05f-03
CURRENT TOPICS IN MODERN PHYSICS

Yutaka HOSOTANI, Kensaku MATSUTA, Keith SLEVIN, and Setsuko TAJIMA (School of Science)

Objective
  This course provides an introduction to basic notion and technique in modern physics. It covers topics in condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, particle physics and cosmology. The course is intended for students with no physics background.

Lecture Outline
1. Topics in Condensed Matter Physics (Prof. Keith Slevin)
Why are some materials magnetic? Why are some transparent? Why do some materials conduct electricity while others don't? Condensed matter physics addresses questions such as these. I will try to give students an appreciation of this field by looking at a selection of current research topics.

2. Superconductivity --- New Physics & New Industry (Prof. Setsuko Tajima)
Superconductivity is a striking phenomenon that shows electrical resistance disappearing at low temperatures. The class starts from a brief introduction of superconductivity and the history of search for new superconductors. The impact of the newly discovered superconductor on industry will also be reviewed.

3. Hands-on Nuclear and Radiation Physics (Prof. Kensaku Matsuta)
The class starts from fundamental knowledge on atoms and nuclei and forces in this micro-world, and then introduces the nuclear magnetic resonance technique and its application. Highlight will be the demonstrations and experiments on electrons and other radiation, including radiation from natural sources.

4. Particle Physics in the Early Universe (Prof. Yutaka Hosotani)
Most microscopic building blocks of matter are quarks and leptons. Particle physics describes how those quarks and leptons interact with each other. With the knowledge of particle physics we see how the universe evolved from the big-bang to the present.

Textbook
There is no assigned textbook.

Grading
Class participation 50%
Assignments and reports 50%