Quantum Control group

University of Southampton: School of Physics and Astronomy

Teaching

The following information covers Tim Freegarde's teaching in Southampton's School of Physics & Astronomy. Please feel free to contact Tim directly.


Current lecture courses

  • PHYS2006: Classical Mechanics
    This course extends the methods and concepts of Newtonian mechanics introduced in PHYS2015 Motion & Relativity, and provides links to courses on oscillations and waves, quantum mechanics and condensed matter. Beginning with the application of Newton's laws to systems of particles, it moves on to rotational motion, dynamical gravity (Kepler's laws), motion in non-inertial reference frames and systems of coupled oscillators, establishing throughout a rigorous mathematical approach to reinforce and allow analysis of intuitive and everyday situations. Further details.

  • PHYS2023: Wave Physics
    This course introduces the properties and mechanics of waves, from the derivation and solution of wave equations, through the origins of the classical processes of refraction, dispersion and interference, to the quantum mechanical phenomenon of the uncertainty principle. It will arm students with a basic knowledge of wave behaviour and propagation, together with techniques for their quantitative analysis and application to a range of physical systems. It will further provide a fundamental base from which to examine wave aspects of electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and solid state physics in subsequent courses. Further details.

  • PHYS3004: Crystalline Solids
    Coming soon...

Previous courses

  • PHYS1004: Introduction to Photonics
    Photonics is the science of understanding and controlling the interaction of light with matter, and includes the operation and construction of lasers, optical fibres, non-linear optics. This course provides a broad introduction to many of the important and interesting areas covered by photonics. Because of the many important applications of this subject, studies will range from the underlying physical principles all the way to real systems. The content of the course is mostly conceptual, with simple mathematical examples wherever possible. The course has a lab component, and the rest of the assessment is via assignments set during the course, and an examination at the end. Further details

  • PHYS1011: Waves, Light & Quanta
    This course introduces the physics of wave motion and applies the formalism of wave behaviour in the context of physical optics and the foundations of quantum physics. It will arm students with a basic knowledge of physical optics, including ray propagation, polarization and diffraction, and introduce the dual wave-particle characteristics of light and matter. It thus provides a base for future study of optics, wave physics and quantum physics in subsequent courses. Further details.

  • PHYS1017/1019/1020: Physics Skills ('First Year Labs')
    The Physics Skills units develop the rational, enquiring and analytical outlook needed by a professional physicist and some of the practical skills and knowledge required by the future experimentalist. Physics Skills 1 (PHYS1017) runs in the first semester, and its companion Physics Skills 2 (PHYS1019) follows in the second semester, while PHYS1020 combines components from both into a single course for external students. Further details.
    Materials from the Physics Skills Workshops, covering general techniques for approaching physics problems, are available from http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~evans/PHYS-Skills/; the introductory section on the logical structure of a physics derivation or solution is here.

  • PHYS3003: Light and Matter
    The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to modern optical physics and to arm students with a basic knowledge of light-matter interactions, electro-optics and nonlinear optics. This will give them a fundamental base for understanding the techniques and technologies of photonics and experimental quantum optics, as well as drawing together and developing many more basic and beautiful aspects of physics. Further details

  • PHYS6018: Research and Thesis on Experimental Physics
    This unit aims to give fourth year students a taste of real research, and to introduce to experimental research groups those first class students wishing to carry out a significant piece of research, often of publishable quality. This project forms the final year of the MPhys degree in Physics with a Year of Experimental Research. Further details.

Undergraduate projects and dissertations

  • Projects for Southampton University 3rd and 4th year physicists
    We offer several projects with the Quantum Control group, some of which are related to our main research work while others are more self-contained. Further details of projects and dissertations.

Report writing

  • Tips on writing up your thesis, project report or dissertation
    Put your examiner in a good mood and gain style marks by avoiding common errors when writing your report: here are my own tips.