University of Sydney Handbooks - 2021 Archive

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Physics

Honours

Honours in Physics is embedded within the Bachelor of Advanced Studies. Students are required to successfully undertake a 24-credit-point research project, under the supervision of a member of physics staff. An indicative list of projects is available on the School of Physics Student Portal. Students are also required to take 24 credit-point of 4000-level coursework selective units.

Honours in Physics is available to students with a major in physics, subject to requirements on their average grades. Admittance into the program is determined by the Faculty of Science, and requires that a staff member first agree to supervise the student's research project.

Honours Coordinator:

E

Errata
Item Errata Date
1.

The following unit has been cancelled for 2021:

PHY4017 Practitioner Physics

9/3/2021
Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session

PHYSICS (HONOURS)

The Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) (Physics) requires 48 credit points from this table including:
(i) 18 credit points of 4000-level Honours coursework selective units from List 1, and
(ii) 6 credit points of 4000-level Honours coursework selective units from List 1, or List 2, or List 3, and
(iii) 24 credit points of 4000-level Honours research project units

Honours Coursework Selective

List 1
PHYS4121
Advanced Electrodynamics and Photonics
6    A A major in physics including third-year electromagnetism and third-year optics
P An average of at least 65 in 144 cp of units including (PHYS3x35 or PHYS3x40 or PHYS3941)
Semester 1
PHYS4122
Astrophysics and Space Science
6    A A major in physics
P An average of at least 65 in 144 cp of units
Semester 1
PHYS4123
General Relativity and Cosmology
6    A A major in physics and knowledge of special relativity
P An average of at least 65 in 144 cp of units
Semester 2
PHYS4124
Physics of the Standard Model
6    A A major in physics including third-year quantum physics and third-year particle physics
P An average of at least 65 in 144 cp of units including (PHYS3X34 or PHYS3X42 or PHYS3X43 or PHYS3X44)
Semester 2
PHYS4125
Quantum Field Theory
6    A A major in physics including third-year quantum physics
P An average of at least 65 in 144 cp of units including (PHYS3x34 or PHYS3x42 or PHYS3x43 or PHYS3x44 or PHYS3x35 or PHYS3x40 or PHYS3941 or PHYS3x36 or PHYS3x68 or MATH3x63 or MATH4063 or MATH3x78 or MATH4078)
Semester 1
PHYS4126
Quantum Nanoscience
6    A A major in physics including third-year quantum physics and third-year condensed matter physics
P An average of at least 65 in 144 cp of units
Semester 2
List 2
PHYS4015
Neural Dynamics and Computation
6    A First- and second-year physics
P 144cp of units including (MATH1x01 or MATH1x21 or MATH1906 or MATH1931) and MATH1x02
Semester 2
PHYS4016
Bayesian Data Inference and Machine Learning
6    A 48 credit points of 3000-level units of study and programming experience in Python
P 144 credit points of units of study including (12cp of MATH1XXX) or [(6cp of MATH1XXX) and DATA1X01]
Semester 2
PHYS4017
Practitioner Physics
6    A 48cp of 3000-level units, and a major or minor in Physics
P 144 credit points of units of study including 12cp of PHYS1XXX
Semester 1
PHYS4036
Condensed Matter and Particle Phys (Hons)
6    A (MATH2X21 or MATH2X61 or MATH2067). Students will need to have some knowledge of special relativity, for example from prior study of PHYS2013 or PHYS2913, or from studying Chapter 12 of "Introduction to Electrodynamics" by D.J. Griffith.
P 144 credit points of units of study including [6 credit points of (PHYS3X34 or PHYS3X90 or PHYS3991) and 6 credit points of (PHYS3X42 or PHYS3X43 or PHYS3X44)]
N PHYS3036 or PHYS3936 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3074 or PHYS3974
Semester 1
PHYS4037
Plasma and Astrophysics (Hons)
6    A (MATH2X21 or MATH2X61 or MATH2067)
P 144 credit points of units including (PHYS3X35 or PHYS3X40 or PHYS3941)
N PHYS3037 or PHYS3937 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3944
Semester 2
SCIE4001
Science Communication
6    A Completion of a major in a science discipline. Basic knowledge of other sciences is beneficial. Experience in communication such as delivering oral presentations and producing written reports. An awareness of science in a societal context, e.g., of disciplinary applications.
P 144 credit points of units of study and including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A.


