Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Mathematics & Physics School
Mathematical structures and symmetries of physical systems. Illustrative examples may be drawn from classical and quantum many-body systems, integrable and (quasi-)exactly solvable models, conformal field theory, and supersymmetry.
The goal of this course is to give an introduction to a range of topics in Mathematical Physics that are relevant to modern research in this field.
The first part of the course will look into an introduction to the mathematical methods used to develop and analyse integrable models in classical and quantum mechanics, particularly many-body systems. Students will study a variety of applications of algebraic structures and methods to such systems.
The second part of the course will look into statistical field theories that arise from the continuum limit of lattice models. This complementary part of the course will introduce concepts related to field theory, such as the notion of fields and their symmetry transformations under different symmetry groups, an introduction to critical phenomena, renormalisation in field theory, renormalisation group theory, and integrable classical field theory if time permits at the end.
Course requirements
Assumed background
A basic understanding of the principles of quantum mechanics and related algebraic methods (e.g. Lie algebras, representation theory) as presented in MATH3103. It is expected that students will have some experience with complex analysis, as presented in MATH3401.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
MATH3401
Companion or co-requisite courses
You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:
MATH3103
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MATH4104, MATH4106
Course contact
Tutor
Mr Anthony Parr
Tutor
Mr Christian Kennedy
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Tutorials will begin in week 2 and will run for the first part of the course, till Wednesday of week 7 included. The second part of the course will be a combined lecture and tutorial style, with a reading component for the students.
There will be no activities on public holidays. Alternative arrangements will be made and communicated via Blackboard
All classes will be conducted on campus. Consult your personal timetable for times and locations. Students are expected to attend these sessions in person unless they have a valid reason for being unable to attend (such as illness). Important: if you are ill, then do not attend any classes in person. Alternative arrangements can be organised – consult Blackboard for details.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is to introduce a variety of topics and techniques relevant to research in mathematical physics. This includes concepts and techniques in the context of quantum integrable systems and field theories. Throughout the course, the student should be able to demonstrate how these concepts and techniques may be exploited in the analysis of certain systems to gain insights into physical properties.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Discuss and interpret the importance of symmetry in the development of theories in mathematical physics.
LO2.
Explain how algebraic structures provide the mathematical framework to describe symmetries
LO3.
Understand the continuum limit of lattice models that leads to (quantum and statistical) field theories.
LO4.
Employ renormalisation techniques in field theories and understand universal features of critical phenomena.
LO5.
Apply and evaluate appropriate methods for the analysis of various classical and quantum systems in mathematical physics.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set | Assignments | 40% ,10% for each assignment |
Assignment 1: 16/08/2024 5:00 pm Assignment 2: 6/09/2024 5:00 pm Assignment 3: 1/10/2024 5:00 pm Assignment 4: 22/10/2024 5:00 pm |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Final assessment
|
60% |
To be advised - during the final examination period |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Assignments
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 40% ,10% for each assignment
- Due date
Assignment 1: 16/08/2024 5:00 pm
Assignment 2: 6/09/2024 5:00 pm
Assignment 3: 1/10/2024 5:00 pm
Assignment 4: 22/10/2024 5:00 pm
Task description
The four assignments are equally weighted. Each student is to submit their own solutions by the due date and time.
Submission guidelines
All assignments have to be submitted exclusively in digital form on blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Solutions for assessment item/s are planned to be released 7 days after the assessment is due and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Final assessment
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
To be advised - during the final examination period
Task description
This final piece of assessment replaces the traditional final exam and is to be completed during the final exam period. It will be non-invigilated and in the form of a PDF file that you will download from Blackboard. The final assessment is a take-home, open-book assignment. Students have to solve the assessment by themselves, though they are allowed to use any written and online resources (excluding online student forums and generative AI). You can print the assignment and write in the places provided (where applicable), or write your answers on blank paper, or write electronically on a suitable device. You will then scan or photograph your work if necessary and upload your answers to Blackboard as a single pdf file. You will be advised of a 24-hour period during the examination period when you must complete this assessment item. You can access and submit your paper at any time within the 24 hours. Even though you have the entire 24 hours to complete and submit this assessment, the expectation is that it will take students around 4 hours to complete. Note that late penalties will be strictly applied as described below.
Note also that a deferred assignment will not be available. If you are unable to attempt the assessment item at the advertised time, then you must apply for an extension through the normal channels before accessing the question paper.
Hurdle requirements
In order to achieve a passing grade, students must achieve a mark of at least 40% on the final assessmentSubmission guidelines
Upload to Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A deferred final assignment will not be available. If you are unable to attempt the assessment item at the advertised time, then you must apply for an extension through the normal channels before accessing the question paper. If an extension is approved, then you must not access the question paper until the start of the revised 24-hour period allocated for you to complete the assessment.
Extension requests submitted after accessing the question paper will not be considered unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit the final assessment on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for this assessment item, then the listed penalty will be deducted per block of 30 minutes, up to 3 hours, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 30-minute block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark less than 20% will obtain a grade of 1. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark of at least 20% and less than 45% will obtain a grade of 2. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark of at least 45% and less than 50% will obtain a grade of 3, as will students who obtain a final mark of 50% or more, but obtain a mark of less than 40% on the final assessment. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark of at least 50% and less than 65% will obtain a grade of 4, provided that they obtain a mark of at least 40% on the final assessment. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark of at least 65% and less than 75% will obtain a grade of 5, provided that they obtain a mark of at least 40% on the final assessment. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark of at least 75% and less than 85% will obtain a grade of 6. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students who obtain a final mark of at least 85% will obtain a grade of 7. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment in this course will be in the form of a 12-hour written assessment, of a similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. The supplementary assessment will take the .
Additional assessment information
Artificial Intelligence
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates
Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
- Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
- If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
- If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
- If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
- For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
- Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
- If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
- There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.
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Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
See the information given in the library learning resources. Some lecture notes will also be provided. Many other resources are available in the library and online which may also be of benefit. These will be mentioned during class where appropriate, and lecture notes and whiteboard notes from the lectures will be uploaded on blackboard.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures by A/Prof Jon LINKS and Dr Gabriele TARTAGLINO MAZZUCCHELLI |
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 13 |
Tutorial |
Tutorials There will be one tutorial class per week to work on assignments and discuss course content. The first 7 weeks will have allocated a separate tutor. In the second part of the course, Dr Tartaglino Mazzucchelli will merge lectures and tutorial times, recommending an interactive environment in the class. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.