Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Jason Twamley
Convenor
Gavin Brennen
2.407 7 WW
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit covers topics in mathematical physics including: differential equations and group theory. The aim is to develop effective problem solving strategies, and where possible, the examples will be taken from the physical sciences. In the first topic the primary focus is on ordinary differential equations covering topics from first order equations and how to classify and solve them, through to higher order equations and more general techniques such as reduction of order, Laplace transforms, Green functions and series solutions. The second topic covers discrete groups and continuous Lie groups and Lie algebras. Group representations are introduced with the examples from Abelian and non-Abelian groups. Irreducible representations, unitary representations, Shur's Lemma, and orthogonality relations are covered in the context of discrete groups. Compact and non-compact Lie groups and their generating Lie algebras are presented with several examples making the connection between symmetries and conservation laws, e.g. space-time symmetries and the Poincare group.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Classes
Mixed Lecture and Tutorial/discussion, as well as work on Mathematica in the PC laboratory.
The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at:
https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2018/
Required and Recommended Texts
The recommended texts are :
Teaching and Learning Strategy
The theoretical aspects of this unit are taught in lectures and tutorials with fortnightly assignments to strengthen the understanding of the material. In addition there will be problem solving sessions using Mathematica in the PC laboratory. The material is heavily mathematical in nature, and often abstract, and true understanding can only be achieved through testing and refining understanding through problem solving.
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