Type: Compulsory – AC Track – 1st Trimester This course introduces the physical and mathematical foundations describing how radiation is generated, interacts, and propagates in astrophysical environments. Covering both classical processes and modern applications in stellar, extragalactic, and cosmological contexts, topics include radiative transfer, thermal and non-thermal radiation, radiative transitions, line broadening mechanisms, synchrotron emission, and radiative processes in galaxy formation and cosmology. An optional module explores molecular structure and transitions.
Reading List
Radiative Processes in Astrophysics, George B. Rybicki & Alan P. Lightman see here
This course offers an in-depth exploration of how stars form, evolve, and end their lives, integrating theoretical models with observational evidence. It begins with the physics of star formation within molecular clouds, introducing the role of gravity, turbulence, and magnetic fields in triggering stellar birth. Students will study the equations governing stellar structure, energy transport mechanisms (radiative and convective), and nuclear fusion processes powering stars at different evolutionary stages.
The programme examines the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram as a diagnostic tool, the classification of stellar populations, and the life cycles of stars of various masses—from low-mass stars like the Sun to massive stars that end as supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes. Special attention is given to binary systems, stellar pulsations, and the interpretation of multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observations.
Hands-on sessions include the analysis of real observational data, enabling students to connect theoretical predictions with actual measurements, and to familiarise themselves with the techniques used in modern astrophysics. This subject provides an essential foundation for advanced study and research in stellar astrophysics and related areas.
Reading List
The internal constitution of the stars. Arthur S. Eddington. 1926. Cambridge Science Classics.
Structure and Evolution of the Stars. M. Schwarzschild. 1958. Dover Pub. Inc., New York.
Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis. D. Clayton. 1968. McGraw Hill Inc., New York.
Stellar Structure and Evolution. R. Kippenhahn & A. Weigert. 1990. Springer-Verlag.
The Stars. E.L. Schatzman & F. Praderie. 1993. Springer-Verlag.
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of quantum information and quantum computation, exploring their theoretical foundations, applications, and physical implementations. It addresses the concept of quantum entanglement both as an essential resource for quantum computing and communication, and as a tool for analyzing many-particle systems.
The syllabus ranges from classical computation models (Turing machine, circuit model, and logic gates) and thermodynamic principles of information (Landauer’s principle, Szilard engine) to key quantum phenomena such as the no-cloning theorem, quantum teleportation, and dense coding. Fundamental quantum algorithms are studied (including Deutsch, Grover, Quantum Fourier Transform, Phase Estimation, and Shor) along with universal quantum computation.
The course delves into quantum information theory (density matrix, Schmidt decomposition, generalized measurements, Shannon and Schumacher theorems) and techniques for characterizing and measuring entanglement. It also examines decoherence, quantum noise, noisy channels, and strategies for quantum error correction and fault tolerance.
A core component of the training is hands-on experience: students will use online quantum computing platforms such as IBM Quantum Experience and work with Qiskit to design, simulate, and execute simple quantum circuits.
Reading List
M.A. Nielsen and I.L. Chuang, Quantum computation and quantum information. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2000).
J. Preskill, Notes on Quantum Computation. N.D. Mermin, “Quantum computer science: an introduction”. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2007).
Experimental High Energy Physics: Physics at the LHC
This course provides an overview of the current state of experimental particle physics at the LHC, introducing students to the key measurements leading to test the Standard Model, including the electroweak and strong sectors and searches beyond the Standard Model.
The course is divided into five blocks:
Introduction to accelerator and detector instrumentation and reconstruction of observables: the key elements of modern high-energy accelerators and detectors, the fundamentals and techniques of experiments in high-energy physics and methods for reconstructing particle properties are reviewed. Emphasis on the LHC accelerator and its experiments is given.
Tests of QCD at the LHC: introduction to the main reactions, such as processes involving jets, photons and heavy quarks, used at the LHC experiments to test the strong sector of the Standard Model.
Tests of the electroweak sector at the LHC: introduction to the main reactions, such as processes involving W and Z bosons, used at the LHC experiments to test the electroweak sector of the Standard Model.
Tests of the Standard Model and searches: measurements of top quarks (production and decay), measurements of Higgs boson (production and properties) and searches for new phenomena and particles at the LHC.
The final block of the course consists on a hands-on practical learning through supervised projects using real data from the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC. Students will practice programming, data analysis, and visualization, develop strategies for signal selection, control background noise, and evaluate statistical significance in a proposed project.
Reading List
Instrumentation
W.R. Leo; Techniques for Nuclear and Particle-Physics Experiments; Springer-Verlag Berlin (1987, available online from CERN library).
Richard Clinton Fernow; Introduction to Experimental Particle Physics; Cambridge University Press (open access: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009290098; Online publication date: November 2022).
History of particle physics (experiment and theory)
Robert N. Cahn, G. Goldhaber; The Experimental Foundations of Particle Physics; Cambridge University Press (1993).
Andrew Pickering; Constructing Quarks; The University of Chicago Press (1984).
