M1 General Physics

30h (1st Semester).

The aim of this course is to provide all basic information related to light, from Basics Maxwellian Optics (light propagation) to Laser and matters interactions. Particular attention will be devoted to lasers and properties of the laser beam.

Basic mathematics necessary for electromagnetism and ordinary differential equations.

Fundamental of Photonics», Saleh and Teich (John Wiley, last edition) « Laser Physics », Eberly and Millony (John Wiley, last edition).

Septembre - Octobre.

GIF-SUR-YVETTE

30h (1st Semester).

First to give basics of nonlinear optics and its applications to laser technology. Second, to explore the relatively recent domain of nonlinear optics from to micro towards the nanoscale, including nonlinear effect in micro and nanostructures, nonlinear photonic crystals, as well as some far-field nonlinear microscopies and nanoscopies. Applications in physics and biology will be discussed.

Optical physics and electromagnetism, Laser (BSc level).

Nonlinear Optics » of R. Boyd.

Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

GIF-SUR-YVETTE

Sébastien Galtier Tiberiu Minea Jean-Marcel Rax.

This set of lectures is devoted to an introduction to plasma physics and its applications: in particular, thermonuclear fusion (ITER), space plasmas and plasma discharges, reactors and thrusters.
1)Basic plasma physics:
- Characteristic length (London, Debye, Kelvin, Landau), velocity and time scales (Langmuir, Maxwell)
- Collective effects: electric and magnetic screenings
- Elementary theory of transport, mobility and diffusion
- Element of kinetic theory: Vlasov and Fokker-Planck equations
- Wave and instability: ion acoustic wave, electron plasma wave (Langmuir modes)
2)Advanced plasma physics:
- From a kinetic to a fluid description
- MHD equations: derivation and limits, Alfvén theorem and magnetic topology
- Magnetic tension, Alfvén and magneto-acoustic waves
- Magnetic reconnection: slow and fast, the MRI experiment and space applications
- Static equilibrium: cylindrical case and the Grad-Shafranov equation for tokamaks
3) Applied plasma physics
- Discharge physics: high pressure, low pressure, breakdown criteria
- Thermonuclear reactor and fusion physics
- Introduction to capacitive, inductive and microwave reactors
- Plasma thrusters.

Electrodynamics of continuous media.

R.J. Goldston & P.H. Rutherford, Introduction to plasma physics, IOP, 1995 F.F. Chen, Introduction to plasma physics, Plenum, 1974 P.A. Davidson, An introduction to MHD, Cambridge, 2001 J.M. Rax, Physique des plasmas, Dunod, 2005 S. Galtier, Introduction to modern magnetohydrodynamics, Cambridge University Press, 2016.

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 30 hours, Tutorials 20 hours (1st Semester).

This course offers an introduction to soft condensed matter, or “complex fluids” with emphasis on physical principles that govern their behavior. Soft matter is a subfield of condensed matter comprising a variety of physical states that are easily deformed by thermal stresses or thermal fluctuations. They include liquids, colloids, polymers, foams, gels, granular materials, and a number of biological materials. These materials share an important common feature in that predominant physical behaviors occur at an energy scale comparable with room temperature thermal energy. Concepts, experimental techniques, and open questions will be presented and discussed with students.

Knowledge of thermodynamics and basic statistical mechanics and some familiarity with differential equations, hydrodynamics and phase diagrams.

Fluid Dynamics for Physicists, Faber T.E (CUP 1995) Soft Condensed Matter, R. A. L. Jones, (2002) Oxford University Press, Oxford Biological Physics: Energy, Information, Life , P. Nelson (2003) W. H. Freeman Molecular Driving Forces, K.A. Dill ,S. Bromberg , D. Stigter ( 2003) Garland Science Structured Fluids: Polymers, Colloids, Surfactants, T. A. Witten (2004) Oxford Colloid Science: Principles, Methods and Applications, 2nd Edition, Terence Cosgrove Editor (2010) Wiley-Blackwell ISBN: 978-1-4443-2020-6 Introduction to Soft Matter (2nd edition), I. Hamley, (2000) J. Wiley, Chichester.

