General Physics (PhysGen)

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This course aims to provide a foundation in astronomy and astrophysics, which will be useful in the other astrophysics courses in the master’s program. It also illustrates how concepts from physics are applied to describe astrophysical objects. Most of the concepts covered here will be explored in greater depth later in the^second-year courses.

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Fluids are all around us at all times and on every scale. Understanding fluid mechanics means understanding the mechanics of our surroundings—air and water, in particular. As such, hydrodynamics is part of a physicist’s basic knowledge.

The course “Hydrodynamics” provides an introduction to the mechanics of ideal incompressible fluids (Euler) and Newtonian viscous fluids (Navier-Stokes). Classical flow patterns are presented, along with the concepts of the boundary layer, instability, and turbulence. The focus is on physical concepts rather than on advanced mathematical or numerical solution methods.

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English tutorial course for students in the Master's 1 Physics program who are working toward professional proficiency in scientific English.

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This course is one of the cornerstones of modern physics. It provides a body of knowledge that is strictly necessary for all physics tracks, as it lays the groundwork for the theoretical description of the interaction between the electromagnetic field and elementary quantum systems such as two-level systems, atoms, and molecules. It also provides the knowledge necessary for understanding lasers, modern optical devices, and spectroscopic methods and analyses.

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The purpose of this module is to enable students to compare experimental results with their theoretical knowledge. Particular attention is given to writing up results and presenting them in the form of oral presentations. The work is organized into an eight-hour session for which the students choose a topic. They record their results and analyses in a lab notebook modeled after the protocols used in laboratories. At the end of the semester, students select a topic, which they develop into a final report that they defend orally. This course serves as preparation for the internships students will complete during their program.

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

The range of experiments offered covers the areas of physics taught in the various physics tracks. Students must choose from among these experiments those that best align with their interests. Significant effort is made to incorporate new data-acquisition technologies and the use of computer tools to compare experimental results with theory.

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Through two specific examples (X-ray diffraction and vibrations), this module shows in detail how the physical properties of a solid are modeled. The formalism will also be applied to finite systems, such as nanoparticles, and will remain valid for amorphous materials; however, special attention will be given to periodic systems (ranging from linear chains to protein crystals, including graphene and silicon). The concept of reciprocal lattice will naturally arise in connection with this periodicity.

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This course is designed to introduce and develop several fundamental concepts and tools of non-relativistic quantum physics necessary for understanding the physical processes that describe the interactions between the elementary constituents of matter and radiation. We will also cover 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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The EU course “Condensed Matter Physics 2: Electronic Properties” is intended for students interested in solid-state physics.

Following on from the course unit “Condensed Matter Physics 1: Structural Properties,” this course unit covers the properties of electrons in crystalline solids, the band structure of electronic energy levels, and the basic concepts of semiconductor physics.

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• Educational Approach

Students practice by conducting experiments under exam conditions to apply their knowledge and experimental skills and develop effective communication skills.

• Key Topics Covered in the Training

The topics covered are taken directly from the list of physics experiments included in the current CAPES physics–chemistry admission exam syllabus (a list published annually in the Official Bulletin of the Ministry of National Education).

• Digital Space

Acquisition (via a computer interface) of physical data from an experiment (Orphy_Lab and Orphi_GTI cards, Caliens camera).

- Analysis of a physics problem (mechanics, electricity, thermodynamics, waves, electromagnetism, wave optics) using data analysis software (Regressi).

- Basic coding and algorithmics using Python (with the option to use offline editors, such as EduPython, or online editors, such as Jupyter). Displaying and analyzing experimental data.

Application to the solution of simple differential equations in physics.

• Connection to Other EU Countries

This module, which begins in Semester 3, revisits the material covered in the first year in the “Teaching Physics” course units.

Students also draw on teaching situations they encounter during their fieldwork, as well as the material covered in the course units “Didactic and Pedagogical Support for Fieldwork” (S1, S2, S3, and S4) and “Didactics, Epistemology, and History of Science” (S2).

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