Teaching
This page is a "clearinghouse" for blackboards and other resources collected from undergraduate teaching, a process which has become much easier since Girton College graciously assisted with the purchase of a linux-compatible stylus input!
Quantum Physics
The "Quantum physics" course offers an introduction to the non-relativistic quantum theory. Little or no attention is given to the axioms of quantum theory. Lots of emphasis is placed on the position ("wave function" or "quantum wave") representation for massive particles, which is mostly useless for physics in general and actively harmful for quantum field theory (QFT) in particular (there are some applications within quantum chemistry and experimental solid state physics). There is an introduction to the quantisation of orbital and intrinsic angular momentum, somehow without reference to the orthogonal or Lorentz groups.
Lecture 2 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 2nd February 2023)
Ideal square wells (finite and infinite), continuity and boundary conditions for the wave function, probability current in one spatial dimension, correspondence principle, classical vs quantum expectation values.
Lecture 1 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 26th January 2023)
Photoelectric effect, application of Heisenberg uncertainty principle to classical mechanics, Bohr's quantisation criterion and the fine structure constant, wave function normalisation, non-relativistic massive particle dispersion, the momentum operator. The mock exam from January 18th is also discussed.
Oscillations, Waves and Optics
The "Oscillations, waves and optics" course is an ill-conceived collection of engineering concepts, written for 2nd-year undergraduates. There are two important things which are introduced in disguise, namely hyperbolic systems and dispersion. Both of these ideas play a role in actual physics. The small "Experimental methods" course is taught interstitially with this content: the name speaks for itself.
Lecture 8 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 1st December 2022)
Lecture 7 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 25th November 2022)
Lecture 6 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 17th November 2022)
Please remember that this one will be online! -- (and it was online!)
Lecture 5 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 10th November 2022)
Lecture 4 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 3rd November 2022)
Lecture 3 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 27th October 2022)
Lecture 2 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 20th October 2022)
Note we did not complete a discussion of the "shunt" modification to ameliorate the low-frequency saturation of the integrator.
Lecture 1 (14:00-16:00 Thursday 13th October 2022)
2022 mock exam
Two of the questions are copied from Tripos papers, one is sprinkled in for extra seasoning.
The blackboard from the post-mock session.
Methods in Theoretical Physics
The "Methods" were meant to be a series of informal discussions within the research group during the period where we had some great summer students with us. They tailed off after only a few weeks, but could perhaps be revivified in 2023 if someone wants to contribute content?
Lecture 4 (Einstein and Jordan frames)
Lecture 3 (conformal field thory)
Lecture 2 (Virasoro algebra)
Lecture 1 (constrained systems)
Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology
The "Relativistic astrophysics and cosmology" course is the Physics Department's idea of applied relativity, presented to fourth-year undergraduates. There are some good patches in the course, which was first constructed many years ago, and it is now improving with continued efforts by Dr. Handley.
Lecture 4
Lecture 3
Note on the "chirp mass"
Note on "optical depth"
Mathematics for Natural Sciences
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Particle and Nuclear Physics
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Thermal and Statistical Physics
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Relativity
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Condensed Matter Physics
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Quantum Physics
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