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 40 hours, Tutorials 30 hours (1st Semester).

This major course proposes to learn the basics features about the elementary particles, the fundamental interactions of nature, nuclear structure, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution and cosmology.

- classical mechanics (and Lagrangian Formulation if possible) - basics in statistical Physics - Quantum mechanics - Special relativity - classical field Theory: Maxwell Equations (and beyond if possible).

Classical electrodynamics (Jackson) Quarks and leptons (Halzen, Martin) Quantum mechanics, Vol. 1 & 2 (Cohen-Tannoudji, Diu, Laloe) Relativistic quantum mechanics (Greiner) Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell (Bertulani) The formation of stars (Stahler, Palla) Principles of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis (Clayton).

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 40 hours, Tutorials 30 hours (1st Semester).

This major course proposes to learn the basics features about the elementary particles, the fundamental interactions of nature, nuclear structure, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution and cosmology.

- classical mechanics (and Lagrangian Formulation if possible) - basics in statistical Physics - Quantum mechanics - Special relativity - classical field Theory: Maxwell Equations (and beyond if possible).

Classical electrodynamics (Jackson) Quarks and leptons (Halzen, Martin) Quantum mechanics, Vol. 1 & 2 (Cohen-Tannoudji, Diu, Laloe) Relativistic quantum mechanics (Greiner) Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell (Bertulani) The formation of stars (Stahler, Palla) Principles of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis (Clayton).

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 25 hours, Tutorials 15 hours (1st Semester).

The physics of atoms and molecules, which constitutes the subject matter of this course rests on a long history of discoveries, both experimental and theoretical. Far from giving a complete account of the historical development, this introductory course aims to give an understanding of both theoretical foundations and key steps, which have occurred in this field. As a direct application of quantum mechanics it includes materials on basic atomic and molecular physics with discussion on structure, spectra and interaction with electric and magnetic field.

Basic Quantum Mechanics.

Outline of the lectures:

Introduction : Key steps on electrons, photons and atoms studies Elements of quantum mechanics One-electron atoms : Schrodinger equation for one-electron atoms Special hydrogenic systems Interaction with electromagnetic radiation Fine structure and hyperfine structure Interaction with external fields Many-electron atoms Central field approximation The periodic system of the elements Corrections to the central field approximation : L-S and j-j coupling Interaction with electromagnetic radiation and with static fields Molecular structure The Born-Oppenheimer

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

PALAISEAU

Lectures 40 hours, Tutorials 30 hours (1st Semester).

This major course proposes to learn the basics features about the elementary particles, the fundamental interactions of nature, nuclear structure, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution and cosmology.

- classical mechanics (and Lagrangian Formulation if possible) - basics in statistical Physics - Quantum mechanics - Special relativity - classical field Theory: Maxwell Equations (and beyond if possible).

Classical electrodynamics (Jackson) Quarks and leptons (Halzen, Martin) Quantum mechanics, Vol. 1 & 2 (Cohen-Tannoudji, Diu, Laloe) Relativistic quantum mechanics (Greiner) Nuclear Physics in a Nutshell (Bertulani) The formation of stars (Stahler, Palla) Principles of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis (Clayton).

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 40 hours, Tutorials 30 hours (1st Semester).

The aim of this course is to provide an introduction and a comprehensive view on modern solid state physics at an undergraduate level from the widespread basics to emergent fields of research which can be tackled at an elementary level (e.g. graphene). It emphasizes the fundamental aspects underlying quantum macroscopic phenomena in solids, which are present in most common materials of our daily life, metals, semiconductors, magnets. Each chapter will be illustrated by on-going research trends and/or applications (superconductivity, LEDs, magnetic memories,…).

