The aim of this course is to communicate knowledge of physical techniques which exploit nuclear particles, and to develop an understanding of the underlying physics. Important themes are nuclear processes and the interaction of nuclear radiation with the surroundings.
After studying this course students should know about:
the interactions of ionising radiation with matter. the key techniques for detection of radiation. the physical processes involved in nuclear power generation and appreciate the safety aspects of current nuclear power systems. the processes which explain the abundances of the elements around us. the principles of radiocarbon and geological dating, and be able to perform the related calculations for age determination. the nuclear techniques of materials analysis and their application within industry. the medical applications of nuclear phenomena. the Mossbauer effect and its applications in modern nuclear spectroscopy
The interaction of radiation with matter - Reviews the many ways in which radiation can interact with matter, this introduction provides the basis for the detection techniques and the practical applications of radiation discussed later. The detection of radioactivity - Surveys the various detection techniques which are used in the practical application of radiation. Detailed descriptions are given as appropriate during the course. Radioactive dating - Discusses the various methods of dating materials using the naturally generated radioactive isotopes found within them. Trace element identification - The detection and identification of small quantities of contaminants is of vital importance in many areas - materials analysis, forensic science, security (e.g. airline baggage scanning and industrial quality control. The possibility of transmutation of nuclear waste products into harmless nuclides is also discussed. Medical applications of nuclear phenomena - Radiation is used in medicine for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The underlying physics and the relative merits of the basic techniques are reviewed. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging will be introduced. The Mossbauer Effect - An extremely high resolution spectroscopic technique which makes possible a very precise measurement of the energy of gamma-rays, and therefore provides a very sensitive energy-probe of the nuclear region of atoms. Nucleosynthesis - Discusses the cosmological, stellar and other processes which create the elements around us. Present and Future Nuclear energy - Nuclear fission is an established energy source, while research into the harnessing of fusion power continues. This course discusses the physics behind nuclear power, its safety issues, and future prospects.
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 36 |
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | 2 hours | 100% |
Referral Method: By examination
The aim of this course is to apply quantum physics to the study of atoms.
After studying this course students should:
• Understand the concepts of a good quantum number and simultaneous observability.
• Understand the quantum numbers, including their physical significance, and quantum mechanical states of the hydrogen atom.
• Understand time independent perturbation theory including its derivation and be able to apply it to simple systems, including the Stark-Effect and Zeeman Effect.
• Know about the origins of fine structure in atomic spectra.
• Understand the exchange degeneracy and how this affects the excited states of helium.
• Understand the Periodic table from the viewpoint of the electronic structure.
• Understand and be able to apply to simple cases time dependent perturbation theory.
• Understand the derivation of and be able to apply the selection rules for the interaction of electric dipole radiation and atoms.
• Know about Einstein A and B coefficients and the relationship between them.
• Understand the origin of line widths and shapes in atomic spectra.
Quantum Mechanics in Atomic Physics - Introduction, Quantum mechanical description of the hydrogen atom Angular Momentum Atomic Spectra Time-Independent Perturbation Theory Fine Structure - Spin Orbit Coupling, Relativistic Effects, Hyperfine Structure, Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory Interaction of Atoms with E. M. Radiation - Absorption and Emission of Radiation, Physical Model, Allowed and Forbidden Transitions, Spontaneous Emission Many Electron Atoms - periodic table Helium - Independent Electron Model, Electron-Electron Interactions, Term Symbols Structure of Many Electron Atoms - Alkali Metal Atoms, Helium-like Atoms, Hund's Rules, Atomic Orbitals, Slater Orbitals, Self consistent field calculations, Coupling Schemes, Spin Orbit Interactions, LS-coupling approximation, jj-coupling approximation, Selection Rules Atoms in Electric or Magnetic Fields - Atoms in Magnetic Field, Zeeman Effect, Weak-Field Zeeman Effect, Strong field Zeeman effect, Atoms in Electric Fields, Stark effect.
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 27 |
late hand-ins of problem sheets are not allowed
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 3 summatively assessed problem sheets | - | 10% |
| Exam | 2 hours | 90% |
Referral Method: See notes below
By examination, the final mark will be calculated both with and without the coursework assessment mark carried forward, and the higher result taken.
The course provides an introduction to modern optical physics to arm students with a basic knowledge of light-matter interactions, electro-optics and nonlinear optics. It aims to provide a fundamental base for understanding the techniques and technologies of photonics and experimental quantum optics, while also drawing together and developing many more basic and beautiful aspects of physics.
