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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Department of Physics and Astronomy

COURSE HANDBOOK MSc in PHYSICS MSc in ASTROPHYSICS SESSION 2010/2011

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Dates of College Terms 2010/2011 First Term: Monday, 27 September 2010 - Friday, 17 December 2010 (12 weeks) Second Term: Monday, 10 January 2011 –Friday, 25 March 2011 (11 weeks) Third Term: Monday, 3 May 2011 - Friday, 17 June 2011 (7 weeks) However, please note that the MSc runs for a whole year (September - September). The Post Graduate Diploma runs for one academic year (September - June) only.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document, the Department cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions contained herein. A copy of this Handbook and all those referred to may be found at the Departmental Web site: www.phys.ucl.ac.uk

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FOREWORD

Welcome to University College London, one of the foremost universities in Britain and the world. You are now a member of one of the largest departments in the College and one of the leading Physics and Astronomy departments in the UK, with a strong commitment to excellence in research and teaching. The Department is proud of the quality of its teaching, and has long had a continuing programme of internal review to maintain its own high standards. The quality was recently endorsed by the QAA, who awarded 23 points from a possible 24, a rating of “excellent”. The general aim of the Department is to deliver a wide range of programmes designed to develop a student’s full potential, using the research strengths and experience of the staff in a challenging, but friendly and supportive, environment. The MSc programmes offer you the opportunity of advanced level courses and a significant research project within a leading research group. We welcome feedback both during and after your studies.

There are many people around to help you. The MSc Tutor, Dr Dorothy Duffy, is your immediate contact point for administration within the Department. She is also available to you if you find you have problems of either an academic or a personal nature. Dr Duffy’s office is A24 in the Physics Department. Her e-mail address is d.duffy at ucl.ac.uk I wish you every success in your studies and an enjoyable time at UCL.

Professor Jonathan Tennyson MSc Course Organiser

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MSc/Diploma Calendar 2010-2011 Tuesday 28th September Initial meeting with MSc Tutor Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December Lectures for first semester courses October Choose project Friday 29th October Deadline for submission of project title agreed with supervisor Friday 12th November Deadline for submission of project outline Tuesday 7th December Progress meeting with MSc Tutor Monday 10th January – Friday 25th March Lectures for second semester courses Friday 4th February Deadline for submission of project progress report Tuesday 15th February Progress meeting with MSc Tutor Wednesday 23rd March Deadline for submission of research essay Monday 3rd May – Friday 17th June Examination period (approximate) End of Graduate Diploma Wednesday 24th August Deadline for submission of MSc thesis Early September Oral presentation of project End of MSc

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CONTENTS

DATES OF COLLEGE TERMS 2010/2011.................................................................................................... 2

FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................... 3

MSC/DIPLOMA CALENDAR 2010-2011..................................................................................................... 4

1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. 7

2. GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................... 7

2.1 LOCATION OF LECTURE THEATRES AND OTHER TEACHING VENUES ..................................................... 7 2.2 CONTACTS WITH MEMBERS OF STAFF .................................................................................................. 7 2.3 SAFETY ............................................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 WHAT WE EXPECT OF YOU .................................................................................................................. 8

(a) Attendance ............................................................................................................................ 8 (b) The Department .................................................................................................................... 9 (c) Change of address................................................................................................................. 9

3. INFORMATION FOR NEW STUDENTS .................................................................................... 11

3.1 PEOPLE OF IMMEDIATE USE TO YOU................................................................................................... 11 3.2 OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT .......................................................... 11

(a) Careers advice .................................................................................................................... 11 (b) Equal opportunities............................................................................................................. 11

3.3 ADVICE ELSEWHERE IN THE COLLEGE ............................................................................................... 12 (a) Health service ..................................................................................................................... 12 (b) Graduate School ................................................................................................................. 12 (c) Faculty Tutor ...................................................................................................................... 12 (d) Dean of Students ................................................................................................................. 12 (e) Advisers to women students ................................................................................................ 12

3.4 UCL COMPUTER & E-MAIL ACCOUNTS.............................................................................................. 13 3.5 ENROLMENT ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.6 INTRODUCTORY MEETING ........................................................................................................ 13 3.7 EXAMINATIONS......................................................................................................................... 13 3.8 LIBRARY FACILITIES......................................................................................................................... 17 3.9 PLAGIARISM (PRESENTING OTHERS’ WORK AS YOUR OWN) .............................................................. 17 3.10 HARDSHIP FUNDS........................................................................................................................... 19

4. STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES ............................................................................... 19

4.1 STUDENT DEPARTMENTAL SOCIETY.................................................................................................. 19 4.2 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON UNION (UCLU) .............................................................................. 20 4.3 UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNION (ULU)............................................................................................ 20 4.4 EXTERNAL SOCIETIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE COLLEGE................................................................... 20

(a) The Institute of Physics (IoP)....................................................................................................... 20 (b) The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)........................................................................................ 20

5. THE MSC COURSES.................................................................................................................... 21

5.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES...................................................................................................................... 21 5.2 COURSES STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................................... 22

5.2.1 MSc Physics............................................................................................................................. 22 5.2.2 MSc Astrophysics .................................................................................................................... 22

5.3 PROJECT WORK ................................................................................................................................ 23 5.4 ASSESSMENT (MSC) ......................................................................................................................... 23 5.5 POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA-REGISTERED STUDENTS......................................................................... 23 5.6 ASSESSMENT(PG DIPLOMA) 24 5.7 TRANSFER FROM PG DIPLOMA TO MSC............................................................................................ 24 5.8 ABSENCE OR ILLNESS........................................................................................................................ 25 5.9 LECTURE COURSE SYLLABUS DETAILS ............................................................................................. 26

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PHYSG299 – PHYSICS PROJECT ................................................................................................... 27

PHASG199 – ASTRONOMY PROJECT .......................................................................................... 29

PHYSG405 – RESEARCH ESSAY .................................................................................................... 31

SPCEG011 – PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES ................................................................................ 32

SPCEG012 – SOLAR PHYSICS......................................................................................................... 34

SPCEG013 – HIGH ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS............................................................................ 37

SPCEG002 – SPACE PLASMA AND MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS ..................................... 39

PHASG318 – STELLAR ATMOSPHERES AND STELLAR WINDS........................................... 41

PHASG317 – GALAXY AND CLUSTER DYNAMICS................................................................... 43

PHASG426 – ADVANCED QUANTUM THEORY ......................................................................... 45

PHASG421 – ATOM AND PHOTON PHYSICS.............................................................................. 48

PHASG427 – QUANTUM COMPUTATION AND COMMUNICATION .................................... 51

PHASG431 – MOLECULAR PHYSICS ........................................................................................... 53

PHASG442 – PARTICLE PHYSICS ................................................................................................. 55

MATHG306 – COSMOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 57

MATHG305 – MATHEMATICS FOR GENERAL RELATIVITY ............................................... 59

PHASG472 – ORDER AND EXCITATIONS IN CONDENSED MATTER.................................. 60

APPENDIX A – STAFF WITH SPECIAL TEACHING-RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES ....... 63

APPENDIX B – MAPS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND COLLEGE............................................ 64

MAP 1 – PHYSICS BUILDING, MEZZANINE AND BASEMENT FLOORS (FLOOR F) ....................................... 64 MAP 2 – PHYSICS BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR (FLOOR E) ....................................................................... 65 MAP 3 – PHYSICS BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR (FLOOR D)............................................................................ 65 MAP 4 – PHYSICS BUILDING, SECOND FLOOR (FLOOR C)........................................................................ 66 MAP 5 – PHYSICS BUILDING, THIRD FLOOR (FLOOR B) ........................................................................... 66 MAP 6 – PHYSICS BUILDING, FOURTH FLOOR (FLOOR A)........................................................................ 67 MAP 7 – KATHLEEN LONSDALE BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR........................................................................ 67 MAP 8 – COLLEGE AREA........................................................................................................................ 68

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1. INTRODUCTION The aim of this Handbook is to supply you with a range of useful information about the Department and some of its rules in so far as they apply to you as a masters student. It complements the College publication “UCL Student Handbook", which is provided to each student on admission. (If for some reason you do not have a copy of this, you may obtain one from the Registrar’s Department, which is off the end of the South Cloisters. You can do this when you register with the College.) It is a good idea to keep these two publications at hand; together, they will answer most of your questions.

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1 Location of lecture theatres and other teaching venues

The main teaching spaces used by the Department are given below. They can be located on the maps in Appendix D.

Massey Theatre Map 2 Ground Floor, Union Building F18 Map 1 Undergraduate Common Room, Basement, Physics Building A1 Map 6 A1 – A3, 4th floor, Physics Building D103 Map 3 1st floor, Union Building (access from Union Building) Cluster room D105 Map 3 1st floor, Union Building (access from Physics Building) Chemistry Theatre Map 8 Christopher Ingold Building, Gordon Street A19 Map 6 ‘Asteroid cluster room’, Fourth floor, Physics Building Lab 1 Map 3 First floor, Physics Building Lab 2 Map 4 Second floor, Physics Building Lab 3 Map 5 Third floor, Physics Building The lift within the Physics Building serves all four floors directly, while the lifts at the North Cloisters entrance to the Department only appear to serve three higher floors and the basement. Floor 1 is reached by that lift where there is access via stairs to Lab 1 (1st Floor Physics) and Lab 2 (2nd Floor Physics).

2.2 Contacts with members of staff

Members of the teaching staff can be contacted by using the internal mail. Mail boxes (pigeon holes) for staff are situated outside the Departmental Office, Room E15, on the ground floor of the Physics Building. If there appears to be no appropriate box, ask the Teaching Secretary for guidance. Room numbers for teaching staff can be obtained from the two boards facing the mail boxes outside the Departmental Office, Room E15. These boards display photographs and room numbers of all teaching staff in the Department. Members of staff also have email addresses. These can be looked up in a Departmental Directory which is available in room E15 (again ask the secretary there for assistance) or

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can be found from the Departmental or College Web sites. In any communication with a member of staff, always state your name and degree course. If you need to contact anyone in the Department from outside the College you should use the official address:

Department of Physics and Astronomy University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT

Telephone: 020 7679 3032 (MSc Tutor) or 020 7679 followed by extension of person whom you are trying to contact (last four numbers only) or 020 7679 7144 (the Departmental Office).

Please ensure that you check both your pigeonhole, located outside Room E15 on the Ground Floor and your e-mail regularly to avoid missing important or urgent information. You should not, however, have your personal mail delivered to the College.

2.3 Safety The Department places great importance on safety, with special emphasis on safety in all Laboratories, both at the University of London Observatory (ULO) and Gower Street. You are expected to behave in a sensible manner, especially when dealing with any of the Laboratory equipment. The Departmental Safety Officer, Mr. Derek Attree, will give guidance to all students at the beginning of the Session on how to conduct themselves whilst working with equipment to ensure both their own safety and that of those working around them. You will also be expected to attend a Safety Induction Course in your first term (details of course times and an application form can be obtained from the MSc Tutor). Fire drills are held during the terms at unannounced times, so you should familiarise yourself with the instructions displayed on notice boards in hallways and on lab notice-boards as to the procedure you should follow and where assembly points are. There are Fire Evacuation Marshals (FEMs) appointed from the staff and technicians who will take charge of you during these times.

2.4 What we expect of you (a) Attendance Every student is obliged to attend the lectures and their research project regularly. If you are unable to do so for any significant time and for any reason, you should inform the MSc Tutor (Dr Dorothy Duffy 020 7679 3032 e-mail: d .duffy at ucl.ac.uk), as soon as possible. This should be done either in person, by telephone, letter (internal mail or normal mail) or email. For extended absence due to illness, you must provide a Medical Certificate upon your return to College. Students will largely be expected to schedule their project work in conjunction with their project supervisor. Remember that the research project and research essay counts for 50% of the MSc and therefore steady work throughout the year will be necessary

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(b) The Department The Department is a no smoking zone and smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building. All staff and students are asked to respect this rule. The Department is open Monday – Friday 9.00 am to 9.00 pm during term and Monday – Friday 9.00 am to 6.00 pm outside term, except when College itself is closed. (c) Change of address Throughout your time at College, it is essential that the Department has an accurate record of your address and a contact telephone number if possible. Otherwise Tutors and others will be unable to contact you in case of an emergency. You must therefore ensure that at the beginning of each Session you complete the form which will be given you by the MSc Tutor and return it to them as soon as possible. Should you change either your home or term-time address (or telephone number) at any time, you must immediately inform them of the change. This may be done personally, by internal mail, by email. At the same time, inform the Registrar’s Division of the College (Students Records on extensions 37005 or 37006) of any change of address, because they may also need to contact you. PORTICO – The UCL Student Information Service.

