Department of Physics

Physics Postgraduate Courses 2021/22

Here we briefly describe the postgraduate courses offered by the different research sections within the Department of Physics. Students from one section are encouraged to attend courses from another section if they think that they will be useful for their research.

Skip to....

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Course Director: Prof Carlton Baugh

Overview of the Postgraduate Course for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Stellar populations
Stellar structure
Galaxy clusters
Black holes
High-z universe
Gravitational lensing
Milky Way
Active Galactic Nuclei
Cosmology
Large-scale structure
Interstellar medium / intergalactic medium (+workshop)
Stellar dynamics
Galaxy formation
Simulations & modified gravity
Astrostatistics

Timetable: Link to follow

Quantum Light and Matter (previously Atomic and Molecular Physics)

Course Director: Dr Kevin Weatherill

Overview of the Postgraduate Course for Quantum Light and Matter

Atom-Light Interactions
Data Analysis (also taken by Condensed Matter and CDT in big data students)
Atomic and Molecular Interactions
Optical Engineering
Optical Systems Design
Experimental Skills
Topics in Theoretical Physics

Advanced Instrumentation

Course Director: Dr Kieran O'Brien

Overview of the Postgraduate Course for Advanced Instrumentation

General Information

Overview of research areas in

Introduction to Numerical Methods and Algorithms
Introduction to Data Analysis
Introduction to Machine Learning
Optical Design
Mechanical design
Practical opto-mechanics
Software engineering
Data interfacing
Systems engineering and project management
Optical detection
Adaptive optics
Further research tools (scientific writing, critical evaluation)

Centre for Material Physics

Course Director: Dr Nicholas Bristowe

This PG-level course aims to expose diverse cohorts of students to a broader range of materials physics and to provide some essential PG training. Our CMP modules are therefore based on one or more of the following:

Introductory topical overviews of a materials physics sub-field
Experimental and theoretical methods within materials physics
PG skills (soft and technical)

Specific courses in 2021/22 include:

Data Analysis
Electronic Structure Theory
Dielectrics, Ferroelectrics, Multiferroics and Related Materials
Molecular biophysics: concepts and examples
Signal Acquisition
Understanding and Presenting Research Outputs: Papers, Talks & Posters
Symmetry: Point and Space Group Theory: Applications in Physics and Chemistry
Scattering techniques to characterise materials
Complex Oxides and their interfaces/surfaces in nanostructures

Centre for Particle Theory

Course Director: Dr David Cerdeno

Course details and timetable

Introductory field theory
Group theory
Standard model
General relativity
Quantum electrodynamics
Quantum field theory I & II
Cosmology I
Supersymmetry
Conformal field theory
Quantum chromodynamics
Cosmology II
Strings
Non-perturbative physics
Flavour physics and effective field theories
Neutrino physics
Astroparticle physics
Renormalization group
Higgs phenomenology
Amplitudes
Computing for physicists