All units are worth 6 credit points.
The lecture modules comprise 19 lectures and are worth 2 credit points each.

Semester 1 Core (choose one):
PHYS 3040,3940	Electromagnetism (2 cp) / Lab (4 cp)
PHYS 3941	Electromagnetism (Adv) (2 cp) / Special Project (4 cp)
Semester 1 Options (choose one):
PHYS 3051,3951	Thermodynamics / Biophysics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3052,3952	Nanoscience / Thermodynamics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3054,3954	Nanoscience / Plasma Physics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3055,3955	Nanoscience / Plasma Physics / Thermodynamics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3057,3957	Nanoscience / Thermodynamics / Biophysics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3059,3959	Plasma Physics / Thermodynamics / Biophysics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3015,3915 (permission required)	Topics in Senior Physics A
Semester 2 Core (choose one):
PHYS 3060,3960	Quantum Mechanics (2 cp) / Lab (4 cp)
PHYS 3961	Quantum Mechanics (Adv) (2 cp) / Special Project (4 cp)
PHYS 3062,3962 (for Nanoscience majors only)	Quantum Mechanics / Cond. Matter Physics / Lab (2 cp each)
Semester 2 Options (choose one):
PHYS 3068,3968	Optics / Cond. Matter Physics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3069,3969	Optics / High Energy Physics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3071,3971	High Energy Physics / Astrophysics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3074,3974	High Energy Physics / Cond. Matter Physics / Lab (2 cp each)
PHYS 3079,3979	Cond. Matter Physics / High Energy Physics / Astrophysics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3080,3980	Optics / Cond. Matter Physics / High Energy Physics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3081,3981	Optics / Cond. Matter Physics / Astrophysics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3082,3982	Optics / High Energy Physics / Astrophysics (2 cp each)
PHYS 3025,3925 (permission required)	Topics in Senior Physics B
COSC 3011,3911	Scientific Computing

Offered in Semester: 1

This is one of two lecture modules that are compulsory for students undertaking a major in Physics (the other is Quantum Mechanics).
The lectures cover the classical theory of electromagnetism and introduce Maxwell's equations in their differential form. For more details see the Module Outlines for Normal and Advanced.
Textbook: Introduction to Electrodynamics (Third Edition) by David J. Griffiths. All students will be expected to have access to a copy. This book will also be useful as a reference book for the Physics Honours course on ``Advanced Electromagnetic Theory''.

The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturers: Zdenka Kuncic (Normal) and Tim Bedding (Advanced).

Prerequisites: PHYS (2011 or 2911) and PHYS (2012 or 2912) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level); and MATH (2061 or 2961 or 2067).

Offered in Semester: 1

Nanoscience is the study of matter on the nanometre scale, where the fundamental quantum mechanical interactions take place that determine the properties of materials. The key and revolutionary aspect of nanoscience is that we are now able to manipulate matter on the nanoscale and can fabricate materials with unique properties by design. This course draws together the physics required to understand how structure on the nanoscale affects the electronic and optical properties of a material. In addition, key nano-fabrication methods and assessment techniques, such as electron microscopy are covered. The course also serves as a stimulating introduction to the Semester 2 courses on Optics and Condensed Matter Physics. It can also be taken as part of major in Nanoscience & Technology.

For more details see the Module Outline.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturers: Sunnie Lim, Ben Eggleton & Marcela Bilek.

Prerequisites: PHYS (2011 or 2911) and PHYS (2012 or 2912) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level).

Offered in Semester: 1

These lectures aim to provide an understanding of the physics of fundamental phenomena in plasmas and to introduce the basic methods of theoretical and experimental plasma physics.
Note that the Electromagnetism lectures are assumed knowledge for this course.

The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturers: Don Melrose, Roman Kompaneets & Alex Samarian.

Prerequisites: PHYS (2012 or 2912) and either PHYS (2011 or 2911) or PHYS (2013 or 2913) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level).

Assumed Knowledge: Electromagnetism at Senior Physics level (may be taken simultaneously with this course); MATH (2061 or 2961 or 2067).

Offered in Semester: 1

This lecture module aims to provide a practical understanding of the principles and applications of thermodynamics. It emphasises the application of three key concepts – entropy, the chemical potential, and free energy – to the quantitative analysis of bulk states of matter, both commonplace (e.g., gases and solids) and exotic (e.g., black holes). It also aims to provide a theoretical foundation for statistical mechanics, including the classical Boltzmann distribution and some quantum statistical mechanics.

Textbook: An Introduction to Thermal Physics by Daniel V. Schroeder. All students will be expected to have access to a copy.

For more details see the Module Outline for 2009.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturer: Stephen Bartlett.

Prerequisites: PHYS (2011 or 2911) and PHYS (2012 or 2912) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level).

Offered in Semester: 1

These lectures will cover applications of physics to biological systems, including topics such as molecular biology, structure and properties of polymers and proteins, thermodynamics of cells, transport of biomolecules, excitation of nerve impulses, and computer simulations of biological systems.

For more details see the Module Outline.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturer: Serdar Kuyucak.

Prerequisites: PHYS (2011 or 2911) and PHYS (2012 or 2912) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level).

Assumed Knowledge: Thermodynamics at Senior Physics level.

