www.swansea.ac.uk Postgraduate Prospectus 2012

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PHYSICS68RESEARCH DEGREES – PHYSICSBy recreating conditions that existed billionths of asecond after time began, or understanding howfundamental constituents of matter such as quarks andleptons interact, physicists seek to answer the bigquestions. How did the University begin? How can wecreate, trap, and harness antimatter? And can weunderstand what space and time are made of?Physics at Swansea University enjoys close collaborativeresearch partnerships with a range of organisations, includingthe European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva,the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Didcot, the KarlsruheInstitute of Technology, as well as many universities and institutesin Europe and the United States.The Department welcomes proposals for postgraduate researchprojects that complement staff research interests.Research degrees in Physics will:• provide you with new and specialised research skills• prepare you for a career in academic research and teaching• equip you with skills relevant for a rewarding career in arange of diverse fields.Research StrengthsThe Department supports a broad range of closely connectedresearch groups in three main research areas: atomic, molecularand laser physics; condensed matter and nanoscale physics;and theoretical particle physics.Atomic, Molecular and Laser PhysicsSpanning small scale lab research to large scale experiments:• Antihydrogen Physics. Swansea Physics lecturers are foundingmembers of the successful ALPHA collaboration. Last yearALPHA's trapping of antihydrogen was voted "Physics World2010 Breakthrough of the Year". The research is mainly doneat CERN, although theoretical studies are carried out locallyand in collaboration with Stockholm University• Low-energy positron physics. At Swansea, a unique lowenergy positron beamline capable of producing bursts ofabout 100,000 positrons at a rate of 10 Hz has beenconstructed. This will be used to investigate positronium energylevels and electron-position mixing• Neutrino mass. It has been discovered that neutrinos have nonzeromass. Swansea is part of a large multinationalcollaboration called KATRIN (Karlsruhe TRItium Neutrinoexperiment) which aims to make an absolute mass determinationby making a precise measurement of the betadecay spectrum oftritium near its endpoint. Postgraduate students involved with thisproject will spend part of their time in Karlsruhe• Ultra-fast atomic and molecular physics. In collaboration withgroups from UCL and QUB, ultra-fast effects in atoms andmolecules are studied using femtosecond lasers. Most of thiswork is done at the Astra Laser Facility at the RutherfordAppleton Laboratory in Didcot. Postgraduate students willshare their time between Didcot and Swansea• Ultracold atoms and degenerate quantum gases. Incollaboration with Imperial College, Swansea has workedon confining and manipulating cold atoms and Bose EinsteinCondensates in microtraps on atom chips. The group isdeveloping a sensitive atom chip interferometer which can beused to measure weak forces. A new research programmewhich aims to detect quantum degenerate gases usingnanoscale optics has started in Swansea.Condensed Matter and Nanoscale PhysicsThis group is interested in the fundamental understanding of theelectronic, structural, chemical and optical properties of materialson the nanoscale. Recently, a new collaboration has begun withthe School of Medicine to research the possibility of earlypathogen detection using Raman Microscopy. The group is partof the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre and thuspostgraduate students will have the opportunity to performresearch of an interdisciplinary nature and exploit techniquesfrom other disciplines.Theoretical Particle PhysicsSwansea University is home to one of the largest theoreticalparticle physics groups in the UK and Europe. Its work is aimedat an understanding of the fundamental particles of nature andtheir interactions.The work focuses on quantum field theories and theirmanifestation in particle physics and cosmology. This entails notonly some of the most sophisticated areas of modernmathematics but also numerical simulations using powerful,special-purpose computers. Core research interests include:• Gauge theories (supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric),especially in the areas of non-perturbative methods andelectromagnetic duality• String Theory methods to gain understanding on topics such asBlack Holes dynamics• The Ads/CFT correspondence andlarge-N gauge theories• The use of string inspired methods tocompute processes of fundamentalimportance in collider physics, and togain new valuable information on thehigh energy structure of quantum fieldtheories of gravity• Lattice gauge theories to study QuantumChromo Dynamics (the theory of quarksand gluons), particularly under extremeconditions of temperature and baryondensity• New developments regarding the studyof the Quark Gluon-Plasma thought toexist at high temperature• Considerations on well-knownsymmetries and their possible breaking,obtaining new insights into the structureof physics laws at high energies• The study of the Physics proposed to befound ‘Beyond the Standard Model’,mostly in the area of the SupersymmetricStandard Model and different dynamicalscenarios of electroweak symmetrybreaking, such as technicolour theories.Research opportunitiesMPhil, PhD, MSc byResearchRAE2008 50% of researchrated world-leading (4*) orinternationally excellent (3*)ProfessorsG AartsM CharltonS J HandsB LuciniG M ShoreAcademic and researchstaff 27Postgraduates 29C R AltonD C DunbarT J HollowoodC NunezH H TelleStaff also have research interests intheories of quantum gravity, particlecosmology, and condensed mattersystems. The newly discovered relationsamong these different topics makesSwansea one of the leading TheoreticalPhysics groups in Europe. The group hasclose connections with other leadinggroups in Europe, USA and Asia.Specialist equipment includes:• a low-energy positron beam with ahighfield superconducting magnetfor the study of positronium• a number of CW and pulsed lasersystems• scanning tunnelling electron andnearfield optical microscopes• a Raman microscope• a 72 CPU parallel cluster• access to the IBM-built ‘Blue C’Supercomputer at Swansea Universityand is part of the shared use of theteraflop QCDOC facility based inEdinburgh.Entry requirementsUsually at least a first-class BSc or 2.1 MPhysdegree (experiment), or a first-class MPhys degree(theory) in Physics or a related subject is required.English Language requirement:IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component)or Swansea University recognised equivalent.Scholarships and BursariesA range of postgraduate scholarships andbursaries is available. For details, please visitwww.swansea.ac.uk/scholarships/PostgraduateSupport for research students is available throughother sources, including the EPSRC and STFC, theEuropean Union, and industry.The Theoretical Particle Physics Group has threeSTFC-funded PhD studentships available eachyear. The Experimental Groups have EPSRC andLeverhulme studentships available.