Mid-year honours students would take this unit of study in S1 (their second semester of study).
Semester 1
SCIE4002
Experimental Design and Data Analysis
6    A Completion of units in quantitative research methods, mathematics or statistical analysis at least at 1000-level.
P 144 credit points of units of study and including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A.
N ENVX3002 or STAT3X22 or STAT4022 or STAT3X12
Intensive March
SCIE4003
Ethics in Science
6    A Successful completion of a Science major.
P 144 credit points of units of study and including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A
N HSBH3004 or HPSC3107
Intensive August
Intensive March
List 3
HPSC4101
Philosophy of Science
6    P 12 credit points of HPSC3XXX or PHIL3XXX or HSTY3XXX
Semester 1
MATH4061
Metric Spaces
6    A Real analysis and vector spaces. For example (MATH2922 or MATH2961) and (MATH2923 or MATH2962)
P An average mark of 65 or above in 12cp from the following units (MATH2X21 or MATH2X22 or MATH2X23 or MATH3061 or MATH3066 or MATH3063 or MATH3076 or MATH3078 or MATH3962 or MATH3963 or MATH3968 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3977 or MATH3978 or MATH3979)
N MATH3961
Semester 1
MATH4062
Rings, Fields and Galois Theory
6    P (MATH2922 or MATH2961) or a mark of 65 or greater in (MATH2022 or MATH2061) or 12cp from (MATH3061 or MATH3066 or MATH3063 or MATH3076 or MATH3078 or MATH3962 or MATH3963 or MATH3968 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3977 or MATH3978 or MATH3979)
N MATH3062 or MATH3962
Semester 1
MATH4063
Dynamical Systems and Applications
6    A Linear ODEs (for example, MATH2921), eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix, determinant and inverse of a matrix and linear coordinate transformations (for example, MATH2922), Cauchy sequence, completeness and uniform convergence (for example, MATH2923)
P (A mark of 65 or greater in 12cp of MATH2XXX units of study) or [12cp from (MATH3061 or MATH3066 or MATH3076 or MATH3078 or MATH3961 or MATH3962 or MATH3968 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3977 or MATH3978 or MATH3979)]
Semester 1
MATH4068
Differential Geometry
6    A Vector calculus, differential equations and real analysis, for example MATH2X21 and MATH2X23
P (A mark of 65 or greater in 12cp of MATH2XXX units of study) or [12cp from (MATH3061 or MATH3066 or MATH3063 or MATH3076 or MATH3078 or MATH3961 or MATH3962 or MATH3963 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3977 or MATH3978 or MATH3979)]
N MATH3968
Semester 2
MATH4069
Measure Theory and Fourier Analysis
6    A (MATH2921 and MATH2922) or MATH2961
P (A mark of 65 or greater in 12cp of MATH2XXX units of study) or [12cp from the following units (MATH3061 or MATH3066 or MATH3063 or MATH3076 or MATH3078 or MATH3961 or MATH3962 or MATH3963 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3977 or MATH3978 or MATH3979)]
N MATH3969
Semester 2
MATH4071
Convex Analysis and Optimal Control