(The following section has been supplied by the UCL Registry.) “UCL has recently introduced a new Student System which is known as PORTICO – The UCL Student Information Service. Access to PORTICO is available to everyone across UCL – both staff and students alike - via the web portal www.ucl.ac.uk/portico. You will need to logon using your UCL userid and password, which are issued to you once you have enrolled. These are the same as the ones used for accessing UCL restricted web pages, UCL email and the Windows Terminal Service (WTS). If you do not know them, you should contact the Information System Helpdesk as soon as possible (www.ucl.ac.uk/is/helpdesk). Please remember that passwords automatically expire after 150 days, unless they have been changed. Warnings are sent to your UCL email address during a 30 day period, prior to your password being reset. - You can read your UCL email on the web at www.webmail.ucl.ac.uk - You can change your password on the web, at any time, at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/is/passwords/changepw.htm. Passwords cannot be issued over the phone unless you are registered for the User Authentication Service, see www.ucl.ac.uk/is/helpdesk/authenticate/. We strongly advise that you register for this service. If you have not registered for the User Authentication Service you will need to visit the IS Helpdesk in person or ask them to post a new password to your registered home or term-time address. More information can be found at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/is/helpdesk/. As a student you can take ownership of your own personal data by logging on to PORTICO. In PORTICO you can:

• edit your own personal data e.g. update your home and term addresses, contact numbers and other elements of your personal details;

• complete online module registration – i.e. select the modules you would like to study, in accordance with the rules for your programme of study (subject to formal approval & sign off by the relevant teaching department and your parent department);

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• view data about courses/modules - i.e. information on courses/modules available either in your home department or elsewhere to help you choose your optional modules / electives.

• view your own examination results online; Any continuing student requiring official confirmation of their results, or any graduating student requiring additional copies of their transcript, should refer to the information for obtaining an official transcript at www.ucl.ac.uk/registry/current/examinations/transcripts/ If you have any comments or suggestions for PORTICO then please e-mail: portico_web_feedback@ucl.ac.uk

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3. INFORMATION FOR NEW STUDENTS

3.1 People of immediate use to you There are a number of departmental staff who you will meet in your first few days here. Their contact details are: Name Title Room Ext Email Dr Dorothy Duffy MSc Tutor A24 33032 d.duffy at ucl.ac.ukMiss T H Saint Teaching Support and Student Disabilities Co-ordinator E2 37246 t.saint at ucl.ac.uk Mrs C Johnston MSc Teaching support E15 33943 christine.johnston@ucl.ac.uk Mr D Attree Safety Officer C19 33459 dja at hep.ucl.ac.uk The Head of Department is Professor Jonathan Tennyson (Room E12/E14, ground floor, Physics Building). Whilst he is happy to talk to students about their problems, it is advisable in the first instance, that such problems should be addressed to the MSc Tutor. The MSc Tutor is a key person in the Department and always has your best interests at heart. Purely scientific questions should be discussed with lecturers or your project supervisor. For any other problem which is preventing you working at your best, whether it is academic, financial, personal, welfare etc, do not hesitate to talk to the MSc Tutor. The Tutor may discuss with the Head of Department, as and when necessary, but any discussions will be treated in strict confidence. However, if you wish the information to be confined to the Tutor, then that is what will happen! The Tutor’s advice will always be given in a spirit of helpfulness, although it may not necessarily be what you want to hear; he has to work within the rules of the Department, the College and the University. If you need a reference during your time at College, whether for personal or academic reasons, you should normally ask the Tutor. The Tutor and other staff are generally happy to provide references for students they know, but remember that it is polite to ask them first before you put their name on an application form. The Teaching Support and Student Disabilities Co-ordinator, Miss Trea Saint, is available to help if the Tutor is unavailable, or you wish specifically to speak to a woman. The Undergraduate Teaching Secretary, Ms Mariam Mohamad, will let you have copies of syllabuses, timetables etc for the various degree programmes.

3.2 Other sources of information within the Department (a) Careers advice

The Departmental Careers Officer is Dr Angus Bain, with whom appointments can be made either by telephoning extension 33472 or by email on a.bain@ucl.ac.uk. He can also be found in Room E6 which is on the ground floor of the Physics Building. (b) Equal opportunities The Departmental Equal Opportunities Liaison Officer is Ms Hilary Wigmore (telephone: 37155 or email h.wigmore@ucl.ac.uk ), whose function is the promotion of equal opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, those with socio-economic disadvantages and people with disabilities.

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If you feel that you have been discriminated against on racial or sexual grounds or have been harassed in any way, you should inform Ms Wigmore or your personal tutor or the MSc Tutor directly. Immediate confidential help in dealing with the problem is assured.

(c) Disabilities Miss Trea Saint is the Departmental student Disabilities Coordinator.

3.3 Advice elsewhere in the College (a) Health service

Students should be aware that they are welcome to consult, by appointment, any of the staff at the Gower Place Practice (formerly the Health Centre), who include Physicians, Psychologists, Dental Surgeons and Nurses. All these staff are familiar with the special difficulties that students may encounter, and all such consultations are entirely confidential. The telephone numbers are as follows: Gower Place Practice – 020 7387 6306; Dental Practice – 020 7679 7186; both the Doctors and Dentists are located at 3 Gower Place which is situated at the rear of the Physics Building. (If calling from within UCL the numbers are prefixed by 3; i.e. 32803) In addition, a Student Counselling Service is provided which covers such aspects as: Homesickness, loneliness, anxiety, depression; Problems with studies and exams; Problems in relationships; Family problems; Eating disorders, drug or alcohol problems; Sexual issues. It is totally confidential and ‘demand-friendly’. Appointments can be booked with Ms Jacyntha Etienne between 10.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. and 2.00-4.00 p.m., at 3 Taviton Street (First Floor, Room 101), by telephone (020-7679 1487) or by calling in. (b) Graduate School

The Graduate School (offices in the North Cloisters of the Wilkins Building) operates an open door policy. They are happy to offer advice to graduate students. Further information is available on their website www.ucl.ac.uk/gradschool or in the UCL Graduate School Handbook.

(c) Faculty Tutor

Dr D. Tovee is the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Faculty Tutor – extension 37235/37767. He may be consulted, by appointment, on administrative topics, in the Faculty Office, which is situated on the 2nd Floor of the Language Centre (136 Gower Street).

(d) Dean of Students

Dr Ruth Siddall is the Dean of Students (4 Taviton Street, Ground Floor) and can be consulted by appointment during mornings only. Her secretary can be contacted on 020 7679 4545. The Dean is available to help with all aspects of welfare in the College and can help even in difficult cases concerning student financial worries.

(e) Advisers to women students

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The Advisers to Women Students assist the Dean of Students in providing advice and welfare support to students and are available specifically for women students who need to talk to a woman. Appointments with the Advisers to Women Students (Dr Dorothy Einon – 25385 or email d.einon@ucl.ac.uk and Dr Hilary Richards – 32934 or email h.richards@ucl.ac.uk ) may be made by calling the Dean of Students’ Secretary on 020 7679 4545 or visiting the office at 4 Taviton Street.

3.4 UCL computer & e-mail accounts You will be assigned a UCL computer account and a UCL e-mail address. Students will be given a UCL Information Systems (IS) information sheet at enrolment explaining how to obtain their computer registration details from IS. The procedure will be as follows:

All new students are pre-registered with automatically generated passwords, which will be printed on folded and sealed Computer Registration Slips. Students will be able to collect these from IS staff in Workrooms 1 and 2, The Lewis Building (136 Gower Street, at the north-west corner of the UCL main site) during the first two weeks of term, on presentation of their College ID and a valid session card. Along with their Computer Registration Slips, students will also be given a starter pack - a purpose-printed folder containing a set of initial documentation.

Please check your e-mail whenever you are on site at UCL, as it will be the main method to get in touch with you, and for you to receive any general UCL messages. The Tutor will only use your UCL e-mail address. It is possible to get UCL e-mail re-routed to your own personal e-mail account – for instructions see the ‘electronic mail’ entries in the IS ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ pages on the UCL website at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/is/faq/index.htm.

3.5 Enrolment

Enrolment at UCL will take place during the first week of the first term. If you have not been informed of the time and place, or have missed your enrolment time, please contact the Registrar's Division immediately. It is very important that all students attend to complete the various formalities. If you have not already verified your qualifications then you should take the appropriate documentation with you.

3.6 Introductory Meeting An introductory meeting for everyone on the programme is held at the beginning of the first term. 3.7. Examinations

a) Examination schedule The main examination period is during the third term, usually running over a four-week period, typically from week 2. Most examinations are held away from the main College site, so that it is important that you know exactly where and when the examination is being held. Examination timetables for College-based examinations and maps showing the location of the possible examination halls will be available before the end of the second term. These must be collected by candidates from their Departmental Tutor. The timetables also display an important alphanumeric identifier code, unique to each student, which is used to identify your answer paper, as papers are marked anonymously. This timetable must be your

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constant companion, along with your College ID card, when you attend an examination. Any student who has not received such a timetable at least two weeks’ prior to the start of the examinations period should check immediately with their Tutor and/or the Examinations Section of the Registry. Without it you may be refused entry to an examination.

Dates and times of examination are also displayed on College and Departmental notice-boards.

Where the use of calculators is permitted in an examination, all students will have to use ‘standard’ calculators in examinations which conform to the College specification. These will not have any text facility nor be able to store, for example, equations. The College has decreed that, except in certain specified examinations, only the following calculators should be used:- (i) Battery-powered CASIO FX83WA, FX83MS, FX83ES

(ii) Solar-powered CASIO FX85WA, FX85MS, FX85ES

Both the above calculators are widely available and will be sold at the College shop.

NB: The unauthorised use of calculators during an examination continues to be banned and such use would constitute an examination irregularity.

b) How to plan for and survive examinations However carefully all the examinations are planned by the Registrar’s Division, in consultation with the Department, because of the wide range of options, it is impossible to please everyone all of the time. You may find that all your examinations are scheduled close together with no substantial break in between. The important thing is not to panic. Listed below are a few hints, which might make your examination period a little less stressful.

Students habitually throw away marks in examinations for reasons that have nothing to do with their lack of knowledge of the subject matter. You have studied for a long time (usually a year at least) to do your best in the examination and it would be irrational to throw away credit through lack of common-sense. Here is some simple advice to improve your examination performance.

Before an examination § check its date, time and location; § know how long it will take you to get there; § know the format of the paper (how many questions to choose from, how many questions to do, how

much time to spend on each, etc); § assemble required implements (pens, pencils, calculator, etc); § remember your College identification card and exam timetable. Do not take anything to the examination hall which could be misconstrued as helping you in the exam, i.e. small slips of paper with equation written on it, similarly anything written on your hands. The College is very ‘hot’ on plagiarism and cheating and will certainly act vigorously if such events are detected. You could be removed from the College without ever being allowed to finish your degree studies, i.e. sent down!

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At the examination § read the instructions (the rubric) at the head of the paper, taking particular note of:- § the number of questions to be answered; § whether the paper is in sections, the number of questions to be answered from each section; § the time to be spent on each question; § whether or not each new question has to be started on a new page of the answer book; § decide which questions you are going to attempt, trying to rank them in order of easiness, and answer

them in this order; § do all the parts you can of all the questions you decide to answer; § if you get completely stuck on part of a question, do not pursue it whilst there are other questions that

you know you can answer; you can always come back to the ‘troublemaker’ later, if time permits; § most questions are in several parts and each part carries marks – even if you are unable to tackle the

whole of a question, always make an attempt to do as much of it as you can and clearly identify which part you are answering;

§ do not write long, rambling essays; examiners will be looking for understanding of a few key points, so list the ones you want to make, and write concisely about them – a single sentence on each key point is often all that is needed;

§ it is unlikely that your handwriting will be at its best under examination conditions, but the examiner cannot give marks for an answer that cannot be deciphered – try to write as clearly as you possibly can;

§ never leave an examination before time is up; even if you have done very little, there may be more marks to be had by polishing and thinking more about the questions;

§ if you are in danger of running out of time, quickly sketch a skeleton of the answer you would have given; it may earn you a few more marks.

All the above may seem very obvious. Nevertheless, year after year failure to observe these few common-sense guidelines leads some students to doing worse than they are capable of and in some cases to fail. Make sure you are not among them.

c) Withdrawal from Examinations To withdraw from an examination you need to complete the appropriate form and obtain signed approval of the Departmental and Faculty tutors. Such approval may only be given on medical grounds or following the death of a near relative or other cause acceptable to the College authorities and provided certification is given to the Department. Once approval has been granted you will not be regarded as having made an entry to the examination and may resit in the following session without penalty (see resits below). If you are considering withdrawing, you must discuss the matter with the appropriate Departmental Tutor. Of course a withdrawal from an examination may impede your progression into the next year. Students with major health, personal or financial difficulties may apply for an ‘interruption in study’, which effectively means that the student is withdrawn from all exams. The student may resume at a later date subject to the resolution of the problem, normally supported by medical reports etc.

d) Problems due to illness If you are ill immediately prior to an examination it is essential that you inform your Departmental Tutor. If you are unable to sit the examination through illness or other grave personal circumstances and supply documentary evidence it may be possible to apply for deferred assessment. Applications must be made within a week of the end of the examination period on the appropriate form to your Departmental Tutor for approval by the Faculty Tutor. All medical matters are treated confidentially. Deferred assessments are not permitted in your graduating year. Absence from exams on compassionate grounds are treated

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in a similar manner. This type of assessment will normally be carried out in the Summer vacation (see later). If you find that you sustain an injury, which means that you are unable to write, it may be possible for you to be supplied with an amanuensis, someone who will write down your answers to examination questions as you dictate. Several things should be borne in mind before you decide that an amanuensis is the way forward: (a) the amanuensis must take down exactly what you say, even if it is wrong; (b) you may be awarded extra examination time.