The prerequisites are usually taught at the level of the third year of university. In some cases, Statistical Physics is not. See below. - Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics. Book: Quantum Mechanics by C. Cohen-Tannoudi, B. Diu, F. Laloë (vol. I and II), Ed Wiley. - Fundamentals of Statistical Physics. Book: Statistical Mechanics by K. Huang, Ed Wiley. Concepts of Statistical Physics needed for this course can be easily learnt in parallel.

C. Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Physics (J. Wiley and Sons) N. W. Ashcroft and D. M. Mermin: Solid State Physics (Brooks and Cole) H. Alloul: Physics of Electrons in Solids (Springer) M. T. Dove: Structure and Dynamics (O.U.P) J. Singleton: Band theory and electronic properties of solids (O.U.P) S. J. Blundell: Magnetism in condensed matter (O.U.P).

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Laboratory Work 50 hours (1st Semester).

2-3 Mini-experiments to be chosen among the following items:

• Signal processing (IAS, IEF)

• Radioactivity and cosmic radiations (IPN, Iolanda Matea)

• Platform JANNUS-Orsay (CSNSM)

• Nuclear Physics with Tandem accelerator (IPN)

• Pollution control (LPG-UVSQ, Pierre Tardiveau, Philippe Bousquet)

• Observational Astrophysics (IAS)

• Neutron spectrometer (LLB)

• Optics

• Condensed matter 1 (Magistère, Paris-sud)

• Condensed matter 2 (Platform PMCM)

• Labs in SOLEIL synchrotron facility.

Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 24 hours (1st Semester).

Beginner or higher levels.

Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 20 hours, Tutorials 10 hours (1st Semester).

This tool course teaches how to extract relevant scientific information from experimental and simulated data; Modern statistical methods to handle and analyze big data flows (data mining, multivariate analysis) will be discussed.

- basic knowledge of probability and statistics; - basic knowledge of matrix algebra, eigenvectors/values.

Data-Driven Modeling & Scientific Computation: Methods for Complex Systems & Big Data Paperback – September 15, 2013 by J. Nathan Kutz Multivariate Data Analysis (7th Edition) by Joseph F. Hair Jr, William C. Black, Barry J. Babin and Rolph E. Anderson (Feb 23, 2009).

Octobre - Novembre - Décembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 12 hours, Tutorials 12 hours, Laboratory Work 6 hours (1st Semester).

This course introduces the measurement process, the sources of uncertainties and the method to handle them. Basic signal processing techniques and linear filtering will also be presented. The principles of operation of some sensors, such as light detectors will be discussed as well.

- basic knowledge of probability and statistics - basic understanding of Fourier transform - electricity, magnetism, passive electrical circuits.

Méthodes et techniques du traitement du signal, Jacques Max, Jean-Louis Lacoume, Ed. Dunod The Fourier Transform and its Applications, R. N. Bracewell, Mc Graw-Hill Mesure Physique et instrumentation, D. Barchiesi, Ed. Ellipses Incertitudes et analyse des erreurs dans les mesures physiques, J. Taylor, Ed. Dunod Les capteurs en instrumentation industrielle, G. Asch et al., Ed. Dunod Handbook of Modern Sensors, J. Fraden, Ed. Springer / AIP Press Principles of Electronic Instrumentation, A. J. Diefenderfer, Saunders Golden Series.

Septembre - Octobre.

ORSAY

Lectures : 5h / Lab. : 5h (Semester 1) [mandatory course].

A survival kit/toolkit for working with computers:
* Basics of computers : structure, hardware, interfaces, networks/internet
* Operating systems, Linux, environment, compiling
* Reminds of programming languages: low level, high level, scripts, shell [examples from C, Python, Perl...]
* Numerical algorithms for physics, programming tips and strategies [useful libraries and softwares], parallel programming
* Text processing, Latex, visualizing data, postscript, pdf.

Septembre.

ORSAY

Lectures 20 hours, Tutorials 10 hours (2nd Semester).

These lectures allow to acquire familiarity and operational knowledge of the mathematics of symmetry groups, as a transversal and structuring notion of modern Physics, from condensed matter to particle physics.

