will which will be displayed on the first-floor corridor wall. Details of the various exercises and the assessment criteria are given in the BSc Final Year Projects section of the Physics handbook.

Supervision and assistance is available from project supervisors and/or laboratory demonstrators during the project periods.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module comprises a one-term project, which may be theoretical or experimental, and is normally undertaken in a pair. These projects are open-ended. Although normally inspired by research in the Department, students may propose their own topics for investigation. Students will produce a formal written scientific report of their project.

Module Aims

Project work not only gives students the opportunity to carry out research or a detailed investigation into a specific area of experimental or theoretical physics but it also requires them to develop and apply analytical and problem-solving skills in a context where they won't be told the 'right' answer but must discover, and validate it themselves. This may involve devising explanations or solutions, use of the library, computer, and other resources, working in small groups, and in the presentation and communication of their work, in both written and oral form.

Syllabus Plan

Students work on their project for one term and must write-up the project in a formal report which must be handed in before the vacation. This will be typset with LaTeX or word-processed (for word-limit see 'Assessment Methods' above). It will review the background to the project, outline the work done and the results obtained in the project. Details of the various exercises and the assessment criteria are given in the BSc Final Year Projects section of the Physics handbook.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

Each student will work as part a self-managing team of 4-8 investigate and solve real problems proposed by 'clients' (normally local industrial companies). At the conclusion of the module the group will collectively produce a report and make a presentation to the client. Each project will be allocated an academic staff 'consultant' whose role is to monitor the project and to give the team feedback about their performance and strategic advice when necessary. Feedback from the client company will contribute to the final assessment.

Module Aims

The dual aims of this module are to promote stronger links between universities and employers and to match graduates' skills with employers' needs. This will help students gain valuable skills and experience. As well as gaining an insight into how they could be employed once they have graduated, they learn about working in a team, adhering to a budget and timeline, and how to report to an industrial contact.

Syllabus Plan

The module leader has discretion to make minor variations to the schedule in order to match the availability of the client company's staff, etc..

Further information is given in the BSc Final Year Group Projects section of the Physics handbook.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

The student will use the library facilties at the study-abroad host institution to plan and then produce a background report that will form the basis for their final year project module (PHYM010). The project supervisor in Exeter will monitor progress and provide guidance by e-mail.

Module Aims

This module aims to ensure that the student has a thorough grasp of the background physics and methods that will be required by the final stage 60 credit MPhyscs project.

Syllabus Plan

During their period abroad students will spend about 20 days (normally the majority of this work will be in the first term) working on identifying relevant material, assimilating and organising it firstly into a report plan and then into an introductory report covering the background physics and likely scope of the project. The reports must not exceed the word-limit specified below. They will have access to their project supervisor through e-mail and will be expected to provide fortnightly reports (and/or Skype discussions at the supervisor's discretion) identifying progress and future goals, and highlighting any particular problems. The completed report plan must be received at Exeter for assessment by the the deadline specified in the assessment table. Formative feedback on the report plan will be sent to the student by e-mail. The completed report must be received at Exeter for assessment by the deadline specified in the assessment table. Note: students are strongly advised to use LaTeX to prepare their report and to use PDF with embedded fonts and the output format. They should also send a test page containing a few sentences of text, a captioned diagram, a numbered equation, and a couple of reference to their supervisor so that they can inspect and comment on it at an early stage.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

Physics options at study abroad host institutions must be approved by the Stage 3 Study Abroad Co-ordinator and should normally be at NQF Level 6 or above while not substantially overlapping modules that have already been taken as part of the degree. Options must comprise learning within the domain conventionally known as 'Physics', but within this constraint students are encouraged to select modules that draw on the specialisms available in their host institution and/or that will broaden their education.

Module Aims

Physics option modules within the Study Abroad programmes aim to enable the student to develop their understanding physics and of the educational system and culture of of the host country and institution.

Syllabus Plan

As specified by host institution.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module consists of the courses taken by a Study Abroad student in their year abroad. At least half of the credits must be for physics courses, with the remander being referred to as electives. Physics and elective courses at study abroad host institutions must be approved by the Stage 3 Study Abroad Co-ordinator. Physics courses should normally be at NQF Level 6 or above while not substantially overlapping modules that have already been taken as part of the degree. They must comprise learning within the domain conventionally known as 'Physics', but within this constraint students are encouraged to select courses that draw on the specialisms available in their host institution and/or that will broaden their education. Elective courses should normally be at NQF Level 5 or above while not substantially overlapping modules that have already been taken as part of the degree. Students are encouraged to select electives that are characteristic of the culture of the host country and/or that will broaden their education.

Module Aims

Physics courses within the Study Abroad programmes aim to enable the student to develop their understanding physics and of the educational system and culture of of the host country and institution. Elective courses within the Study Abroad programmes are intended to enable the student to develop their understanding of the educational system and culture of of the host country and institution.

Syllabus Plan

As specified by host institution.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

Many systems of both everyday and astrophysical importance can be studied using the equations and concepts of fluid dynamics. The cup of coffee you drink in the morning, the waves you see at the beach, the blood pumping through your body -- but also the interiors of stars and planets, and the disks in which they form -- are all governed by some version of these equations.

In this module, you will learn the fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics and apply them to a variety of problems in physics, everyday life, and astronomy. You will learn how to solve the Navier-Stokes equations (which govern the flow) in simple cases, and how to describe some aspects of fluid dynamical phenomena even in cases where no analytical solution is possible.

Module Aims

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the basic concepts of fluid dynamics, and practice in using these to solve problems of interest. It also aims to highlight some of the many important applications of fluid dynamics in physics and astronomy, and to develop some physical intuition for the many problems in which no complete solution for the flow can be obtained.

