guide for studentsteishon

Guide for Students 35

GuideforStudents


AcademicStaffStaffmember Telephone

(secy)Room Group Email

Alexander,Prof.P 37477(37294) G24 AP [email protected],DrW 37416(37336) 413B SMF [email protected],DrM 66465(66298) 982 AMOP [email protected] Barnes,Prof.CHW 37487 361 TFM [email protected],DrJR 37434(37227) 953 HEP [email protected],Prof.JJ 37313 24IRC OE [email protected] Biggins,DrJS 37005 519 TCM [email protected],DrS 37267 238 BSS [email protected] 37302 G26 AP [email protected],DrC 37433 528 TCM [email protected],DrP 37462 237 BSS [email protected] Cole,DrJ 37470(37336) 429 SMF [email protected] Cooper,Prof.NR 65127 528 TCM [email protected],Prof.DameAthene M 37382(37423) 243 BSS [email protected],DrE 37267 238 OE [email protected] Ellis,DrJ 37410 427C SMF [email protected],Prof.CJB 37486(37482) 330 SP [email protected],Prof.SirRichardH 37218(37313) 32IRC OE [email protected],Prof.V 37373(37227) 958 HEP [email protected],DrDA 37305(37294) F30 AP [email protected],Prof.NC 66301(37313) 33IRC OE [email protected],DrBM 61014 961 HEP [email protected],DrFM 37352 409 QM [email protected] Gull,Prof.SF 37367(37294) F22 AP [email protected],Prof.Z 37004 835 AMOP [email protected] Haniff,Prof.CA 37307 F29 AP [email protected],Prof.MP 39992 F08 AP [email protected],DrHP 37327(37313) M210 OE [email protected],DrAC 37555 M232 ME [email protected] JardineWrightDrL 33318 212A Outreach [email protected] Jardine,DrAP 37207 427b SMF [email protected],DrANC tba AP Keyser,DrU 37272 239 BSS [email protected] Khmelnitskii,Prof.DC 37289(37254) 521 TCM [email protected] Lamacraft,DrA 37378 529 TCM [email protected],Prof.AN 37293(37294) K28 AP [email protected],DrCG 37232 952 HEP [email protected] Longair,Prof.MS 65953 G25 AP [email protected],Prof.R 61661 K35 AP [email protected],Prof.RJ 37384(37254) 535 TCM [email protected],DrE 48915 1.04 BSS [email protected],DrLA 37277 TFM [email protected],DrR 37310(37294) F21 AP [email protected],Prof.MA 37429 210 Headof

[email protected]@phy.cam.ac.uk

Payne,Prof.MC 37381(37254) 541 TCM [email protected],Prof.RT 37342(37313) 874 AMOP [email protected],Prof.DP 37083 F24 [email protected]


Richer,DrJS 37246 F28 AP [email protected],DrJM 37308 F23 AP [email protected],Prof.DA 37331/37255 361 SP [email protected],DrRDE 37301(37294) F08 AP [email protected],Prof.BD 37253(37254) 539 TCM [email protected],Prof.JF 37391 502 QM [email protected] Sirringhaus,Prof.H 37557 M208 ME [email protected],Prof.CG 37483(37482) 358 SP [email protected],Prof.EM 37003 245 BSS [email protected],Prof.MA 65122/(37227) 951 HEP [email protected],Prof.DR 37242(37227) 939 HEP [email protected],Prof.M 37380(37254) 505 TCM [email protected],Prof.S 37393(37294) 816B DP [email protected]

M indicatesMicroelectronicsBuilding, IRC indicatesInterdisciplinaryResearchCentre,F&G indicatesBattcockCentreandKindicatestheKavliBuilding.

AdministrationTheDepartmentscentraladministration is located in theBraggBuilding. EnquiriesareusuallydealtwithviaRoom206,between9:00and12:30,and14:00and17:00.

AimsandObjectivesTheQualityAssuranceAgency,throughitsinstitutionalauditoftheUniversity,isconcernedwiththeassuranceofthequalityofteachingandlearningwithintheUniversity.TheUniversityinturnrequireseveryDepartmenttohaveclearaimsandobjectivesandtomonitortheirteachingand learningactivitiesandconsiderchangeswherenecessary,andmeetvariouscriteriaconcerningmanagementofthequalityofitsteachingprovision.Studentsplayavitalroleinassistingwiththisqualityassurance,andtheDepartmentwelcomesconstructivecommentviatheStaffstudentConsultativeCommittee.

AppealsInformation about the procedure for examination warnings, allowances and appeals is available athttp://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/exams/undergraduate/exams.html.

AstronomicalSociety(CUAS)Astronomy isapopularbranchofphysicsand theAstronomicalSocietyprovidesan interestingseriesof lecturesonWednesdayeveningsduringtheMichaelmasandLentTerms,detailsofwhichcanbefoundonthesocietyswebpagehttp://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuas/.MembersoftheresearchgroupsoftheCavendishLaboratoryconcernedwithastronomyareoftenlecturersinthisseries.

BicyclesTheCavendishLaboratoryprovidesseveralcycleshedsandracks inwhichyoumay leaveyourbike,but itshouldbelockedwithasturdysecuritydevicewhennotinuse.SeveralseriousaccidentsoccureveryyearinvolvingstudentscyclinginCambridge:pleasecyclewithcare,useproperlightswhenrequiredandwearasafetyhelmet.

BooksThePhysicsCourseHandbookliststhemostimportantbookstobeusedinconjunctionwiththelectureandpracticalcourses.Readingandworkingthroughpartsofthesebooksare indispensableexerciseswhichareusuallyconsideredpartofthecourse.Manyofthebooksareexpensive,buttheymaybeobtainedatsubstantialreductionsbyattendingbooksalesand lookingoutforbargains listedonCollegenoticeboardsandthose intheCavendish.AllbooksrecommendedforPartIshouldbeavailableinCollegelibrariesortheRayleighLibrary.Ifyounoticeanyomissions,pleasefillinarequestsliptoensurethatthebookisordered.


BookshopsThemainbookshops fromwhich you shouldbe able toobtain the recommendedbooks areHeffers,CUP andWaterstones.AndthenthereisalwaysAmazon.Note:a20%discountisavailableattheCUPbookshopwithaUniversityCard.