Alternatively, if your medical condition means you are capable of writing slowly, you may prefer to be assessed by Student Health and be allowed to sit the examination under medical supervision. Although you will be given no extra time for the exam, you will be allowed breaks when the clock will be stopped and then started again after you resume writing.

If you are taken ill during an examination you may be taken to Student Health together with your examination paper. This means that if you recover sufficiently to be able to continue, you can do so under medical supervision.

If you decide that, despite feeling ill, you still want to sit the examination, you will be allowed to leave, temporarily, the examination hall under supervision. You will not be allowed any extra time, although a note of your absences from the examination hall will be made on the formal notification to the Registry. NB: Please ensure that you are accompanied at all times if you do, temporarily, leave the examination hall.

e) Problems due to late arrival or absence If you arrive less than half-an-hour late you will be allowed to enter the examination hall and to sit the examination but you will not be given any extra time and MUST finish at the same time as the other candidates sitting the paper. If you arrive after the first half-an-hour but before the end of the examination you will not be allowed to sit in the examination hall but will be sent to report to your Departmental Tutor without delay. Normally you will be allowed to sit the paper in the Department but 30 minutes will be deducted from the time allowed. You will be asked to give a written explanation for your late arrival. If you arrive at the Department AFTER the time for the normal end of the examination you will NOT be allowed to sit the paper.

f) Re-entry to examinations: (Re-sits) and Repeats of Year Students who at a first attempt do not successfully pass a course may re-enter normally on not more than ONE occasion provided the original or strictly comparable course is being examined. Such a re-entry must be made at the next available opportunity. If you are unsuccessful at the re-sit examination, application must be made to the College for special permission to be re-examined on one further occasion. Normally, if a module is passed on re-sit, the “failed mark” is replaced by the average of the module mark obtained at resit and the pass mark in the algorithm for computing your overall average mark for the year (see degree classification below). If there were extenuating circumstances (e.g. medical conditions) for the earlier failure that have been accepted by your Programme Tutor, the full module mark may be used.

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Repeats of year are possible if the normal year progression criteria are not met (see below). Normally this is undertaken as a part-time student, and involves registration for up to two course units (half the normal load). Alternatively, resit exams can be taken without attendance at College; effectively the student takes a year out.

g) Dyslexia If you have been clinically diagnosed as suffering from dyslexia you will be allowed extra time during examinations – usually an extra 10 minutes per hour. However, it is vitally important that your Tutor is made aware that you are dyslexic at least 3 months before the examination period, so that certain administrative documentation can be produced to ensure that the Examinations Section of the Registry are aware of your needs. Examinations taken by dyslexic students are held centrally in a room on the College campus.

3.8 Library Facilities The UCL Science (DMS Watson) Library is available to students for study, consulting journals and borrowing books. Students should go to the Science Library to register some time after enrolment. (You will need your UCL ID card.) There is an on-line library catalogue and user information system available at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/UCL-Info/Divisions/Library/index.htm. Many journals are also available on-line. The nearby library of the University of London, on the 4th floor of Senate House, Malet Street (phone 020 7862 8500), is also available free of charge to UCL students - to become a member just go along with your UCL ID card and your session card. There is an on-line catalogue available at http://www.ull.ac.uk/. A particularly useful facility for project work is the ‘Web of Science’ (WOS) (http://wos.mimas.ac.uk/), hosted at Manchester University. This facility, free of charge to UCL students, gives the user access to the Science Citation Index, allowing the user to browse millions of journal articles from 1981 to the present, with abstracts and links to all the articles that they have cited, or which have cited them. (This allow you to do a literature search backwards or forwards in time.) To use this facility (and other databases) you need to obtain an ATHENS username and password from the Science Library enquiry desk.

3.9 Plagiarism The following are extracts from the “UCL Student Handbook”, prepared by the Registrar’s Division. “Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person’s thoughts or words or artefacts or software as though they were a student’s own. Any quotation from the published or unpublished works of other persons must, therefore, be clearly identified as such by being placed in side quotation marks, and students should identify their sources as accurately and fully as possible. A series of short quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as much as does a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source.” “Where part of an examination consists of ‘take away’ papers, essays or other work written in a student’s own time, or a course work assessment, the work submitted must be the candidate’s own.” Plagiarism constitutes an “examination offence under the University regulations and will normally be

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treated as cheating or irregularities under the regulations for Proceedings in respect of Examination Irregularities. Under these Regulations students found to have committed an offence may be excluded from all further examinations of the University or of the College or of both.”

The following is taken directly from a handout entitled “How NOT to fail your Degree” produced by N.Hayes and R. Muid from the UCL Dept of Pharmacology (2006) but is also applicable in our department. “ What does this mean in practice for you, as a student in this Department? It means you CANNOT do the following: § Cut and paste from electronic journals, websites or other sources to create a piece of work. § Use someone else’s work as your own. § Recycle essays or practical work of other people or your own (this is self plagiarism). § Employ a professional ghostwriting firm or anyone else to produce work for you. § Produce a piece of work based on someone else's ideas without citing them. You CAN do the following: § You can quote from sources providing you use quotation marks and cite the source (this

includes websites). § You can paraphrase (take information from a piece of work and rewrite it in a new form) but

you must still mention the source. § In the case of joint work (e.g. a group project) individuals may use the same data, but the

interpretation and conclusions derived from that data must be their own. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t mean to plagiarise, at UCL any form of plagiarism is an offence which will be punished. Ignorance is not an excuse.” (Inclusion of the above section is not plagiarism by us, as it has been enclosed in quotes and fully attributed to someone else in another Dept at UCL. That is allowed!) The most common form of plagiarism consists of downloading large sections of essays from the internet without including the necessary quotation marks or specific references. When teaching staff mark work of an essay/report nature, they are encouraged to check for web-plagiarism by using a search engine such as that supplied by www.google.com. The College has obtained software, the ‘Turn-It-In’ ®system,which all departments will be able to use to check all work using databases of past work from students. The Senior Tutor requires the following state in this handbook:- “You (students) should note that UCL has now signed up to use a sophisticated detection system (Turn-It-In) to scan work for evidence of plagiarism, and the Department intends to use this for assessed coursework. This system gives access to billions of sources worldwide, including websites and journals, as well as work previously submitted to the Department, UCL and other universities” The Department also considers the undisclosed “borrowing” of the results of laboratory experiments from other students in order to write up a detailed report on an experiment that has not been fully completed to be especially serious in that the whole practical course is judged by continuous assessment. If you work in a partnership with someone on an experiment or a group you

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may all use the same data obviously but it is expected that any report you produce will be in your own words and your own layout. Just changing the odd word here and there is not sufficient to avoid being very heavily penalized for plagiarism. It is educationally very healthy if students discuss their courses together but the mere copying of homework without contributing to the dialogue serves little purpose in either understanding the subject matter or preparing a student for examinations. Again the writing-up of homework solutions must be done independently in your own fashion. (The feeling of deja-vu, especially when ‘errors’ and the same ‘odd’ steps in a solution are copied blindly, can be very strong for a marker looking at lots of work.) Cases of suspected cheating are first investigated by a Departmental Disciplinary Panel. In accordance with the Examination Regulations, all serious cases must then be passed on to the College Registry, which will decide whether the case should be dealt with at the College or Departmental level. Penalties that can be imposed by the College can be very serious - students do get expelled and do not complete their degrees - as outlined by the Registrar’s Division at the start of this section.

Students should be aware that a future employer requiring references about a student, normally seeks information from a Tutor regarding a student’s “honesty and integrity”. It is impossible to give a good reference for any student who has been caught resorting to plagiarism of any kind.

3.10 Hardship Funds The College has been allocated a limited sum of money by the Government, known as the Access Fund, from which awards can be made to full-time UK students, including postgraduate students, who find themselves in financial difficulties. EU students, with the exception of migrant workers or the children of migrant workers, and overseas students are not eligible. Government Hardship Loans are also available. With the exception of mature students (aged 25 and over), students who do not apply for a Government Hardship Loan will not normally be considered for an award from the Access Fund. Details of the schemes are given on http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/financial-support/alf/ Limited hardship funding is also available for non-UK students – contact details are given on the UCL website at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/financial-support/shf/ It must be emphasised that the award of such loans and bursaries can only be justified in exceptional circumstances, after all other options have been thoroughly explored.

4. STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES

4.1 Student Departmental Society There is a Student Society called “Event Horizon”. It has associations with the Institute of Physics. It offers social events, arranges lectures by visiting speakers from other Universities, and organises visits to external research organisations and industry. A small Annual Membership fee is payable.

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4.2 University College London Union (UCLU)

The College has a very active Students’ Union located at 25 Gordon Street, the building adjacent to the Physics Building. There are several bars and coffee bars, a shop and hairdressing salon within the Union Building. In addition, there are a vast number of societies catering for all tastes and interests. The Union holds a Freshers’ Fair in the College Cloisters at the beginning of the first term, where all the societies, sports clubs and other Union activities have stalls and provide information. The Union provides basic advice on such things as financial matters, welfare, housing, Council Tax, legal problems, health etc and there are full-time Sabbatical Officers (existing students who take a year out) on hand to help. The Union runs a Night Line (020 7631-0101) for students who are in trouble or just need to talk to someone during the hours when the College and Union are closed. The Union also has a sports ground at Shenley in Hertfordshire, where the Departmental Staff/Student Cricket Match and Barbecue takes place during the Summer Term after the examinations.

4.3 University of London Union (ULU) The building for this is on Malet Place. You will need a valid Student Identity Card to be allowed in. It has a multitude of facilities including a swimming pool in the basement and a refectory on the top floor. It can be a place to meet students from other Colleges in the University of London.

4.4 External Societies in the vicinity of the College Although you will be inundated with requests to join all the internal UCL societies, two external ones which may be of particular interest to you are:

(a) The Institute of Physics (IoP) The IoP is the professional body for physicists (also astronomers). New students will be offered, at a reduced rate, membership of the Institute of Physics. Membership brings with it the monthly publication “Physics World” which contains informative scientific articles as well as news of the Institute’s activities and a diary. The IoP is located at 76 Portland Place and offers the use of a library to its members. If you are interested in joining contact the Departmental Representative (Dr D L Moores).

(b) The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Students with an interest in astronomy are encouraged to join the Royal Astronomical Society as Junior Members, and to attend RAS Discussion Meetings and Monthly Astronomy and Geophysics Meetings which are held on the second Friday of each month from October to May. UCL students are the closest, geographically, to the location of these meetings (Saville Row, just off Oxford Street) of all the astronomy students in the UK, and should take advantage if timetables and other commitments permit. You can get information about the RAS from Professor I.D. Howarth (Secretary to RAS Council) – idh@star.ucl.ac.uk. A notice about the programmes of the RAS meetings is on display in the Department; but it is easy to remember that the second Friday of (nearly) every month is the RAS day. The Discussion Meetings usually run from 10.30am until 3.30pm, and are followed, after tea, by the Monthly Astronomy and Geophysics Meetings of the Society, which all members and Fellows are warmly invited to attend.

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5. THE MSc COURSES

5.1 Aims and Objectives The MSc programmes in Physics and Astrophysics have the following aims and objectives: • To provide students with a sound knowledge of the underlying principles which form a thorough

basis for careers in physics/astrophysics and related fields. • To enable students to develop insights into the techniques used in current projects. • To allow an in-depth experience of a particular specialised research area, through project work,

as a member of a research team. • To develop the professional skills necessary for students to play a meaningful role in industrial or

academic life and satisfy the need, both nationally and internationally, for well qualified postgraduates who will be able to respond to the challenges that arise from future developments.

• To give students the experience of teamwork, to develop presentation skills and to train students

to work to deadlines.

5.2 Courses Structure The MSc programmes have the following course structure. Detailed syllabuses of core courses can be found at the end of the handbook. Syllabus for other courses are available on the Departmental web pages. The label in brackets gives an alternative designation for the course used in the timetable. The MSc and Graduate Diploma are governed by the general provisions given in the annual “University College London Academic Regulations for Students.” 5.2.1 MSc Physics 1. Four “core” components, course weighting 1/12th each ,to be selected from : PHASG426 Advanced Quantum Theory PHASG442 Particle Physics PHASG421 Atom and Photon Physics PHASG427 Quantum Computation and Communication PHASG472 Order and Excitations in Condensed Matter MATHG305 Mathematics for General Relativity SPCEG002 Space Plasma and Magnetospheric Physics PHASG431 Molecular Physics 2. Two further components, weighting 1/12th each, selected from (see next page):

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(a) The above list (b) Courses registered for the MSc in Astrophysics (c) Space and Climate Physics courses as part of the MSc in Space Science (as determined by the MSc Tutor) (d) Intercollegiate 4th year courses (e) 4th year MSci Physics and Astrophysics courses (and appropriate 3rd year Physics courses, as determined by the MSc Tutor). 3. Research Essay weight 1/6th. 4. A Research project which will be based in a research group within the Department. Weighting 1/3rd. 5.2.2 MSc Astrophysics 1. Four “core” components, course weighting 1/12th each, to be selected from :

SPCEG011 Planetary Atmospheres SPCEG012 Solar Physics SPCEG013 High Energy Astrophysics PHASG318 Stellar Atmospheres and Stellar Winds PHASG317 Galaxy and Cluster Dynamics MATHG306 Cosmology MATHG305 Mathematics for General Relativity SPCEG002 Space Plasma and Magnetospheric Physics

2. Two further components, weighting 1/12th each, selected from : (a) The above list (b) Courses registered for the MSc in Physics (c) Space and Climate Physics courses as part of the MSc in Space Science (as determined by the MSc Tutor) (d) Intercollegiate 4th year courses (e) 4th year MSci Physics and Astrophysics courses (and appropriate 3rd year Physics courses, as determined by the MSc Tutor).