This unit of study is not available in 2021

6    A MATH2X21 and MATH2X23 and STAT2X11
P [A mark of 65 or above in 12cp of (MATH2XXX or STAT2XXX or DATA2X02)] or [12cp of (MATH3XXX or STAT3XXX)]
N MATH3971
Semester 1
MATH4074
Fluid Dynamics
6    A (MATH2961 and MATH2965) or (MATH2921 and MATH2922)
P (A mark of 65 or above in 12cp of MATH2XXX ) or (12cp of MATH3XXX )
N MATH3974
Semester 1
MATH4076
Computational Mathematics
6    A (MATH2X21 and MATH2X22) or (MATH2X61 and MATH2X65)
P [A mark of 65 or above in (12cp of MATH2XXX) or (6cp of MATH2XXX and 6cp of STAT2XXX or DATA2X02)] or (12cp of MATH3XXX)
Semester 1
MATH4077
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics
6    A 6cp of 1000 level calculus units and 3cp of 1000 level linear algebra and (MATH2X21 or MATH2X61)
P (A mark of 65 or greater in 12cp of MATH2XXX units of study) or [12cp from (MATH3061 orMATH3066 or MATH3063 or MATH3076 or MATH3078 or MATH3961 or MATH3962 or MATH3963 or MATH3968 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3978 or MATH3979)]
N MATH3977
Semester 2
MATH4078
PDEs and Applications
6    A (MATH2X61 and MATH2X65) or (MATH2X21 and MATH2X22)
P [A mark of 65 or greater in 6cp from (MATH2X21 or MATH2X65 or MATH2067) and a mark of 65 or greater 6cp from (MATH2X22 or MATH2X61)] or [12cp from (MATH3061 or MATH3066 or MATH3063 or MATH3076 or MATH3961 or MATH3962 or MATH3963 or MATH3968 or MATH3969 or MATH3971 or MATH3974 or MATH3976 or MATH3977 or MATH3979)]
N MATH3078 or MATH3978
Semester 2
MATH4079
Complex Analysis
6    A Good knowledge of analysis of functions of one real variable, working knowledge of complex numbers, including their topology, for example MATH2X23 or MATH2962 or MATH3068
P (A mark of 65 or above in 12cp of MATH2XXX) or (12cp of MATH3XXX)
N MATH3979 or MATH3964
Semester 1
MATH4311
Algebraic Topology
6    A Familiarity with abstract algebra and basic topology, e.g., (MATH2922 or MATH2961 or equivalent), (MATH3961 or equivalent) and (MATH2923 or equivalent).
Semester 2
MATH4312
Commutative Algebra
6    A Familiarity with abstract algebra, e.g., MATH2922 or equivalent.
Semester 2
MATH4313
Functional Analysis
6    A Real Analysis (e.g., MATH2X23 or equivalent), and, preferably, knowledge of Metric Spaces.
Semester 1
MATH4314
Representation Theory
6    A Familiarity with abstract algebra, specifically vector space theory and basic group theory, e.g., MATH2922 or MATH2961 or equivalent.
N MATH3966
Semester 1
MATH4315
Variational Methods

This unit of study is not available in 2021

6    A Assumed knowledge of MATH2X23 or equivalent; MATH4061 or MATH3961 or equivalent; MATH3969 or MATH4069 or MATH4313 or equivalent. That is, real analysis, basic functional analysis and some acquaintance with metric spaces or measure theory.
Semester 2
MATH4411
Applied Computational Mathematics
6    A A thorough knowledge of vector calculus (e.g., MATH2X21) and of linear algebra (e.g., MATH2X22). Some familiarity with partial differential equations (e.g., MATH3X78) and mathematical computing (e.g., MATH3X76) would be useful.
Semester 1
MATH4412
Advanced Methods in Applied Mathematics
6    A A thorough knowledge of vector calculus (e.g., MATH2X21) and of linear algebra (e.g., MATH2X22). Some familiarity with partial differential equations (e.g., MATH3X78) and mathematical computing (e.g., MATH3X76) would be useful.
Semester 2
MATH4413
Applied Mathematical Modelling