- Elementary quantum mechanics (Hilbert spaces, operators); - Elementary linear algebra (Vector spaces, matrices etc).

Fulton and Harris, Representation Theory Gilmore, Lie groups, Lie algebras and some of their applications Georgi, Lie algebras in particle Physics Hamermesh, Group theory and its applications to physical problems Kosmann-Schwartzbach, Groups and symmetries Sternberg, Group theory and physics.

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

Lectures: 18h / Tutorials: 18h (2nd semester).

This module introduces recent developments in the field of semiconducting nanomaterials based on silicon or carbon, as well as their principal electronic applications.

More precisely, the following topics are addressed:

• Disordered semiconductors: amorphous, nano- and polycrystalline silicon
• Silicon nanowires: structure and synthesis
• Carbon nanotubes
• Graphene
• Characterization techniques for nanomaterials: near-field and spectroscopies
• Electronic applications: photovoltaics, flat panel displays, electronic devices, detectors, sensors, etc.

Fundamentals of quantum and statistical physics.

R. Ossikovski, Nanomatériaux et applications électroniques (Editions de l’Ecole polytechnique, 2018) R. A. Street, Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (Cambridge, 1991) S. M. Sze, Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology (Wiley, 2002) R. Saito, G. Dresselhaus, M. Dresselhaus, Physical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes (Imperial College, 2005) S. Datta, Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Systems (Cambridge, 2007) (+ research articles).

Janvier - Février - Mars.

PALAISEAU

(2nd Semester).

The Research project is an active participation to a research working group one day per week.

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

Lectures 40 hours, Tutorials 30 hours (2nd Semester).

The Statistical Physics program provides an overview of the theory of phase transition, be they continuous or discontinuous. Mean-field approaches of the Landau family will be introduced, together with renormalization group techniques.
The aim of the second part of the course on Quantum Physics is to introduce the Quantum Field Theory for scalar fields - only coupled via a simple self-interaction - up to the calculation of basic reaction probability amplitudes.

This course requires basic knowledge of probability theory (elementary laws generating functions, central limit theorem etc), Statistical Physics (see e.g. D. Chandler, Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics, or Diu et al, Physique Statistique), Quantum Mechanics (typically the content of the main chapters of the book « Quantum Mechanics » - Volume 1 & 2, by F. Laloë, B. Diu, C. Cohen-Tannoudji) and basic notions in Special Relativity (like the covariant formalism).

From Microphysics to Macrophysics, R. Balian Basic Concepts for Simple and Complex Liquids, J.-L. Barrat and J.-P. Hansen Le Bellac, Peres, Landau-Lifshitz, Parisi, Messiah, Feynman, Pitaevski and Stringari Introduction to Gauge Field Theory, D. Bailin and A. Love Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory, R. D. Klauber A First Book of Quantum Field Theory, A. Lahiri and P. B. Pal An Introduction To Quantum Field Theory, M. E. Peskin and D. V. Schroeder.

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

Lectures 30 hours, Tutorials 20 hours (2nd Semester).

The course completes the program of the major course Particles, Nuclei and Universe on astrophysics by an introduction on our Galaxy, the interstellar matter, star formation and planetary systems. Basic knowledge on compact objects, large-scale structures and magnetic fields are provided. Furthermore, the course introduces concepts related in particular to Astroparticle Physics: cosmic ray acceleration and propagation. An overview of various detection techniques of cosmic radiations and particles will be provided.

The course requires knowledge of concepts introduced in the major course "Particles, Nuclei and Universe".

Stahler and Palla, The formation of stars, Wiley-VCH Clayton, Principles of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis, Chicago Press Draine, physics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium, Princeton Series in Astrophysics Perkins, Particle Astrophysics, Oxford master series in Particle Physics, astrophysics and cosmology, Oxford University Press Longair, High Energy Astrophysics, Vol. 1-3, Cambridge University Press.