“The funding opportunitiesthat the Physics Departmentoffered, through the Scienceand Technology FacilitiesCouncil (STFC), was a majorfactor in applying to studyhere. The research andteaching in the Departmentprovides a good arena forpostgraduate work, withseminars from visitingphysicists in different fieldsalmost every week.”Sam Alston, PhD TheoreticalPhysicsFurther informationWebsite: www.swansea.ac.uk/physicsExperimental Group:Email: p.r.dunstan@swansea.ac.ukTel: +44 (0)1792 513052Theoretical Group:Email: a.armoni@swansea.ac.ukTel: +44 (0)1792 295848Visit the University: see page 182 fordetailsApplications can be made online atwww.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline– see pages 184 – 185 for furtherinformation.69RESEARCH DEGREES – PHYSICS
POLITICS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSAND DEVELOPMENT STUDIESPolitics is not just about studying government institutionsand international relationships. It is a discipline thathas explored different visions for a more just society forthousands of years, and yet still addresses some oftoday’s most pressing challenges.Politics, International Relations and Development Studies atSwansea investigates such issues as genocide, financial crises,the role of the US, and the future of political devolution. It askswhere threats to our society come from, and whether we canprevent them. We welcome proposals for postgraduate researchprojects that complement staff research interests.Research degrees in Politics and International Relations will:• equip you with skills relevant for a rewarding career in a rangeof diverse fields, including civil and intelligence services, localand national government, management, finance, teaching, andjournalism• prepare you for a career in academic research and teaching• provide you with new and specialised research skills.Research StrengthsStaff research interests cover three broad areas:• Political Theory: including domestic and international politicaland moral philosophy; liberalism and its critics; culture andpolitics; democracy and democratisation; post-structuralism;political theory and the media• British Government: including Welsh politics; devolution andlocal government; politics of New Labour; politicalcommunication• International Politics: including conflict studies; strategic andsecurity studies; arms control and nuclear security;globalisation; South-East Asia; the Middle East; Africa; spacepolicy; children and international relations; development andhuman rights; post-conflict reconstruction.Research Institute for Arts and HumanitiesThe Research Institute for Arts and Humanities (RIAH) supports twomajor Research Centres, including the The Callaghan Centre forthe Study of Conflict, Power, Empire, which produces world-classresearch in the areas of conflict and security, empire andpostcolonialism, ‘digital’ war, and conflict and culture.RIAH also supports a wide range ofresearch groups, which provide a focus forspecialist projects, postgraduate research,grant applications, seminar series, andcontact with external partners. Researchgroups include:• CECSAM, the Centre for theComparative Study of the Americas• C-SCAP, the Centre for the Study ofCulture and Politics• MEICAM, Modern European Ideologies,Conflict and Memory.For further information about RIAH, visitwww.swansea.ac.uk/artsandhumanities/riahAll research students in Politics, InternationalRelations and Development Studies belong tothe Graduate Centre in the College of Artsand Humanities. The Centre provides pastoralas well as administrative support and is alsoresponsible for research skills training andsupport, and facilitating a lively intellectualenvironment for the College's postgraduateresearch community of 200 students.70RESEARCH DEGREES – POLITICS, INTERNATIONALRELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIESResearch opportunitiesMA by Research,MPhil/PhDRAE2008 20% of research ratedworld-leading (4*) or internationallyexcellent (3*)ProfessorsR AxtmannN CooperM SheehanAcademic and research staff 22Postgraduates 172For further details about the Department,please see: www.swansea.ac.uk/artsandhumanities/AboutUs/PoliticalandCulturalStudiesEntry requirementsNormally a Master’s degree or a minimum 2.1 Honours degree which hasincluded research training appropriate for the proposed thesis project. Applicantsare encouraged to contact the Department informally to discuss their proposals.Scholarships and BursariesA range of postgraduate scholarships and bursaries is available. For details,please visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/scholarships/PostgraduateEnglish Language requirement:IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component) or Swansea Universityrecognised equivalent.“I feel I have been part of a vibrant researchenvironment – attending seminars, reading groups,workshops and conferences – and also presentingmy own PhD research to colleagues and staff. I wasable to access most of the research material for myPhD in the Library; however, when this was notpossible staff in the Library helped me to track downresources elsewhere.”Dr Nathan Roger, PhD International RelationsFurther informationWebsite: www.swansea.ac.uk/politicsContact the Admissions Tutor:Email: COAHGradCentreAdmissions@swansea.ac.ukTel: +44 (0)1792 295926Visit the University: see page 182 for detailsApplications can be made online atwww.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline – see pages184 – 185 for further informationFor details of the Master’s courses available inPolitics and International Relations,please see page 132.71RESEARCH DEGREES – POLITICS, INTERNATIONALRELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
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