Offered in Semester: 2

This is one of two lecture modules that are compulsory for students undertaking a major in Physics (the other is Electromagnetism). These lectures cover the fundamental concepts and formalism of quantum dynamics, and the application to angular momentum and symmetry in quantum mechanics.

Advanced stream: See the module outline.
Lecturer: Joe Khachan.

Normal stream: See the module outline.
Lecturer: Brian James.

The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.
Prerequisites: PHYS (2011 or 2911) and PHYS (2012 or 2912) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level); and MATH (2061 or 2961 or 2067).

Offered in Semester: 2

These lectures introduce students to some aspects of modern optics, using the laser to illustrate the application and importance of the topics that are covered. The field of optics was revolutionized by the invention of the laser in 1960. All types of experiments suddenly became possible, which in turn led to the development of new theories. In these lectures we will see how a laser works and will then look at some consequences of the laser, all of this in combination with a discussion of the basic optical properties of materials. In particular, we will look at the Lorentz model as a model for the optical properties of matter, spontaneous and stimulated emission of light, rate equation analysis of lasers, diffraction, Gaussian beam propagation, anisotropic media and nonlinear optics.

Note that the Electromagnetism lecture course (Semester 1) is assumed knowledge. For more details see the Module Outline.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturer: Martijn De Sterke.

Prerequisites: PHYS (2011 or 2911) and PHYS (2012 or 2912) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level).

Assumed Knowledge: Electromagnetism at Senior Physics level; MATH (2061 or 2961 or 2067).

Offered in Semester: 2

These lectures provide a basic introduction to condensed matter systems, specifically the physics that underlies the electromagnetic, thermal, and optical properties of solids. The course draws on basic quantum theory and statistical mechanics and considers recent discoveries and new developments in semiconductors, nanostructures, magnetism, and superconductivity.

For more details see the Module Outline.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturer: David Reilly.

Prerequisites: PHYS (2012 or 2912) and either PHYS (2011 or 2911) or PHYS (2013 or 2913) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level).

Assumed Knowledge: Quantum Mechanics at Senior Physics level (may be taken simultaneously with this course).

Offered in Semester: 2

These lectures cover the basic constituents of matter, such as quarks and leptons, examining their fundamental properties and interactions, and their origin at the creation of the universe.

For more details see the Module Outline for 2009.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturer: Kevin Varvell

Prerequisites: PHYS (2012 or 2912) and PHYS (2013 or 2913) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level). Students who have not taken PHYS (2013 or 2913) should contact the Senior Physics Coordinator at for permission to waive this prerequisite.

Offered in Semester: 2

These lectures explore astrophysical environments inside stars and beyond (e.g., the interstellar medium, the intergalactic medium and galaxies themselves) and focus on one of the most important physical processes in astrophysics: the transport of radiative energy.

For more details see the Module Outline for 2009.
The units that include this lecture module are listed in the Table at the top of this page.

Lecturer: Mike Ireland

Prerequisites: PHYS (2012 or 2912) and PHYS (2013 or 2913) (Credit or better for entry to the Advanced level). Students who have not taken PHYS (2013 or 2913) should contact the Senior Physics Coordinator at for permission to waive this prerequisite.

Offered in Semester: 1

This 6-credit-point unit is normally restricted to students not majoring in Physics, to give them the flexibility to take a combination of lecture topics and laboratory classes that is not offered in the standard units. It is also available to physics majors who have split their Senior Physics units over more than one year and have been affected by changes to the course structure. Please obtain permission from the .

Prerequisites: Depends on the subjects chosen.

Offered in Semester: 2

This 6-credit-point unit is normally restricted to students not majoring in Physics, to give them the flexibility to take a combination of lecture topics and laboratory classes that is not offered in the standard units. It is also available to physics majors who have split their Senior Physics units over more than one year and have been affected by changes to the course structure. Please obtain permission from the .

Prerequisites: Depends on the subjects chosen.

Offered in Semester: 2

This unit forms part of the major in Computational Science. It can also count towards a major in physics.

This unit of study provides a Senior-level treatment of scientific problem solving using computers. Students will understand and apply a wide range of numerical schemes for solving ordinary and partial differential equations. Linear algebra is used to provide detailed insight into stability analysis, relaxation methods, and implicit integration. A variety of scientific problems are considered, including planetary motion, population demographics, neutron criticality, traffic flow and quantum mechanics. All coding is performed with MATLAB, and basic programming experience is assumed.

For more details see the 2009 Module Outline.

Prerequisites: 12 credit points chosen from Junior Mathematics and Statistics, 12 credit points of Intermediate units in Science subject areas. For COSC 3901 the Intermediate Science units must be at a credit level.

Programming and mathematics background needed for COSC 3011/3911
This unit assumes MATLAB, or equivalent programming experience. However, there is a brief tutorial to begin with, and the computational labs provide sufficient time to practise and develop programming skills, assuming some background (not necessarily in MATLAB). You will need to get to the level of writing your own codes, but initially the laboratory exercises involve modifying existing codes.

Regarding the mathematics, the modelling assumes facility with calculus and vectors. The numerical aspects use matrix algebra, and some complex analysis is used in the stability analysis.

Lecturer: Mike Wheatland