Cosmos, Fields, and Particles (CCP)

The course describes the different detectors and physical processes involved in particle detection in high-energy physics. Next, we will describe how the main particle accelerators work, which are used in high-energy physics but also in many other fields such as medicine, industry, materials science, archaeology, etc.

The course provides a detailed description of the physical processes and experimental techniques involved in detecting charged and neutral particles in detectors, as these detections form the basis of all physical measurements.

A detailed description of the different types of radiation and particle-matter interactions will be provided.

We will focus on describing the systematics associated with these processes and their statistical treatment.

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English tutorial course for students enrolled in the Master 2 Physics program who are seeking professional integration in English in a contemporary context.

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This course covers the essentials needed for a good understanding of the physics of atmospheres and stellar winds. The key elements of radiation transfer theory are covered, both in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and off-LTE, as well as the description of gas (equation of state) and its interaction with the radiation field (opacities). Modern models and simulations are presented with their application to the determination of stellar parameters, in particular chemical composition, via spectroscopy. The different types of stellar winds (pressure, radiative, hybrid) are described using theories compared with observations.

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During the Observational Astrophysics Workshop 2 course, students must complete all stages of an observational astrophysics study. From defining the spectroscopic or photometric observations to be carried out during a four-night stay at the Haute-Provence Observatory, to modeling and critically discussing their measurements and writing a scientific report, students are actively involved in this course.

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Interstellar medium: physicochemical processes – phases – radio astronomy.

This course provides students with an understanding of the physical and chemical processes that are important for the interstellar medium (dynamic, thermal, and chemical processes) as well as the associated observational diagnostics (molecular spectroscopy, radio astronomy). The main phases of the interstellar medium (ionized, atomic, and molecular phases) are also presented.

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This course provides a comprehensive description of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. We will begin by studying the Dirac equation, a quantum description of the dynamics of a spin ½ particle. We will then see how to describe electromagnetic interactions using quantum electrodynamics theory. Next, we will discuss weak interactions and their unified description with electromagnetic interactions through electroweak theory. Finally, we will study gauge theories and their spontaneous breaking in order to present the complete theory of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. To conclude, we will give a brief overview of theories beyond the Standard Model.

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This course is an introduction to relativistic quantum field theory and its applications in particle physics. Using the example of a scalar field, we will develop the formalisms of canonical quantization and path integral quantization before introducing perturbation theory and some notions of renormalization. We will discuss the quantization of spin 1/2 and spin 1 fields, concluding with a discussion of quantum electrodynamics.

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This course is an introduction to the standard model of cosmology in its theoretical and phenomenological aspects. It focuses on the hot inflationary Big Bang model. It builds on the M1 course in general relativity and cosmology.

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The practical work involves detecting and measuring cosmic rays (muons).

The aim is to familiarize students with an acquisition chain dedicated to measuring cosmic rays (mainly muons). Students will need to understand how the various components of the acquisition chain work individually (power supplies, photomultipliers, scintillators, discriminators, oscilloscopes, etc.) and then build their own acquisition device using these components. One of the objectives of the device could be to determine the mass of the muon, but other purposes are possible and left to the students' imagination.

Students will then have to collect data from their device and analyze it, taking into account systematic and statistical errors in the data set.

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This course describes the theoretical and observational foundations of the problem known as cosmological dark matter. Dark matter manifests itself through gravitational effects at different astrophysical scales, from the scale of galaxies to cosmological scales (the observable universe as a whole). It constitutes approximately 85% of the total matter in the universe, and it is impossible for it to be composed of the elementary particles that characterize ordinary known matter. The course will focus in particular on potential solutions to this problem, connecting the infinitely small (elementary particles) to the infinitely large (the universe on a large scale).

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3- to 6-month internship (21 ECTS) in a laboratory with the aim of immersing students in the world of research and preparing them for their thesis. This internship can be carried out in a research laboratory in France or abroad. It runs from March¹ to May 31, when the written report is due. An oral defense takes place at the beginning of June. The internship may be extended until August 31 in order to move directly on to the thesis. Topics cover a wide spectrum ranging from theoretical physics (cosmology, particle physics, and astroparticle physics) to experimental physics (LHC experiments, search for gravitational waves or dark matter, large-field cosmological surveys, etc.).

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This course is an introduction to the acceleration, propagation, and radiation mechanisms of energetic particles in astrophysical environments. It will cover the fundamental concepts.

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The Observational Astrophysics Workshop 1 is an introduction to conducting observational studies (photometry or spectroscopy) of astrophysical objects (stars, nebulae) at the M1 level. Students carry out all stages of the process, from planning and conducting observations at the Faculty of Science's astronomical observatory to calibrating and analyzing the data obtained. This module is designed as preparation for the M2 Observational Astrophysics Workshop 2 (HAP905P) module.

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In this course, we study the theory of general relativity, which is the modern description of universal gravitation. After reviewing some concepts from special relativity, we will familiarize ourselves with the basic concepts of general relativity using a few specific solutions to these equations in well-defined physical contexts: weak fields at the Earth's surface, geometry around an isolated spherical star, and the universe on large scales. This will allow us to generalize our understanding and construct the theory, then deduce the field equations, i.e., Einstein's equations. The course will conclude with a discussion of black holes and gravitational waves.