BuildingsThe present Cavendish Laboratory comprises the extensive buildings south ofMadingley Road, the first ofwhichopened in1973.AmapoftheCavendishLaboratorysite isshownonthe insidebackcover.TheoriginalbuildingsonthissiteweretheRutherford,BraggandMottBuildings,namedafterformerCavendishProfessors,andtheworkshopbuildingbetweentheRutherfordandBraggbuildings.ThesehaveinthepastfewyearsbeensupplementedbyabuildingfortheInterdisciplinaryResearchCentre(IRC)inSuperconductivity(nowtheKapitzaBuilding),andafurtherbuildingfortheMicroelectronicsResearchGroupandHitachiCambridgeLaboratory.FurtherrecentadditionstothesitearetheMagneticResonanceResearchCentreof theChemicalEngineeringDepartment, the firstphaseof thePhysicsofMedicine (POM) building, which houses the laboratories for the Biological and Soft Systems sector (BSS), theNanoscienceCentreandtheTerrapinBuilding.ThemostrecentadditionistheBattcockCentreforAstrophysics,whichhousestheAstrophysicsGroupandislocatedonthenorthsideofMadingleyRoadclosetotheInstituteofPhysics.

CalculatorsWhenconsideringwhichcalculatortobuy,youmaywishtobearinmindthatonlycertaintypesarepermittedforuseinTriposexaminations.AmongthesearetheCasiomodelsavailablefromtheCavendishStores. CalculatorswillalsoneedtheofficialBoardofExaminationyellowstickerwhichcanbeobtainedfromtheBoardofExaminationofficesinMillLane.

CamCORSThesupervisionreportingsystem.SeeDatabases(below)

CamSISThestudentinformationsystem.SeeDatabases(below)

CamToolsCARETsVirtualLearningEnvironment.SeeDatabases(below)

CanteenSeeCommonRoom(below).

CareersTheUniversityCareersServiceislocatedinStuartHouse,MillLane(telephonenumber338288),andisfinancedbytheUniversitytoprovidestudentswith informationaboutcareersandassistancewithapplicationprocesses.TheServicemaintainsaninformationroomwhichcanbeusedduringnormalofficehours,andadditionallyprovidesexpertstafftoadvisestudentsaboutcareerrelatedissues.Askatthereceptiondesk.

CavendishLaboratoryTheCavendishLaboratoryisthenameofthebuildingwhichhouses(mostof)theUniversitysDepartmentofPhysics;thenamehasbecomesynonymouswiththedepartmentitself.ThelaboratorywasestablishedthroughthegenerosityofWilliamCavendish,SeventhDukeofDevonshire,whoendowedthe laboratory inthenineteenthcentury,togetherwiththeCavendishChairofExperimentalPhysics.TheoriginalCavendishLaboratorywaslocatedinFreeSchoolLane,andopenedin1874;theDepartmentmovedtothepresentmainsitein197374.ThehistoryoftheCavendishiswellillustratedintheCavendishMuseum,locatedintheBraggBuilding.

CavendishStoresNexttotheCommonRoomintheBraggBuildingisthecentralstoresofthewholelaboratory,theopeninghoursofwhichare8:0016:45.Thestoressellpastexaminationpapers,thebookletofmathematicalformulae,andcalculatorsforexaminations.


CheatingTheDepartmentconsiderstheactofcheatingasaseriousmatterandanyincidentwillbereportedtotheHeadofDepartment,whowillnormallyreferthecasetotheUniversityProctors.Itisunacceptableto: cheatduringoralorwrittentests copytheworkofothersandsubmitasyourown falsifyand/orinventexperimentaldataInthepracticalclasses,someexperimentsaredesignedtobecarriedout individuallyandsome incollaborationwithotherstudents.DiscussionamongstudentsandwithdemonstratorsandHeadsofClassisencouragedandyoumayuseanyhelpor insightsgained in thesediscussions to improveyourexperiment,yourunderstandingof thephysicsandyourwrittenreport.However,yourreportshouldbewrittenbyyou,followingtheguidelinesonwritingreports,andonlydatacollectedinyourexperimentshouldbepresentedasyourown.TheDepartmenthasaccesstothelatestantiplagiarismsoftwaretoolsandwillusethemfromtimetotimetomonitorcourseworksubmissionsforplagiarism,andsoensurefairnessforallstudents.

ClassingCriteriaTheDepartmentofPhysicshasapolicythatexaminerswillmarktoagreedcriteriaforwrittenexaminations.DuetothewayinwhichmarksfromdifferentsubjectsarecombinedtocreatethefinallistinPartsIAandIB,thecriteriausedinPhysicsarenotreflecteddirectlyintheclasslist.ForPartsIIandIII,theexaminationsareunderthedirectcontroloftheDepartment, in conjunctionwith scrutinybyExternalExaminers.The criteria for classing inPhysics are available athttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/classing.php.

CollegeYourCollegeordinarilyadmitsyoutotheUniversity,providesyouwithaccommodationandarrangesforyoursupervisions inParts IAand IB.Usually,butnotalways,yourDirectorofStudies inPhysicswillbeamemberofstaffof theCavendish,andwillbedirectly in touchwith theDepartment.MostCollegesaim toprovidesupervisionata rateofaboutonehourperweekforeachofPartIAPhysics,PartIBPhysicsAandPartIBPhysicsB.PartIIandPartIIIsupervisionisprovidedonbehalfoftheCollegesthroughaschemeadministeredintheDepartment.

CommonRoomTheCavendishcontainsalargeCommonRoomwhichisopentoallstudentsofPhysics.Itisopenforlightrefreshmentsfrom10:3016:30,andfor lunchfrom12:3013:45,onMondaystoFridays. Inadditionthere isanareaforrelaxationoutsidethelecturetheatres,wheretherearevendingmachinesforfoodanddrink.Room700onthebridgebetweentheRutherfordandBraggbuildings,abovethemetalstoresisavailableforprivatestudyforPtIIandIIIstudents.