This unit of study is not available in 2021

6    A MATH2X21 and MATH3X63 or equivalent. That is, a knowledge of linear and simple nonlinear ordinary differential equations and of linear, second order partial differential equations.
Semester 1
MATH4414
Advanced Dynamical Systems

This unit of study is not available in 2021

6    A Assumed knowledge is vector calculus (e.g., MATH2X21), linear algebra (e.g., MATH2X22), dynamical systems and applications (e.g., MATH4063 or MATH3X63) or equivalent. Some familiarity with partial differential equations (e.g., MATH3978) and mathematical computing (e.g., MATH3976) is also assumed.
Semester 2
MATH4511
Arbitrage Pricing in Continuous Time
6    A Familiarity with basic probability (eg STAT2X11), with differential equations (eg MATH3X63, MATH3X78) and with basic numerical analysis and coding (eg MATH3X76), achievement at credit level or above in MATH3XXX or STAT3XXX units or equivalent.
Semester 1
MATH4512
Stochastic Analysis
6    A Students should have a sound knowledge of probability theory and stochastic processes from, for example, STAT2X11 and STAT3021 or equivalent.
Semester 2
MATH4513
Topics in Financial Mathematics
6    A Students are expected to have working knowledge of Stochastic Processes, Stochastic Calculus and mathematical methods used to price options and other financial derivatives, for example as in MATH4511 or equivalent
Semester 2
STAT4021
Stochastic Processes and Applications
6    A STAT2011 or STAT2911, and MATH1003 or MATH1903 or MATH1907 or MATH1023 or MATH1923 or MATH1933 or equivalent. That is, students are expected to have a thorough knowledge of basic probability and integral calculus and to have achieved at credit level or above in their studies in these topics.
N STAT3011 or STAT3911 or STAT3021 or STAT3003 or STAT3903 or STAT3005 or STAT3905 or STAT3921.
Semester 1
STAT4022
Linear and Mixed Models
6    A Material in DATA2X02 or equivalent and MATH1X02 or equivalent; that is, a knowledge of applied statistics and an introductory knowledge to linear algebra, including eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
N STAT3012 or STAT3912 or STAT3022 or STAT3922 or STAT3004 or STAT3904.
Semester 1
STAT4023
Theory and Methods of Statistical Inference
6    A STAT2X11 and (DATA2X02 or STAT2X12) or equivalent. That is, a grounding in probability theory and a good knowledge of the foundations of applied statistics.
N STAT3013 or STAT3913 or STAT3023 or STAT3923
Semester 2
STAT4026
Statistical Consulting
6    P At least 12cp from STAT2X11 or STAT2X12 or DATA2X02 or STAT3XXX
N STAT3926
Semester 1
STAT4027
Advanced Statistical Modelling
6    A A three year major in statistics or equivalent including familiarity with material in DATA2X02 and STAT3X22 (applied statistics and linear models) or equivalent
P (STAT3X12 or STAT3X22 or STAT4022) and (STAT3X13 or STAT3X23 or STAT4023)
Semester 2
STAT4028
Probability and Mathematical Statistics
6    A STAT3X23 or equivalent: that is, a sound working and theoretical knowledge of statistical inference.
N STAT4528
Semester 1
STAT4528
Probability and Martingale Theory
6    A STAT2X11 or equivalent and STAT3X21 or equivalent; that is, a good foundational knowledge of probability and some acquaintance with stochastic processes.
N STAT4028
Semester 1

Honours Core Research Project

PHYS4103
Physics Honours Project A
6      Semester 1
Semester 2
PHYS4104
Physics Honours Project B
6    C PHYS4103
Semester 1
Semester 2
PHYS4105
Physics Honours Project C
6    C PHYS4104
Semester 1
Semester 2
PHYS4106
Physics Honours Project D
6    C PHYS4105 and SCIE4999
Semester 1
Semester 2
SCIE4999
Final Honours Mark
     Semester 1
Semester 2