Advanced Functional Materials MSc
Groups And Symmetries PHYS5007
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Physics and Astronomy
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 1
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course will introduce the fundamentals of group theory and how this relates to the principle of symmetry. These ideas will be applied to solid state physics and particle physics.
Timetable
Typically 2 lectures per week
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Assessment
Unseen examination.
Reassessment
In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.
Main Assessment In: April/May
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aims of this course are:
(1) To introduce the fundamental principles of group theory from a physics perspective.
(2) To discuss representation theory and irreducible representations, and their relevance to physics.
(3) To describe simple examples of discrete groups that have application in solid state physics.
(4) To describe simple examples of continuous groups that have application in particle physics.
(5) To describe the Lorentz and Poincaré groups and their use in physics.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
(1) Define and describe various discrete and continuous groups
(2) Explain the difference between Abelian and non-Abelian groups
(3) Explain the difference between reducible and irreducible representations of a group
(4) Specify the generators of the SU(2), SO(3), SU(3), Lorentz and Poincaré groups and the elements of the corresponding Lie groups
(5) Construct representations of the SU(N), SO(N) groups
(6) Explain the meaning of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and use them in physics applications