Syllabus Plan

1. Fundamental ideas and equations of fluid dynamics
   1. Continuity equation; mass conservation
   2. Euler equation; momentum conservation
   3. Navier-Stokes equation
   4. Governing non-dimensional parameters
   5. Laminar flow and other limiting states
   6. Energetics and Bernoulli's principle
   7. Boundary layers
2. Vorticity and rotating fluids
   1. Vorticity equation
   2. Kelvin's circulation theorem
   3. Irrotational flow
   4. Flow in rotating reference frames
3. Waves and instabilities
   1. Linearisation
   2. Examples of classic waves (including inertial and gravity waves)
   3. Classic instabilities (including Rayleigh-Taylor, convection)
4. Compressible fluid dynamics
   1. The speed of sound and the Mach number
   2. Shock waves
   3. Effects of stratification
5. Applications to problems in physics, geophysics, and astronomy:
   1. (Examples to be chosen at instructor's discretion; below list is illustrative)
   2. Convection in stars and planets
   3. Accretion and accretion disks
   4. Planetary winds
   5. Aerodynamic
   6. Biophysical fluids
6. Survey of advanced topics (as time permits)
   1. Introduction to magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
   2. Non-Newtonian fluids
   3. Turbulence

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable, this is an optional module.

Description

This module will allow you to develop a critical, scientific, and pragmatic understanding of the role energy and materials can play in building a sustainable future. The module will emphasise the relationship human activity has with our only finite resource, the Earth. The environmental and societal impacts of acquiring energy and primary resources required to survive as a species will be explored. We will discuss the costs and limitations of manufacturing using more sustainable materials on a planet with finite resources. You will gain a strong background in renewable energy generation and new materials to help build a sustainable future.

Module Aims

This module will provide you with: A global perspective of our total energy and resource needs now and in the future. An overview of established energy sources. An overview of renewable energy sources including photovoltaics, wind, and wave power An overview of how these more sustainable technologies can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and the environmental implications of the move to renewable energy sources.

In addition, the module will enable you to: Investigate the current and potential future energy storage technologies including batteries and demands on raw materials needed for the manufacture. Discuss ways to reduce energy demand. Discuss energy inequality in a global context. Critically assess the costs and benefits of various energy supply scenarios

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module's precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Current and future energy demand

Finite energy sources (fossil fuels)

Sustainable energy sources (solar, wind and wave power, geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear power, organic matter/biofuels, hydrogen as clean fuel) Environmental Impacts of Energy Production (acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion etc).

Emissions Reduction and Waste Management

Physics of new energy storage materials/battery technologies (graphene, MAX phases, MXenes, thermoelectrics) including simulation methods in materials physics The energy and materials transition

Urban sustainability, and challenges and opportunities for sustainable energy generation

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module gives the student direct experience of undertaking a research project in a in a non-university professional environment, normally an industrial or government laboratory. The project topic will usually be physics-based but in some cases may involve the application of physics-related skills (e.g., mathematical modelling) to another field.

Module Aims

This module aims to give students first-hand experience of the commercial/industrial scientific working environment and its various pressures, including financial and managerial, and practices of the commercial environment. This will enhance the employability of the students, and motivate them to seek employment in roles where they are able apply physics and physics-related skills to economically important practical problems.

Syllabus Plan

Note: All students should refer to the detailed description of the Professional Experience - Assignments and Assessment Criteria in the Physics Handbook.

The student will be working as an employee in a professional environment. They will receive training appropriate to the environment, and will supplement this with their own observations and participation.

They will undertake a research project with supervision provided by the placement establishment. The research topic and provisional work-plan will be agreed in advance between the Department of Physics and the placement establishment. Progress will be monitored by two visits from the student's tutor during the year, plus regular contact by e-mail and/or telephone.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

During their Stage 3 year, the student will plan and then produce a background report that will form the basis for their final year project module (PHYM010). The project supervisor in Exeter will monitor progress and provide guidance by e-mail.

Module Aims

This module aims to ensure that the student has a thorough grasp of the background physics and methods that will be required by the final stage 60 credit MPhys project.

Syllabus Plan

During their Stage 3 year, students will spend about 20 days (normally the majority of this work will be undertaken after the period of placement employment has finished) working on identifying relevant material, assimilating and organising it firstly into a report plan and then into an introductory report covering the background physics and likely scope of the project. They will have access to their project supervisor through e-mail and will be expected to provide three reports (after ca 5, 10 and 15 days of work) identifying progress and future goals, and highlighting any particular problems. The completed report plan must be received at Exeter for assessment by the deadline specified in the assessment table. Formative feedback on the report plan will be sent by e-mail to the student within 2 weeks of receiving the report plan at Exeter. The completed report must be received at Exeter for assessment by the deadline specified in the assessment table. Note: students are strongly advised to use LaTeX to prepare their report and to use PDF with embedded fonts and the output format. They should also send a test page containing a few sentences of text, a captioned diagram, a numbered equation, and a couple of reference to their supervisor so that the can inspect and comment on it at an early stage.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module gives the student direct experience of undertaking a research project in a in a non-university professional environment, normally an industrial or government laboratory. The project topic will usually be physics-based but in some cases may involve the application of physics-related skills (e.g., mathematical modelling) to another field.

Module Aims

This module aims to give students first-hand experience of the commercial/industrial scientific working environment and its various pressures, including financial and managerial, and practices of the commercial environment. This will enhance the employability of the students, and motivate them to seek employment in roles where they are able apply physics and physics-related skills to economically important practical problems.

Syllabus Plan

Note: All students should refer to the detailed description of the Professional Placement - Assignments and Marking Criteria in the Physics Handbook.

The student will be working as an employee in a professional environment. They will receive training appropriate to the environment, and will supplement this with their own observations and participation.