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This course aims to provide basic concepts in astronomy and astrophysics, which will be useful in other astrophysics courses in the master's program. It also illustrates the application of physics concepts to the description of astrophysical objects. Most of the concepts covered will be explored in greater depth in^second-year courses.

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Fluids are all around us at all times and on all scales. Understanding fluid mechanics means understanding the mechanics of our surroundings, particularly air and water. As such, hydrodynamics is part of a physicist's basic knowledge.

Hydrodynamics is an introduction to the mechanics of incompressible perfect fluids (Euler) and viscous Newtonian fluids (Navier-Stokes). Classical flows are presented, as well as the concepts of boundary layer, instability, and turbulence. The emphasis is placed more on physical ideas than on advanced mathematical or numerical solution methods.

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English tutorial course for students enrolled in the Master 1 Physics program who wish to become proficient in scientific English.

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This course is part of the foundation of modern physics. It provides a foundation of knowledge that is essential for all physics courses, as it lays the groundwork for the theoretical description of the interaction between the electromagnetic field and elementary quantum elements such as two-level systems, atoms, and molecules. It also provides the necessary knowledge for understanding LASERs, modern optical devices, and spectroscopic methods and analyses.

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The aim of this module is to enable students to compare experimental reality with their theoretical knowledge. Particular attention is paid to writing up results and presenting them in the form of oral presentations. The work is organized into eight-hour sessions for which a topic is chosen by the students. They record their results and analyses in a laboratory notebook based on the protocols used in laboratories. At the end of the semester, students choose a topic, which they develop in the form of a final report that they defend orally. This course prepares students for the internships they will undertake during their studies.

Examples of experiments available: optical spectroscopy (IR, visible), gamma, X-ray, acoustic; low-temperature photoluminescence; near-field spectroscopy (AFM, STM); electron microscopy...

The range of experiments on offer covers the areas of physics taught in the various physics courses. Students must choose from among the different experiments those that seem most relevant to their interests. A significant effort has been made to integrate new data acquisition technologies and the use of computer tools in order to compare experiment and theory.

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This course includes an upgrade and deepening of programming techniques as well as an introduction to computational physics. We will begin with a review of procedural programming using the Python 3 language. We will then take an in-depth look at numerical methods relevant to physics, studying a selection of classic algorithms from numerical analysis and applying them to physical problems.

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This course is intended as an introduction to astroparticle physics (cosmic accelerators, gamma rays, multi-messengers, experimental techniques, etc.).

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in L3 to offer students a brief introduction to astroparticle physics. After a description of the general context, two examples of detectors in gamma-ray astronomy will be detailed, followed by an introduction to the physics of multi-messenger astrophysics (in particular via the detection of gravitational waves). The course will then address the physics of cosmic rays (CR), the issue of CR acceleration and propagation, and the hypothesis of supernova remnants as galactic CR accelerators (description of the first-order Fermi acceleration mechanism).

The course will conclude with a description of the cosmological challenges of future large-scale ground-based and space-based surveys (LSST and Euclid in particular).

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This course aims to introduce and develop several fundamental concepts and tools of non-relativistic quantum physics necessary for understanding the physical processes describing the interactions between the elementary constituents of matter and radiation. We will also address second quantization and the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, which provide the ideal framework for the development of quantum field theory and its various applications (e.g., high-energy physics, condensed matter physics).

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Introduction to advanced statistical physics: grand canonical ensemble; quantum statistics; quantum fluids (Bose-Einstein condensation, thermal radiation; Sommerfeld theory); phase transitions; Ising model; mean field theory; dynamics of complex systems.

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This course is an introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics. We will begin by listing elementary particles and their interactions. Then we will see how to use Lie group theory to classify these elementary particles. Finally, we will discuss the concept of electromagnetic interactions for charged particles without spin (scalar electrodynamics theory).

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Fluid mechanics is a fundamental tool for the sciences of the Universe: from Earth and giant planets to stars, accretion disks, and the interstellar medium, it is an essential approach for studying astrophysical objects. The "Fluid Dynamics in Astrophysics and Cosmology" course builds on the "Hydrodynamics" course, focusing on three central themes in astrophysics: rotating fluids, thermal convection, and magnetohydrodynamics.

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This 7-week internship (usually from late April to late June) (10 ECTS) will give students their first taste of research in astrophysics, cosmology, or particle physics. Internships at the intersection of these disciplines, more commonly known as "astroparticles," are also available. Internships may be more theoretical or more experimental in nature, depending on the choices of students and supervisors.

This internship can be carried out in a research laboratory in France or abroad. However, it traditionally takes place in one of the two joint research units (UMR) at Montpellier 2 University: the Montpellier Laboratory of Universes and Particles (LUPM, IN2P3) or the Charles Coulomb Laboratory (L2C, INP).

The internship will enable students to interact with a research team (national and/or international) and begin to discover the research topics they would prefer to develop in their future studies.

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