ComplaintsIfyouhaveacomplaintabouttheteachingoradministration intheDepartment,take itupfirst, ifpossible,withthepersondirectlyconcernedinaconstructivemanner.Ifthisisnoteffective,orifthematterseemstobeofgeneralinterest,youmaywishtodiscussitwithyourcourserepresentativeontheStaffStudentConsultativeCommittee.ItmayalsobeusefultodiscussthematterwithyourDirectorofStudiesorTutor.Ifyourcomplaintissubstantial,byallmeanstake ittotheDirectorofUndergraduateteachingortheHeadofDepartment.There isalsoaformalUniversityComplaintsProcedure,ofwhichyoushouldhavereceiveddetails.Ifyouneedadviceonwhetherorhowtoproceedwithaformalcomplaint,youcouldaskyourCollegeTutororDirectorofStudies,oryourCUSUrepresentative,oranyphysicsmemberofstaff.(SeealsoHarassment,below.)

ComputingTheDepartment relieson theUniversityComputingService for theprovisionofcomputing facilities forundergraduates.TheManagedClusterService(MCSformallyPWF)is locatedclosetothePractical laboratories,whereyoucan


usenetworkedPCswitharangeofsoftwareforwordprocessing,spreadsheetcalculationanddataplotting.Mostcollegesalsoprovidesomefacilities.TheDepartmentmakesincreasinguseofcomputersinpracticalwork,andaimstodevelopspecificskillsintheuseofcomputersforsolvingproblemsinphysics.

CounsellingTheUniversityCounsellingServiceisat14TrumpingtonStreet(telephone32865),andisopen9:0017:30,MondaytoFriday. ItexiststohelpmembersoftheUniversitywhohaveproblemsofapersonaloremotionalnaturewhichtheywishtodiscussinconfidence.TheServiceiswidelyused,soitcanbeverybusy,anditisbesttomakeanappointmenteitherbytelephoneorinperson.Intimesofparticularstressaspecialeffortwillbemadetoseeyouquickly.AdviceonpersonalmattersisalwaysavailableinyourcollegethroughyourTutor.Specialassistance isprovidedbyLinkline (internal telephone44444,external line367575)and theSamaritans (telephone364455).

CoursesTheDepartmentofPhysicsoffersawiderangeofcoursesinPhysics,atundergraduateandpostgraduatelevel,manyofwhicharedetailed in theLectureListwhich isavailableonlinehttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/lecture.php frommidSeptember.Somespecialisedcoursesforpostgraduatestudentsarenotadvertised inthisway.ThedetailedsynopsesofthecoursesforTriposaregiveninthisHandbook,whichisdistributedatthebeginningoftheacademicyeartoallstudentstakingphysicscourses.

DatabasesStudentstakingcoursesinPhysicswillcomeacrossanumberofdifferentonlinedatabases.Becausetheseallusethesame loginmethod (Raven authentication: see below), it is not always obvious that these are different systems,whichforthemostpartdonot(yet)talktoeachother.Thefourmaindatabasesare:

CamCORStheCambridgeCollegesOnlineReportingSystem.SupervisorsusethistoreporttoDirectorsofStudiesandTutorsontheprogressoftheirsupervisees,andtoclaimfromthecollegesforthesupervisionsprovided.Ifcollegeschoosetoreleasetheinformation,studentscanviewtheirsupervisionreportsheredirectly.Seehttp://www.camcors.cam.ac.uk/

CamSISthestudentinformationsystem.Studentsusethistoenterforexams,and(whentheresultsareuploaded)tochecktheirTriposresults.PartIBNSTstudentsalsoindicatetheirPartIIsubjectchoicethroughthissystem.Seehttp://www.camsis.cam.ac.uk/

CamToolsaVirtualLearningEnvironment(VLE)runbyCARET,theCentreforAppliedResearchinEducationalTechnologies.MostPart IANST courseshave theirownpagesonCamTools.TheDepartmentofPhysicsuses instead theTeaching informationSystem (TiS;seebelow)whichpermitsbetter integrationwithotherDepartmentalsystems.Seehttp://camtools.cam.ac.uk/

TheTeaching InformationSystem (TIS)awebdatabasesystemrunbytheDepartmentofPhysics.Allcourse resourcesareprovidedhere. It is important thatall students registerdirectlywith theTISeachyear, in addition to entering for examinations on CamSIS. (see Registration: below). See http://wwwteach.phy.cam.ac.uk

DepartmentofPhysicsTheDepartmentofPhysicsistheadministrativeunitintheFacultyofPhysicsandChemistrywhichprovidesteachinginphysics leadingtothePart IIandPart IIIexaminations inPhysics.TheHeadofDepartment isProfessorAndyParker.YourdirectcontactwiththeDepartmentcanbethroughyourCollege(yourDirectorofStudiesinthefirstinstance)orthroughthestaffyouencounterinlecturesandpracticals.TheneedsofstudentsinPartIareusuallymetfullythroughCollegecontacts;inlateryearsdirectcontactwiththeDepartmentincreases.TheDepartmentprovidesvariousfacilitiesspecificallytohelpyouinyourstudyofphysics,manyofwhicharedescribedinthisdocument.


DirectorofStudiesYouwillhavebeenassignedaDirectorofStudiesinyourCollegepossiblyoneforPhysicsandanotherforNaturalSciencesoverall.Thispersonwillassignyoutosupervisorsduringyourfirsttwoyears,willmonitoryourprogressandtrytoassistyouifyouhaveproblems.IfyougetintodifficultieswiththecourseyoushoulddiscussthiswithyourDirectorofStudies,orwithyourTutor.IfforanyreasonyoufeelunabletodothisanymemberofstaffoftheDepartmentwillwillinglytrytoassistyou.

Disability TheDepartment ishappytocaterfortheneedsofstudentswithdisabilities. StudentswithdisabilitieswhichrequirespecialarrangementstobemadeshouldcontacttheTeachingOfficeingoodtime.

ElectronicMailElectronicmailiswidelyusedasagoodwaytocommunicatewithyoursupervisors,andalsoprovidesthemechanismforoffering commentson the coursesofferedby thePhysicsDepartment (seeYearGroups). It isalsousedby theTeachingOfficetocontactstudentswithinformationregardingexaminations,handinsandallotheradministrativeinstructions.