3. Research Essay weight 1/6th.

4. A Research project which will be based in a research group within the Department. Weighting 1/3rd.

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5.3 Project Work

Students start work on an Individual Project during the first term. This will involve attachment to any of the Department's research groups.

Some set topics for individual projects have been selected by potential supervisors, and lists will be available at the start of the first term. Alternatively students can suggest areas in which they are interested. It is, however, essential that the subject of the chosen project is relevant to the programme, and a willing supervisor is also required. Discussions with the MSc Tutor and potential supervisors start in October and a project title must be defined, and a supervisor appointed, by 31st October. Work begins in the first term, usually literature survey and related background work. Progress, plans and difficulties are outlined in an initial report due in the middle of the second term (see the Programme Calendar for the exact date). Assessment of the project is based mainly on the final report, but other components also contribute. It is important that students read and follow the individual project guidelines (a copy of which is included at the end of this handbook).

5.4 Assessment (MSc)

In order to be eligible for an MSc award, a student must complete all components of the programme satisfactorily. These are all the written examinations (on the lecture courses of both terms), the project work, the research essay and the oral presentation of the project. The pass mark on all course units is 50%.

The overall average MSc mark is a weighted average of the marks for the following elements of assessment, with percentage weightings as shown:

Individual Project plus research essay (weighted at 50% of the MSc). Six Advanced Courses (each weighted at 8 1/3 % of the MSc).

To obtain an MSc award, students must obtain an overall average mark of at least 50% and a mark of at least 50% for the individual project. Provided that these marks are achieved, the Board of Examiners may allow condoned failure (i.e. a mark of <50%) in up to TWO courses (which can include the research essay) provided that the mark achieved in each of those elements is at least 40%.

Otherwise, failure of a written examination requires a re-sit to be completed successfully in the subsequent year in order to obtain the MSc. Failure in the project or research essay element requires a re-submission in the subsequent year. Distinctions are awarded at the discretion of the examining board. In order to be considered eligible to be awarded a Distinction, a student must obtain an overall average mark of at least 70%, a mark of at least 70% for the individual project, an average mark of at least 70% for the taught element and a mark of at least 50% in each module.The main formal meeting of the Examination Board takes place on the last day of the programme and it is at this meeting that the MSc results are decided - not before! Oral presentation of the project will be scheduled directly before this meeting. You will be invited to progress meetings with the MSc Tutor in December and February to review your performance in the first term and to

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discuss your initial project report. It is important that you heed the advice offered during this meeting, otherwise you may not be successful later in the year.

5.5 Post Graduate Diploma The UCL Regulations prevent anyone who has not achieved a 2nd class Honours degree or its equivalent from being registered for an MSc. However the Regulations allow students who have slightly lesser qualifications to be enrolled for a Post Graduate Diploma. Both MSc and Post Graduate Diploma programmes are operated concurrently. The lectures and exams are the same, but the Diploma does NOT include any project work. The pass mark on all course units is 50%. 5.6 Assessment (Post Graduate Diploma) In order to be eligible for a Post Graduate Diploma award, a student must complete all components of the programme satisfactorily. These include all the written examinations (on the lecture courses of both terms), and the extended research essay. The overall mark for the Post Graduate Diploma is a weighted average of these elements, with the same relative weight for each element as those noted above. To obtain a Post Graduate Diploma award, students must obtain an overall average mark of at least 50%. Provided that these marks are achieved, the Board of Examiners may allow condoned failure (i.e. a mark of <50%) in up to TWO courses (which can include the research essay) provided that the mark achieved in each of those elements is at least 40%. Otherwise, failure of an examination element requires a re-sit to be completed successfully in the subsequent year. Failure in the research essay requires a resubmission the following year. The results for the Post Graduate Diploma-registered students are decided at a special meeting of the Examination Board in June. If a student fails to achieve the marks required for a Post Graduate Diploma he/she can resit the relevant exams in a subsequent year. 5.7 Transfer from Post Graduate Diploma to MSc At the discretion of the Examination Board, a Post Graduate Diploma-registered student can be transferred to MSc registration, provided that he/she achieves a mark of 50% as his/her overall average mark, as well as 50% in any four course examinations, and 40% in the other two examinations. If transferred to MSc registration, the student will then continue with the project work so as to try and obtain an MSc. An extra fee is also then due. Students wishing to have the option of transferring to MSc registration at the June Exam Board meeting must therefore have already completed all the initial project work up to that date, the same as the MSc-registered students. NOTE: Under the current UCL regulations, if a Diploma-registered student fails to achieve the marks required for transfer to MSc registration, he/she ends the programme in June, and is NOT allowed to complete a project or re-sit any exams for the MSc degree. The student can, however, re-sit for the Diploma if he/she has failed to obtain the marks required for a Diploma.

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5.8 Absence or Illness Attendance on all components of the programme is required, and it is not possible to repeat a missed course or examination during the same academic year. If a student needs to be absent from UCL for any reason he/she must inform the MSc Tutor, and explain the reason. Illness affecting a student’s performance in examinations or other components will be taken into account by the Examination Board, but only if a doctor’s letter is provided. Generally, if in doubt on any such matters, please contact the MSc Tutor for help as soon as a problem arises.

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5.7 Lecture Course Syllabus Details

Syllabus summaries for the lecture courses are given overleaf. These are subject to minor variations.

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PHYSG299 – PHYSICS PROJECT Aim of the Course The Physics project provides a chance for the student to undertake physics research within the environment of an active research group. Objectives At the end of the course the student should have: • increased skill and confidence to plan and work independently, • improved skills in conducting a complex, open-ended scientific investigation, in an active

research environment, • increased ability to seek out information as required from a variety of sources, • become accustomed to developing ideas in discussion, • developed the reporting skills by distilling the notebook record of work of the lengthy project

into a complete formal report of the project in word-processed form, • have become more aware of the demands of oral presentation by making an oral report of the

project. Course Contents • Project: Students have about 720 hours spread throughout the MSc conducting an open-ended,

investigative project. They are required to keep a detailed lab notebook of their work Each project is supervised by the member of the academic or technical staffs who has suggested the project which is normally derived from their own research work. It is normally carried out partly in the supervisor’s research lab and utilising research group resources.

• Progress Report: Midway through term 2, each student presents a short report summarizing progress.

• MSc Thesis : At the end of the project, each student must present a formal word-processed report, not more than 50 typed pages in length (12pt font; 1.5 line spacing), summarising the work on the project. Two copies of this thesis should be submitted. A shortened version of the research essay can be used as part or all of the introduction to the thesis.

• Project Oral Presentation : Students make an oral presentation of their project, lasting 20 minutes plus time for questions, in mid-September.

Methodology and Assessment Assessment is continuous. Students meet at regular intervals with their project supervisors to discuss progress and plan further work. Supervisors are also expected to be available on an ad hoc basis to help with difficulties as they arise. During these meetings the supervisor forms an opinion of the student’s scientific abilities which is an important element in their assessment. In the project outline, presented after about three weeks of the first term, the student is expected to show evidence of understanding of the problem to be solved, a considered approach to the planning of the project backed up, if necessary, by preliminary calculations, and with possible areas of difficulty identified. The progress report at the mid-point of the project is intended to monitor how closely this initial

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plan has been followed, how much progress has been achieved at the half-way stage towards achieving the ultimate aim of the project, and what direction future work will take. Further assessment of the scientific merit of the students’ work is derived from the lab notebook they keep of their activities and the formal report. Assessment of their ability to communicate their work is derived from the formal written report and oral presentation. The preparation of the thesis is time consuming and students are instructed to finish their investigative work in adequate time to complete this. The supervisor is expected to spend some time giving advice on the content and qualities of good reports. All assessed work is both first and second marked. The different course components contribute to the total assessment with the following weights. • Supervisor assessment of scientific ability, 30% • Formal report, 60% • Oral presentation, 10%

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PHASG199 – ASTRONOMY PROJECT Aim of the Course The Astronomy project provides a chance for the student to undertake physics research within the environment of an active research group. Objectives At the end of the course the student should have: • increased skill and confidence to plan and work independently, • improved skills in conducting a complex, open-ended scientific investigation, in an active

research environment, • increased ability to seek out information as required from a variety of sources, • become accustomed to developing ideas in discussion, • developed the reporting skills by distilling the notebook record of work of the lengthy project

into a complete formal report of the project in word-processed form, • have become more aware of the demands of oral presentation by making an oral report of the

project. Course Contents • Project: Students have about 720 hours spread throughout the MSc conducting an open-ended,

investigative project. They are required to keep a detailed lab notebook of their work Each project is supervised by the member of the academic or technical staff who has suggested the project, which is normally derived from their own research work. It is normally carried out partly in the supervisor’s research lab and utilising research group resources.

• Progress Report: Midway through term 2, each student presents a short report summarizing progress.

• MSc Thesis: At the end of the project, each student must present a formal word-processed report, not more than 50 typed pages (12pt font; 1.5 line spacing) in length, summarising the work on the project. Two copies of this thesis should be submitted. A shortened version of the research essay may be used as part or all of the introduction to the thesis.

• Project Oral Presentation : Students make an oral presentation of their project, lasting 20 minutes plus time for questions, in mid-September.

Methodology and Assessment Assessment is continuous. Students meet at regular intervals with their project supervisors to discuss progress and plan further work. Supervisors are also expected to be available on an ad hoc basis to help with difficulties as they arise. During these meetings the supervisor forms an opinion of the student’s scientific abilities which is an important element in their assessment. In the project outline, presented after about three weeks of the first term, the student is expected to show evidence of understanding of the problem to be solved, a considered approach to the planning of the project backed up, if necessary, by preliminary calculations, and with possible areas of difficulty identified. The progress report at the mid-point of the project is intended to monitor how closely this initial plan has been followed, how much progress has been achieved at the half-way stage towards

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achieving the ultimate aim of the project, and what direction future work will take. Further assessment of the scientific merit of the students’ work is derived from the lab notebook they keep of their activities and the formal report. Assessment of their ability to communicate their work is derived from the formal written report and oral presentation. The preparation of the thesis is time consuming and students are instructed to finish their investigative work in adequate time to complete this. The supervisor is expected to spend some time giving advice on the content and qualities of good reports. All assessed work is both first and second marked. The different course components contribute to the total assessment with the following weights. • Supervisor assessment of scientific ability, 30% • Formal report, 60% • Oral presentation, 10%

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PHYSG405 – RESEARCH ESSAY Aim of the Course The aim of the course is to train the student in use of the primary research literature and to evaluate critically research results on a chosen topic. For MSc students this topic will usually relate to their research project. The student is required to submit a critical research essay which should be written at a level which is accessible to their peers. Objectives At the end of the course the student should have: · an appreciation of the research literature in their chosen area, · the ability to use the research literature and bibliographic tools, · the ability to express research ideas at an appropriate level, · developed the skill to critically review research , · the ability to write a substantial scientific essay at an appropriate level. Course Contents · Essay: up to 20 pages reviewing an agreed topic in the scientific literature. The essay should be

appropriately structured and referenced. It should be pitched at a level accessible to other students on the course. The essay must be word processed and submitted both in hard copy and electronically (on a disk or my email). The electronic copy will be used to check for plagiarism.

· Outline: a brief outline of the project and essay will be submitted midway through the first term. · Progress report: a report detailing progress on the essay and the project will be submitted

midway through the second term. Assessment

Scientific understanding 40%Quality of work 40%Presentation 20%

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SPCEG011 – PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES Prerequisites A knowledge of mathematics including the basic operations of calculus and simple ordinary differential and partial differential equations. Aims of the Course This course aims to: • compare the composition, structure and dynamics of the atmospheres of all the planets, and in

the process to develop our understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Objectives On completion of this course, students should understand: • the factors which determine whether an astronomical body has an atmosphere; • the processes which determine how temperature and pressure vary with height; • the dynamic of atmospheres and the driving forces for weather systems; • the origin and evolution of planetary atmospheres over the lifetime of the solar system; • feedback effects and the influence of anthropogenic activities on the Earth.