They will undertake a research project with supervision provided by the placement establishment. The research topic and provisional work-plan will be agreed in advance between the Department of Physics and the placement establishment. Progress will be monitored by two visits from the student's tutor during the year, plus regular contact by e-mail and/or telephone.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module builds upon the PHY2023 Thermal Physics module taken by students at Stage 2. It emphasises four aspects of statistical physics by applying them to a number of physical systems in equilibrium. Firstly, it is shown that a knowledge of the thermodynamic state depends upon an enumeration of the accessible quantum states of a physical system; secondly, that statistical quantities such as the partition function can be found directly from these states; thirdly, that thermodynamic observables can be related to the partition function, and fourthly, that the theoretical results relate to experimental observations.

Module Aims

This module aims to give students an understanding of how the time-symmetric laws of quantum mechanics obeyed by all systems can be linked, through a chain of statistical and thermodynamic reasoning, to the (apparently time-asymmetric) natural processes occurring in macroscopic systems. It also furnishes the theoretical background in statistical mechanics that can be drawn on in other modules e.g. PHYM003 Condensed Matter II.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
   aims and methods of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; differences between thermodynamics and mechanics
2. Thermodynamic equilibrium
   internal energy; hydrostatic and chemical work; heat; the first law of thermodynamics
3. Reversible, irreversible and quasistatic processes
   entropy; the Clausius and Kelvin statements of the second law
4. Criteria for equilibrium
   enthalpy; the Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies; the grand potential
5. Statistical mechanics
   microstates and macrostates; assumption of equal a priori probabilities
6. The canonical ensemble and the Boltzmann distribution
   partition functions; derivation of thermodynamic quantities
7. Systems in contact with a heat bath
   vacancies in solids; paramagnetism
8. Reversible quasistatic processes
   statistical meaning of heat and work; Maxwell's relations; the generalised Clausius inequality; Joule-Thomson effect; the thirdlaw of thermodynamics
9. Heat capacity of solids
   the Einstein and Debye models
10. Partition function for ideal gas
    validity of classical statistical mechanics; Maxwell velocity distribution; kinetic theory; approach to equilibrium
11. Diffusion of particles between systems
    the grand canonical ensemble; the grand partition function; application to the ideal gas; chemical reactions
12. Quantum gases
    Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac and Boltzmann statistics; Black-body radiation; Bose-Einstein condensation; The degenerate electron gas
13. A selection of more-advanced topics:
    phase equilibria; Monte Carlo methods; mean-field theory of second-order phase transitions; the kinetics of growth

Core Text

• Goodstein D.L. (2002), States of Matter, Dover, ISBN 978-0-486-49506-4

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• Not applicable to this module.

Description

The module covers a range of more advanced topics leading to the discussion of quantum transitions and non-relativistic scattering. Much of physics concerns manifestations of the electromagnetic interaction which is susceptible to perturbation techniques. The methods outlined in the module are applicable to many situations in condensed matter and nuclear physics enabling useful and informative solutions to be obtained to non-exactly-soluble problems without resort to numerical methods.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to build upon the foundations laid in PHY2022 Quantum Mechanics I and develop the students' grasp of quantum mechanics - particularly its formalism and applications - to the point where they will be able to engage with contemporary research literature.

Syllabus Plan

1. Heisenberg's Approach to Quantum Mechanics
   1. Matrix elements for a quantum harmonic oscillator and a quantum rotor
   2. Electron spin and Pauli matrices
   3. Quantum particle in a double-well potential as a two-level system
2. Time-Independent Perturbation Theory
   1. Formulae for energy shifts to the first and second order
3. Atoms in External Fields
   1. Normal and anomalous Stark effect
   2. Spin-orbit interaction, normal and anomalous Zeeman effect
4. Few-Particle Systems
   1. Bose and Fermi particles, the Pauli principle
   2. Two-electron system: spin addition and exchange interaction
5. Structure of Many-Electron Atoms
   1. Electron shells
   2. Hund's rules,
   3. The role of spin-orbit interaction
   4. LS coupling scheme.
   5. Zeeman effect in many-electron atoms
   6. Hyperfine structure of atomic spectra.
6. Molecules
   1. Heitler-London theory
   2. Structure of molecular spectra
7. Quantum Transitions
   1. Perturbation theory
   2. Rabi oscillations
   3. Fermi's golden rule formula.
   4. The ammonia maser
   5. Rate of spontaneous emission.
8. Quantum Scattering
   1. Born approximation.
   2. Scattering of electrons in graphene

Core Text

• Rae A.I.M. (2007), Quantum Mechanics (5^th edition), Chapman and Hal, ISBN 1-584-88970-5

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• QM-05 Wave function and its interpretation
• QM-06 Standard solutions and quantum numbers to the level of the hydrogen atom
• QM-07 Tunnelling
• QM-08 First order time independent perturbation theory
• QM-09 Quantum structure and spectra of simple atoms
• QM-12 Pauli exclusion principle, fermions and bosons and elementary particles

Description

The module will apply much of the core physics covered in PHY2021, PHY2024, and PHY3051 to novel systems and engage with fundamental electric, magnetic and optical phenomena in metals and dielectrics. The module illustrates and draws on research undertaken in the Department: studies of the metal-to-insulator transition, oscillatory effects in strong magnetic fields, optical and magnetic phenomena.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop understanding of effects that played a key role in the development of contemporary solid state physics and to provide a general description of its current trends. The different topics covered will be linked by the idea that electrons in solids can be treated as quasi-particles interacting with other quasi-particles: electrons, phonons, photons. In addition to electrons, other excitations in solids are considered, e.g. Cooper pairs, plasmons and polaritons.