After studying this course students should have a basic knowledge of:
the polarization and vector properties of light and their analysis elementary classical and quantum mechanical microscopic models of the light-matter interaction process light propagation in isotropic, anisotropic and nonlinear media crystal optics, metal optics, and polarizing devices electro- and magneto-optical effects and devices major phenomena of nonlinear optics such as harmonic generation the many similarities and occasional differences between light and matter
• The Maxwell and wave equations in media; forced oscillation and resonant optical response; the Lorentz dispersion theory; causality and the Kramers-Kronig relations
Light as a vector field; polarized and unpolarized light; Jones vectors, Stokes parameters and Müller matrices; the energy, momentum and angular momentum of an electromagnetic wave Introduction to quantum optics and the two state atom approximation using Dirac notation; Rabi oscillations Controlling light with matter: plane waves in an anisotropic crystal; birefringence, optical activity and polarizing devices Controlling light with electric and magnetic fields, the electro-optical Pockels and Kerr effects, the magneto-optical Faraday effect Controlling light with light: nonlinear optical response of a forced molecular oscillator; basic nonlinear optical phenomena; harmonic generation
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 36 |
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | 2 hours | 100% |
Referral Method: By examination
This course provides an introduction to nuclear and particle physics. There
are approximately 16 lectures for each section supplemented by directed
reading. Lectures delivered using mainly blackboard and with a slight admixture of
computer presentation for selected topics.
This course provides a working knowledge of nuclear
structure, nuclear decay and certain models for estimating nuclear masses and other
properties of nuclei. Alo students will become familiar with the basics of elementary
particle physics and particle accelerators. They will have an understanding of
building blocks of matter and their interactions via different forces of
Nature.
Students will learn about Nuclear Scattering, various properties of Nuclei,
the Liquid Drop Model and the Shell Model, radioactive decay, fission and
fusion. By the end of the course, the students should be able to classify
elementary particles into hadrons and leptons, and understand how hadrons are
constructed from quarks. They will also learn about flavour quantum
numbers such as isospin, stangeness, etc. and understand which interactions
conserve which quantum numbers. They will study the carriers of the
fundamental interactions and have a qualitative understanding of QCD as well as
the mechanisms of weak and electromagnetic interactions.
Nuclei
1.Rutherford scattering (classical treatment)
2.and nuclear diffraction.
3.Nuclear properties.
4.Binding energies and Liquid Drop Model.
5.Magic Numbers and the Shell Model.
6.Radioactive decay
7.Fission and fusion
8.Isospin
Particles
1.Accelerators
2.Forces of Nature (strong, weak and electromagnetic interactions and their force carriers)
3.Particle classification
4.The constituent quark model
5.Weak Interactions (W and Z bosons)
6.Electromagnetic interactions
7.Quantum Chromodynamics (interactions of quarks and gluons)
8.Charge conjugation and parity
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | Students are expected to devote a minimum of 6 hours per week of private study to background reading and problem solving. | 36 |
There will be three assessed problem sheets. All three sheets count for the purposes of assessment, and mitigation for missed problem sheets requires students to make a request to the Special Considerations Board in the usual way.
Late hand-ins of problem sheets are not allowed
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Sheets | - | 10% |
| Exam | 2 hours | 90% |
Referral Method: See notes below
By examination, the final mark will be calculated both with and without the coursework assessment mark carried forward, and the higher result taken.
Is it necessary -- and is it possible -- for the UK and other countries to make the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources? And what sort of changes would be involved, on a global, national and personal scale? Is there any one renewable energy source that can provide most or all of the UK's energy needs? Can we continue to expand air travel indefinitely by making planes much more fuel efficient?
Questions like these are becoming increasingly common and important, but clear answers can seem disappointingly rare. Against this background, the goal of this course is to develop a clear understanding of the physical principles that govern the key modes of energy generation and usage. This will then allow us to explore if and how our current energy needs can be supported by different types of energy sources (from fossil fuels to renewable to nuclear). We will also look carefully at the motivations for moving away from fossil fuels, considering both climate change and the finite nature of non-renewable resources. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on developing insight, rather than on memorizing specific numbers or factoids. We will do this by learning how to develop simple, highly approximate, but nevertheless quantitative models of physical processes. These will allow us to find surprisingly clear-cut and definitive answers to seemingly difficult questions, including those posed above.
Please note that although there are no formal pre-requisites, the mathematical skills required for this module are:
No calculus is used in the module.
At the end of this course, students should have
• a solid understanding of the physical principles underlying energy production and usage
• the ability to construct and use approximate, but quantitative models for key physical processes
• an understanding of the promises, problems and limits associated with different forms of energy (e.g. fossil fuel-based, solar, wind, tide, wave, geothermal, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion...)