ExaminationsThemarksuponwhichyourdegree classification isbasedarederived froma combinationof continuouslyassessedwork,setpieces(suchasprojects)andexaminationpapers.ThereisonethreehourpaperinPhysicsforPartIA,twoforPartIBPhysicsA,twoforPartIBPhysicsB,andsevenoreighttwohourpapersforPartII.InPartIIImostexaminationsaretakenatthebeginningofthetermfollowingthatinwhichthecourseistaken;thereisa3hourpaperinGeneralPhysicsattheendofEasterterm.SeeNaturalSciencesTriposhttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/exams/andClassingCriteriahttp://ww.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/classing.phpfordetailsofthegradesthatmaybeobtained.Preparationforexaminationsisimportant,andthebestmethodtousevarieswidelybetweenindividuals.ThePhysicsDepartmenthasproducedsomeguidancewhichyoumightfindhelpfuland isavailableontheteachingpagesontheweb athttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/exam_skills.php. If youhaveproblems it isworthdiscussing themwithyoursupervisor,DirectorofStudiesoryourTutor,whomaybeabletoassistbysuggestingalternativeapproaches.Informationonthevariousstylesofquestions isavailableathttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/exam_questions.php,andyouwillfindabriefdescriptionofhowexaminersworkathttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/exam_workings.php.InternalexaminersareappointedeachyearforeachTriposexamination;twoexternalexaminersarealsoappointedforPartsIIandIII.TheReporterpublishesthenamesoftheexaminers.ForeachsubjectlistedbelowthereisaSeniorExaminerdrawnfromthestaffoftheDepartment,andtheytaketheresponsibilityforthesettingandmarkingoftheexaminationpapers,assistedbytheotherexaminers.Fortheacademicyear201415theSeniorExaminersare:

PartIAPhysics:DrJEllisPartIBPhysicsA:Prof.EMTerentjevPartIBPhysicsB:DrALamacraftPartIIPhysics:DrHPHughesPartIIHalfSubjectPhysics:DrHPHughesPartIIIPhysics:Prof.DRWardMASt:Prof.DRWard

Youshouldnotethat,bytraditioninordertoensurethattheexaminationprocessisbeyondreproachdirectcontactwiththeexaminers isnotencouraged. Ifyouhaveaproblemthatyoubelieveshouldbebroughtbeforeaparticularbodyofexaminers,theproperchannelisthroughyourTutororDirectorofStudies.


SelectivePreparationforExaminationsTherehasbeensomediscussionwithpaststudentsabouttheadvisabilityofditchingacourseinpreparationfortheexaminations.TheDepartmentgavethefollowingadvice:(1)Departmentalpolicyisthattheexaminationsshouldtestthewholecoursetakenbystudents.Theexaminationsaredesignedtotestthewiderangeofskillsandknowledgethathasbeenacquired.(2)Inanysectionofanexaminationpaper,thereislikelytobearangeofquestionswhichyouwillfindtohavedifferingdegreesofdifficultyandalsotestingdifferentaspectsofeachcourse.(3)Itisverydangerousindeedtoditchcourses.Itresultsinaverylimitedrangeofquestionswhichcanbeansweredhowdoyouknowtheyarenotallgoingtobeverydemanding?Itrequiresenormousefforttobesurethatyoucananswerwellanyquestionwhichcanbesetonanygivencourse.Itismuchsafer,andeducationallymuchsounder,toprepare forallthecourses forwhichyouareentered intheTriposexaminations.Youaremuchmore likelyto findtwoquestionsoutoffourinwhichyoucanperformwell.

ExamplesClassesFrom the third yearonwards ExamplesClasses areprovided as an important aid to your learning. They explore ingreaterdepthsomeparticular issuesrelated topartsofthe lecturecourse,andwithanumberofdemonstratorsonhandtheyshouldbeusedtostrengthenyourgraspofthecoursematerial.

ExamplesSheetsExamplessheetsareprovidedtoaccompanyeverylecturecourse,andareusuallydistributedoutsidethelecturetheatre.ItisthepolicyoftheDepartmenttoprovideexampleswhichcoverawiderangeofdifficulty,sodontexpecttobeabletodoallofthemwithoutsomeassistancefromyoursupervisor.Youshouldtrytoproducesatisfactorysolutionstoallofthedesignatedcoreexamplesforyoursubsequentuseinrevision,afterdiscussionofthematerialinasupervision.ManyofthequestionsaretakenfrompastTripospapers,sotheyprovidegoodpracticeinhandlingmaterialinthelecturecourses,chosentoreflectthepresentcontentofthecourse.

FacultyofPhysicsandChemistryTheDepartmentofPhysicsispartoftheFacultyofPhysicsandChemistry.

FeedbackTheDepartmentmakesagreatefforttoprovideexcellentcoursesandfacilities.Wegreatlyappreciatefeedbackfromstudentswhichhelpsusimproveourcourses.YourinputismosthelpfullydirectedthroughyourrepresentativeontheStaffStudentConsultativeCommittee (seebelow).Youwillbeemailed links to feedbackquestionnaires. Please fillthese inwithconstructivecommentstheseresponsesarethekey inputtotheConsultativeCommittee,andthe informationisthenpassedontothelecturers,HeadsofClassandsupervisors.You can also send suggestions or comments to the Director of Undergraduate Teaching ([email protected])ortheteachingoffice([email protected]).Studentsoftenbelievetheircommentsarenottakenseriouslyoractedupon.Thisisabsolutelynotthecase!Lecturersandotherstaffreadfeedbackcarefullyandattempt,wherepossibleandsensible,torespond.Almosteverycoursewegivehasbeenpositivelyimprovedbyconstructivestudentfeedback.Itreallymakesadifference.