Syllabus Plan

1. Electrons in Solids
   1. Calculations of Band Stucture
      1. Tight-binding
      2. Comparison of tight-binding with the nearly-free electron model
      3. Brief introduction to other methods, e.g. LCAO, Pseudo-potentials, LMTO, LAPW
   2. Fermi Surface and Electron Dynamics in Metals.
      1. Construction of the Fermi surface and Fermi surfaces of some metals.
      2. Semiclassical model of electron dynamics. Electron motion in crossed magnetic and electric fields.
      3. Hall effect and magnetoresistance.
      4. Landau quantisation of the electron spectrum.
      5. Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen effects, experimental conditions for their observation.
      6. Mapping of the Fermi surface in three-dimensional metals.
      7. Metal-to-insulator transition in three- and two-dimensional metals. Current situation in the field.
      8. Electron-electron interaction in metals: Fermi liquid
   3. Superconductivity
      1. Difference between 'ideal' metal and superconductor. Specific features of magnetic, thermal and optical properties of superconductors.
      2. Isotope effect. The concept of the Cooper pair and the outline of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory.
      3. Josephson effects. High-temperature superconductivity.
2. Electrons, Phonons and Photons
   1. Dispersion relation for electromagnetic waves in solids and the dielectric function of the electron gas.
   2. Plasma optics and plasmons.
   3. Dielectic function and electrostatic screening. Screened Coulomb potential.
   4. Phonon-photon interaction: polaritons.
   5. Electron-phonon interaction: polarons.
   6. Interband transitions
   7. Electron-hole interaction: excitons.
   8. Raman Spectra
3. Quasiparticles in Low-dimensional Solids
   1. Excitons, plasmons, polarons, and polaritons
   2. Graphene
4. Magnetic Properties of Solids
   1. Ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
   2. Spin waves and magnons.
   3. Giant magneto-resistance.

Core Text

• Kittel C. (2005), Introduction to Solid State Physics (8^th edition), Wiley, ISBN 978-0-471-41526-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A

Description

This continuously assessed module is delivered as two threads running in parallel. The first develops students' skills in scientific computer programming. The second explores how mathematical descriptions of physical systems can be evaluated and investigated numerically.

The lectures will use language and examples that assume a working knowledge of C (e.g. as provided by PHY2027 Scientific Programming in C) and Octave (e.g. as provided by PHY1028 IT and Electronics Skills).

Module Aims

Computational physics is a subdiscipline lying between expeimental and theoretical physics. Scientists use its techniques to investigate systems that are inaccessible to experiment and/or intractable using the standard methods of theoretical techniques. Students taking this module will develop both their programming skills and their knowledge of a range of computer algorithms of relevance to the simulation and modelling of physical systems.

Other fields have adopted the methodologies discussed in this module. Many computer games, for example, use 'physics engines' make their virtual world behave in a realistic manner. The finance industry employs computational physicists to model the financial markets and the global economy using analagous techniques.

Syllabus Plan

Thread 1: Programming for Physicists

1. The Programmer's Toolkit
   1. Languages: Imperative, functional, constraint; high and low level
   2. Divide and conquer: using pipes and scripting as glue
   3. Useful software libraries for science
2. Simple Data Types
   1. Characters
   2. Integers: unsigned and signed
   3. Floating Point Numbers
   4. Pointers: names and values
3. Functions, Procedures and Objects
   1. Variables and scope
4. Memory
   1. The stack; the heap; allocators; reference counting; garbage collection
   2. Hierarchy: registers, processor cache, random access memory (RAM), disk
5. Data structures
   1. Arrays, character strings, linked lists, queues, stacks, trees, hash tables
6. Input and output
   1. Command Line Interface (CLI) vs Graphical User Interface (GUI)
   2. Exchange formats for data: plain text, binary, FITS, XML
   3. Graphics and visualisation: Gnuplot, POV-Ray, etc.
7. Algorithms
   1. Classification, Big-O notation
   2. Discrete Fourier transform (DFT), fast Fourier transform (FFT)
   3. Quicksort vs Mergesort
   4. Fused multiply add (FMA), Kahan summation
8. High performance code
   1. Code profiling and manual optimisation
   2. Optimisations performed by compilers
   3. Code examples that run (a) quickly, (b) slowly
9. Parallel Programming
10. Program Design and Maintenance
    1. Anticipated usage and user community
    2. Version control, documentation, release strategy, ethics, licences
    3. Code quality: assert statements, compiler warnings, static analysis, crash reports, bug tracking, test driven development, code reviews
    4. Single processor vs multi-processor

Thread 2: Numerical Methods with Physical Applications

1. Numerical Errors
   1. Error Propagation: rounding errors; forwards error analysis; backwards error analysis;
   2. The IEEE-754 standard: precision, exceptions, rounding
2. Interpolation, Differentiation and Integration
   Lagrange polylominals, Runge's phenomenon; Gaussian quadrature, Newton-Cotes forumulae, Richardson extrapolation; Romberg's method
3. Solution of Nonlinear Equations
   Bisection methods, Secant Method, Newton's method, Brent's method, coincident roots and deflation
4. Matrix Algebra
   Simple matrix problems; sparse matrices; systems of equations and matrix inversion; error propation; direct vs indirect methods; matrix eigenvalue problems
5. Ordinary Differential Equations
   1. Reduction of order-N equation to a set of N order-1 coupled ODEs
   2. Methods: forward Euler, backwards Euler, trapezoidal, higher-order methods
   3. Consistency, zero-stability, convergence, A-stability
   4. Step-size control, stiff equations
   5. Classical 1-, 2-, 3-, and N-body problems
6. Boundary Value Problems
   1. Types of boundary condition: Dirichlet, Neumann, mixed
   2. Methods: shooting, multiple shooting, finite difference, finite element
   3. Poisson's equation
7. Partial Differential Equations
   