A. Ferrer, E. Ros; Fisica de partículas y de astropartículas; Publicaciones Universidad de Valencia (2005).
The Standard Model: theory and experiment
Francis Halzen & Alan D. Martin; Quarks & leptons: an introductory course in modern particle physics; Wiley (1984, available online).
Vernon D. Barger & Roger J.N. Phillips; Collider physics; Westview Press (1997)
R. K. Ellis, W. J. Stirling & B. R. Webber; QCD and Collider Physics; Cambridge University Press (open access: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511628788; Online publication date: May 2010).
ATLAS & CMS physics: 13 TeV legacy articles
ATLAS Collaboration, Climbing to the Top of the ATLAS 13 TeV data, Phys. Rep. 1116 (2025) 127-183, arXiv:2404.10674 [hep-ex].
ATLAS Collaboration, Electroweak, QCD and flavour physics studies with ATLAS data from Run 2 of the LHC, Phys. Rep. 1116 (2025) 57-126, arXiv:2404.06829 [hep-ex].
ATLAS Collaboration, Characterising the Higgs boson with ATLAS data from Run 2 of the LHC, Phys. Rep 1116 (2025) 4 -56, arXiv:2404.05498 [hep-ex]
ATLAS Collaboration, Exploration at the high-energy frontier: ATLAS Run 2 searches investigating the exotic jungle beyond the Standard Model, Phys. Rep. 1116 (2025) 301-385, arXiv:2403.09292 [hep-ex].
ATLAS Collaboration, The quest to discover supersymmetry at the ATLAS experiment, Phys. Rep. 1116 (2025) 261-300, arXiv:2403.02455 [hep-ex]
ATLAS Collaboration, ATLAS searches for additional scalars and exotic Higgs boson decays with the LHC Run 2 dataset, Phys. Rep. 1116 (2025) 184-260, arXiv:2405.04914 [hep-ex].
CMS Collaboration, Stairway to discovery: a report on the CMS programme of cross section measurements from millibarns to femtobarns, Physics Report 1115 (2025) 3, arXiv:2405.18661 [hep-ex].
CMS Collaboration, Review of searches for vector-like quarks, vector-like leptons, and heavy neutral leptons in proton-proton collisions at √s= 13 TeV at the CMS experiment, Physics Reports 1115 (2025) 570, arXiv:2405.17605 [hep-ex].
CMS Collaboration, Dark sector searches with the CMS experiment, Physics Reports 1115 (2025) 448, arXiv:2405.13778 [hep-ex].
CMS Collaboration, Overview of high-density QCD studies with the CMS experiment at the LHC, Physics Reports 1115 (2025) 219, arXiv:2405.10785 [hep-ex].
CMS Collaboration, Searches for Higgs boson production through decays of heavy resonances, Physics Reports 1115 (2025) 368, arXiv:2403.16926 [hep-ex].
CMS Collaboration, Review of top quark mass measurements in CMS, Physics Reports 1115 (2025) 116, arXiv:2403.01313 [hep-ex].
This course explores the key unresolved questions in the Standard Model of Fundamental Interactions and the theoretical approaches proposed to address them. Students will examine topics such as chiral symmetry and light quarks, anomalies and their phenomenological impact, the hierarchy and flavour problems, neutrino physics, and the strong CP problem.
The syllabus covers:
Symmetries of the Standard Model and the nature of fermion masses (Dirac and Majorana).
Anomalies, B–L conservation, and chiral symmetry.
Effective field theories and the hierarchy problem.
Flavour physics: CKM and PMNS matrices, CP violation, the GIM mechanism, and matter–antimatter asymmetry.
Neutrino oscillations, experimental results, and the Seesaw mechanism.
The strong CP problem, electric dipole moments, and the axion.
Through lectures and discussions, students will gain a deeper understanding of the conceptual and experimental challenges that drive research beyond the Standard Model, equipping them with the knowledge base needed to engage with cutting-edge developments in particle physics.
Reading List
Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics, T.-P. Cheng & L.-F. Li (Oxford University Press)
Dynamics of the Standard Model, J. Donoghue, E. Golowich & B. Holstein (Cambridge University Press)
This advanced Quantum Field Theory (QFT) course focuses on the path integral formulation as a unifying framework to describe and compute physical processes in high-energy physics. The course builds a deep understanding of renormalization in QFT, with a strong emphasis on gauge theories—both abelian (QED) and non-abelian (QCD). Students will develop technical skills to derive Feynman rules from the path integral, calculate loop corrections, and analyze the behavior of couplings via Renormalization Group (RG) equations.
A significant part of the course is devoted to the spontaneous breaking of symmetries—both global and local—and the Higgs mechanism, providing the theoretical foundation for the mass generation of gauge bosons in the Standard Model. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the mathematical and conceptual tools needed for cutting-edge research in theoretical particle physics and related fields.