FireAlarmsAllbuildingsareequippedwithfirealarms,andyoushouldtakenoteoftheinstructions,whicharepostedaroundthebuildings,fortheproceduretofollowincaseoffire.Thereisafiredrillatsometimeeachyear.Ifyouhearafirealarmleavethebuildingquicklyandquietlybythenearestfireexit.Donotstoptocollectyourpossessions.Donotuselifts.Firedoorsincorridorscloseautomaticallywhenthealarmsystemisactivated;theymustneverbeobstructed.Thesystemistestedbetween7.30amand8.30ameachMonday.Ifyoudiscoverafire,raisethealarmbybreakingtheglassatthenearestFireAlarmPoint,andevacuatethebuildingbythenearestsaferoute.IfitispossibletodosowithouttakingpersonalriskscalltheFireBrigade(telephone1999fromaUniversitynetworktelephone).


FormulaeAbookletofstandardmathematical formulae, identical to theone that ismadeavailable incertainexaminations, isavailable for purchase from Cavendish Stores and Classes Technicians or for downloading from the web athttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/students.php.Youareurgedtouseandbecomefamiliarwiththecontentsofthisbooklet,becauseithasbecomeclearinrecentTriposexaminationsthatmanystudentsarenotawareofthetimeitcansavetheminanexamination.

HandbookThePhysicsCourseHandbookisupdatedeachyear,anddistributedtostudentsofallyears.Itaimstobethedefinitivesource of information about the courses, the individual course synopses are available on the TIS athttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/students.php. Studentsmaybeinformedofcorrections,andupdates,duringtheyear,e.g. incoursehandoutsorbyemail. It isalsoavailableontheweb. Pleasesendanycomments,onerrorsoromissions,[email protected].

HarassmentTheUniversity iscommittedtocreatingandmaintaininganenvironmentforworkand learningwhich isfreefromallformsofdiscrimination.ThecentralauthoritiesoftheUniversityregardracial,sexualanddisabilityharassmentandbullying as wholly unacceptable behaviour. The information about harassment is available atwww.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/policy/dignity/.Anystudentwhofeelstheyarebeingharassedorbulliedracially,sexuallyorbecauseofadisability isencouragedtoseekadvice.TheDepartmentofPhysicshasappointed twoadvisorswhoareavailable tostudents forguidanceandsupport: DrBillAllison,Room413B&Tel:37416,Email:mailto:[email protected] DrJuliaRiley,Room916&Tel:37308,Email:julia@mrao.cam.ac.ukAdvicemayalsobeobtainedfromCollegeTutors.Contactwiththeadvisorswillbetreatedasconfidential.No informationaboutacomplaintwillbereleasedortakenanyfurtherwithoutthestudentsconsent.

InstituteofPhysicsTheInstituteofPhysicsisanationalbodythatexiststopromotephysics.TheStudentLiaisonOfficerfortheInstituteofPhysicsisEstherBennett([email protected]).Prof.MikePayne([email protected])istheCambridgeRepresentative,fromwhomapplicationformscanalsobeobtained.Followinggraduationyoumayobtain(accordingtoexperience)variousgradesofprofessionalmembership,CharteredPhysiciststatus,andseveralotherbenefitswhichmayhavesomebearingonobtainingajob.

LaboratoryClosureTheCavendishLaboratoryopensat8:00andclosesat18:00MondaytoFriday.OverChristmasandNewYeartheLaboratoryiscompletelyclosed.

LateSubmissionofWorkInaccordancewiththeUniversitysregulations,worksubmittedaftertheadvertiseddeadlinewillnotcounttowardsyourfinalexaminationmark,unlessanextensionoftime isgrantedonthegroundsthattherearemitigatingcircumstances.Foranyitemofworkamountingtomorethan10%ofthetotalfortheyear(forexampleaPartIIIProject),anyapplicationforsuchanextensionshouldbemadebyyourcollegeTutortotheUniversitysApplicationsCommittee.Foritemsofworkamountingtolessthan10%ofthetotalyearsmark,anyapplicationforanextensionshouldbemadebyyourcollegeTutororDirectorofStudies to theDirectorofUndergraduateTeaching,c/oTeachingOffice,CavendishLaboratory,([email protected]).Ineithercase,youshouldsubmittheworkassoonaspossibleafterthedeadline.


LecturehandoutsHandouts,containingmaterialtosupplement lectures,areusuallydistributedatthetimeoftherelevant lectureoutside the lecture theatre.Theamountofmaterialprepared isat thediscretionof the lecturer.Diverseopinionshavebeen(vociferously)expressedbystudentseachyearabouthandouts somewantvery littlematerial,otherswishtohavecopiesoflectureoverheads,otherswantasubstituteforabook.Whenlectureoverheadsaresuppliedthereareoftencriticismsthatthe lecturer isreadingfromthehandout!It isimpossiblefortheDepartmenttoprovidecoursesandhandoutswhichsatisfyeverydifferentpreference.Lecturehandoutsshouldberegardedasassistancebeyondthelecturematerial,optionallyprovidedbythelecturer,buttheycannotsubstituteforyourownreadingthroughthewiderangeoftextbooksavailablethroughouttheUniversity,andyoucannotreasonablyexpectthemto.Lecturehandoutsareavailableonthewebathttp://wwwteach.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/handouts.php.

LecturesDetails of lectureswill be found in the Lecture List published at the start of each academic year on theweb athttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/lectures.php.PartIAlecturesareusuallyheldintheBristolMyersSquibbLectureTheatre,TheChemicalLaboratory.PartIBPhysicsAandPhysicsBlecturesareusuallyheldintheCockcroftLectureTheatreontheNewMuseumsSite.PartIIandPartIIIlecturesareusuallyheldinthelecturetheatresattheCavendishLaboratoryorintheSacklerLectureTheatreattheInstituteofAstronomy.

LibrariesLibraryprovisioninCambridgeisoutstanding.YourCollegewillprobablyprovideacoreofphysicsbookstosupplementthoseyoubuy.UsuallytheCollegeLibrarianwillwelcomesuggestionsforadditionalpurchasesifyoufindomissionsofimportantbooksfromtheCollegeLibrary.TheDepartmentprovidestheRayleighLibrary, located intheBraggbuilding,andaspecialsectionhasbeensetasideforusebyPartIIandPartIIIstudents(seePartIIandPartIIILibrary,below).TheUniversityLibraryhasanextensivephysicscollection.PhysicsjournalsareheldintheRayleighLibraryandintheMooreLibraryinWilberforceRoad(seebelow).Onlineaccesstomanyphysicsjournalsisavailablewithinthecamdomain.