   1. The diffusion equation
   2. The wave equation
   3. Particle in cell methods
8. Monte Carlo Methods and Simulation
   1. Random number generation
      1. Speed and quality of pseudo random number generators
      2. Uniform distribution
      3. Arbitrary distributions: inversion method, acceptance-rejection method
      4. Gaussian distributions: Box-Muller method
      5. Sub-random sequences
   2. Error estimates
   3. Variance reduction
   4. Percolation
   5. Magnetic systems
9. Function Minimisation and Maximisation
   1. Levenberg-Marquardt method
   2. Nelder-Mead (Simplex) method
   3. Constraints
   4. Genetic algorithms
   5. Simulated annealing
   6. Curve fitting
10. Case Study - Spice 3f5

Advanced Topics (If Time Permits)

1. The Quantum One-Body Problem
2. The Quantum N-Body Problem
   1. Quantum Chemistry Methods
   2. Exact Methods
3. Molecular Dynamics
4. Electronic Structure
   1. Variational methods
   2. Hartree-Fock theory
   3. Density functional theory
5. Polymers and Neurons
6. Quantum Monte Carlo Methods
   1. Systems of Fermions
   2. Bose-Einstein Condensation
   3. Diffusion Monte Carlo
7. Quantum Field Theory

Core Text

• Kernighan B.W. and Richie D.M. (1988), The C Programming Language (2^nd edition), Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-110362-8

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

The independent study module may be taken in either Term 1 or Term 2 and is an unconventional option available to Stage 4 students. The student must take responsibility for identifying the topic to be studied, planning a programme of study and the method and criteria by which and end product (normally a report) will be judged.

Module Aims

The module aims is to enable the student to broaden their education and develop his/her skills in goal-setting and time-management by pursuing a completely self-defined programme of study

Syllabus Plan

Students following this module will exercise their goal-setting and time-management skills extensively. They will learn how to define a critical path to deliver a stated result within a given time and develop skills in resourcing, selecting and organising relevant information. They will acquire the discipline to complete their self-defined goal within a time constraint. Equally importantly they will learn not to spend too much time on a project which constitutes only a fraction of their Stage 4 credit. Depending on their chosen form of assessment, they will exercise oral, written or poster presentation skills. They will learn to defend themselves in a viva and apply constructive self-criticism to their final work.

To satisfy the module requirement, the student must:

1. Identify a suitable piece of work to accomplish
2. Define and meet a series of intermediate goals
3. Produce a final result.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module.

Description

This module is an introduction a cornerstone of 20th century physics, the general theory of relativity, Einstein's geometric theory of gravity. The module begins with a recap of special relativity. Subsequently, the mathematical tools (tensor analysis and differential geometry) that underpin general relativity are presented, and students will require a good level level of mathematical fluency and intuition in order to engage with material. Topics include Einstein's field equation, Schwarzschild's solution and black holes, gravitational waves, and the Robertson-Walker metric and cosmology.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop an understanding of Einstein's theory of general relativity (GR). The module starts with a recap of special relativity and then introduces the principles of equivalence, covariance and consistency that lead Einstein to the general theory. The mathematics of tensors and differential geometry are presented in the context of Einstein's field equation. This is followed by a detailed derivation of Schwarzchild's solution and its implication for time and space around a black hole. The module concludes by examining the use of GR in cosmology.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction
2. Recap of key aspects of special relativity
   1. Galilean and Lorentz transformations
   2. Length contraction and time dilation
   3. Doppler effect
   4. Relativistic mechanics
3. Tensor analysis
   1. Covariant and contravariant tensors
   2. Reciprocal basis vectors
   3. Tensor algebra
   4. The metric tensor
   5. Christoffel symbols and covariant differentiation
   6. The geodesic equation
4. Curved spaces
   1. Intrinsic and extrinsic curvature
   2. Parallel transport
   3. Riemannian curvature
   4. Ricci tensor and scalar
5. Einstein's field equation
   1. The stress-energy tensor
   2. Einstein's field equation
   3. The weak field limit
   4. Schwarzschild's solution
   5. Black holes and singularities
6. Black holes
   1. Geodesic equations, orbital shape equation
   2. Falling into a black hole
   3. Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates
   4. Rotating black holes and the Kerr metric
   5. Frame dragging and ergosphere
7. Gravitational waves
   1. Linearised gravity
   2. Wave equation
   3. Weak gravitational waves
   4. The motion of a test particle
   5. Detecting gravitational waves
8. Cosmology
   1. The cosmological principle
   2. Robertson-Walker metric
   3. Red-shift distance relation
   4. The Friedmann equations
   5. Inflation
9. Additional Topics
   1. Eotvos experiments
   2. Observational tests of GR
   3. A recap of special relativity
   4. An introduction to tensor mathematics
   5. Derivation of the Friedmann equations from the Robertson-Walker metric

Core Text

• Lambourne R. (2010), Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology, Cambridge, ISBN 9-7805-2113-1384

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

This module will discuss principles and current techniques used for the understanding of biology at cellular and molecular level and the particular challenges arising in their application to living systems. In addition it will highlight some of the contributions these approaches can make to medicine and the life sciences.

Module Aims

Advances both in understanding biology at the cellular and molecular level as well as clinical diagnosis are increasingly dependent on the availability of new experimental techniques that are almost always based on physics ideas and principles. This module aims to give students an understanding of the physical basis of these techniques as well as their strengths and weaknesses, potential and limitations while also providing a concise introduction into muscle biophysics.

