Year 2
Phy430_Advanced Quantum Physics
Courses organisation
The purpose of this course is to go beyond the first-year introductory course on quantum mechanics in order to master a more complete background on quantum physics, corresponding to the entire content of the book on quantum mechanics by Jean-Louis Basdevant and Jean Dalibard. After completing this course, the students will master notions such as time-dependent processes, three-dimensional problems linked to atoms and molecules allowing a discussion of some applications of quantum physics such as atomic clocks and mid-infrared photodetectors for vibrational and rotational spectroscopy.
Content : principles of quantum mechanics; evolution operator; symmetries; Bloch theorem; approximation methods (variations, stationary and time-dependent perturbation theory); Pauli principle; addition of two spins; hydrogen atom.
Phy431_Relativity and variational principles
Courses organisation
The programme covers the following themes which have considerable overlap:
Special relativity, Variational principles and Analytical Mechanics.
Students who want to continue studying fundamental physics afterwards get familiar with the prerequisites required for the courses on particle- and astrophysics, general relativity and quantum field theory.
Students who do not necessarily intend to continue studying physics might satisfy their curiosity as regards fundamental notions of physics and its conceptual revolutions. The course will help them as well to complete their view on certain aspects of quantum and statistical physics and electromagnetism which are taught in the same year. Finally we present concepts and tools useful in other branches of science such as pure and applied mathematics or mechanics.
Phy432_Electromagnetic waves
Courses organisation
Electrical, magnetic and optical phenomena can all be described in the same unified framework, governed by Maxwell’s equations in matter. This framework permits both to understand the physics lying behind the phenomena and to understand technological applications of electromagnetism. The aim of this advanced electromagnetism course is to provide an advanced description of electromagnetism in matter, thus evidencing the unity and the usefulness of this field of physics. In particular, the fact that the domains of radiation, electrical engineering, optics, magnetism, UV-X-ray optics, can all be described with the same concepts will be evidenced.
This course consists in 8 blocks: 4 general blocks and 4 blocks illustrating modern aspects of electromagnetism. These modern subjects are chosen owing to their interest either in research or in industry.
Detailed content: electromagnetic media, materials, and structures. Energy and Forces. Nonlinear electromagnetism. Antenna. Magnetism. Near-Field.
Phy433_Statistical Physics 1
Courses organisation
This course is an introduction to the concepts and methods of Statistical Physics the purpose of which is the deduction of macroscopic properties of a physical system from the microscopic laws governing the behavior of its constituents.
Statistical Physics has numerous applications, both in fundamental and applied physics. Without its knowledge, many phenomena would remain incomprehensible, such as the distinction between a metal and an insulator, phase transitions, the understanding of a transistor, the stability of stars, superconductivity or superfluidity, the greenhouse effect, or even the origins of the universe.
These lectures introduce the general concepts of Statistical Physics, as well as the notions of thermodynamic equilibrium and "canonical ensembles". The application of these concepts to simple systems, for example the ideal gas, provides the microscopic understanding of basic concepts, such as entropy, temperature or heat, and of the laws of classical thermodynamics.
We will pay particular attention to the statistical properties of a set of indistinguishable particles governed by quantum mechanics and to the Pauli principle which plays a crucial role. This highlights the radical differences between "fermionic" and "bosonic" gases that obey Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics, respectively). Consequences for the physics of our everyday world are numerous, ranging from the behavior of metals or semiconductors, via the physics of electromagnetic radiation, to the cosmic background radiation.
This course is naturally complemented by a second course PHY434 - Statistical Physics 2 - which develops the dynamic aspects out of thermodynamic equilibrium, phase transitions and information theory, as well as many aspects of condensed-matter physics.
The ideas and methods issued from Statistical Physics also find many applications in areas outside the physics itself, such as combinatorial optimization and network modeling (neural networks social networks, internet, etc.). The modeling of traffic, the spread of epidemics, the functioning of financial markets or of certain economic phenomena has recently benefited from the contributions of this discipline.
Statistical Physics is a tool and a set of concepts essential to any physicist, but also to the general culture of any leading actor in society and economy.
Phy434_Statistical Physics 2
Courses organisation
The Statistical Physics 2 course will present advanced concepts of statistical physics, regarding, in particular, phase transitions, collective phenomena, and elements of condensed matter physics.
At the end of the course students will have been introduced to a variety of applications of statistical physics to diverse issues in and outside physics.
Keywords of the course: phase transitions, dynamics and convergence to equilibrium, Monte Carlo simulations, information theory, condensed matter, Bose-Einstein condensation, band structure, magnetism.
Experimental course
Physics MODAL
Electronics MODAL
Projet scientifique collectif (PSC)
Supervisors :