MAStThisisataughtpostgraduatecourse,whichconsistsofthesamecontentandassessmentasPartIIIPhysics.Thecourseisdesignedforstudentswhoholda3yearundergraduatedegreewhowishtopursuearesearchdegree.TheentryrequirementfortheMAStisaqualificationcomparabletoanuppersecondclassorbetterUKBachelorsdegreeinPhysics. InrecentyearswehavehadaMAStclassof1020studentswho joinusfromdegreeprogrammes intheUKandworldwide.TheintentionisthattheybecomefullyintegratedwiththePartIIIclass.

ManagedClusterService(MCSformallyPWF)TheMCSisanetworkofPCssupportedbytheComputingServiceandlocatedclosetothePracticalclasses.Itisusedtoassistwithdataanalysis,documentpreparationandspecificcomputingexercises.Youwillneedtoregisterasauser.SeealsoComputing(above).Printingfacilitiesareavailable.

MooreLibraryTheUniversitysmaincollectionofphysicalsciences,technologyandmathematicsjournalsiskeptintheMooreLibraryintheCentreforMathematicalSciences inWilberforceRoad (closetotheCavendish, justturn leftattheendofthefootpathleadingfromtheCavendishintotown,insteadofcontinuingdownAdamsRoad;thelargebuildingontherightnearthefarendoftheroadistheCMS).TousethecollectionyouneedtohaveaUniversityCard.ItisunlikelytobeusefultoyouuntiltheThirdandFourthyears.


NaturalSciencesTriposTheNaturalSciencesTripos(NST)istheofficialtitleofthedegreeexaminationscoveringtheNaturalSciences,includingPhysics.TheparticipatingDepartmentsoftheUniversityworktogethertoprovideawidechoiceofsubjectswhichcanbecombinedinagreatvarietyofwaystocaterfortheinterestsofeachstudent.ManystudentsseemunclearabouthowthePart IIandPart IIIexaminationsareClassed.The following isanextractfromnotespreparedinordertoclarifytheDepartmentspositiononthis:Part IIIoftheTripos isclassed intheusualway 1st,2.1,2.2,3rd.Parts IIand IIIoftheTriposare independentandmarksarenotcarriedforwardfromonetotheother.Degreesassucharenotclassed.StudentsgraduatefromtheUniversityasaB.A.withHonoursand,iftheyareclassedinPartIII,asanM.Sci.TheclassesareattachedtoaparticularTripos.Thusif,forexample,astudentobtainsaFirstinPartII,theywillbeentitledtosaythattheyobtainedFirstClassHonoursinPartIIoftheNSTwhatevertheirresultsinPartIII.IftheyalsoobtainagoodresultinPartIIIthentheycanaddthattotheircurriculumvitae.Iffutureemployers,postgraduategrantfundingagencies,etc.requiremoredetailedinformationthanjustthedegreecertificate,theywillnormallyreceivefromaCollegeortheUniversitythefullprofileofthestudentsachievementsduringtheiryearshere,notjusttheirresultinthefinalyear.ThisshouldenablethemtogiveproperweighttothePartIIresults.ItisworthnotingthatmanyofthekeydecisionsaboutjoboffersandplacesinresearchgroupswillbemadebeforethePartIIIresultsareknown,sothePartIIclassesarelikelytobeanimportantfactorinthosechoices.TheResearchCouncilsnormallyrequireaspecificstandardtobemetifstudentsaretobeeligibleforpostgraduatesupport.AtpresentastudentiseligibleforaResearchCouncilgrantifatleastanUpperSecondhasbeenattainedineitherPartIIorPartIII.It isunlikelythatapoorresult inPart IIIwould leadtoanofferofaplacefromanyuniversity,even iftheformalrequirementhadbeenattainedatPartII.SeealsoClassingCriteria,above.

PartIIandPartIIILibraryAnareaissetasideintheRayleighLibraryforusebyPartIIandPartIIIstudents,andthereisanextensivecollectionoftextbooksonallaspectsofphysics.These,andbooksfromthemainsectionoftheLibrary,maybeborrowedovernightaftercompletingtheborrowingprocedureatthedesknexttothemaindoortotheLibrary.Aquietareaforstudy isalsoavailableinthePartII/IIIstudyareaaccessiblefromthelinkbridgebetweentheBraggandRutherfordbuildings.

PastTripospapersRecentpapersarealsoavailableonthewebatwwwteach.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/examPapers.php.Rememberthatthecoursecontentchanges,sopastpapersmaycontainquestionsonmaterialwithwhichyouarenotnowexpectedtobefamiliar!

PersonalComputersManyCollegesprovidePCs,andyoumayalsouse thoseprovided in theCavendishby theManagedClusterService(MCSformallyPWF).SeeComputing(above).

PhilosophicalSocietyThePhilosophicalSociety isa longestablished society in theUniversitywhich,among itsvarious functions,putsoneveninglecturesintheBristolMyersSquibbLectureTheatre,DepartmentofChemistry.Someofthesearebyeminentphysicistsandallare intended forabroadaudience youare thereforemostwelcome toattend. Moredetailsareavailableathttp://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cps/.

PhysicsCourseHandbookSeeHandbook(above).

PhotocopyingPhotocopyingmaybecarriedoutinthecopyroomoftheRayleighLibrary.


PhysicsSociety(CUPS)ThePhysicsSocietyorganisesarangeoffunctions,includingeveninglectures.JoiningiseasyatthefirsteveninglectureorattheSocietiesFair.Moredetailsareavailableatwww.srcf.ucam.org/physics/wiki/index.php?title=Cambridge_University_Physics_Society.

PlagiarismSeeCheating(above).

PracticalClassesThePracticalClassesareanimportantandexaminablepartofyourcourse,andareconductedintheCavendishLaboratory.RegistrationproceduresareoutlinedintherelevantsectionofthisHandbook.