Methodology and Assessment 30 lectures and 3 problem class/discussion periods. Lecturing supplemented by homework problem sets. Written solutions provided for the homework after assessment. Links to information sources on the web provided through a special web page at MSSL. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%). Textbooks (a) Planetary atmospheres and atmospheric physics: • The Physics of Atmospheres, John T Houghton, Cambridge • Theory of Planetary Atmospheres, J.W. Chamberlain and D.M. Hunten • Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics, by M. Salby • Planetary Science by I. de Pater and JJ Lissauer (Ch 4: Planetary Atmospheres) (b) Earth meteorology and climate • Atmosphere Weather and Climate , RG Barry and RJ Chorley • Fundamentals of Weather and Climate, R McIlveen • Meteorology Today OR Essentials of Meteorology (abridged version), CD Ahrens • Meteorology for Scientists & Engineers, R Stull (technical companion to Ahrens)

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Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.) Comparison of the Planetary Atmospheres (2) The radiative energy balance of a planetary atmosphere; the competition between gravitational attraction and thermal escape processes. The factors which influence planetary atmospheres; energy and momentum sources; accretion and generation of gases; loss processes; dynamics; composition. Atmospheric structure (7) Hydrostatic equilibrium, adiabatic lapse rate, convective stability, radiative transfer, the greenhouse effect and the terrestrial planets. Oxygen chemistry (3) Ozone production by Chapman theory; comparison with observations; ozone depletion and the Antarctic ozone hole. Atmospheric temperature profiles (3) Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere described; use of temperature profiles to deduce energy balance; internal energy sources; techniques of measurement for remote planets. Origin of planetary atmospheres and their subsequent evolution (3) Formation of the planets; primeval atmospheres; generation of volatile material; evolutionary processes; use of isotopic abundances in deducing evolutionary effects; role of the biomass at Earth; consideration of the terrestrial planets and the outer planets. Atmospheric Dynamics (4) Equations of motion; geostrophic and cyclostrophic circulation, storms; gradient and thermal winds; dynamics of the atmospheres of the planets; Martian dust storms, the Great Red Spot at Jupiter. Magnetospheric Effects (1) Ionisation and recombination processes; interaction of the solar wind with planets and atmospheres; auroral energy input. Atmospheric loss mechanisms (1) Exosphere and Jeans escape; non thermal escape processes; solar wind scavenging at Mars. Observational techniques (3) Occultation methods from ultraviolet to radiofrequencies; limb observation techniques; in-situ probes. Global warming (3) Recent trends and the influence of human activity; carbon budget for the Earth; positive and negative feedback effects; climate history; the Gaia hypothesis; terraforming Mars.

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SPCEG012 – SOLAR PHYSICS Prerequisites This is a course which can accommodate a wide range of backgrounds. No specific courses required. Aims of the Course The aims of this course are that students should learn about: • the place of the Sun in the evolutionary progress of stars; • the internal structure of the Sun; • its energy source; • its magnetic fields and activity cycle; • its extended atmosphere; • the solar wind; • the nature of the Heliosphere. The course should be helpful for students wishing to proceed to a PhD in Astronomy or Astrophysics. It also provides a useful background for people seeking careers in Geophysics-related industries, and meteorology. Objectives On completion of this course, students should be able to: • explain the past and likely future evolution of the Sun as a star; • enumerate the nuclear reactions that generate the Sun’s energy; • explain the modes of energy transport within the Sun ; • describe the Standard Model of the solar interior; • explain the solar neutrino problem and give an account of its likely resolution; • describe the techniques of Helioseismology and results obtained; • discuss the nature of the solar plasma in relation to magnetic fields ; • explain Solar Activity - its manifestations and evolution and the dynamo theory of the solar

magnetic cycle; • describe the solar atmosphere, Chromosphere, Transition Region and Corona; • explain current ideas of how the atmosphere is heated to very high temperatures ; • describe each region of the atmosphere in detail; • explain the relationship between coronal holes and the solar wind; • derive and explain a model of the solar wind; • indicate the nature of the Heliosphere and how it is defined by the solar wind; • describe Solar Flares and the related models based on magnetic reconnection; • explain Coronal Mass Ejections and indicate possible models for their origin. Methodology and Assessment This is a 30 lecture course and Problems with discussion of solutions (four problem sheets) Video display of solar phenomena. Final assessment is derived from coursework/continuous assessment (10%) and a final written examination (90%).

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Textbooks • Solar Astrophysics by P. Foukal, Wiley-Interscience,1990. ISBN 0 471 839353. • Astrophysics of the Sun by H. Zirin, Cambridge U P, 1988. ISBN 0 521 316073. • Neutrino Astrophysics by J. Bahcall, Cambridge U P, 1989. ISBN 0 521 37975X. • The Stars; their structure and evolution by R.J. Taylor, Wykeham Science Series - Taylor and

Francis, 1972. ISBN 0 85109 110 5. • Guide to the Sun by K.J. H. Phillips, Cambridge U P, 1992. ISBN 0 521 39483 X • The Solar Corona by Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff, Cambridge U P, 1997. ISBN 0 521

48535 5 • Astronomical Spectroscopy by J. Tennyson, Imperial College Press, 2005. ISBN 1 860 945139 Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.) Introduction [1] Presentation of the syllabus and suggested reading, a list of solar parameters and a summary of the topics to be treated during the course. The Solar Interior and Photosphere [8] Stellar structure and evolution. Life history of a star. Equations and results. Conditions for convection. Arrival of the Sun on the Main Sequence. Nuclear fusion reactions. The Standard Solar Model. Neutrino production and detection - the neutrino problem. Solar rotation. Photospheric observations. Fraunhofer lines. Chemical composition. Convection and granulation. Helioseismology - cause of solar five-minute oscillations, acoustic wave modes structure. Description of waves in terms of spherical harmonics. Observing techniques and venues. Probing the Sun’s interior by direct and inverse modeling. Recent results on the internal structure and kinematics of the Sun. Solar Magnetic Fields/Solar Activity [6] Sunspot observations - structure, birth and evolution. Spot temperatures and dynamics. Observations of faculae. Solar magnetism - sunspot and photospheric fields. Active region manifestations and evolution. Solar magnetic cycle - Observations and dynamics. Babcock dynamo model of the solar cycle. Behaviour of flux tubes. Time behaviour of the Sun's magnetic field. The Solar Atmosphere – Chromosphere and Corona [9] Appearance of the chromosphere - spicules, mottles and the network. Observed spectrum lines. Element abundances. Temperature profile and energy flux. Models of the chromosphere. Nature of the chromosphere and possible heating mechanisms. Nature and appearance of the corona. Breakdown of LTE. Ionization/ recombination balance and atomic processes. Spectroscopic observations and emission line intensities. Plasma diagnostics using X-ray emission lines. Summary of coronal properties. The Solar Atmosphere - Solar Wind [2] Discovery of the solar wind. X-ray emission and coronal holes – origin of the slow and fast wind. In-situ measurements and the interplanetary magnetic field structure. Solar wind dynamics. Outline of the Heliosphere.

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Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections [4] Flare observations. Thermal and non-thermal phenomena. Particle acceleration and energy transport. Gamma-ray production. Flare models and the role of magnetic fields. Properties and structure of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Low coronal signatures. Flare and CME relationship. Propagation characteristics. CME models and MHD simulations.

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SPCEG013 – HIGH ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS Prerequisites Algebra and some calculus (differentiation, integration); basic knowledge of mechanics and electromagnetic theory; basic astrophysical concepts (e.g. spectra). Aims of the course This course aims to: • provide a practical rather than mathematical introduction to General Relativity and the

properties of black holes; • derive a simple mathematical formulation of the mechanisms which lead to the production of

high energy photons in the Universe, and of the absorption processes which they undergo on their path to Earth;

• provide a quantitative account of cosmic sources and phenomena involving the generation of high energy photons and particles;

• train students to apply the mathematical formulations derived in the course to realistic astrophysical situations, to derive parameters and properties of cosmic sources of high energy radiation, in a fashion similar to that commonly applied in research projects.

Objectives On successful completion of this course students should be able to: • derive, using practical considerations and a simple mathematical treatment, the expression of

the space-time metric appropriate in the vicinity of a non-rotating mass and the properties of non-rotating black holes, and demonstrate knowledge of the properties of rotating black holes;

• derive a mathematical formulation of the mechanisms that lead to the production of high energy photons and of those that cause their absorption on their path to Earth;

• describe, with the aid of diagrams and the application of basic mechanics and electromagnetic theory, the characteristics of celestial sources of high energy radiation, such as cosmic ray sources, supernova remnants, pulsars, Galactic and extra-galactic X-Ray sources; deduce their physical parameters by practical application of physical laws and formulae.

Methodology and Assessment This is a 30 lecture course. Students progress is monitored by their performance in homework problems (3 to 4 papers are set throughout the course) and by the final, written examination. The marked problem sheets are returned one week after submission and the solutions are discussed in the class by the lecturer encouraging student intervention. The overall course assessment is derived from the combined marks gained in the homework problems (contributing 10%) and the final written examination (90%). Textbooks The numbers in round brackets correspond to the syllabus topics listed below. Students should note that no single text book covers all the topics included in the course. The extensive reading list given below (including some research papers) is proposed for consultation, so that students can check and expand on the notes taken at lectures.

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• Principles of Cosmology and Gravitation, M. J. Berry, Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd; 1989 (2)

• High Energy Astrophysics, vol. 1, M Longair, Cambridge University Press, 2nd edition; 1992 (3,4,5)

• High Energy Astrophysics, vol. 2. M. Longair, Cambridge University Press, 2nd edition; 1994 (3,5,6,8)

• X-ray Astronomy, R. Giacconi and H. Gursky, Reidel; 1974 (3,8) • Astrophysical Concepts, M. Harwit, Springer-Verlag, 2nd edition; 1988 (3,9) • Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, T.K. Gaisser, Cambridge University Press; 1990 (5) • Supernova Remnants, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 10, 129; 1972(6) • Pulsar Astronomy, A. G. Lyne and F. Graham-Smith, Cambridge University Press; 1990(6,7) • Neutron Stars, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 8, 179; 1970 (7) • On the Pulsar Emission Mechanisms, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 13, 511; 1975 (7). • The Nature of Pulsar Radiation, Nature, 226, 622; 1970 (7) • Accretion Power in Astrophysics, J. Frank, A.R. King and D.J. Raine, Cambridge University

Press; 1985 (8) Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.) The scope of High Energy Astrophysics. Pre-requisites, units.

General Relativity and black holes [5] A simple approach to the Schwarzschild metric. Properties of the event horizon. The Kerr solution for rotating black holes. Ergospheres.

Radiation processes [8] Cyclotron and synchrotron radiation, inverse Compton, thermal bremsstrahlung, free-bound (thermal recombination) and bound-bound (line emission) processes.

Interaction of radiation with matter [2] Photoelectric absorption, Thomson and Compton scattering, pair production, synchrotron self-absorption.

Cosmic rays [2] Isotrophy, mass spectrum and origin.

Supernovae [3] Origin of the collapse, observational properties; Supernova remnants: Evolution, X-ray properties.

Pulsars [4] Observations and models. Neutron stars.

Accretion onto compact objects [4] Eddington limit, galactic X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei. Jets [2] Radiosources, Galactic (e.g. SS433) and extragalactic (radiogalaxies). Energy equipartition.

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SPCEG002 – SPACE PLASMA AND MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS Prerequisites While the course is essentially self-contained, some knowledge of basic electromagnetism and mathematical methods is required. In particular it is assumed that the students are familiar with Maxwell’s equations and related vector algebra. Aims of the Course This course aims: • to learn about the solar wind and its interaction with various bodies in the solar system, in

particular discussing the case of the Earth and the environment in which most spacecraft operate.

