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Core modules:

Fundamental Physics and Mathematics I: Mechanics, Oscillations, Waves and Thermal Physics

This core module will give you an understanding of the fundamental physical principles, mathematical tools, and laboratory skills you'll use throughout your degree. 

You'll learn about key physical principles, such as Newton's laws, linear and rotational equations of motion, the wave equation, the laws of thermodynamics, and heat transfer. 

You'll also learn about the linear algebra and calculus that underpins these principles, covering differentiation and integration, complex numbers, matrices and differential equations. 

You'll build a strong foundation in laboratory techniques through hands-on experience. You'll learn how to build and use DC circuits and set up experiments to test principles, including kinematic motion, standing and travelling waves, heat engines, and diffraction.

40 credits

Fundamental Physics and Mathematics II: Electricity, Magnetism and Quantum Physics

In this core module you'll further develop your knowledge of the fundamental physical principles, mathematical tools and laboratory skills needed for your degree.

You'll explore topics across electricity, magnetism and quantum physics, such as electric potentials and fields, electrical circuits, magnetic fields, the Lorentz force, the photo-electric effect, and the quantum wave function. You'll also learn to describe these phenomena through vector calculus and probability theory.

You'll gain hands-on experience of conducting laboratory work. You'll test various aspects of physical principles, including measuring and mapping electric and magnetic fields, and building and using AC circuits.

40 credits

Mapping the Night Sky: the Astronomer's Toolbox

In this core module you'll learn foundational skills and techniques that will support your studies as an astrophysicist,  covering essentials such as astronomical observation, positional astronomy, and computing.

You'll learn how to navigate the night sky, plan observations, and use our telescopes. You'll learn how to import and analyse astronomical data in Python, and present these results professionally. You'll also learn how to be effective at self study, conduct and report on research projects ethically, and integrate AI responsibly. 

You'll employ general problem-solving techniques that are routinely used in physics, including dimensional analysis, making approximations, and checking your calculations using order-of-magnitude estimations, limiting behaviour, and symmetry considerations.

Through employability workshops, you'll receive guidance on how to showcase your achievements effectively to help secure projects, placements, and graduate opportunities.

20 credits

Introduction to Astrophysics

This module will provide you with an understanding of important physical concepts and techniques involved in astrophysics, with an emphasis on how fundamental results can be derived from observations.

You'll apply basic physical principles to astrophysical problems, exploring topics such as solar systems, the properties and evolution of stars and galaxies, as well as the origins and fate of the Universe.

20 credits

Core modules:

Star Formation and Evolution

The module will cover advanced astrophysics topics including observations and theory of star and planet formation, plus the evolution of low, intermediate and high mass stars, close binary evolution and end states (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes) plus astrophysical transients originating from stars (novae, supernovae, gamma ray bursts) and their chemical and mechanical feedback on galaxies.

15 credits

Galaxy Formation and Evolution

This module will cover one of the most exciting and fast moving topics in current astrophysics research, the formation and evolution of galaxies, from an observational perspective. Starting with a brief historical introduction, the module will then summarise what we can learn about galaxy evolution from studies of galaxies in the local Universe, before discussing the results obtained from recent deep field observations of the high redshift Universe. The last part of the module will concern the important role that active galactic nuclei play in galaxy evolution. Through a series of 18 lectures students will learn the main types of galaxies together with how we currently understand them to have formed and evolved. A key aspect of the module is how astronomers construct theories of galaxy evolution through observations and computer models, with a particular focus on how astronomers convert measured flux into physical properties such as mass and rates of star formation. The latter third of the module focuses on the growth of supermassive black holes and the role we believe that this has had on the formation and evolution of galaxies.

15 credits

Research project

Students will undertake a supervised research project during the whole of the 4th year of an MPhys degree, applying their scientific knowledge to a range of research problems experimental and/or theoretical projects spanning the research expertise of the Department. Along with applying their knowledge, students will manage their project, ensuring that they develop skills in time management, project planning, scientific record keeping, information retrieval and analysis from scientific and other technical information sources.

60 credits

Optional modules:

A student will take 30 credits (two modules) from this group.

The Development of Particle Physics

The module describes the development of several crucial concepts in particle physics, emphasising the role and significance of experiments. Students are encouraged to work from the original literature. The module focuses not only on the particle physics issues involved, but also on research methodology - the design of experiments, the critical interpretation of data, the role of theory, etc. Topics covered include the discoveries of the neutron, the positron and the neutrino, the parity and CP violations, experimental evidence for quarks and gluons, etc.

15 credits

Dark Matter and the Universe

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of Dark Matter in the Universe from both the astrophysics and particle physics viewpoints. This course is split into two halves. The first half of the course is on the astrophysical evidence for Dark Matter, and the second half of the course is on the detection of candidate Dark Matter particles.

15 credits

Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics at an intermediate to advanced level, including the mathematical vector space formalism, approximate methods, angular momentum, and some contemporary topics such as entanglement, density matrices and open quantum systems. We will study topics in quantum mechanics at an intermediate to advanced level, bridging the gap between the physics core and graduate level material.   The syllabus includes a formal mathematical description in the language of vector spaces; the description of the quantum state in Schrodinger and Heisenberg pictures, and using density operators to represent mixed states; approximate methods: perturbation theory,  variational method and time-dependent perturbation theory;  the theory of angular momentum and spin; the treatment of identical particles; entanglement; open quantum systems and decoherence. The problem solving will provide a lot of practice at using vector and matrix methods and operator algebra techniques. The teaching will take the form of traditional lectures plus weekly problem classes where you will be provided with support and feedback on your attempts.

