Theoretical Physics Group

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Theoretical Physics PhD and MSc

PhD Course

This is normally a three year course. The majority of the first year is taken up with a small research project and dissertation together with lecture courses. The latter can range from the full set of lecture courses taken by M.Sc. students to none at all, depending on experience and background. The rest of the course is taken up with research for the main thesis project.

Candidates are required to hold a first or upper second class Honours degree from a British University, or equivalent. However, if you already hold an M.Sc. degree with substantial research content you may be able to bypass the first year of the course and take the degree in two years. The course can start in September, January, April or July, but September is strongly recommended for the 3 year PhD course.

For further information about possibilities in the group, please contact Dr Michael J. Godfrey.

Opportunities exist for research in a range of linked areas:

• Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Complex systems
• Theoretical Optics/Optoelectronics
• Theoretical Mesoscopic Physics
• Quantum Information Processing
• Neural networks
• Theoretical Subnuclear Physics

More detailed information can be found on the home pages of the appropriate Ph.D. supervisors, listed below.

Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics We work in many areas of condensed matter physics, including spin glasses, quantum magnets, quantum Hall systems. Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests: Prof Raymond F. Bishop, Prof Alan J. Bray, Dr Michael J. Godfrey, Dr Klaus A. Gernoth, Prof Alan J. McKane, Prof Michael A. Moore, Prof Niels R. Walet.

Recent thesis titles include:

• S. O'Donoghue "Persistence Properties of Diffusion-Limited Reactions" (2002)
• Suzinne Kim "Monte Carlo Studies of Vortex Phase Transitions in Thin Film Superconductors" (2002)
• Andrew Stephenson "Studies of the One Component Plasma" (2003)
• A. Carter "Finite-Size Scaling Studies of Ising Spin Glasses (2003)
• R. Travasso, "Coarsening in Sheared Systems and Metastability in Ising Systems with Four-Spin Interactions" (2003).
• G. Ehrhardt, "On the Statistics of Gaussian Stationary Processes (2003)
• Ross Davidson, "Mode selection in stochastic systems" (200x)
• P. Gonos, "Persistence in Conserved Spin Systems and Diffusion under Shear" (2005)

Complex systems Complex systems is a new interdisciplanry area that links aspects of statistical physics with problems in biology, economy and other areas. Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests: Prof Alan J. Bray, Prof Alan J. McKane, Prof Michael A. Moore.

Recent thesis titles include:

• Thomas Brown: "Non-equilibrium models of structural change and economic growth"
• Christopher Quince: "Modelling coevolution in communities of interacting species"
• Gareth Baxter: "The stochastic dynamics of state selection and language change" (2006)

Theoretical Optics/Optoelectronics Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests: Prof Raymond F. Bishop.

Recent thesis titles include:

Clive Emary, "On the Quantum Mechanics of Generalised Rabi Systems" (2002)
• B. Sanchez, "Driven Three-Level System with Dapming" (2003)

Theoretical Mesoscopic Physics

Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests:

Dr Michael J. Godfrey.

Recent thesis titles include:

• Neill Lambert, "" (2005)

Quantum Information Processing Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests: Prof Raymond F. Bishop.

Recent thesis titles include:

Neural Networks Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests: Dr Klaus A. Gernoth.

Recent thesis titles include:

Theoretical Subnuclear Physics Potential supervisors in this area, with a link to their homepage specifying their research interests: Prof Michael C. Birse, Prof Raymond F. Bishop, Dr Judith A. McGovern, Prof Niels R. Walet.

Recent thesis titles include:

• Oliver Schwindt, "Linear Sigma Model and Chiral Symmetry at Finite Temperature" (2001)
• Reuben McDonald, "Hamiltonian Treatment of Lattice Quantum Field Theories" (2003)
• Toby Young, "Self-consistent Theory of Adiabatic Large-Amplitude Collective Motion at Finite Rotational Velocity" (2004)
• Amir Rezaeian, "Topics in Quantum Field Theory: Renormalization groups in Hamiltonian Framework and Baryon Structure in a non-local QCD Model" (2004)
• Thomas Barford, "The renormalisation group and applications in few-body systems" (2004)

MSc Courses

This is a postgraduate course in theoretical physics consisting of both lecture courses and a research project. The level is suitable for British students who have completed their first degree. It will also be attractive to students at a similar level from European Countries, who wish to visit this country for a year as part of their programme of study. For non-European students the course provides an opportunity to study theoretical physics at an advanced level in a European environment.

Course Director: Dr Judith McGovern

Opportunities exist for research in all the areas mentioned above. Recent thesis projects include:

• "A simulation of Phase Ordering Kinetics in the Conserved One-Dimensional XY Model"
• "Scaling Behaviour of Binary Liquids in the Viscous Hydrodynamic Regime for a Large N Potential"
• "Models for Quark Matter"
• "Vector Meson Production"

How to Apply

For further information, application forms for admission and copies of our postgraduate prospectus, please look at the school's web pages, or email: pgphysics@manchester.ac.uk