Objectives On completion of this course, students should be able to: • explain what a plasma is; • discuss the motion of a single charged particle in various electric and/or magnetic field

configurations, and also to discuss the adiabatic invariants; • discuss the behaviour of particles in the Earth’s radiation belts, including source and loss

processes; • be familiar with basic magnetohydrodynamics; • describe the solar wind, including its behaviour near the Sun, near Earth and at the boundary

of the heliosphere; • describe the solar wind interaction with unmagnetised bodies, such as comets, the Moon and

Venus; • describe the solar wind interaction with magnetised bodies, concentrating on the case of the

Earth and its magnetosphere; • be familiar with the closed and open models of magnetospheres • perform calculations in the above areas Methodology and Assessment The material is presented in 30 lectures which are reinforced by problem sheets. Reading from recommended texts may be useful, but is not essential. Some video material will accompany the conventional lectures. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%). Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.) Introduction [1] Plasmas in the solar system, solar effects on Earth, historical context of the development of this rapidly developing field Plasmas [3] What is a plasma, and what is special about space plasmas; Debye shielding, introduction to different theoretical methods of describing plasmas Single Particle Theory [7] Particle motion in various electric and magnetic field configurations; magnetic mirrors; adiabatic invariants; particle energisation

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Earth’s Radiation Belts [4] Observed particle populations; bounce motion, drift motion; South Atlantic Anomaly; drift shell splitting; source and acceleration of radiation belt particles; transport and loss of radiation belt particles Introduction to Magnetohydrodynamics [3] Limits of applicability; convective derivative; pressure tensor; continuity equation; charge conservation and field aligned currents; equation of motion; generalised Ohm’s law; frozen-in flow; magnetic diffusion; equation of state; fluid drifts; magnetic pressure and tension The Solar Wind [2] Introduction, including concept of heliosphere; fluid model of the solar wind (Parker); interplanetary magnetic field and sector structure; fast and slow solar wind; solar wind at Earth; coronal mass ejections Collisionless shocks [3] Shock jump conditions, shock structure, Earth bow shock, solar wind shocks The magnetosphere and its dynamicsMagnetised Bodies [6] Magnetospheric convection, magnetospheric currents, the magnetopause, open magnetosphere formation, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, non-steady magnetosphere The Solar Wind Interaction with Unmagnetised Bodies [1] The Moon; Venus, Comets Course website http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~ajc/4465/4465_resources.htm Recommended books and resources 1. Basic space plasma physics. W. Baumjohann and R.A. Treumann, Imperial College Press,

1996. 2. Introduction to Space Physics - Edited by M.G.Kivelson and C.T.Russell, Cambridge

University Press, 1995. Also: 3. Physics of Space Plasmas, an introduction. G.K.Parks, Addison-Wesley, 1991. 4. Guide to the Sun, K.J.H.Phillips, Cambridge University Press, 1992. 5. Sun, Earth and Sky, K.R.Lang, Springer-Verlag, 1995. 6. Introduction to plasma physics, F.F. Chen, Plenum, 2

nd edition, 1984

7. Fundamentals of plasma physics, J.A. Bittencourt, Pergamon, 1986

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PHASG318 – STELLAR ATMOSPHERES AND STELLAR WINDS Prerequisites This course is intended for students in the fourth year of Astronomy, Astrophysics or Astronomy and Physics degrees or for MSc students. It is recommended that students have taken the third year course PHAS3134 (ASTR3C34) Physics and Evolution of Stars or an equivalent course. Aims of the Course This course aims to: • go beyond the classic LTE model atmosphere by considering the physics of non-LTE continuum and line formation; • discuss the observations of stellar winds from hot stars; • provide the basic theory of line-driven stellar winds; • go beyond the standard models of stellar evolution by considering the effect of mass loss on the evolution of high mass stars; Objectives After completion of this course students should be able to: • understand the limitations of classical LTE stellar model atmospheres; • appreciate the complexities involved in constructing non-LTE atmospheres; • be aware of the uncertainties in modelling the observed spectra of both hot and cool stars; • discuss the observational characteristics of stellar winds in hot stars; • outline the basic theory of stellar winds as applied to hot stars; • understand the importance of mass-loss on the evolution of massive stars; • be aware of the wider applications of the two central topics of this course, for example, the modelling of resolved and unresolved stars in other galaxies with different chemical compositions. Methodology and Assessment 30 lectures and 4 problem class/discussion periods. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problm sheets (10%). Textbooks • D.F. Gray, The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres, 1992, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 40868 • D. Mihalas, Stellar Atmospheres, 1978, W.H. Freeman & Co., ISBN 0 7167 0359 9, out of print. • G.W. Collins, The Fundamentals of Stellar Astrophysics, 1989, W.H. Freeman & Co., ISBN 0 7167 1993 2 • H.J.G.L.M. Lamers and J.I. Cassinelli, Introduction to Stellar Winds, Cambridge University Press,1999.2

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Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.) Introduction and revision of PHAS3134 (PHYS3C34) (Physics and Evolution of Stars) topics [3] Basic definitions and moments of the radiation field; the Equation of Radiative Transfer and the Schwarzschild- Milne relations; the condition of radiative equilibrium and Milne's equations; the Grey atmosphere and the Eddington approximation. The LTE Model Atmosphere [5] Hydrostatic equilibrium - gas, electron and radiation pressures. Radiation pressure and the Eddington Limit. Determination of the electron density. Construction of LTE models and temperature correction schemes (Lambda iteration and the Unsöld-Lucy iteration methods). Comparison of LTE model atmosphere continua with observation. Spectral Line Formation [7] Observational quantities. Pure absorption and resonance scattering. The equation of transfer for spectral line radiation. The Milne-Eddington model. The line absorption coefficient. The curve of growth (theoretical and empirical). Spectral line synthesis. Non-LTE Model Atmospheres [3] The two-level atom (lines and continuum), multi-level atoms. Comparison with LTE models and observations - continuum and lines. Observations of Stellar Winds . [5] Formation of P Cygni profiles. Determination of mass loss rates from ultraviolet, optical and radio observations. Observed mass loss rates and terminal velocities for hot stars and their relationships to fundamental stellar parameters Theory of Stellar Winds [5] Line-driven winds - physical processes, upper limit for mass loss. The absorption of photons in a moving atmosphere- the Sobolev approximation. Super-simplified theory for line-driven winds. Refinements to this theory and comparison between predicted and observed mass loss rates and terminal velocities. Effects of Mass Loss on Stellar Evolution [2] General effects of mass loss. The evolution of a 60 star with mass loss.

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PHASG317 – GALAXY AND CLUSTER DYNAMICS Prerequisites Some knowledge of Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy is required, such as given by UCL Course ASTR3C36.

Aims of the Course This course aims to:

• give a detailed description of the structure, physical characteristics, dynamics and mechanisms that determine the kinematic structure, origin and evolution of clusters and galaxies;

• discuss applications, including stellar clusters within the Galaxy, spiral and elliptical galaxies and clusters of galaxies, with emphasis given to the interpretation of observational data relating to the Milky Way.

Objectives After completing this course students should be able to:

• identify the dynamical processes that operate within star clusters, galaxies and clusters of

galaxies; • explain the observed characteristics of stellar motions within the Milky Way; • use this information to elucidate the internal structure of the Galaxy; • be able to discuss the dynamical structure and observational appearance of clusters and

external galaxies; • understand how these objects have formed and are evolving.

Methodology and Assessment 30 lectures and 3 problem class/discussion periods. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%).

Textbooks

• Stellar Dynamics (I.R. King, W.H. Freeman, 1996) Price: £27.95 Galaxies: • Structure and Evolution (R.J. Tayler, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993)

Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.)

Galaxies, Clusters and the Foundations of Stellar Dynamics [5] Observational overview of extragalactic astronomy The classification of galaxies, star clusters, clusters of galaxies , characteristics of the Milky Way and other galaxies, the uses of stellar dynamics. The equations of motion and the Collisionless Boltzmann Equation. Isolating integrals and Jeans' theorem

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The Structure of the Milky Way [8] Galactic co-ordinates, the local standard of rest and rotation curves. Differential rotation, Oort's constants, epicyclic motions. Motions perpendicular to the galactic plane. The third integral – ‘box’ and ‘tube’ orbits. Local galactic dynamics; star-streaming, Jeans' equations. Asymmetric drift. The gravitational field of the Milky Way. The growth of instabilities, spiral structure, the density wave theory Stellar Encounters and Galactic Evolution [4] The effects of distant stellar encounters, two-body relaxation. The Fokker-Planck approximation, dynamical friction. The virial theorem and its applications Star Clusters [5] The dynamics of clusters; evaporation, the King model. The effects of tidal forces. Dynamical evolution and core collapse Elliptical Galaxies [4] Collisionless relaxation: phase damping and violent relaxation. Shapes and intensity profiles. Dynamical models; orbit families. Mergers and the origin of elliptical galaxies Clusters of Galaxies [4] The description of clustering, the Local Group. Dynamics of clusters of galaxies, formation timescales. The determination of galactic masses. The missing mass problem.

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PHASG426 – ADVANCED QUANTUM THEORY Prerequisites To have attended a previous introductory quantum mechanics courses, similar to the UCL 2nd year course PHYS2222:Quantum Physics or ASTR2B11: Quantum Foundations of Astrophysics, and the intermediate course, PHYS3226: Quantum Mechanics, or equivalent courses elsewhere. The following topics will be assumed to have been covered: Introductory material: states, operators and the Born interpretation of the wave function, transmission and reflection coefficients; Harmonic oscillator: by the differential equation approach giving the energy eigenvalues and wave functions; Angular momentum: angular momentum operators and the spectrum of eigenvalues, raising and lowering operators; the spherical harmonics and hydrogenic wave functions; Time-independent perturbation theory: including the non-degenerate and degenerate cases and its application to the helium atom ground state, Zeeman effect and spin-orbit interactions; Aims of the Course This course aims to: • review the basics of quantum mechanics so as to establish a common body of knowledge for the

students from the different Colleges on the Intercollegiate MSci. programme; • extend this by discussing these basics in more formal mathematical terms; • develop the JWKB method for non-perturbative approximations; • discuss the addition of angular momentum and CleBSch-Gordan coefficients; • introduce time-dependent perturbation theory ; • discuss the quantum mechanical description of the non-relativistic potential scattering of

spinless particles in terms of the partial wave expansion and the Born approximation; • provide the students with basic techniques in these areas which they can then apply in specialist

physics courses. Objectives After completing the module the student should be able to: • state mathematically the expansion postulate and to give a physical interpretation to the

quantities and explain what is meant by compatible/commuting observables; • understand and use the Dirac notation for quantum states; • know the difference between the Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures; • generalize the definition of angular momentum to include spin and solve the generalized

angular momentum eigenvalue problem employing raising and lowering operator techniques; • discuss the properties of spin-1/2 systems and use the Pauli matrices to solve simple problems; • state the rules for the addition of angular momenta and to outline the underlying general,

mathematical arguments, applying them in particular to two spin-1/2 particles; • discuss and apply the JWKB approximation; • formulate first-order time-dependent perturbation theory and extend the method to second-order

theory. Show, as an example, how it can lead to Fermi's Golden Rule; • apply the theory to harmonic perturbations (e.g. quantum system interacting with an

electromagnetic wave); • define cross section and scattering amplitude;

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• give a quantum mechanical description of the scattering process via the partial wave expansion and phase shifts and to be able to apply it to the cases of low-energy scattering of spinless particles from simple potentials;

• develop and apply the first Born approximation for the cross section. Methodology and Assessment The module consists of 30 lectures. These will be used to cover the syllabus material and to discuss problem sheets as the need arises. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%). Textbooks Those which are closest to the material and level of the course are (in alphabetical order) • Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, B.H. Bransden and C.J.Joachain, Longman (2nd Ed, 2000),

(available at a discount from the physics departmental Tutor), • Quantum Mechanics, (2 Vols) C.Cohen-Tannoudji, B.Diu and F.Laloe, Wiley, • Quantum Physics, S.Gasiorowicz, Wiley (1996), • Quantum Mechanics, F.Mandl , Wiley (1992), • Quantum Mechanics, E.Merzbacher, (3rd Ed.) Wiley, (1998 Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.)

Basic ideas of quantum mechanics (partly revision) and formal quantum mechanics [5] (Formal aspects of quantum theory are distributed throughout the course and introduced as needed.) Bras and kets, states, operators, Born interpretation of the wave function, continuous and discrete eigenvalues, Dirac delta function, compatible observables, Hermitian and unitary operators, Dirac notation, closure relation, time-evolution, Schrödinger, Heisenberg and interaction pictures, transformation brackets, momentum representation.

Angular momentum (partly revision) [5] Angular momentum operators, commutation algebra, raising and lowering operators, spectrum of angular momentum eigenvalues, combination of angular momenta treating the simplest case of two spin-1/2 particles, notation of CleBSch-Gordan coefficients, spin-1/2 angular momentum and Pauli matrices.

Non-perturbative approximations [4] The JWKB approximation. Examples.

Time-dependent perturbation theory [7] First-order time-dependent perturbation theory. Harmonic perturbations and other applications of time-dependent perturbation theory. Second-order perturbation theory and energy denominators. First Born approximation from the dependent approach. Fermi's Golden Rule.

Scattering [9] Currents and cross sections; the scattering amplitude and the optical theorem. Partial wave expansion of wave function and scattering amplitude. Phase shifts. Low-energy scattering from square well potential and scattering length expansion. Scattering length expansion in terms of wave

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functions. Poles of the scattering amplitude, bound states and resonances. First Born approximation from the time-independent approach. Integral equation for potential scattering.

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PHASG421 – ATOM AND PHOTON PHYSICS Prerequisites Knowledge of quantum physics and atomic physics to at least second year level, similar to UCL courses PHYS2222 and PHYS2224 Aims of the Course This course aims to provide: • a modern course on the interactions of atoms and photons with detailed discussion of high

intensity field effects e.g. multiphoton processes and extending to low field effects e.g. cooling and trapping.

Objectives On completion of the course the student should be able to: • describe the single photon interactions with atoms as in photoionization and excitation and the

selection rules which govern them; • explain the role of A and B coefficients in emission and absorption and the relation with

oscillator strengths; • describe the operation of YAG, Argon Ion and Dye Lasers and derive the formulae for light

amplification; • explain the forms of line broadening and the nature of chaotic light and derive the first order

correlation functions; • explain optical pumping, orientation and alignment; • describe the methods of saturation absorption spectroscopy and two photon spectroscopy; • derive the expression for 2-photon Doppler free absorption and explain the Lambshift in H; • describe multiphoton processes in atoms using real and virtual states; • explain ponder motive potential, ATI, Stark shift and harmonic generations; • describe experiments of the Pump and Probe type, the two photon decay of H and electron and

photon interactions; • derive formulae for Thompson and Compton scattering and the Kramers-Heisenberg formulae, • describe scattering processes; elastic, inelastic and super elastic; • derive the scattering amplitude for potential scattering in terms of partial waves; • explain the role of partial waves in the Ramsauer-Townsend effect and resonance structure; • derive the formulae for quantum beats and describe suitable experiments demonstrating the

phenomena; • describe the interactions of a single atom with a cavity and the operation of a single atom

maser; • describe the operation of a magneto-optical-trap and the recoil and Sisyphus cooling methods; • explain Bose condensation.