15 credits

Optical Properties of Solids

The course covers the optical physics of solid-state materials. The optical properties of insulators, semiconductors, and metals from near-infrared to ultraviolet frequencies are considered, covering both established technologies and the latest developments in photonics. The infrared properties of materials are then discussed, and the course concludes with an introduction to nonlinear crystals. The module will be taught via lectures and problem classes. 

The course first develops the classical model of absorption and refraction based on Lorentz oscillators, and then discusses the use of quantum theory to understand the absorption and emission spectra. The optical properties in state-of-the-art materials are discussed in the context of photonics research and applications. The topics covered include:

Dispersion in optical materials, including optical fibres,

Interband absorption, 

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Low-dimensional materials, 

Free carrier effects, 

Phonon effects, 

Nonlinear crystals.

15 credits

An Introduction to General Relativity

A course on Einstein's theory of gravity. We start with the principle of equivalence, then move on to tensors. We motivate and then write down Einstein's equations. We use Schwarzschild black holes, Friedmann Robertson Walker cosmology and gravitational waves as examples. Einstein invented general relativity in 1915. The theory makes a link between geometry and the presence of energy and matter. This is expressed in the principle of equivalence, which we introduce and discuss. General relativity calls for a sophisticated mathematics called differential geometry, for which an important tool set is tensors and tensor components. We spend about the first half of the course learning about this, and using the formalism to write down Einstein's equations. We then study solutions that have been found to correspond to black holes without spin or charge, the Friedmann Robertson Walker cosmology thought to provide a useful description of the large-scale structure of the Universe, and gravitational waves that were first detected by the LIGO experiment in 2015. The course has no formal prerequisites, but it is very mathematical. Familiarity with special relativity will be helpful, but is not required.

15 credits

Advanced Particle Physics

The module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of modern particle physics. Focusing on the standard model, it provides a theoretical underpinning of this model and discusses its predictions. Recent developments including the discovery of the Higgs Boson and neutrino oscillation studies are covered. A description of the experiments used to probe the standard model is provided. Finally the module looks at possible physics beyond the standard model.

15 credits

Physics in an Enterprise Culture

This is a seminar and workshop based course where students will create a proposal for a new business. Seminars will cover topics such as innovation, intellectual property, costing and business planning. Workshops will support students to develop ideas and communicate them effectively. Both a business proposal and a pitch to investors are assessed. This modules give students an opportunity to develop a business proposal, using their physics knowledge as a starting point. The module starts with a series of seminars and workshops designed to help students come up with possible new ideas for products or services that they are interested in developing further. Further seminars formalise how business ideas are tested to ensure that basic assumptions about customers and markets are sensible and also guidance is given in terms of how to estimate the costs and revenues associated with the idea. Finally seminars to support writing the idea into a proposal are given. Evaluation of ideas using peer feedback is a key part of the module and midway through, a review panel is organised to give an opportunity for students to formally evaluate other ideas to help them develop their own.

15 credits

Astrobiology

Does other life exist, what might it be like, and how could we find it? In this course we examine how planets are found, and what we know about them. We consider what we know about 'life' looking at what we know about the processes, origin, and evolution of life on Earth and how life has changed the planet. This leads us to ideas about how to look for alien life and to think about what that life might be like. We finish by discussing the possibilities of intelligent technological civilisations, and the future of the human race.

15 credits

Advanced Electrodynamics

This module gives a detailed mathematical foundation for modern electrodynamics, starting from Maxwell's equations, charge conservation and the wave equation, to gauge invariance, waveguides, cavities and antennas, and an introduction to quantum electrodynamics. After a brief recap of vector calculus, we explore the role of the scalar and vector potential, the multi-pole expansion of the field, the Poisson and Laplace equations, energy and momentum conservation of the fields, and waveguides and cavities. After a relativistic treatment of the fields we consider the quantisation of the electromagnetic field modes, the Hamiltonian for the dipole coupling between a field and a radiation emitter, and finally we explore the Aharonov-Bohm effect.

15 credits

Semiconductor Physics and Technology

This module builds on the core solid state physics modules to provide an introduction to semiconductor electronic and opto-electronic devices and modern developments in crystal growth to produce low dimensional semiconductor structures (quantum wells, wires, dots and atomically thin two-dimensional materials). Band structure engineering, the main physical properties and a number of applications of low dimensional semiconductor structures are covered. The modules concludes with some examples of recent advances in the field, such as new epitaxial techniques and atomically thin two-dimensional materials.

15 credits

Origin of the Chemical Elements

This course looks at the origin, distribution and evolution of the chemical elements, which are created in the early Universe, during the life cycles of stars and in the interstellar medium. The main teaching method is the standard 50-minute lecture, which is well suited to the delivery of the factual information in this course. The syllabus includes topics such as: Experimental evidence for elemental abundances; Observational evidence for elemental abundances; Primordial nucleosynthesis; Stellar nucleosynthesis; Neutron capture; Supernovae and kilonovae; Cosmic rays; Galactic chemical evolution.

15 credits