| Unit name | Frontiers of Modern Physics B |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYSM0050 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Ben Maughan |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
120 credit points at Level I/5 in single or joint honours physics. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
This unit gives you an opportunity to apply your knowledge of physics gained in previous years in a selection of topics of your choice. You will pick two subject areas in which to apply your mathematics and problem-solving skills to describe and predict real-world phenomena, while learning the specialist methods used and recent developments in your chosen areas. In this unit you will expand your perspective on physics beyond the common core of physics to encompass active areas of physics research, incorporating the subjects under research here in Bristol. As a Masters’ level course, you will be learning areas on the frontiers of physics research.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The discipline-specific knowledge developed in each topic available in this unit builds directly upon the foundations you have established in previous years. The ability to apply your physics knowledge across topic boundaries and the opportunity to gain appreciation of recent developments in physics are key requirement for the accreditation of our Physics programmes by the Institute of Physics.
An overview of content
In this unit you will select two of the topics listed below to explore two frontiers of modern physics in detail.
Option 1: The Physics of Gas and Plasma in the Universe
The majority of the baryonic Universe is in the form of gas and plasma in a diverse range of conditions. This course will examine a broad range of physical process against this backdrop to further understand the behaviours of gas and plasma. You will return to important gas and plasma concepts, and more onto learning about the solar wind and its effect on the Earth, accretion discs around compact objects, the interstellar medium in the Galaxy, supernova remnants and ionisation fronts, and galactic winds.
Option 2: The Physics of Phase Transitions
In your study of phase transitions, you will use fundamental concepts and mathematical techniques of equilibrium statistical mechanics to address two simple questions: Why does matter exist in different phases, and how does it change from one phase to another. You will develop a physical and mathematical picture of phase transitions, with examples taken from condensed matter physics. You will learn further the notions of order, disorder, the role of correlation functions in critical phenomena and the unifying concept of broken symmetry.
Option 3: Relativistic Field Theory
Special Relativity was originally proposed to account for the properties of Electromagnetic fields, and the notions of classical fields are closely related to relativity. This course will give an account of the modern approach to special relativity and Lagrangian field theory, and their role in the covariant description of the classical electromagnetic field, and the relativistic quantum Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations. The course is a mixture of calculation combined with more qualitative treatment of advanced topics.
Option 4: Theoretical Particle Physics
This option explains the principle of “gauge symmetries” (i.e. invariance under local transformations) on which the standard model is based, and introduces (or revises) the required mathematical techniques such as Lagrangian mechanics, Noether’s Theorem and group theory. It then proceeds to build a complete mathematical description of standard model particles as solutions to the Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations, with interactions via the electroweak and strong forces arising from invariance under gauge symmetries.
There will also be a discussion of the limitations of the standard model and possible physics scenarios beyond it.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Choosing which frontiers from modern physics you want to explore in detail will allow you to shape your personal physics expertise, focusing on the areas you find most interesting. This unit will give you the opportunity to apply your core physics knowledge to areas of physics which are being actively researched and expanded and start to explore topics closer to the frontiers of our understanding. By choosing your own specialisms as a physicist you will develop an appreciation of the breadth of modern physics.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
The unit is organised through our on-line learning environment (OLE). This is where you will find information about the unit, lecture notes, any pre-recorded videos, recordings of lectures and live sessions, and other learning resources.
All teaching activities will be delivered face-to-face (barring intervention from exceptional events), and it is an expectation that you engage with these activities. Learning activities will be split across in-class activities (problems classes) and those around your own private study (for example online quizzes, videos, textbook references etc.).
The unit will consist of around 30 hours of content delivery with 10 hours of support. You are expected to take responsibility for your own learning, engaging in independent study outside of course contact hours, in line with the University statement on student workloads, and going beyond explicitly taught material as appropriate.
All topics are supported by problems classes
Problems classes will usually take place bi-weekly and give you the opportunity to practice the application of the skills and knowledge you have acquired in problem-solving exercises. Facilitators will be available to provide feedback on your understanding.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will have a series of assignments which do not count for assessment but will help to further your understanding. There will be regular problems classes to help you gain rapid feedback on your understanding and to ask questions of the facilitator. This will help you quantify your own understanding and help others recognise their own understanding, and to gain verbal feedback on your problem-solving skills.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan:
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYSM0050).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