Methodology and Assessment The course consists of 30 lectures of course material which will also incorporate discussions of problems and question and answer sessions. Two hours of revision classes are offered prior to the exam. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%).

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Textbooks Optoelectronics, Wilson and Hawkes (Chapman and Hall 1983) Atomic and Laser Physics, Corney (Oxford 1977) Quantum Theory of Light, Loudon (Oxford 1973) Physics of Atoms and Molecules, Bransden and Joachain (Longman 1983) Laser Spectroscopy, Demtröder (Springer 1998) Where appropriate references will be given to some research papers and review articles. There is no one book which covers all the material in this course. Syllabus (The approximate allocation etc., of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below.) Interaction of light with atoms (single photon) [4] Processes - excitation, ionization, auto-ionization; A+B coefficients (semi classical treatment); Oscillator strengths and f-sum rule; Life times - experimental methods. (TOF and pulsed electron) L.A.S.E.R. [3] Line shapes g(υ); Pressure, Doppler, Natural; Absorption and amplification of radiation; Population inversion; spontaneous and stimulated emission; YAG and Argon ion lasers; radiation - dye and solid; Mode structure Chaotic light and coherence [2] Line broadening; Intensity fluctuations of chaotic light; First order correlation functions; Hanbury Brown Twiss experiment Laser spectroscopy [3] Optical pumping - orientation and alignment; Saturation absorption spectroscopy; Lamp shift of H(1S) and H(2S); Doppler Free spectroscopy Multiphoton processes [3] Excitation, ionization, ATI; Laser field effects - pondermotive potential - Stark shifts - Harmonic Generation; Pump and probe spectroscopy; Multiphoton interactions via virtual and real states; Two photon decay of hydrogen (2S-1S); Simultaneous electron photon interactions Light scattering by atoms [3] Classical theory; Thompson and Compton scattering; Kramers-Heisenberg Formulae; (Rayleigh and Raman scattering) Electron scattering by atoms [4] Elastic, inelastic and superelastic; Potential scattering; Scattering amplitude - partial waves; Ramsauer-Townsend effect - cross sections; Resonance Structure Coherence and cavity effects in atoms [4] Quantum beats - beam foil spectroscopy; Wave packet evolution in Rydberg states; Atomic decay in cavity; Single atom Maser Trapping and cooling [4]

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Laser cooling of atoms; Trapping of atoms; Bose condensation; Physics of cold atoms - atomic interferometry

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PHASG427 – QUANTUM COMPUTATION AND COMMUNICATION Pre-requisites: PHYS3226:Quantum Physics or equivalent Aims: The course aims to

• provide a comprehensive introduction to the emerging area of quantum information science.

• acquaint the student with the practical applications and importance of some basic notions of quantum physics such as quantum two state systems (qubits), entanglement and decoherence.

• train physics students to think as information scientists, and train computer science/mathematics students to think as physicists.

• arm a student with the basic concepts, mathematical tools and the knowledge of state of the art experiments in quantum computation & communication to enable him/her embark on a research degree in the area.

Objectives: After learning the background the student should

• be able to apply the knowledge of quantum two state systems to any relevant phenomena (even when outside the premise of quantum information)

• be able to demonstrate the greater power of quantum computation through the simplest quantum algorithm (the Deutsch algorithm)

• know that the linearity of quantum mechanics prohibits certain machines such as an universal quantum cloner.

After learning about quantum cryptography the student should

• be able to show how quantum mechanics can aid in physically secure key distribution • be knowledgeable of the technology used in the long distance transmission of quantum

states through optical fibres. After learning about quantum entanglement the student should

• be able to recognize an entangled pure state • know how to quantitatively test for quantum non-locality • be able to work through the mathematics underlying schemes such as dense coding,

teleportation, entanglement swapping as well their simple variants. • know how polarization entangled photons can be generated. • be able to calculate the von Neumann entropy of arbitrary mixed states and the amount

of entanglement of pure bi-partite states. After learning about quantum computation the student should

• know the basic quantum logic gates • be able to construct circuits for arbitrary multi-qubit unitary operations using universal

quantum gates • be able to describe the important quantum algorithms such as Shor’s algorithm &

Grover’s algorithm.

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After learning about decoherence & quantum error correction the student should

• be able to describe simple models of errors on qubits due to their interaction with an environment

• be able to write down simple quantum error correction codes and demonstrate how they correct arbitrary errors.

• be able to describe elementary schemes of entanglement concentration and distillation. After learning about physical realization of quantum computers the student should

• be able to describe quantum computation using ion traps, specific solid state systems and NMR.

• be able to assess the merits of other systems as potential hardware for quantum computers and work out how to encode qubits and construct quantum gates in such systems.

Methodology and Assessment The course consists of 30 lectures of course material which will also incorporate discussions of problems and question and answer sessions. Two hours of revision classes are offered prior to the exam. The assessment is based on a final unseen written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%). Syllabus:

Background [3] The qubit and its physical realization; Single qubit operations and measurements; The Deutsch algorithm; Quantum no-cloning.

Quantum Cryptography [3] The BB84 quantum key distribution protocol; elementary discussion of security; physical implementations of kilometers.

Quantum Entanglement [8] State space of two qubits; Entangled states; Bell’s inequality; Entanglement based cryptography; Quantum Dense Coding; Quantum Teleportation; Entanglement Swapping; Polarization entangled photons & implementations; von-Neumann entropy; Quantification of pure state entanglement.

Quantum Computation [8] Tensor product structure of the state space of many qubits; Discussion of the power of quantum computers; The Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm; Quantum simulations; Quantum logic gates and circuits; Universal quantum gates; Quantum Fourier Transform; Phase Estimation; Shor’s algorithm; Grover’s algorithm.

Decoherence & Quantum Error Correction [4] Decoherence; Errors in quantum computation & communication; Quantum error correcting codes; Elementary discussion of entanglement concentration & distillation.

Physical Realization of Quantum Computers [4] Ion trap quantum computers; Solid state implementations (Kane proposal as an example); NMR quantum computer.

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PHASG431 – MOLECULAR PHYSICS Pre-requisites An introductory course on quantum mechanics such as UCL courses PHYS2222 - Quantum Physics or ASTR2B11 - Quantum foundations of Astrophysics. The course should include: Quantum mechanics of the hydrogen atom including treatment of angular momentum and the radial wave function; expectation values; the Pauli Principle. Useful but not essential is some introduction to atomic physics of many electron atoms, for instance: UCL courses PHYS2224 - Atomic and Molecular Physics or ASTR3C38 - Astronomical Spectroscopy. Topics which are helpful background are the independent particle model, addition of angular momentum, spin states and spectroscopic notation. Aims of the Course This course aims to provide: • an introduction to the physics of small molecules including their structure, spectra and

behaviour in electron collisions. Objectives On completion of the course the student should be able to: • describe the components of the molecular Hamiltonian and their relative magnitude; • state the Born-Oppenheimer approximation; • describe covalent and ionic bonds in terms of simple wave functions; • state the Pauli Principle, how it leads to exchange and the role of exchange forces in molecular

bonding; • describe potential energy curves for diatomic molecules and define the dissociation energy and

united atom limits; • analyse the long range interactions between closed shell systems; • describe rotational and vibrational motion of small molecules and give simple models for the

corresponding energy levels; • give examples of molecular spectra in the microwave, infrared and optical; • state selection rules for the spectra of diatomic molecules; • interpret simple vibrational and rotational spectra; • explain the influence of temperature on a molecular spectrum; • describe experiments to measure spectra; • describe Raman spectroscopy and other spectroscopic techniques; • describe the selection rules obeyed by rotational, vibrational and electronic transitions; • describe the effect of the Pauli Principle on molecular level populations and spectra; • describe possible decay routes for an electronically excited molecule; • describe the physical processes which occur in the CO2 laser; • define integral and differential cross sections; • describe the possible process which can occur in an electron-molecule collision; • describe experiments used to measure electron impact cross sections; • discuss the different types of resonances which occur in electron molecule collisions;

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• give examples of physical systems whose properties are determined by electron-molecule collision;

• state the Franck-Condon principle and use it to interpret vibrational distributions in electronic spectra and electron molecule excitation processes.

Methodology and Assessment The course consists of 30 lectures of course material which will also incorporate discussions of problems and question and answer sessions. Two hours of revision classes are offered prior to the exam. The assessment is based on an unseen written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%). The continuous assessment mark is determined using the best three of four problem sheets.

Textbooks • Physics of Atoms and Molecules, B H Bransden and C J Joachain (Longman, 1983) (Covers all

the course but is not detailed on molecular spectra) • Molecular Quantum Mechanics, P W Atkins (Oxford University) (Good on molecular structure

but no electron molecule scattering) • Fundamentals of Molecular Spectroscopy, 4th Edition, C.W. Banwell and E. McGrath

(McGraw-Hill, 1994) (Introductory molecular spectroscopy book) • Spectra of Atoms and Molecules, P F Bernath (Oxford University, 1995) (A more advanced

alternative to Banwell and McGrath)

Syllabus (The approximate allocation of lectures to topics is shown in brackets below) Molecular structure [16] Brief recap of atomic physics: n,l,m,s; He atom, orbital approximation, exchange. The molecular Hamiltonian and the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Electronic structure, ionic and covalent bonding, Bonding in H

2

+ and H

2. Muon catalysed fusion.

Dissociation and united atom limits. Long range forces. Isomers and chirality. Vibrational structure: Harmonic motion and beyond, energy levels and wave functions. Rotational structure: Rigid rotor and energy levels Energy scales within a molecule: ionisation and dissociation. Nuclear spin effects. Labelling schemes for electronic, vibrational and rotational states Molecular spectra [7] Microwave, infrared and optical spectra of molecules. Selection rules, Franck-Condon principle. Experimental set-ups. Examples: the CO

2 laser, stimulated emission pumping experiment. Raman

spectroscopy. Ortho-para states. Absorption spectra of simple diatomics (eg. O2

and NO, N2)

Simple polyatomics (ozone, water). Molecular probes [7] Photophysics of small polyatomic molecules in condensed phases; solvation effects, resonance energy transfer, fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy measurements. Experimental techniques and applications to biomolecular systems.

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PHASG442 – PARTICLE PHYSICS Prerequisites Students should have taken UCL courses Quantum Mechanics (PHYS3226) and Nuclear and Particle Physics (PHYS3224), or have familiarity with non-relativistic Quantum Mechanics (Schrödinger's equation), some special relativity, Maxwell's equations and the particle content of the standard model. Aims of the Course This course aims to: • introduce the student to the basic concepts of particle physics, including the fundamental

interactions and particles and the role of symmetries; • emphasise how particle physics is actually carried out - to this end, data from currently running

experiments (at CERN, DESY and Fermilab) will be used to illustrate the underlying physics of the strong and electroweak interactions, gauge symmetries and spontaneous symmetry breaking.

Objectives On completion of this course, students should have a broad overview of the current state of knowledge of particle physics. Students should be able to: • state the particle content and force carriers of the standard model; • manipulate relativistic kinematics (Scalar products of four-vectors); • state the definition of a cross section; • be able to convert to and from natural units; • state the Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations; • connect these equations to conserved currents; • connect conserved current to propagators; • state the propagator for the photon, the W and the Z and give simple implications for cross

sections and scattering kinematics; • derive the Breit-Wigner equation from the massive propagator and the Klein-Gordon equation; • understand and draw Feynman diagrams for leading order processes, relating these to the

Feynman rules and cross sections; • give an account of the basic principles underlying the design of modern particle physics detectors

and describe how events are identified in them; • explain the relationship between structure function data, QCD and the quark parton model; • manipulate Dirac spinors; • state the electromagnetic and weak currents and describe the sense in which they are ‘unified'; • give an account of the relationship between chirality and helicity and the role of the neutrino; • give an account of current open questions in particle physics; • derive the expression for neutrino oscillations in two generations;

Methodology and Assessment The course consists of 30 lectures of course material which will also incorporate discussions of problem sheets and question and answer sessions. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%).