Reading List
T. Banks, Modern Quantum Field Theory: A Concise Introduction, Cambridge University Press.
M. Peskin & D. Schroeder, An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, Addison-Wesley.
M. Srednicki, Quantum Field Theory, Cambridge University Press.
S. Weinberg, The Quantum Theory of Fields, Vols. I & II, Cambridge University Press.
A. Zee, Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, Princeton University Press.
J. Collins, Renormalization, Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics.
M. D. Schwartz, Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model, Cambridge University Press.
Type: Optional– PEC Track – 1st Trimester This course provides a solid foundation in the key mathematical tools used in modern theoretical physics, with a focus on differential geometry, group theory, and probability & statistics. Students will not only learn the theory but also apply these methods to real physical problems and data analysis. Emphasis is placed on mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and collaborative work.
Main Topics
Differential Geometry – Manifolds, tensor algebra, vector bundles, connections, curvature, Riemannian geometry, and basics of manifold topology.
Group Theory – Lie groups and algebras, representation theory, classification of algebras, and applications to symmetries in physics (Poincaré, Lorentz, internal symmetries).
Probability & Statistics – Probability distributions, estimators, hypothesis testing, Bayesian statistics, and Monte Carlo simulations.
Reading List
Group Theory: 1) H. Georgi: “Lie Algebras in Particle Physics”, 2) H.F. Jones: “Groups, Representations and Physics” 3) J.F. Cornwell: “Group Theory in Physcis”, Vols. 1,2
Differential Geometry: 1) Nash, Sen: “Topology and Geometry for Physicists” 2) M. Nakahara: “Geometry, Topology and Physics”
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the Standard Model (SM), the fundamental theoretical framework describing electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions. Students will explore the structure, symmetries, and phenomenology of the SM, along with its experimental verification.
Main Topics
Structure and symmetries of the Standard Model.
Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) refresher.
Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and strong interactions.
Electroweak theory and unification.
Higgs mechanism and mass generation.
Flavour physics, mixing, and CP violation.
Experimental tests and validation of the SM.
Skills Acquired
Understand the theoretical foundations of the SM and its construction.
Describe the role of symmetries and conservation laws in particle physics.
Explain how mass arises via the Higgs mechanism.
Connect theoretical predictions with experimental results.
Reading List
T.-P. Cheng & L.-F. Li, Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics.
I. Aitchison & A. Hey, Gauge Theories in Particle Physics.
This course introduces Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in the operator formalism, providing the essential tools to describe interactions among elementary particles. Beginning with the quantization of scalar and spinor fields, students progress to Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), symmetry principles, and an introduction to non-abelian gauge theories. The course blends conceptual foundations with practical computational techniques, including Feynman diagrams, scattering amplitudes, and renormalization.
Main Topics
Foundations of QFT – Motivation, connection between quantum mechanics and special relativity, spin–statistics, locality, and causality.
Scalar Fields – Canonical quantization, propagators, vacuum energy, Casimir effect, and interactions in scalar theories (λϕ⁴, Yukawa).
Spinor Fields – Dirac and Weyl equations, chirality, Majorana fermions, fermion quantization, and Feynman rules for fermions.
Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) – Gauge invariance, quantization of the electromagnetic field, QED Feynman rules, key scattering processes (Bhabha, Compton), and loop corrections.
Renormalization – Power counting, divergences, dimensional regularization, and electron self-energy.
Non-Abelian Gauge Theories – Lagrangians for gauge fields and fermions, gauge invariance, running couplings, and asymptotic freedom.
Reading List
An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, M.E. Peskin and D.V. Schroeder. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co. (1995).
The Quantum Theory of Fields, Vols. I and II, S. Weinberg. Cambridge Univ Press (1995). Curso 2018-2019.
Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, A. Zee. Princeton University (2003).
Quantum Field Theory, M. Srednicki. Cambridge Univ Press (2007).
Modern Quantum Field Theory, T. Banks. Cambridge Univ Press (2008).
Quantum Field Theory, C. Itzykson and J.B. Zuber. McGraw Hill (1980).
Field Theory: a Modern Primer, P. Ramond. Benjamin (1981).
This course covers advanced mathematical and theoretical tools for modern gravitational physics. It combines in-depth study of differential geometry, Hamiltonian formulations of General Relativity, and black hole thermodynamics, with an introduction to extensions of Einstein’s theory.
Main Topics
Advanced differential geometry: differential forms, Lie groups and algebras, Yang–Mills fields, spinors in curved space, first-order formalism of General Relativity, and elements of supergravity.
Hamiltonian formalism of GR: ADM mass, time, and conserved quantities.
Conserved charges in gauge and gravitational theories: Komar integrals, Abbott–Deser approach, Witten’s positive mass theorem.
Black hole thermodynamics: laws of black hole mechanics, cosmic censorship, singularity theorems, horizon topology, and no-hair results.
Extensions of GR: scalar–tensor theories, f(R)f(R)f(R) gravity, Lovelock theories, topological terms, and 3D gravity.
Reading List
Spacetime and Geometry, Carroll, Cambridge University Press (2019)
Gravitation; Misner, Thorne, Wheeler, and Freeman (1970)
General Relativity; Wald, The University Chicago Press (1984)
Gravitation and Cosmology; Weinberg, Addison Wesley (1978)
Gravity: Newtonian, Post Newtonian, Relativistic; Poisson and Will, Cambridge University Press (2014)
The large scale structure of spacetime; Hawking and Ellis, Cambridge University Press (1973)
