Physics

This course introduces key concepts in analog and digital electronics. Topics include linear networks and filters, operational amplifiers, simple transistor circuits, logic gates, microcontrollers, and digital applications.

This course examines classical electromagnetism. It covers electrostatic fields in free space and in dielectrics; magnetic fields due to steady and varying currents; electromagnetic induction; magnetic materials and Maxwell's equations. 

This course discusses the basic theories and analysis methods for electromagnetic fields in vacuum and dielectric/magnetic media: Maxwell's equations, plane wave and its reflection/transmission, dielectric/magnetic media and their boundary conditions, etc. It also explores the basic principles and analysis methods for electromagnetic induction and radiation: Faraday's law, radiation from electric dipole, etc. 

This course offers a study of the origin and experimental basis of Quantum Physics. It discusses the concept of wave function, mathematical formalism, states, and observables. This course covers Schrödinger’s equation to solve one and three-dimensional problems with spherical symmetry (hydrogen atom and harmonic oscillator). 

Pre-requisites: Mathematical concepts learned in Algebra and Calculus and Mathematical Methods I. Physical concepts learned in Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism I

In this course, students employ the Dirac notation and algebraic methods (for example, spin and the harmonic oscillator), are introduced to basic approximation methods, such as perturbation theory and WKB, and look at scattering theory. 

This course explores the universe at the smallest distances and highest energies where quantum mechanics and special relativity collide. Through lectures from world-experts and hands on seminars, students will join the particle physicists from the Large Hadron Collider's ATLAS experiment in analyzing real proton collisions from the world’s largest machine - uncovering the secrets of the building blocks of the universe. The course uses coding notebooks to teach Python data analysis techniques used by professional particle physicists, progressing from the very basics, to rediscovering the Higgs boson, and culminating to an original analysis of real data. Along the way students develop computer coding, big data analysis and machine learning skills that will carry over to the real world.

The course provides an introduction to the theory of Special Relativity and some basic concepts of General Relativity. Topics include the need for Special Relativity (light propagation and key historical experiments); Einstein's principle of relativity, time dilation and length contraction; the geometry of spacetime (Minkowski space); the Lorentz transformation and causality; kinematics, dynamics and electromagnetism in Special Relativity; and a brief introduction to General Relativity.

This course covers basic and advanced techniques for manipulating and controlling laser light and laser pulses. This involves controlling intensity, frequency distribution, temporal profiles in order to design advanced optical systems for specialized tasks in industry as well as research. The course covers the following topics: Light propagation in anisotropic materials; Acusto-optical effects and modulators; electro-optical effects and modulators, non-linear interaction between light and matter; ultrafast optics, propagation of short laser pulses in dispersive non-linear media; and basic laser safety. Assumed prior knowledge: Basic Physics, Mathematics and Optics.

In this course, students get an introduction to common methods of theoretical physics. The course focuses on classical mechanics while including relativity and some electrodynamics, including covariant formulation. Students are introduced to and apply mathematical concepts such as Lagrangians, least-action principle, four-vectors, and tensors.

This course introduces the basic mathematical tools of Quantum Mechanics with a special emphasis on the connection between physical phenomena and mathematical modelling. The Hilbert space of physical states is reviewed as a particular case of a linear vector space. General properties of representation theory are discussed for the case of finite groups and are applied to quantum mechanical systems. Representations of the continuous groups U(1), SO(3), and SU(2) are presented and discussed in relation with invariance under translations and rotations. The general theory of angular momentum is introduced and applied to cases of physical interest. Quantum mechanical results are compared to their classical counterparts for a number of physical systems.