Physics with Theoretical Physics MSci

This module explores the properties of matter across a wide range of scales, covering nuclear and particle physics, atomic physics, and solid state physics.

The focus will be on key concepts and models essential for understanding behaviour at each scale. You will also learn how quantum and statistical physics methods are applied to determine material properties, from microscopic systems to macroscopic bodies.

In the first semester, this module includes lectures, workshops and practical classes. Some sessions build on the "discovery" strand from Investigations in Physics 1 and Investigations in Theoretical Physics modules, while others focus on developing mathematical and computational techniques relevant to the available projects.

In the second semester, you will work in pairs on a theoretical project chosen from a published list, applying the skills and knowledge gained in the first semester.

You will carry out a project drawn from one of several areas of physics. The project may be experimental or theoretical in nature. Many of the projects reflect the research interests of members of academic staff. You will work in pairs and are expected to produce a plan of work and to identify realistic goals for your project. Each pair has a project supervisor responsible for setting the project. You will also be required to maintain a diary/laboratory notebook throughout.

Occasionally the work from these projects is used in scientific publications, and the students involved are named as authors on those publications.

Depending upon the type of project that you decide to do, you will design and carry out your own experiments, theoretical calculations or computational work and use them to generate what are often new and interesting results. The project culminates in your writing a scientific report which is submitted for assessment along with your laboratory notebook.

This module builds on your knowledge of quantum theory, with a focus on how quantum systems evolve over time. It develops the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics and introduces key physical models and applications, including quantum computing.

The module begins with a review of Dirac notation and its use in formulating quantum problems. It then covers the dynamics of operators and wavefunctions, along with approximate methods for solving time-dependent problems.

Finally, you will be introduced to open quantum systems, quantum systems that interact with their environment, and the mathematical tools used to study them.

This module explores how electrical currents enable communication within the body. You will learn the biological processes in nerve cells that allow electrical signalling, as well as how the ear converts sound and the eye converts light into electrical signals. The module also covers how the heart uses electrical activity to pump blood and how muscles function.

Building on this, you will study how electrical signals from the heart, muscles, and brain can be measured and interpreted through surface recordings. The module also introduces magnetoencephalography (MEG), explaining how tiny magnetic fields generated by electrical currents in the brain can be detected, and the physical design of sensors and specialised rooms required for these measurements.

This module covers the Standard Model of particle physics, detailing the known particles of nature and the theoretical concepts behind them. It introduces natural units, relativistic field equations, and the mathematics of group theory and Lie groups.

Building on this, you will explore the Standard Model's particle content and their interactions through Feynman diagrams. The module will also cover gauge symmetries, applied to the force-carrying particles, as well as discrete symmetries, quantum mixing, and the Higgs mechanism.

Students will learn about the factors that lead to successful innovation, including evaluation and management of an idea/concept.

In addition, students will consider the factors required to extract the value from a product/concept (e.g. market awareness) and the potential routes to market available from both an academic and industrial viewpoint.

This module explores the physical processes involved in the most extreme environments known in the Universe. Among the objects studied are neutron stars, black holes, supernova explosions, and active galactic nuclei.

This module explores our understanding of the largest scales in the universe.

The first part focuses on galaxies, covering topics such as the Milky Way, galaxy morphologies, galactic dynamics, gravitational lensing, the tensor virial theorem and galaxy evolution.

The second part examines even larger cosmic scales, including groups, clusters, and filaments, the statistics of large-scale structures, the cosmic microwave background, basic cosmology, dark matter and the thermal history of the universe.

This module begins by exploring the techniques for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). In the first semester, it covers the classical description of MRI, focusing on how images with contrast are generated to assess structure and function in the body for clinical diagnoses.

In the second semester, the module delves deeper into the physics of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MRI, presenting a quantum description of the technique and examining the clinical applications of MRS. It then shifts to other imaging methods commonly used in hospitals, including ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT). For each technique, you will learn about the transmitters, detectors and safety considerations involved.

Macroscopic matter displays a wide range of phases, from the familiar solids, liquids, and gases to more exotic phases like liquid crystals, superfluid and superconductors. 

In this module, you will learn how these ordered phases are described through broken symmetries, which helps in understanding their properties and phase transitions. You will study various mean-field approaches used to analyse these phases. Finally, you will explore how moving beyond the mean-field approach reveals the emergence of universal critical behaviour.

This module introduces you to the physics and applications of Semiconductors. Semiconductors are key materials of the current Information Age. They enabled most of the devices and technologies we use everyday, such as computers, internet, mobile phones. Semiconductors help us to mitigate global warming, data theft, end of the Moore’s law and other global challenges.

This module includes detailed overview of the Semiconductors past, present and future, and provides skills and knowledge essential for a future Semiconductor researcher or engineer.

You’ll study:

• Physics and applications of conventional semiconductor materials and devices, for example p-n diodes and field-effect transistors
• Physics and applications of novel semiconductor materials, quantum materials, nanostructures, low dimensional materials, such as graphene and quantum dots
• Current and future semiconductor challenges and technologies, such as efficient solar cells, ultrasensitive phone cameras and quantum computers.

This module introduces spacetime and gravity, as explained by Einstein's theories of relativity.

You will learn that when velocities approach a significant fraction of the speed of light, spatial distance and elapsed time become relative to the observer. The relativistic laws of mechanics are presented within a unified framework of four-dimensional spacetime, and key implications, such as Einstein's famous equation E=MC2

The module also covers the concept of gravitational effects, which require spacetime to be warped or curved. You will study the relevant mathematics to describe this curvature and its physical effects, using the Schwarzschild solution and the corresponding black hole as a key example.