Syllabus Plan

1. Biophysics of Muscle Cells as a Model System for Experimental Methods
   1. Revision of cell biophysics
   2. Specific structures and Properties of muscle cells
   3. Biophysics of muscular activation
2. Signal Processing for Microscopy and Related Experimental Methods
   1. A-to-D conversion and aliasing
   2. Signal-averaging techniques to retrieve signals from noise
   3. Impulse responses, convolution and deconvolution in 2D and 3D
3. Determination of Protein Structure
   1. Protein structure and its interaction with radiation
   2. Structural analysis of biomolecules
4. Spectroscopy
   1. Molecular spectroscopy of biomolecules
   2. Properties of fluorescent dyes and labels for probing biological systems
   3. Applications to the study of muscle cells
5. Microscopy Techniques
   1. Fluorescence microscopy
      1. optical microscopy Modalities
      2. wide-field microscopy
      3. confocal microscopy
   2. Nonlinear and other microscopies
      1. multi-photon microscopy
      2. TIRF and FRET microscopy
      3. CARS microscopy
   3. Modern single molecule techniques
   4. Super-resolution microscopy
      1. localisation microscopy
      2. stimulated emission depletion microscopy
      3. structured illumination microscopy
   5. Application to investigation of muscle biophysics
6. Other Techniques
   1. Computed tomography
      1. Whole body scanning
      2. Micro CT methods
   2. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and applications in muscle

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

This module forms the second part of the two-part, 75-credit project extending over Stages 3 and 4 of of MPhys programmes. Students will continue to work in one of the main research groups in the Physics on the project commenced in Stage 3 (PHY3122 q.v.).

Module Aims

A major distinguishing feature of the MPhys degree is its substantial project which requires students to apply the knowledge they have acquired to a real problem in a research environment. The aim of this module is to foster the open-ended problem solving skills that are characteristic of the practising physicist.

Syllabus Plan

1. Project Work
   In weeks T1:01-11 of Term 1 the students will spend an average of two days per week on project work (making a total of 22 days). This work will be assessed, on the basis of notebooks and a viva voce examination (see table below).
2. Project Work
   In weeks T2:01-07 students will spend an average of two days per week (14 days) on project work.
3. Poster Presentation
   In weeks T2:08-09 of the Term 2 the students will spend five days jointly preparing a poster display on their work. The assessment will take the form of a discussion of the display with each student in turn (see table below).
4. Final Dissertation
   In weeks T2:10-11 students will spend an average of two days per week (4 days) finalising 'practical' work on their project and undertaking the detailed analysis and preparation needed for an individual (not joint) final dissertation. The dissertation is expected to follow the guidelines in the Physics Handbook. The dissertation must not exceed the word-limit specified below. There will be also be a viva voce examination of project and dissertation, and this will be held during the Summer assessment period (see table below).

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is a project module

Description

Students will work on a project linked to one of the main research groups in the Department. Over the period of the project, they will learn what it means to work in an active research group. The students will not only develop research skills and communication skills but also gain valuable experience in team work. Normally, between two and four students will work on a particular research topic, and within the group the students will work in pairs.

Module Aims

A major distinguishing feature of the MPhys degree is its substantial project which requires students to apply the knowledge they have acquired to a real problem in a research environment. The aim of this module is to foster the open-ended problem solving skills that are characteristic of the practising physicist.

Syllabus Plan

1. Background and Project Proposal
   Each student will give an assessed presentation on the background report they prepared in PHY3205. (See table below.)
2. Project Work
   In weeks T1:01-11 the students will spend an average of three days per week working on their project. Throughout the work each student will be responsible for keeping a record of their work in a research notebook (in the form of a detailed diary). The student will also produce (in the notebook) a brief (one-page) weekly summary of the work completed in the previous week and a list of the tasks intended to be completed in the coming week. (A photocopy of this summary should be provided each week to the main supervisor.) This part of the project will be assessed by examination of the student's lab books, and an oral examination (see table below).
3. Project Work
   In weeks T2:01-07 in Term 2 students will spend an average of three days per week working on their project, assessed by examination of the student's lab books, and an oral examination.
4. Poster Presentation
   In weeks T2:08-09 the students will spend four days jointly preparing a poster display on their work. The assessment will take the form of a discussion of the display with each student in turn (see table below).
5. Final Dissertation
   In weeks T2:10-11 students will spend an average of three days per week (6 days) finalising 'practical' work on their project and undertaking the detailed analysis and preparation needed for an individual (not joint) final dissertation. The dissertation is expected to follow the guidelines in the Physics Handbook. The dissertation must not exceed the word-limit specified below. There will be also be a viva voce examination of project and dissertation, and this will be held during the Summer assessment period (see table below).

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is a project module

Description

This module will show how theory and observations underpin our rapidly developing knowledge of planetary objects both inside and outside solar system, an area of physics that has been developing rapidly since the first observation of an extra-solar planet in 1995 and a major research theme at Exeter.

Module Aims

Students will learn how to apply their knowledge of core physics in order to understand and interpret a wide range of phenomena associated with planetary objects both inside and outside the solar system.

