Scientific blocks
Quantum physics (12 ECTS)
Scientific program
- Perturbation theory
- Angular momentum, spin-spin couplings
- Quantum dynamics, Dyson series, adiabatic and sudden approximations
- Multipartite systems, second quantization theory, CCR and CAR algebras
- Quantum information theory, entanglement and quantum correlations, quantum communication and quantum computation protocoles, quantum control
- Quantum optics, coherent and squeezed states, field-source couplings
- Mixed states, open quantum systems and master equations, lattice spin systems, cold atoms
Computational approaches
- Discrete representations of differential operators (finite difference method, DVR/FBR methods)
- Wave packet propagation algorithms and Schrödinger equation integrators (Richardson method, split operator method, spectral integrators)
- Diagonalization methods (power matrix method, Lanczos algorithm), spectral analysis methods (random matrices, level spacing distribution) and quantum Monte Carlo algorithm
- Opimal control algorithms (gradient algorithm, genetic algorithm)
Used softwares
Python, Matlab, Fullwave
Light-matter interactions (14 ECTS)
Scientific program
- Perurbation theory, Fermi golden-rule
- Electromagnetic gauge choices
- Atom-field interaction: classical, semi-classical and quantum models, optical Bloch equations, dressed atom, quantum electrodynamics
- Molecular energy levels, spectral lines
- Laser physics : laser cavities, running modes (continuous wave, pulsed, locked phase), laser diodes
- Intermolecular interactions, van der Waals interactions
- Molecular spectroscopy, spectral line profiles
- Astrophysical spectroscopy : planetology, stellar spectroscopy, interstellar medium
Computational approaches
- Fitting and interpolation methods
Used softwares
Fortran, Python
Condensed matter physics (12 ECTS)
Scientific program
- Classical statistical mechanics: phase space, microstates, entropy, classical equilibrium distributions (microcanonical, canonical, grand-canonical), gas kinetic theory
- Quantum statistical mechanics: density matrices, von Neuman entropy, second quantization theory, perfect quantum gases
- Mechanical, electrical, magnetical and thermal properties of materials
- Cristal structures
- Complex systems: BBGKY hierarchy, statistics of interacting particles, phase transitions and spontaneous symmetry breaking, spin systems
- Free electrons (Drude and Sommerfeld models, energy bands, Bloch theorem, conductors and semi-conductors)
- Phonons, phonon-electron interactions, phonon-photon interactions
- Bose-Einstein condensates, Bogoliubov transformations, superfluidity, superconductivity
Computational approaches
- Monte Carlo methods
- Multiphysics computation (finite element software)
- Quantum chemistry methods (density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory)
Used softwares
Python, COMSOL, Gaussian
Transversal application domains:
Astrophysics
- Astronomical dynamical systems (optional problems about celestial mechanics, cosmology, Earth and Sun magnetism)
- Planetology, stellar spectroscopy, interstellar medium
- Celestial mechanics : 3 body problem, chaos in the solar system, post-Newtonian dynamics
- Astronomical data processing : Imaging sensors (CDD, CMOS, IR) and astronomical image processing with Python and MIDAS softwares.
- Galactic astrophysics (only viewed during project activities)
- Internship at the Pic-du-Midi Observatory (optional and selective)
Physics of life and eHealth
- Biological dynamical systems (optional problems about cell biology, population dynamics, and biomechanics)
- eHealth hackathon
- Biomolecules (dynamics and docking methods) (only viewed during project activities)
- Biomedical imaging and radio-physics (only viewed during project activities)
Atmospheric sciences and geophysics
- Geophysical dynamical systems (optional problems about atmospheric dynamics, Earth magnetism, seismic mechanics)
- Molecular spectroscopy applied to atmospheric detection, molecular atmospheric interaction
- Climatology: simulations and data analysis (only viewed during project activities)
Theoretical physics
- Quantum and statistical physics, chaos theory
- Theoretical dynamical systems (optional problems about particle physics, cosmology and symbolic dynamics)
- General relativity (geodesic dynamics, black holes) (only viewed during project activities)
- Quantum field theory (only viewed during project activities)
- Mathematical physics (functional and spectral analysis, differential geometry, Lie groups and algebras) (only viewed during project activities)