| Module | Credits | Compulsory/optional |
|---|
| Rocket Performance and Propulsion | 15 Credits | Optional |
| This module will introduce students to flight dynamics of rockets and their propulsion systems. Typical applications under consideration will include satellite launch and insertion into orbit, sounding rockets and potential future applications such as space tourism, together with some aspects of guided weapons. |
| Professional Placement | 0 Credits | Optional |
| Supervised work experience provides students with the opportunity to set their academic studies in a broader context, to gain practical experience in specific technical areas and to strengthen their communication and time-management skills. It greatly assists them in developing as independent learners, so that they are able to gain the maximum benefit from the learning opportunities provided at level 6 of the programme. |
| Space Dynamics | 15 Credits | Optional |
| Space dynamics is a coursework-only module. Students work in a computer lab supervised by the module facilitator. There are no formal lectures. Instead, students work their way through a set of computer exercises using Matlab. The exercises allow the student to tackle problems in different ways and develop their own style of problem-solving. The module covers various aspects in spacecraft dynamics including: atmospheric drag, aerobraking, transfer orbits, injection orbits, spacecraft spin, the stability of spinning motion – Euler's equations, three-dimensional spin motion, and mass models of irregular objects.
The module develops skills in research enquiry and problem solving, analysis and evaluation, interpersonal and communication skills, autonomy and responsibility for actions. |
| Year Abroad | 0 Credits | Optional |
| The Year Abroad will provide students with the opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two taught years of the degree within a different organisational and cultural environment in a partner academic institution. The host institution will appoint a Programme Co-ordinator who will oversee the student's programme during the Year Abroad and will liaise with the appointed UH Supervisor. |
| Computational Physics | 15 Credits | Optional |
| In this module you will develop your computational skills by investigating problems in physics and astrophysics. You will have the opportunity to use and modify numerical programmes written in languages such as Python. The module is delivered in a hands-on workshop environment in a computer laboratory. You will typically study two or three problems and assessment is based on a report you write on each of your investigations. |
| Partial Differential Equations | 15 Credits | Optional |
| Partial differential equations arise as part of the mathematical modelling of real life problems connected to many areas of science. These connections must be exploited to find a solution to these problems. PDEs provide the foundation for a robust and important area of applied mathematics. In this module we will look at the derivation of some important PDEs and their classification schemes.
In this module you will develop your skills in problem solving, and analysis and evaluation. |
| Condensed States of Matter | 15 Credits | Compulsory |
| This module demonstrates the application of quantum physics to many particle systems and discusses modern applications including, semi-conductors, degeneracy, and Bose-Einstein condensation. It covers interatomic forces and bonding, mechanical and thermal properties of condensed matter, electrical and magnetic properties of matter, phonons, plasmons, and low-temperature states of matter (electron degeneracy, Bose-Einstein condensates, superconductivity and superfluidity) and their applications. |
| The Physics of Elementary Particles | 15 Credits | Compulsory |
| The module will provide an account of the Standard Model of Particle Physics, our most complete theory of the fundamental rules governing the microscopic nature of matter and forces. The material will cover everything from the early ideas of the start of the twentieth century through to the modern picture, which represents our current understanding and has only been confirmed much more recently by large international experiments, such as those based at CERN. |
| Astrophysics Project and Investigative Skills | 30 Credits | Compulsory |
| Students will carry out a piece of research and/or a literature review in a research topic. Astrophysics research areas in the School include; star formation, the Milky Way, extra-solar planets, brown dwarfs and white dwarfs, Active Galactic Nuclei physics and environment, the formation, evolution and structure of galaxies. A successful project will become a feature of a student's professional profile and CV, and is often a talking point in graduate job interviews and/or postgraduate applications. |
| Star Formation and Evolution | 15 Credits | Compulsory |
| Stars and their structure, including their formation and evolution from the main sequence to final stellar remnants. Topics covered include hydrostatic equilibrium, convection zones and radiative pressure support, nuclear burning and energy generation, the mass-luminosity relation, giant and dwarf stars and the initial mass function. Observatory work will provide training in experimental and observational skills. |
| Foundations of Cosmology | 15 Credits | Compulsory |