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

Lectures 30 hours, Tutorials 20 hours (2nd Semester).

General Relativity:
- Provide the basic concepts and tools to describe gravitational phenomena in terms of the geometry of space-time.
- Explain how the metric tensor and the principles of Relativity determine the trajectories of test particles.
- Explain how the matter distribution determines the properties of the metric tensor.
- Present the main predictions of General Relativity.
- Present modern tests able to discriminate between the various theories of gravity.

Cosmology:
- Provide a general overview of the history of the Universe.
- Explain in more detail the theory of the most important cosmological processes.
- Present the recent observations, their results and implications for cosmology.
- Discuss open theoretical questions and future experiments.

This course is considered an introduction to the subject. As such it does not require much prior knowledge. It only requires basic notions of the Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics, of Special Relativity, and of thermodynamics.

Gravity, An Introduction to Einstein’s General Relativity, J. B. Hartle A First Course in General Relativity, B. F. Schutz An Introduction to Modern Cosmology, A. Liddle.

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

Lectures 30 hours, Tutorials 20 hours (2nd Semester).

This course proposes an introduction to spectacular macroscopic manifestations of quantum physics in matter. In a first part, we will introduce the physics of superconductivity, superfluidity and condensates. At very low temperatures, various mechanisms can lead to macroscopic collective quantum states which have surprising properties such as zero-electrical resistance, magnetic levitation or absence of viscosity. We will show how a common phenomenon can give rise to these properties in very different systems such as boson gas, liquid helium or metals. In the second part of the course, we will show how the common classical law of electricity are modified at the mesoscopic scale where quantum effects do play an important role and may have macroscopic consequences. Finally the last part of the course will be devoted to an introduction to important modern applications of quantum mechanics in quantum communications and quantum computing which are very active fields at the crossroads between many disciplines such as information theory, mathematics and material science. This course will be based on many recent discoveries in this field which is one of the most active and innovative area in condensed matter physics today.

The prerequisites are usually taught at the level of the third year of university: Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics (Book : Quantum Mechanics by C. Cohen-Tannoudi, B. Diu, F. Laloë - vol. I and II, Ed Wiley).

Principles of Condensed Matter Physics (P. M. Chaikin and T. C. Lubensky) Superconductivity, Superfluids, and Condensates (J F Annett, Oxford Master Series in Condensed Matter Physics) S. Datta, Quantum Transport: Atom to Transistor, Cambridge University Press, New York (2005) M. Le Bellac, A short introduction to Quantum information and quantum computation, Cambridge University Press M. A. Nielsen, and I. L. Chuang, Quantum Computation and Quantum Information, Cambridge University press (2000).

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

Lectures 30 hours, Tutorials 20 hours (2nd Semester).

This Minor course proposes to explain general topics in Elementary Particle Physics. First the theoretical context necessary to describe spin-1/2 particles is presented in details. Then the Standard Model (SM) and its breaking of the ElectroWeak symmetry is introduced. A presentation follows on fermion masses and neutrino oscillations. From the experimental point of view, the course offers a description of important discoveries, at high-energy colliders, that have allowed historically to draw the present SM picture.

The Nuclear Physics part presents a general introduction on the atomic nucleus properties, then some of the basic models that can describe single particle and collective degrees of freedom of the nucleus, experimental techniques to investigate the properties of the nucleus and practical applications of Nuclear processes: material studies, diagnostics and therapeutics in Nuclear Medicine, radioactive dating.

Those lectures require a solid background in Quantum Mechanics as well as basic notions in Special Relativity.

Nuclear Structure from a Simple Perspective (Casten) Introductory Nuclear Physics (Krane) Nuclear & Particle Physics (Das, Ferbel) Relativistic Quantum Mechanics (Klasen) Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics (Cheng, Li).

Janvier - Février - Mars.

ORSAY

(2nd Semester).

The Internship is a guided work in an academic (or industrial) research laboratory.

Avril - Mai - Juin - Juillet.

ORSAY