PH5015 Applications of Quantum Physics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Normally only taken in the final year of an MPhys or MSci programme involving the School, or a postgraduate photonics programme.

Module Staff

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Quantum physics is one of the most powerful theories in physics yet is at odds with our understanding of reality. In this module we show how laboratories around the world can prepare single atomic particles, ensembles of atoms, light and solid state systems in appropriate quantum states and observe their behaviour. The module includes studies of laser cooling, Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum dots and quantum computing. An emphasis throughout will be on how such quantum systems may actually turn into practical devices in the future. The module will include assessment based on tutorial work and a short presentation on a research topic.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS PH3081 OR PASS PH3082 OR PASS MT2506 AND PASS MT2507 ) AND PASS PH3061 AND PASS PH3062

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 80%, Coursework = 20%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 or 3 lectures or tutorials, plus 3 hours student presentations over the semester

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Additional information from school

Overview

Quantum mechanics remains one of the most powerful but one of the least understood theories in physics. Typically students gain a good grounding in the theoretical and philosophical aspects of this topic but relatively little exposure to how quantum physics may be implemented in the laboratory and how important key applications are likely to be in future. The aim of the course is to build upon students' knowledge of quantum physics and atomic physics to demonstrate how we can perform quantum mechanics on atoms, ions and photons in the laboratory.

 

Aims & Objectives

 

Learning Outcomes

In the first half of the module students should gain a detailed understanding of

 

  • Laser cooling and Bose-Einstein condensation, Fermi gas production - Experimental tests of quantum mechanics in quantum gases
  • Laser cooling of ions
  • The latest experimental techniques to develop cold quantum gases

 

In the second half of the module students should gain a detailed understanding of

 

  • photon statistics
  • observations of nonclassical light - quantum cryptography
  • single photon sources

 

This knowledge and understanding is intended to allow students to appreciate and work with physical principles behind experiments using quantum physics using atoms, ions, and photons. They should be able to apply this knowledge to real world problems. They should be able to comment on and evaluate the opportunities and limitations offered by atoms, ions, and photons in quantum physics experiments, and in particular be able to judge the applicability of various systems for experiments in this field. They should be able to use their understanding of the links between the quantum and classical worlds to aid their design of experiments.

 

Synopsis

The course begins with laser cooling and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) explaining basic laser cooling and experimental methods, Doppler theory, sub Doppler cooling, and magneto-optical traps. Quantum mechanical complementarity (which-way experiments). Evaporative cooling, magnetic trapping. Signatures of BEC and Fermi gases. Matter wave interference. Wave-particle duality studies. Charged ion trapping. Studies of laser cooled ions in traps. Quantum jumps. Atom lasers.

The second part of the course explores the statistics of light: First and second order correlation functions, sub and super Poissonian light. Photon bunching and antibunching. Single photon sources. Photon BEC.

 

Additional information on continuous assessment etc.

Please note that the definitive comments on continuous assessment will be communicated within the module.  This section is intended to give an indication of the likely breakdown and timing of the continuous assessment. 

 

5% of the module mark comes from each of two sets of work on tutorial sheet questions. The likely hand-in times are in week 7 and week 9. In the later parts of the semester students will choose a relevant scientific paper to read and to write a “News and Views” article about it in a style similar to that seen in the journal “Nature” plus an associated presentation shortly afterwards. This contributes 10% to the module mark.

 

Recommended Books

Please view University online record:

http://resourcelists.st-andrews.ac.uk/modules/ph5015.html

 

General Information

Please also read the general information in the School's Honours handbook that is available via https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/students/ug/timetables-handbooks/.