Syllabus Plan

1. Formation and Evolution of Planets
   1. Constituents of planetary systems: rocks, gases, liquids
   2. Surface processes: cratering, volcanism, weathering
   3. Theories of planetary formation
2. The Solar System
   1. Earth and Moon, inner planets, outer planets
   2. Asteroids, comets, dwarf planets
3. Exoplanets
   1. Observational techniques: direct observation; radial velocity and astrometry; transits
   2. Physical and Statistical Properties
4. Orbital Dynamics
   1. Orbits in two-body systems
   2. Multi-body interactions, resonances, and chaos
5. Planetary Atmospheres at Rest
   1. Hydrostatics
   2. Basic radiative transfer
   3. Thermodynamics of atmospheres
   4. Atmospheric constituents
6. Planetary Atmospheres in Motion
   1. Principles of fluid dynamics
   2. Effects of rotation
   3. Instabilities, waves, and turbulence
7. Life on Alien Worlds
   1. Definition of life
   2. Conditions required for emergence of life
   3. Effects of life on atmospheres and their observable properties

Core Text

• Lissauer J.J. and de Pater I. (2018), Fundamental Planetary Science, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1-13-905046-3

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

Starting with the second-quantisation formalism, the module uses sophisticated methods (Green functions, Feynman diagrams, and relativistic and non-relativistic quantum field-theories) to analyse the various phaenomonena that arise from the presence of interactions in many-body quantum systems of bosons and fermions, including the Hartree-Fock approximation, the microscopic Bogoliubov theory of superfluidity, spontaneous symmetry-breaking and the BCS theory of superconductivity.

Module Aims

The aim of the module is to introduce the foundations of many-body quantum theory, from both the technical and physical points of view. Although many of the examples are drawn from condensed matter physics, the analogies between these and the theories of high-energy physics will also be emphasised and illustrated.

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction to Second Quantisation
   1. The quantum harmonic oscillator
   2. Second quantisation of the electromagnetic field: photons
2. Quantum Field Theory of Interacting Bosons
   1. Introduction to the quantum field theory formalism for bosons
   2. Quasiparticles in a system of interacting bosons
   3. Bogoliubov microscopic theory of superfluidity
   4. Theory of the condensed states: Gross-Pitaevski equation
3. Quantum Field theory of Interacting Fermions
   1. Introduction to the quantum field theory formalism for fermions
   2. Quasiparticles in a system of interacting bosons: Hartree-Fock approximation
   3. Cooper instability for electrons with attractive interactions
   4. BCS theory of superconductivity
4. Introduction to Feynman Diagrams
   1. Introduction to single-particle Green's functions at zero temperature
   2. The Feynman-Dyson perturbation theory
   3. Hartree-Fock revisited: diagrammatic approach

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

This module is an Independent Study version of PHYM002. It is taken by students remote from Exeter, e.g. at Stage 3 of F304, who are therefore unable to attend traditional lectures and tutorials.

This module builds upon the PHY2022 Quantum Mechanics I module taken by students at Stage 2. It covers a range of more advanced topics leading to the discussion of quantum transitions and non-relativistic scattering. Much of physics concerns manifestations of the electromagnetic interaction which is susceptible to perturbation techniques. The methods outlined in the module are applicable to many situations in condensed matter and nuclear physics enabling useful and informative solutions to be obtained to non-exactly-soluble problems without resort to numerical methods.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to build upon the foundations laid in PHY2022 Quantum Mechanics I and develop the students' grasp of quantum mechanics - particularly its formalism and applications - to the point where they will be able to engage with contemporary research literature.

Syllabus Plan

1. Heisenberg's Approach to Quantum Mechanics
   1. Matrix elements for a quantum harmonic oscillator and a quantum rotor
   2. Electron spin and Pauli matrices
   3. Quantum particle in a double-well potential as a two-level system
2. Time-Independent Perturbation Theory
   1. Formulae for energy shifts to the first and second order
3. Atoms in External Fields
   1. Normal and anomalous Stark effect
   2. Spin-orbit interaction, normal and anomalous Zeeman effect
4. Few-Particle Systems
   1. Bose and Fermi particles, the Pauli principle
   2. Two-electron system: spin addition and exchange interaction
5. Structure of Many-Electron Atoms
   1. Electron shells
   2. Hund's rules,
   3. The role of spin-orbit interaction
   4. LS coupling scheme.
   5. Zeeman effect in many-electron atoms
   6. Hyperfine structure of atomic spectra.
6. Molecules
   1. Heitler-London theory
   2. Structure of molecular spectra
7. Quantum Transitions
   1. Perturbation theory
   2. Rabi oscillations
   3. Fermi's golden rule formula.
   4. The ammonia maser
   5. Rate of spontaneous emission.
8. Quantum Scattering
   1. Born approximation.
   2. Scattering of electrons in graphene

Core Text

• Rae A.I.M. (2007), Quantum Mechanics (5^th edition), Chapman and Hal, ISBN 1-584-88970-5

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• QM-05 Wave function and its interpretation
• QM-06 Standard solutions and quantum numbers to the level of the hydrogen atom
• QM-07 Tunnelling
• QM-08 First order time independent perturbation theory
• QM-09 Quantum structure and spectra of simple atoms
• QM-12 Pauli exclusion principle, fermions and bosons and elementary particles

Description

This module explores how light may be controlled and guided at the level of few photons. It describes how quantum physics may be harnessed in the future to offer new and exciting opportunities in manipulating light, including quantum computing and communication. This module will range over basic physics, mathematical formulation of quantum theory, and topical applications.

Module Aims

This module aims to develop a detailed understanding of the physics that underpins quantum optics and photonics, and learn the underlying mathematical language. It will explores solutions to problems from topics at the forefront of current optics research, such as the production and manipulation of light in non-classical states.