RayleighLibraryTheRayleighLibraryisprimarilyaresourceforresearch,butitincludesagreatmanyusefulreferenceworksaswellasoriginalresearchjournals.HereyoucanalsofindNewScientist,ScientificAmerican,PhysicsWorld(forthosewhodonthave theirowncopy!)andPhysicsToday.Allof theseareexcellentsourcesof informationabout the fastadvancingfrontiersofphysics.NexttothesectionwiththeseandothercurrentjournalsisthePartII&IIILibrary.Thereislimitedspaceforprivateworking.

RavenRaven istheUniversityofCambridgewebauthenticationserver.YouwillneedyourRavenpasswordto log intotheTeachingInformationSystem(q.v.),andtoaccess"camonly"material(suchaspastexaminationpapers)ontheteachingwebsitefromoutsidethecam.ac.ukdomain.IfyouusetheHermesmailstore,thenyoucangetyourRavenpassword at https://jackdaw.cam.ac.uk/getravenpassword. If you don't use Hermes, then you can request a Ravenpasswordfromhttp://ww.cam.ac.uk/cs/request/raven.html. IfyouhaveaRavenpasswordandyour login isrejectedbytheteachingsystem,pleaselettheTeachingOfficeknowyourCRSIDsothatwecanenableyouraccount.IfyouhavelostyourRavenpassword,oritdoesn'twork,thenseehttp://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/docs/faq/n3.html.

RecordingofLecturesAudioorvideorecordingoflecturesisnotgenerallyallowed.IfthereisaspecificreasonforneedingtorecordalecturethenarequestshouldbemadetotheTeachingOffice,whowillconsulttherelevantlecturer.TheDepartmentmayrequirethattherecordingismadebythelecturetheatretechnician.

RefreshmentsSeeCommonRoom.

RegistrationTheDepartmentrunsanextensivesetofteachingdatabases,andusesthese,forexample,tocontactallstudentsinanyparticularcategory.Inorderforustoreachyou,wefirstneedtoknowthatyouarehere.Youshouldreceive,fromtheDepartmentand/oryourDoS,aninvitationtoregistershortlybeforethestartoftheacademicyear.ThisdoesNOTenteryouforexaminations,orhaveanyofficialfunctionoutsidethePhysicsDepartment,butitdoesgetyouintothesystemsothatweknowyouarehere,andwhatyouaredoing.Wearethenabletoallocatedepartmentalsupervisionswhereappropriate,andtogiveyouaccesstoallrelevantinformation.

ReporterTheUniversityReporteristheofficialpublicationoftheUniversityinwhichannouncementsaremade.Thepaperversion of the Reporter is no longer be produced. For all official notices concerning examination procedures seehttp://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/.

ResearchTheCavendishisalargeandthrivingresearchlaboratory,withawiderangeofpresentdayinterestsinphysics,andafascinatingandillustrioushistory.Moreinformationabouttheresearchcanbefounddistributedaroundthelaboratory


intheformofposterdisplays,butanincreasingamountofinformationwillbefoundviaourHomePageontheWorldWideWeb:http://www.phy.cam.ac.ukResearchisorganisedintothefollowinggroups:

Abbreviation NameofResearchGroup ContactPhoneAMOP Atomic,Mesoscopic&OpticalPhysics 66298AP Astrophysics 37294BSS BiologicalandSoftSystems 37423/37007DP DetectorandOpticalPhysics 37294HEP HighEnergyPhysics 37227ME Microelectronics 37556OE Optoelectronics 37313NP NanoPhotonics 60945QM QuantumMatter 37351SMF Surfaces,Microstructure&Fracture 37336SP SemiconductorPhysics 37482TCM TheoryofCondensedMatter 37254TFMM ThinFilms,Magnetism&Materials 37336

SafetySafe conduct is legally the individual responsibilityof everyone in theworkplace,whether theybe studentor staffmember.AdditionallytheDepartmenthasspecific legalobligationsregardinghealthandsafety,whicharemonitoredbytheDepartmentSafetyandEnvironmentCommittee.Youwillbegiven informationabouthealthandsafety inthePracticalClassesinparticular;pleasetakeinthisinformation,andaccordittheimportanceitdeserves.Particularrulesapply toPart IIIProjectwork; theyaredetailed in thesectiondescribing thearrangements forprojects.TheDepartmentalSafetyOfficerisDr.JaneBlunt(Room220,Ext.37397,[email protected]).

CentralScienceLibraryTheUniversitysmaincollectionofscientificjournalshasbeensplitintotwo.Journalsrelatedtothephysicalsciences,technologyandmathematicsarekeptinthenewMooreLibraryintheCentreforMathematicalSciencesinWilberforceRoad(closetotheCavendish,justturnleftattheendofthefootpathleadingfromtheCavendishintotown,insteadofcontinuingdownAdamsRoad;thelargebuildingontherightnearthefarendoftheroadistheCMS).TheotherjournalsarekeptintheSPLinBenetStreet,whichwasoriginallythePhilosophicalSocietysLibraryandstillhousestheofficesoftheSociety.TousethecollectionyouneedtohaveaUniversityLibrarycard.It isunlikelytobeusefultoyouuntilthethirdandfourthyears.

SmokingTheentireDepartmentofPhysicshasbeendesignatedaNOSMOKINGAREA.

StaffStudentConsultativeCommitteeTheSSCCistheofficialchannelforthecommunicationofstudentsconcernstotheDepartment.ThereareoneortwostudentrepresentativesforeachofthecoursesprovidedbytheDepartment.ElectionstotheSSCCtakeplaceearlyintheMichaelmastermduringlectures.TheConsultativeCommitteeischairedbyDrJuliaRiley,andtheothermembersare theHeadofDepartment, theDirectorofUndergraduate teachingand theSecretaryof theTeachingCommittee.TheCommitteemeetsattheendofeachterm,justafterlecturesfinish,andamajorpartofitsbusinessistodiscussindetailthefeedbackoneachcourse,particularlyasreflectedbyquestionnaires.TheCommitteealsoprovidesfeedbacktotheTeachingCommitteeongeneralteachingissues.


TheCommitteesminutesareconsideredindetailbytheTeachingCommitteeandbytheHeadofDepartment,andaremadeavailableonthewebforaccesswithinCambridge(see www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/committees.php, wherethecurrentmembershipmayalsobefound).