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Textbooks • Quarks and Leptons, F.Halzen and A.D.Martin. • Particle Physics, B.R.Martin and G.Shaw . • Introduction to High Energy Physics, D.H.Perkins. Syllabus Broken down into eleven 2.5 hr sessions. 1. Introduction, Basic Concepts Particles and forces. Natural units. Four vectors and invariants. Cross sections & luminosity. Fermi's golden rule. Feynman diagrams and rules. 2. Simple cross section Calculation from Feynman Rules Phase space. Flux. Reaction rate calculation. CM frame. Mandelstam variables. Higher Orders. Renormalisation. Running coupling constants. 3. Symmetries and Conservation Laws Symmetries and Conservation Laws. Parity and C symmetry. Parity and C-Parity violation, CP violation. 4. Relativistic Wave Equations without interactions From Schrodinger to Klein Gordon to the Dirac Equation; Dirac Matrices; Spin and anti-particles; Continuity Equation; Dirac observables. 5. Relativistic Maxwell’s equations & Gauge Transformations Maxwell's equations using 4 vectors; Gauge transformations; Dirac equation + EM, QED Lagrangians. 6. QED & Angular Distributions QED scattering Cross Section calculations; helicity and chirality; angular distributions; forward backward asymmetries 7. Quark properties, QCD & Deep Inelastic Scattering QCD - running of strong coupling, confinement, asymptotic freedom. Elastic electron-proton scattering. Deep Inelastic scattering. Scaling and the quark parton model. Factorisation. Scaling violations and QCD. HERA and ZEUS. Measurement of proton structure at HERA. Neutral and Charged Currents at HERA; Running of strong coupling; Confinement; QCD Lagrangian; 8. The Weak Interaction-1 Weak interactions; The two component neutrino. V-A Weak current. Parity Violation in weak interactions. Pion, Muon and Tau Decay. 9. The Weak Interaction-2 Quark sector in electroweak theory; GIM mechanism, CKM matrix; detecting heavy quark decays. 10. The Higgs and Beyond The Standard Model Higgs mechanism; alternative mass generation mechanisms; SUSY; extra dimensions; dark matter; Neutrino oscillations and properties. 11. Revision & Problem Sheets

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MATHG306 - COSMOLOGY Pre-requisites: MATHG305 Course Description and Objectives Cosmology is the study of the history and structure of the universe. Cosmologists usually assume that the universe is highly symmetric on large scales; under this assumption the equations of general relativity reduce to two simple ordinary differential equations. These equations govern the expansion of the universe. We study these equations in detail, and show how observations are affected by the expansion and curvature of the universe. The course then covers the astronomical methods used to determine the expansion rate (ie the Hubble constant) and the mass density of the universe. Physical processes in the early universe such as nucleosynthesis, the formation of the microwave background and galaxy formation will also be studied. The course begins with a description of black holes and ends with speculative topics including inflation and cosmic strings. Recommended Texts A Liddle, An Introduction to Modern Cosmology (2003); Rowan-Robinson, Cosmology (1996); J Silk, The Big Bang (1989). Syllabus Black holes

Cosmological models.

Observations in an expanding universe.

The cosmic microwave background.

The big bang model.

The red shift versus distance relation.

Dark matter.

Galactic dynamics.

Galaxy formation.

Inflation, particle physics, cosmic strings and quantum cosmology.

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MATHG305 - MATHEMATICS FOR GENERAL RELATIVITY Course Description and Objectives The course introduces students to Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity. Special relativity shows how measurements of physical quantities such as time and space can depend on an observer’s frame of reference. Relativity also emphasizes that there exists an underlying physical description independent of observers. This physical description uses mathematical objects called vectors and tensors The Maxwell equations provide a description of electromagnetism compatible with special relativity. However, no similar equations exist for gravitation. Instead, a more general form of relativity is needed where spacetime has curvature. Objects no longer accelerate due to gravitational forces; instead they move along geodesics whose shape is determined by the curvature. Furthermore, rather than mass being the source of the gravitation field, a massive object warps the space around it, generating curvature. Recommended Texts J Foster & J D Nightingale, A Short Course in General Relativity, 1994. S Weinberg, Gravitation and Cosmology (1972); R D’Inverno, Introducing Einstein’s Relativity (1992). Syllabus Vectors and gradients.

Curved surfaces and spaces.

Metrics.

Tensor notation.

Electromagnetism in tensor notation.

The principle of equivalence.

Geodesics and the motion of objects in a curved space. The deflection of starlight by the sun. The precession of Mercury.

Einstein field equations.

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PHASG472 – Order and Excitations in Condensed Matter Prerequisites PHYS3C25 – Solid State Physics, or an equivalent from another department. Aims of the Course The course aims to

• provide an understanding of the different types of structural and magnetic order and excitations that occur in condensed matter systems, and the importance that they play in determining the properties of solids

• introduce a unified description of phase transitions and critical phenomena • describe the principles of the determination of order and excitation spectra using modern x-

ray and neutron scattering techniques Objectives After completion of the course students should be able to:

• appreciate the great diversity of ordering phenomena that occur in the solid state; • understand the basic crystal structures, including fcc, hcp, bcc, CsCl, diamond, and be able

to represent them using unit cell plans; • recognise the intrinsic dependence of physical properties on structure; • understand the range of possible structural disorder in crystals, both positional and

orientational; • understand the relationship between the descriptions of crystal structures in real and

reciprocal spaces; • understand the properties of isolated magnetic moments; • understand the origin of Hund’s rules and how they may be applied to calculate the

magnetic moments of ions from different rows of the periodic table; • understand crystal fields and how they modify the magnetism of ions in the solid state; • understand the quantum mechanical origin of the exchange interaction, and the nature of

direct, indirect and double exchange; • appreciate the great variety of magnetic structures found in materials, including

ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism, helical order, spin-glass formation, etc;

• understand the Weiss models of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism; • understand concepts in the magnetism of metals including Pauli paramagnetism, Stoner

criterion, spin-density waves, Kondo effect, etc; • understand the physics of the scattering of x-rays by electrons; • understand the scattering of neutrons by nuclear and magnetic scattering processes, and the

concepts of coherent and incoherent scattering; • understand that the scattering pattern from an assembly of scatterers is a Fourier transform

of the scattering-factor weighted positions of the scattering centres, and hence how the scattering intensity carries information on the structure of the scattering system;

• understand the Laue equations so as to be able to visualise scattering events in reciprocal space;

• appreciate the range of diffraction techniques for solving the structure of materials; • understand the excitation spectrum of the one-dimensional, harmonic mono-atomic chain

and how this facilitates the calculation of dispersion curves in three-dimensional materials,

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with examples of force constant calculations in face-centred-cubic and body-centred materials;

• understand the excitation spectrum of the one dimensional diatomic chain, and how the concepts of acoustic and optic modes carry over into real three-dimensional systems;

• understand the quantum mechanical description of elastic excitations (phonons); • understand the consequences of anharmonic interactions on the physical properties of

materials; • understand the concept of spin waves as applied to ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, and

the semi-classical calculation of the dispersion relation in each case; • understand the how the quantum mechanical approach leads to quantization of the spin

waves as magnons; • appreciate how the semi-classical approach breaks down as the number of dimensions is

reduced and the spin quantum number approaches the quantum limit S=1/2; • understand the mechanism behind the production of neutrons, and the principles of the

instrumentation required perform elastic and inelastic scattering experiments; • understand the production of x-rays from a synchrotron source, and how the properties of

synchrotron radiation has revolutionised x-ray science; • appreciate the variety of information obtainable with modern spectroscopic techniques; • understand structural and magnetic order as examples of broken symmetries, • understand the order parameter concept, and how the general features of phase transitions

can be understood to a first approximation by Landau theory; • appreciate the behaviour of various model systems (Ising, Heisenberg, etc); • understand how the structures of liquids, including solutions, are determined experimentally

using x-ray and neutron scattering, and how the liquid structure factor relates to the radial distribution function;

• understand the underlying structural nature of glasses, describe their generic similarities with and differences from liquids, and understand the physics behind their formation as well as being able to describe different possible formation methods;

• relate the physical properties of glasses to their structures, understand their deformation mechanisms, the physical reasons underlying their intrinsic strength, low corrosion, homogeneity, electronic (amorphous semiconductors) and magnetic properties

Methodology and Assessment This will mainly be through teaching by the lecturer, but will also include assigned pre-class reading and tutorial discussions. In addition to studying standard texts, the students will also be given selected research papers to read and discuss. A full day visit to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory will be included in the course, where the students will have a tour of state-of-the-art facilities for neutron and x-ray scattering, as well as lectures on the principles of their operation. The class contact time will be the equivalent of 11 three-hour sessions. Assessment is based on the results obtained in the final written examination (90%) and three problem sheets (10%). Textbooks Main texts: Structure and Dynamics: An Atomic View of Materials, Martin T. Dove (OUP); Magnetism in Condensed Matter, Stephen Blundell (OUP) Additional texts: Elements of Modern X-ray Physics, Jens Als-Nielsen and Des McMorrow (Wiley); Introduction to the Theory of Thermal Neutron Scattering, G.L. Squires (Dover)

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Syllabus The allocation of topics to sessions is shown below. Each session is approximately three lectures. Atomic Scale Structure of Material (session 1): The rich spectrum of condensed matter; Energy and time scales in condensed matter systems; Crystalline materials: crystal structure as the convolution of lattice and basis; Formal introduction to reciprocal space. . Magnetism: Moments, Environments and Interactions (session 2) Magnetic moments and angular momentum; diamagnetism and paramagnetism; Hund's rule; Crystal fields; Exchange interactions Order and Magnetic Structure (session 3) Weiss model of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism; Ferrimagnetism; Helical order; Spin Glasses; Magnetism in Metals; Spin-density waves; Kondo effect Scattering Theory (sessions 4 and 5) X-ray scattering from a free electron (Thomson scattering); Atomic form factors; Scattering from a crystal lattice, Laue Condition and unit cell structure factors; Ewald construction; Dispersion corrections; QM derivation of cross-section; Neutron scattering lengths; Coherent and incoherent scattering Excitations of Crystalline Materials (session 6) Dispersion curves of 1D monatomic chain (revision); Understanding of dispersion curves in 3D materials; Examples of force constants in FCC and BCC lattices; Dispersion of 1D diatomic chain; Acoustic and Optic modes in real 3D systems; Phonons and second quantization; Anharmonic interactions Magnetic Excitations (session 7) Excitations in ferromagnets and antiferromagnets; Magnons; Bloch T^3/2 law; Excitations in 1, 2 and 3 dimension; Quantum phase transitions Sources of X-rays and Neutrons (session 8) Full day visit to RAL. Neutron Sources and Instrumentation. Synchrotron Radiation. Applications of Synchrotron Radiation Modern Spectroscopic Techniques (session 9) Neutron scattering: triple-axis spectrometer, time-of-flight, polarized neutrons X-ray scattering: X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, resonant magnetic scattering, reflectivity Phase transitions and Critical Phenomena (session 10) Broken symmetry and order parameters in condensed matter. Landau theory and its application to structural phase transitions, ferromagnetism, etc. Ising and Heisenberg models. Critical exponents. Universality and scaling Local Order in Liquids and Amorphous Solids (session 11) Structure of simple liquids; Radial distribution function; Dynamics: viscosity, diffusion; Modelling; Glass formation; Simple and complex glasses; Quasi-crystals

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APPENDIX A – Staff with special teaching-related responsibilities Name Position Tel Email Dr A J Bain Laser Safety Officer 33639 a.bain@ucl.ac.uk Miss N Zmanay Data Protection Officer 37020 N.Zmanay@ucl.ac.uk Dr D M Duffy MSc tutor 33032 d.duffy@ucl.ac.uk Dr M M Dworetsky Director of ULO 8856 mmd@star.ucl.ac.uk Mr D.Attree Safety Officer 33459 dja@hep.ucl.ac.uk Dr G Laricchia Radiation Protection Officer 33470 g.laricchia@ucl.ac.uk Prof J. Tennyson Head of Department 37155 J.Tennyson@ucl.ac.uk Dr A Harker Deputy Head of Department 33404 a.harker@ucl.ac.uk Prof M. Barlow Chairman, Undergraduate Teaching Committee 37160 mjb@star.ucl.ac.uk Miss T H Saint Teaching Support Co-ordinator 37246 t.saint@ucl.ac.uk Mrs H Wigmore Equal Opportunities Officer 37155 h.wigmore@ucl.ac.uk

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APPENDIX B – Maps of the Department and College Physics and Astronomy Department Map 1 Basement and Mezzanine floors (F), Physics Building Map 2 Ground floor (E), Physics Building Map 3 First floor (D), Physics Building Map 4 Second floor (C), Physics Building Map 5 Third floor (B), Physics Building Map 6 Fourth (top) floor (A) , Physics Building Map 7 Ground floor, Kathleen Lonsdale Building UCL Map 8 Main Campus and locale Map 9 Middlesex Hospital area and Riding House Street

MAP 1 – Physics Building, mezzanine and basement floors (floor F)

Lift

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Dr Ian Furniss

Physics Tutor

Dr David Moores

Admissions Tutor - Prof Storey

Trea Saint

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Louise Halton, Joanne Warren

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KEY: P Staff Photographs M Staff Mail Boxes N Noticeboards * Display Boards Along Corridor

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Harrie Massey Lecture Theatre

E28

M

P

E24b

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICE Justine Sagar Donna Pile

STUDENT PIGEONHOLES

Hilary Wigmore

MAP 2 – Physics Building, ground floor (floor E)

MASSEY THEATRE

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Note: There is No E ntr ance to or from Union to Dept.

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MAP 3 – Physics Building, first floor (floor D)

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MAP 4 – Physics Building, second floor (floor C)

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MAP 6 – Physics Building, fourth floor (floor A)

MAP 7 – Kathleen Lonsdale Building, ground floor

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MAP 8

The College area and surroundings, with the location of the Department of Physics and Astronomy marked. The numbers on the map refer to street numbers of buildings (e.g. 25 Gordon Street is UCL Union)

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