Syllabus Plan

1. Quantum Mechanics
   Dirac notation. Quantum evolution. Schrödinger, Heisenberg and interaction pictures. Composite systems and entanglement.
2. Quantisation of the Electromagnetic Field
   Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves and their relation to harmonic oscillators. Quantum electromagnetic waves. Fock states. Electromagnetic zero-point energy.
3. Single-Mode Quantum Light
   Field and quadrature operators. Optical microcavities and experimental setups.
4. Single-Mode Number States
   Uncertainty relations. Signal-to-noise ratio.
5. Single-Mode Coherent States and Their Relation to Classical Light
   Photon number distribution and non-classical light detection. Electric field uncertainty. Displacement operator.
6. Thermal Radiation and Fluctuations in Photon Number
   Planck distribution. Statistical classification of optical states.
7. Single-Photon Interference
   Beam splitters. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
8. Two-Photon Interference and the Hong-Ou-Mandel Effect
9. Light-Atom Interactions
   Electric-dipole approximation. Perturbation theory. Absorption, stimulated and spontaneous emission. Theory of lasing.
10. Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
    Rabi model. Jaynes-Cummings model. Dicke model. Master equation.
11. Coherence Functions
    First-order coherence. Second-order coherence. Anti-bunching and single photon emission: theory and experiments.
12. Nonlinear Optics and Non-Classical Light
    Non-linear polarization. Parametric down-conversion. Squeezed states of light. Kerr-type nonlinearity.
13. Quantum Teleportation
    The no-cloning theorem. Entangled photon pairs and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen states. Quantum communication protocols. Teleportation.
14. Introduction to Quantum Computing
    Qubits and quantum platforms. Quantum gates. Superdense coding. Quantum algorithms for computation. Phase kick-back and Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is an optional module

Description

This module will provide you with an appreciation of the frontiers of knowledge and understanding in your chosen area of Physics. You will attend presentations given by leading international researchers as part of the regular departmental seminar programmes. You will be required to take notes during each seminar and select a topic to explore in depth using online research resources such as reviews and research articles and prepare a 5,000 report on your selected topic.

Module Aims

The module aims to deepen your knowledge in your chosen area of research specialism while at the same time developing skills in goal-setting and time-management. It is expected that completing this module you will be better placed to decide upon a research problem to investigate in your research project.

You will also gain knowledge in the generic research skills that will underpin your research project during the MSc programme. These include undertaking a critical literature review; the importance of communicating research; the life cycle of research; referencing; research plagiarism and ethics; and peer-review.

You will you discuss the findings in your report in a viva and apply constructive self-criticism of your final work.

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

Students will attend lectures covering various topics on generic research skills: undertaking a critical literature review, presentation skills; preparing a research proposal; referencing, plagiarism; the importance of peer-review, preparing for a viva.

Students will attend research seminars given by internal and external speakers that are part of the department’s research group seminar programme. Students will take notes during each seminar they attend and select a topics to research into more deeply using online research resources to find reviews, articles and preprints.

Seminars cover topics in Astrophysics, Electromagnetic Materials, Soft Matter Physics and Biophotonics, and Quantum Systems and Nanomaterials. Students will be able to choose which seminars to attend based on their chosen areas of interest and will be assigned a mentor with relevant research expertise.

Students will take notes during each seminar and select a topic to explore in depth using online research resources such as reviews and research articles. A written 5,000 word report on the selected topic will be submitted at the end of T1:11

A viva will take place in T2:01, where students will discuss the findings of the report and apply constructive self-criticism to their final work.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

Description

This module introduces you to all of the processes required for undertaking an independent, but supervised, research project at Masters level in Physics. You will work on a project linked to one of the existing main research groups in the Department. Over the period of the project, you will learn how to design, plan and implement the study, as well as analysing the data and writing up your findings in the style of peer-reviewed academic journal. You will gain research skills and valuable experience from being embedded in a world-leading research group for an extended period of time

Module Aims

Learning to conduct original research is essential for your scientific training, employability potential and future career. In this module, you will gain hands-on experience of conducting cutting-edge physics research under the guidance of professional researchers. This involves conducting an independent research project on a subject of your choice related to one our research groups . You will be responsible for designing, planning and implementing the study, as well as analysing the data and writing it up in the style of peer-reviewed academic journal. As such, this project provides valuable experience of managing an original scientific research project, from its inception through to completion.

The aim of this module is to foster the open-ended problem-solving skills that are characteristic of the practising physicist:

To familiarise you with the existing scientific literature in their study area, and teach you to assimilate this knowledge in a succinct and critical manner in order to prepare a research proposal.

To give you experience in undertaking a substantial research project in a research-led environment, deal with real world problems and put into practice the knowledge you have acquired from the taught elements of the programme. In some cases you will conduct your research project alongside scientists in collaborating governmental and non-governmental organisations. In all cases you will be supervised by a member of academic staff from the University of Exeter. The module will expose you to some of the latest developments in your chosen area of physics research, and ultimately pave the way into a deeper understanding of evidence-based scientific enquiry.

By the end of the module, you will have reviewed and assimilated a substantial portion of the existing literature on your chosen area of physics, and carried out a piece of original research, analysed the results using appropriate methods and learned how to disseminate the results in an appropriate manner. The skills you gain will develop or enhance your employability. Transferable skills to other sectors include: problem solving, time management, collaboration, and writing and presentation skills.

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows.

1. Overview of organisation
   You will be allocated a supervisor from the Physics and Astronomy Department who will be the primary source of guidance throughout the project. Depending on the project, you may also work closely with researchers from other departments within the University or from a collaborating organisation.
2. Project Work
   In weeks T2:01-07 students will spend an average of two days per week (14 days) on project work.
3. Content
   A list of projects and potential supervisors will be distributed in October, and you will choose a project area by early December. You may also choose to generate your own project, in consultation with an appropriate supervisor. You will then work with your supervisor to design your project.
4. Stages of the project.
   1. You are required to submit a research proposal on your project subject in February, before beginning data collection.
   2. You are required to make a short formal presentation of your proposed project to staff and students shortly after submitting your literature review, before beginning data collection.
   3. You are required to submit your final project report, in the form of a paper to a specific journal, at the end of July.
   Precise timings and deadlines for assessments, along with assessment criteria, are available on ELE.

Core Text

• Not applicable

KIS Data Summary

IoP Accreditation Checklist

• N/A this is a project module