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)