Module PHYS3631 : FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS 3B

Department: Physics

PHYS3631 : FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS 3B

Prerequisites

• Foundations of Physics 2B (PHYS2591) AND (Mathematical Methods in Physics (PHYS2611) OR Analysis in Many Variables (MATH2031)).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module is designed primarily for students studying Department of Physics or Natural Sciences degree programmes.
• It builds on the Level 2 modules Foundations of Physics 2A (PHYS2581), Foundations of Physics 2B (PHYS2591) and Mathematical Methods in Physics (PHYS2611) by providing courses on Modern Optics, Statistical Physics and Magnetic Materials appropriate to Level 3 students.

Content

• The syllabus contains:
• Modern Optics: Review of Electromagnetism; Plane waves and spherical waves; Fourier transforms: linearity, convolution, shifting, scaling; Propagating the solution to the wave equation using the angular spectral method; Gaussian beams; Near-field (Fresnel) and far-field (Fraunhofer) diffraction; Simple cases: single and double slits, multiple slits; Phasors; 2D diffraction: letters, and circular apertures; Diffraction limit: Rayleigh criterion, Heisenberg microscope; Spatial filtering; Babinet’s Principle; Apodization; Fabry Perot: Gaussian modes of a cavity; Lasers and cavities.
• Statistical Physics: Introduction and basic ideas:- macro and microstates, distributions; distinguishable particles, thermal equilibrium, temperature, the Boltzmann distribution, partition functions, examples of Boltzmann statistics: spin-1/2 solid and localized harmonic oscillators; Gases: the density of states: fitting waves into boxes, the distributions, fermions and bosons, counting particles, microstates and statistical weights; Maxwell-Boltzmann gases: distribution of speeds, connection to classical thermodynamics; diatomic gases: Energy contributions, heat capacity of a diatomic gas, hydrogen; Fermi-Dirac gases: properties, application to metals and helium-3; Bose-Einstein gases: properties, application to helium-4, phoney bosons; entropy and disorder, vacancies in solids; phase transitions: types, ferromagnetism of a spin-1/2 solid, real ferromagnetic materials, order-disorder transformations in alloys; statics or dynamics? ensembles, chemical thermodynamics: revisiting chemical potential, the grand canonical ensemble, ideal and mixed gases; dealing with interactions: electrons in metals, liquid helium 3 and 4, real imperfect gases; statistics under extreme conditions: superfluid states in Fermi-Dirac systems, statics in astrophysical systems.
• Magnetic Materials: paramagnetism, mean field theory, ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, Curie-Weiss law, magnetic excitations, bulk magnetic properties, domains walls, magnetostriction, magnetic order and exchange interaction, Heisenberg hamiltonian. Critical temperature and field, London equation, type I and type II superconductors, vortex states, flux pinning.

Learning Outcomes

• Having studied this module, students will be able to use Fourier methods to describe interference and diffraction and their applications in modern optics.
• They will understand the use of statistical concepts such as temperature and entropy and models to describe systems with a large number of weakly interacting particles.
• They will have an understanding of the phenomenology and underlying physics of magnetic materials and will have an appreciation of their practical applications.

• In addition to the acquisition of subject knowledge, students will be able to apply the principles of physics to the solution of complex problems.
• They will know how to produce a well-structured solution, with clearly-explained reasoning and appropriate presentation.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching will be by lectures and example classes.
• The lectures provide the means to give a concise, focused presentation of the subject matter of the module. The lecture material will be defined by, and explicitly linked to, the contents of the recommended textbooks for the module, thus making clear where students can begin private study. When appropriate, the lectures will also be supported by the distribution of written material, or by information and relevant links on DUO.
• Regular problem exercises and example classes will give students the chance to develop their theoretical understanding and problem solving skills.
• Students will be able to obtain further help in their studies by approaching their lecturers, either after lectures or at other mutually convenient times.
• Student performance will be summatively assessed through an examination and problem exercises. These will provide the means for students to demonstrate the acquisition of subject knowledge and the development of their problem-solving skills.
• The problem exercises and example classes provide opportunities for feedback, for students to gauge their progress and for staff to monitor progress throughout the duration of the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Examples classes and problems solved therein.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University