SupervisionsSupervisionsareorganisedthroughyourcollegeforPartsIAandIB,andbytheDepartmentforPartII.Supervision inlargergroupsisorganisedbytheDepartmentforPartIII.Youarenormallyexpectedtoattendeverysupervisionwhichyouhavearranged,asacourtesytoyoursupervisoraswellasinordertobenefityourownstudies.Youshouldexpecttobeaskedtohand inworkforeachsupervision, insufficienttimeforyoursupervisorto lookthroughtheworkandidentifyanypotentialproblems.Ifforsomereasonyouhaveproblems,pleasecontactyourDirectorofStudies inthefirst instance,evenforsupervisionsarrangedbytheDepartment.

SynopsesModeratelydetailedsynopsesarepublishedforeverycourseofferedbytheDepartment;thesynopseshavebeenarrivedatafterlongdeliberation,consultation,anddebatewithintheDepartment.TherelationshipbetweencoursesishandledbytheTeachingCommittee,andeveryeffort ismadetorefinethesequence inwhichmaterial ispresented.Someproblemsremain;theseshouldjustbetheonesforwhichnoclearcutsolutionwasavailable,butincasetherearedifficulties foryouwhichhavenotbeen identified inadvance, theStaffStudentConsultativeCommitteealwayswelcomesdirectfeedbackviayourrepresentative.

TeachingCommitteeTheTeachingCommitteeconcernsitselfwithallaspectsofteachingintheDepartmentofPhysics.Itoverseesthestructureoflecturecoursesandpracticals,andweighsupinformationaboutthesuccessofthecoursesregularlyduringtheacademicyear.ThebestrouteforcommunicatinginformationtothecommitteeisthroughyourrepresentativeontheStaffStudentConsultativeCommittee,whichitselfreportstotheTeachingCommittee.TheChairoftheCommitteeisDrJohnRicher(DirectorofUndergraduateteaching)andtheSecretaryDrRichardBatley.

TeachingInformationSystemTheTiSisawebinterfacetothevariousteachingdatabasesmaintainedbytheDepartment.PartIAstudentscanviewtheirpracticalmarksontheweb;PartIIandIIIstudentscanselectResearchReviewsandProjectshere,andcanviewtheirfurtherworkmarksinthesamewayiftheyhavebeenreleased.Allsupervisionsarrangedbythedepartmentarelisted,andyoucanusethesystemasaneasywaytoemailyoursupervisorsandsupervisionpartners(forPartsIIandIII).Allhandouts,forallyears,arenowavailableviatheTiS,http://wwwteach.phy.cam.ac.ukNotethatyoumustfirstberegistered(see"Registration")forthecurrentyearinordertogainaccesstothesefacilities,andthatmanyofthemrequireyoufirsttologin,usingyourRavenpassword(seeunder"Raven").

TeachingOfficeThePhysicsDepartmenthas aTeachingOfficewhich is situated in theBraggbuilding,Room212B, tel.65798.TheTeachingOfficeisrunbyHelenMarshallandisopenforgeneralenquiriesandsubmissionofwrittenreportsatregulartimesduringfullterm.Enquiriescanalsobemadetoitsemailaddress:[email protected].

TelephonesThe internaltelephonenetworkoftheuniversityprovidesfreecallsbetweenextensions,mostofwhichhaveafivedigitnumber.Toreachanextensionfromanotherexchangelineoutsidethenetwork,thenumberisprefixedwitha3.(Somerecentlineshave5digitnumberbeginningwitha6,forwhichtheprefixwhendiallingfromoutsideisa7).Fordetails,seetheinternaltelephonedirectory.


TransferableSkillsWehaveidentifiedasetoftransferableskillsthatphysicsundergraduatescanexpecttoacquireinCambridge.Aswellasbeingneededforacademicperformance,theseskillsaresoughtafterbyemployers,andstudentsareencouragedtodevelopthem.Thedetailscanbefoundonthewebathttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/students.php

UniversityLibraryTheUniversityLibraryisanamazingresourcefortheUniversity(andinmanydisciplines,fortheinternationalacademiccommunity).Youmaybesurprisedathowusefulitcanbeforyou.However,sinceitissolargeitcanbealittlecomplicated.YourUniversityCardisrequiredtogainaccesstotheUniversityLibrary.Youcannottakebagsetc.intothelibraryforsecurityreasons,butyoucanleavetheminthemetallockerstobefounddownafewstepsontherighthandsideoftheentrancehallway.Thekeysarereleasedbytheinsertionofa1coin,whichisreturnedtoyouwhenyouopenthelocker.MostoftherelevantphysicsbooksaretobefoundontheshelvesinSouthFront,Floor4easilylocatedonthemapsdisplayedthroughoutthebuilding.Youneedtoknowthatinordertomaximisestorage,booksareshelvedincataloguesequence,butsplit intodifferentsizecategories.Thismeansthatyoumightfindfourdifferentsetsofbookson,say,atomicphysics thesize is indicatedbya lettera,b,c inthecataloguenumber.Theyareeasytofindonceyouknowthis!Periodicals(serials)havenumbersprefixedwithP.An increasingproportionofthe7,500,000 items in the inventoryof the libraryareappearingon thecomputercatalogue,whichcanbeaccessedfromanycomputerterminalwhichcanconnecttothenetwork.Thecataloguewilltellyouwherethebookshouldbefound(egSF4 i.e.SouthFrontFloor4)andwhetherornot it isouton loan(and ifso,whenitisdueback).ThesamecataloguesystemallowsyoutocheckyourCollegelibrarycatalogue(formostofthecolleges)andthatoftheRayleighLibrary.TheULcatalogueisavailableathttp://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/.WebsiteTheCavendishLaboratoryshomepagehttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/hasnoticesabouteventsintheCavendish,listsofstaffanddetailsoftheactivitiesofthevariousresearchgroups,aswellasteachingmaterialandinformation.ThisPhysicsCourseHandbookandteachingmaterialforvariouscoursescanbefoundathttp://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/teaching/.TheTeachingwebpagesalsoprovidelinkstotheTeachingInformationsystem(q.v.),andtocertainmaterialthatisnotgenerallyavailabletoaddressesoutsidethecam.ac.ukdomain.

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