The Durham research group in theoretical high energy physics has
members in both the departments of Mathematical Sciences and Physics
and is the largest theory group in the United Kingdom. The full time
academic staff are:
In addition, there are several postdoctoral fellows and about
fifty graduate students.
The interests of the group range over the whole spectrum of topics
associated with the field of elementary particles. These include:
In term time, there is a weekly colloquium talk, preceded by lunch in one of the colleges. This is attended by most members of the group. Other seminars are arranged informally around particular topics and are given either by visitors to the department, graduate students, or members of staff.
The group maintains its own preprint library and collection of the
most commonly referenced journals.
The University
Library (Netscape
or eqivalent required) houses a large number of textbooks and
conference proceedings in particle physics, and has a collection of
most of the contemporary journals in the field. The Collingwood
Library in Mathematical Sciences also contains a small collection of
books on particle physics and related subjects.
The University has excellent computing facilities as do the departments of Mathematical Sciences and Physics.
Opportunities exist for study and research leading to the degrees
of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science.
PhD The degree is awarded on successful completion of a
thesis based on original research carried out over a period of three
years. All students are required to attend the lecture courses,
outlined below, and to take the examinations in December and March
which form part of the first year assessment. Each student is
assigned a supervisor who will be responsible for the research
programme followed by the student.
Non UK students are normally required to register for the MSc in
the first instance and may convert to the PhD, subject to
satisfactory progress during the first year.
MSc A one year Advanced Course The course is intended for
students who have already obtained a good first degree in either
physics or mathematics, including in the latter case courses in
quantum mechanics and relativity. Each student follows a programme of
lecture courses, outlined below, and planned reading, and prepares a
dissertation on a topic of current research. The student will be able
to choose the topic of special interest from a wide variety of
subjects, and will be assigned a supervisor with expertise in the
chosen area. Students lacking background knowledge may be encouraged
to attend relevant undergraduate courses.
The course begins in October and there are ten lectures per week
during the first two terms (a total of about 180 hours of lectures,
see below). The degree is awarded following satisfactory performances
in the examinations taken in December and March and on successful
completion of a dissertation. The dissertation must be submitted by
September 30th, the end of the twelve month course period.
Students studying elsewhere for higher degrees are most welcome to spend a term or two in Durham. For attendance at one term of the graduate lecture course the fee is 1/4 of the normal yearly fee for postgraduate study. Library and computing facilities are freely available to such students, as well as seminars, the journal club and the preprint collection. There are also opportunities for a small number of students to come to Durham under the Erasmus scheme.
The lecture courses on the theory of elementary particles and associated subjects are intended to take the student to the frontiers of present research. Following a general survey of particle physics and introductory courses on quantum field theory and group theory, the lectures lead on to the main theoretical and experimental features of the gauge theories. Other, more specialised topics such as the role of particle physics in cosmology, the theory of strings, conformal field theory and topological aspects of gauge theories will be covered by short sub-courses. A brief description of each course for the coming year is given on the next page. The number of lectures per course unit is indicated after its title, together with the lecturer. The compulsory part of the first term courses consists of units 1-5; the compulsory part of the second term consists of units 8-13.
1. Overview of particle physics (18) Particles,interactions, quantum numbers. Experiments. Kinematics and observables. The standard model.
2. Introductory field theory (18) Dirac equation, second quantisation, elementary field theory, perturbation theory and Feynman diagrams, applications in QED.
3. Group theory (14) SU(n), SO(n) and their representations. Simple Lie groups and algebras.
4. Introduction to gauge theories (14) Gauge theories; spontaneous symmetry breaking, Higgs particles, Salam-Weinberg model, grand unified theories.
5. Path Integral Formulation (12) Introduction to the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory; functional techniques and Green functions.
6. General relativity (9) Manifolds, tensors, covariant derivative, metric, curvature, Einstein's theory. Schwarzschild space-time. Simplest Kaluza-Klein theory.
7. Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (9) Locality, Bell's theorem. Measurement problem, quantum cosmology and time.
9. Electro-Weak Model (16) Renormalisation, sample calculations in QED (radiative corrections, g-2). Weak interaction processes. CP violation.
10. Perturbative QCD (18) Gauge invariance, Feynman rules, IR and UV divergences. Renormalisation group, beta -function, asymptotic freedom. Applications. Altarelli-Parisi equations, confinement.
11. Particle physics in cosmology (15) Hubble expansion, big bang, microwave background, nucleosynthesis, baryo-synthesis, inflation, dark matter, formation of structures.
12. Advanced quantum field theory (9) Path integral approach, Green functions, effective action, perturbation theory; gauge theory: Faddeev-Popov.
13. Conformal field theory and strings (18) Conformal transformations. Virasoro algebra and representations. Examples with applications to statistical mechanics and string theory.
14. Topological aspects of field theory (8) Aharonov-Bohm effect. Dirac monopole. Solitons---vortices, monopoles and instantons in gauge theory. O(3) sigma-model, Skyrmions.
15. Black holes (9) Strong gravity in cosmology: neutron stars and black holes; black hole solutions: classical and quantum aspects---Hawking radiation; black holes in string theory.
16. Dynamical systems (6) Universal chaos; horseshoes. Stability, bifurcations and the route to chaos.
(University Front page; Netscape or equivalent required)
Durham is a small but beautiful city in the north east of England with a population of about twenty-five thousand. From all directions, the view towards the city is dominated by the Norman cathedral and castle situated side by side on a naturally elevated site surrounded by an (almost closed!) loop of the river Wear.
The Collegiate University, with its student population of over seven thousand, was founded in 1832 in the castle (which is now University College), and has spread its college and departmental buildings throughout the city.
Although Durham itself is small it is only about fifteen miles (25km) from Newcastle, the major city in the region.
Durham is only three hours from London by train and two hours from Edinburgh. It is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in England and is quite close to the Pennines and Lake District.
Students are normally able to find accommodation in one of the colleges or societies of the university. The Graduate Society caters especially for graduate students but other colleges also have graduate members. Accommodation for married students and their families is available. The University will endeavour to assist with finding suitable accommodation, either within the college system or outside it. Prospective students should however be aware that Durham is small and lacks a wide variety of private housing for rent.
Note: In Durham, the undergraduate terms are of nine weeks duration, starting early in October, January and April. Graduate students are normally resident throughout the year.
Course fees guide (for the current academic year 96/97)
Living expenses
Sources of financial support
The departments of Mathematical Sciences and Physics have limited funds to support graduate students. Students from the European Community countries may be eligible for PPARC/EPSRC studentships to support their research for the PhD (in recent years there have been at least three awards annually). No funds are available to support students wishing to follow the MSc course. Non-british students from the European Community may be eligible for support on a Programme of the Commission of the European Community.
The Nick Brown Memorial Trust
To provide travel bursaries (typically one per year) either to allow a student from a developing country to travel to Durham to take up their studies or, to allow a student already in Durham to travel to a meeting or to pursue part of their studies elsewhere.
Students taking the courses are formally admitted to the University via a College or Society of the University and the Graduate School. Initial enquiries may be made by letter to the Department from whom application forms may be obtained.
Applications and enquiries should be sent to:
Telephone enquiries: + 44 191 374 2349/2166
Fax: + 44 191 374 7388
E-mail: maths.office@durham.ac.uk
www: http://fourier.dur.ac.uk:8000/