Description:

The aim of this course is to improve students? knowledge in modern parts of physics (such as measuring of gravitational waves, neutrinos, discovery of Higgs boson, principles of light emitting diodes, ...) with a partial help of computer algebra systems (e.g. Maple). Apart from the other courses related to modern physics taught in this study program, this course does not deal with detailed mathematical formalism of studied phenomena. Therefore, the secondary aim is the increase of students? motivation for deeper understanding of modern physics and its laws in their following study

Contents:

1. Introduction: Concepts of modern physics. Physics and Philosophy.
2. Black holes and gravitational waves in general relativity.
3. Quanta and probabilistic approach in physics, quantum entanglement and hidden variables.
4. Mass and vacuum by extreme intensities of radiation.
5. Neutrinos and their detection, measurement of their mass, neutrino oscillations.
6. Energy from nuclear fission and fusion, their peaceful uses and nuclear weapons.
7. Leptons and quarks, color and anticolor in particle physics, Higgs boson.
8. Planck length and time, dark matter and dark energy. Theory of everything.
9. Light-emitting diods and transistors. Nanophysics and nanotechnology.
10. Applications of computer algebra systems in quantum mechanics (Planck?s law, model of hydrogen atom).
11. Applications of computer algebra systems in nuclear physics (liquid drop model of nucleus, decay chains).
12. Large scale computer simulations in current physics research (simulation run and analysis of simulation data).
13. Final credit test.

Seminar contents:

1. Computers and modern physics.
2. Physics of extreme systems.

Recommended literature:

Key references:
[1] D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker: Fyzika 1+2. VUTIUM 2014. ISBN 978-80-214-4123-1. Kap. 38-45
[2] S. T. Thornton, A. Rex: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4th Ed.). Cengage Learning 2013. ISBN 978-1-133-10372-1.
[3] F. Y. Wang: Physics with Maple. Wiley-VCH 2006. ISBN 978-3-527-40640-1. Kap. 12-18.

Recommended references:
[4] W. D. Heacox: The Expanding Universe: A Primer on Relativistic Cosmology. Cambridge University Press 2016. ISBN 978-1-107-11752-5.

Study aids:
Computer classroom UNIX.

Keywords:

Gravitational waves, neutrinos, nuclear fission, thermonuclear fusion, leptons, quarks, dark matter, theory of everything, nanotechnology, computer algebra systems, large-scale computer simulations.

Abbreviations used:

Semester:

• W ... winter semester (usually October - February)
• S ... spring semester (usually March - June)
• W,S ... both semesters

Mode of completion of the course:

• A ... Assessment (no grade is given to this course but credits are awarded. You will receive only P (Passed) of F (Failed) and number of credits)
• GA ... Graded Assessment (a grade is awarded for this course)
• EX ... Examination (a grade is awarded for this course)
• A, EX ... Examination (the award of Assessment is a precondition for taking the Examination in the given subject, a grade is awarded for this course)

Weekly load (hours per week):

• P ... lecture
• C ... seminar
• L ... laboratory
• R ... proseminar
• S ... seminar