| The study of the structure and evolution of the Universe has in the last few decades undergone a true transformation. Driven by tremendous technological advances, we now have entered the era of precision cosmology. The module will cover the mathematical framework of expanding, curved space-time in the context of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, particularly the Robertson-Walker metric, and the Friedmann models followed by an inventory of the constituents of the Universe, including Dark Matter and Dark Energy. |
| The Physics of Astronomical Spectra | 15 Credits | Optional |
| From the nearest stars to the most distant galaxies (and the tenuous matter in between), astronomers can reveal and study properties and physical conditions by measuring the spectrum of the emitted radiation. Learn about the radiative processes that shape the variety of spectra encountered, and understand how astronomers discover the huge diversity of astronomical objects around us; the emergent radiation of stellar atmospheres and of giant glowing nebulae will be examined, as well as the imprint of the extremely low density inter-stellar medium. |
| The Early Universe and Galaxy Formation | 15 Credits | Optional |
| A combination of incredible advances in observational techniques, i.e., large ground-based optical and radio telescopes, complemented with sophisticated space-based observatories, has made it possible to peer out to the edge of the observable Universe, effectively looking back in time when galaxies first assembled. This module covers the physics of the very early Universe, including when the first structures formed under the influence of gravity, and how these structures evolved into what we now call galaxies. |
| Quantum Optics and Information Theory | 15 Credits | Optional |
| Quantum optics and modern quantum optical experiments have played a central role in the conceptual understanding of quantum mechanics and in its modern applications. This module will provide you with a basic theoretical understanding of quantum optics, computational skills for problem solving, and the opportunity to research the topics under study. Coverage will include the quantisation of the radiation field, optical tests of quantum mechanics, the emission and absorption of radiation by atoms, and aspects of quantum entanglement and quantum information theory. |
| Lagrangian Dynamics | 15 Credits | Optional |
| This module introduces the powerful mathematics used in the study of dynamical systems. We start with the calculus of variations, a topic which deals with "extremisation" questions in geometry, e.g. "What shape does a soap-film form?", or "What curve is formed by a heavy chain hanging under its own weight?". These techniques can be applied to mechanical systems, and it turns out that the laws of motion themselves arise from extremising some quantity – the "action". This Lagrangian perspective gives a powerful way to compute a system's equations of motion and to understand its symmetries. Finally the module describes how the Hamiltonian formalism reduces these second order equations to first-order, and in so doing introduces the concept of phase space while touching on the rich topic of symplectic geometry.
The module develops skills in research enquiry and problem solving, analysis and evaluation, and conceptualisation and critical thinking. |
| Applied Photonics | 15 Credits | Optional |
| Photonics is an important, modern high-tech industry with applications in optical communication, computing and information-storage, and medical imaging/detectors. Learn about photonics starting from image formation and aberrations, study lasers and other light emitting devices, and investigate current applications in photonics research fields, in lecture, laboratory and workshop settings. |
| Lagrangian Dynamics | 15 Credits | Optional |
| This module introduces the powerful mathematics used in the study of dynamical systems. We start with the calculus of variations, a topic which deals with "extremization". When applied to physical systems, the classical laws of motion arise from extremizing some quantity - the "action". This Lagrangian perspective gives a powerful way to compute a system's equations of motion and to understand its symmetries. Finally, we study Hamiltonian formalism, and introduce the concept of phase space and Poisson structure. |
| Nonlinear Systems | 15 Credits | Optional |
| You will learn how to evaluate the qualitative behaviour of the solutions of differential equations which relate to problems in a wide variety of application areas. You will recognise that the behaviour of the solution of a differential equation can be drastically altered by a small change in a parameter. The module provides the student with an understanding of differential equations by the construction, analysis and interpretation of phase portraits. You will be able to identify if and when periodic solutions and other types of behaviour exist. |
| Placement with Study Abroad | 0 Credits | Optional |
| Work experience on a placement provides students with an invaluable opportunity to understand how their academic studies fit into in a broader context, to gain practical experience in relevant technical areas, and to strengthen their teamwork, IT, communication and time management skills. Studying abroad provides students with an exciting opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two years of their degree within a different educational environment, and to experience the culture of a different country. |
