| Unit name | Current Topics in Physics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYSM3407 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Dugdale |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit provides an introduction to current research in theoretical and applied physics. The course is modular, and students will cover three different topics, each of topical interest. In each area, work is ongoing and there may be no definitive interpretation of results; the course will illustrate the nature of physics research, and explore ways of addressing such uncertainty. Topics will be available in four strands: astrophysics; condensed matter; foundations of physics; and particle physics. Students will normally follow one strand and students on the Physics with astrophysics programme will be expected to follow the Astrophysics strand. Each topic will be assessed by a written piece of course work of about 3,000 words. This will be a review of the research topic which may include aspects such as an extended calculation or experimental proposal. Formative feedback will be provided on the first two pieces of work before the following piece of work is set. Each piece of assessment will form 1/3 of the final assessment mark for the unit.
Aims:
Aims: To introduce students to topics of current research physics.
To introduce students to areas where there is not yet an accepted answer, and to the methods of addressing such uncertainty.
Students should be able to:
" critically evaluate current research
" discuss how the scientific community deals with uncertainty and paradigm shifts at the boundaries of scientific knowledge.
Lectures and directed reading.
Each topic will be assessed by a written piece of course work of about 3,000 words. This will be a review of the research topic which may include aspects such as an extended calculation or experimental proposal. Formative feedback will be provided on the first two pieces of work before the following piece of work is set.
Each piece of assessment will form 1/3 of the final assessment mark for the unit.
Each topic will be chosen from the current literature, often research papers. During the lectures students will be directed to the relevant literature.