• an understanding of the energy demands associated with human needs and activities (transport [trains, planes, automobiles], food/farming, housing...)
• an appreciation of the choices and compromises that need to be made in designing a sustainable and socially/politically viable national/international energy plan
• an understanding of the need for quantitative analysis in designing such plans
• the ability to carry out such analyses
• Basic principles: different forms of energy, relation to force and power, exponential growth...
• Motivation: climate change (incl greenhouse effect), the finite nature of fossil fuels (incl peak oil), energy security
• The balance sheet: analysis of key energy consumption and sustainable production modes
• Consumption modes covered include: car travel, plane travel, heating, food, gadgets, imports, lighting...
• Production modes covered include: wind, wave, hydro, tides, nuclear (fission and fusion), solar (PV and thermal), clean coal...
• Effective ways to reduce consumption and/or increase production
• Implications for energy plans and energy policy
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 36 |
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | 2 hours | 100% |
Referral Method: By examination
The aim of this course is to examine all aspects of galaxies, from what they are and how they are made up, to how we think they form and evolve. We will start from outlining fundamental questions we must answer in order to build up a picture of an astrophysical object, e.g., what is it made of? How luminous? How big? How old? How fast? How heavy? These seemingly simple questions are surprisingly difficult to answer but we will cover the different astrophysical tools used to answer them. We will then move outwards to consider the demography, spatial distribution, and environment of galaxies, in the ‘field’ and in clusters. We will then consider galaxies very distant from us in space and time, discuss galaxy formation and evolution, and have an overview of Active Galaxies, super-massive black holes and their co-evolution with their host galaxies.
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:
The make-up of galaxies: stars, gas, dust and dark matter.
Galaxy morphology: Luminosities and sizes, surface brightness, elliptical galaxies, spirals, irregular galaxies, galaxy masses.
Basic galaxy dynamics: The virial theorem
Galaxy demographics: Demographics of different types of galaxies, luminosity functions, surveys.
Galaxy environment: large-scale structure, clustering, clusters and groups, effect on galaxies.
Galaxy groups and clusters: Scaling relations, mass estimates.
The cosmological setting of galaxies: Distance measurements, cosmological redshift, Hubble expansion of the universe.
Active galaxies and supermassive black holes: Supermassive black holes in normal and active galaxies, quasars, radio galaxies, unification, the possible role of AGN in galaxy evolution.
Galaxy evolution: Hierarchical structure formation and Galaxy mergers and interactions, galaxies at high-redhisft, cosmic downsizing, star formation history of the universe.
Q&As via zappers
In-class group activities
On-line group activities
Blogs
Videos, Movies
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 36 |
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Sheets | - | 25% |
| Exam | 2 hours | 75% |
Referral Method: See notes below
By examination, the final mark will be calculated both with and without the coursework assessment mark carried forward, and the higher result taken.
The aim of this course is to introduce the student to a number of applications of physics to medicine with particular emphasis on those commonly used in the work of the medical physicist. The course will be of particular interest to those contemplating a career in this field.
The course is taught primarily by staff from the School of Physics and Astronomy, but brings in staff from Southampton General Hospital who are experts in the specific fields covered to provide more 'hands-on' experience of the techniques. The course includes two visits to the General Hospital to see something of medical physics and radiotherapy in practice.
After studying this course students should:
The course content is organised into 3 main sections, within which theoretical background will introduced, and the applications discussed. These main sections will be supplemented by introductory and summary/revision materials.
Section 0 - Introduction and Course Overview
Section 1 - Effects and Applications of Ionising Radiation
Section 2 - Imaging with Ionising Radiation
Section 3 - Imaging with Non-ionising Radiation
Section 4 - Conclusions and revision lecture(s)
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 20 lectures on the physics of medical physics, provided by course co-ordinator | 15 |
| Lecture | 8 'applications' lectures provided by experts from Southampton General Hospital. | 6 |
| Fieldwork | 2 x 2-hour evening visits to SGH to see Medical Physics in action | 4 |
Formal assessment is 100% by exam. Both problem sheets and quizzes are optional, and provided to allow students to assess their progress through the course modules.
Visits to SGH are in the evening (to allow full access to busy clinical areas); appropriate dates will be discussed with the class.
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Sheets | - | 0% |
| On-line quizzes | - | 0% |
| Exam | 2 hours | 100% |
Referral Method: By examination
Further useful links for current students and staff
Details on the role of the senior tutors in Physics and Astronomy