course list for cross-institutional course enrolment ... · demonstrate understanding of various...

Course list for Cross-Institutional Course Enrolment (Semester 1, 2020-21) Faculty of Science The University of Hong Kong Last update: July 31, 2020

Course Code Course Title

Level (RPG/TPG) RPG: for research postgraduates; TPG: for taught postgraduates

Prerequisites (if any)

Quota for non-HKU Students (if any)

Course URL Contact Person (if applicable)

Remarks (if any) (Please specify here if the medium of instruction is NOT English.)

BIOL6009 Advanced studies in Ecology & Biodiversity for postgraduate students

RPG Students will select one BSc course in SBS

EASC6009 Earth Systems Through Time RPG Course

syllabus refers

https://www.earthsciences.hku.hk/prospective-students/postgraduate-students/research-postgraduates/coursework-requirement

Dr Ryan McKenzie

TT will be decided until after meeting with students.

PHYS8450 Graduate electromagnetic field theory RPG Pass in

PHYS4450

https://webapp.science.hku.hk/sr4/servlet/enquiry?Type=Course&course_code=PHYS7450

Prof Z D Wang

https://www.earthsciences.hku.hk/prospective-students/postgraduate-students/research-postgraduates/coursework-requirement


PHYS8552 Physics of quantum liquids RPG Dr C J Wang

PHYS8654 General relativity RPG

Pass in PHYS2055 and PHYS3350


Dr M Su

PHYS8750 Nanophysics RPG


Prof S J Xu

STAT6009 Research Methods in Statistics RPG [email protected]

STAT6010 Advanced Probability RPG [email protected]



BIOL6009 Advanced studies in Ecology & Biodiversity for postgraduate students

OBJECTIVES This course aims to provide student centred learning opportunities which will be designed for each individual student. Students will be required to take parts of existing Masters courses or advanced courses from the BSc curriculum which are considered necessary for their particular needs and which they have not previously taken. Opportunities for internships with local conservation organizations (1 day per week over at least one semester), that will allow students to gain relevant practical experience, may also be available.

ASSESSMENT Examination (70-80%) and continuous assessment (20-30%) depending on the studies selected; pass/fail

Coordinator: Prof. Gray A Williams

EASC6009 (Earth Systems Through Time) Academic Year 2020 - 21

Offering Department Earth Sciences Compulsory (C)/

Elective (E)

E

Course Co-ordinator Dr. Ryan McKenzie ([email protected])

Teachers Involved Variable depending on topics each semester

Course Objectives Evaluate various integrative Earth systems in space and time.

Course Contents & Topics Biogeochemical and tectonic processes that influence Earth’s surface

environment. Each semester topics may cover: “Origin of the Continental

Crust”, “The Carbon Cycle”, “Oxygenation of the Atmosphere”, “Mountains and

Climate”, amongst others.

Course Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students should:

1) generate an understanding of “systems science” as pertaining to topics in

Earth and Planetary Sciences;

2) understand topics covered such that they can actively participate in critical

research-related discussions, as well as provide coherent presentations

explaining the fundamentals of specified topics; and

3) understand topics to the level that they can formulate new scientific questions

relevant to their personal research, from which they can generate new ideas for

future scientific proposals of their own.

Pre-requisites

(and Co-requisites and

Impermissible combinations)

A degree or significant experience in Earth, Atmospheric, Environmental, or

Biological Sciences, or a closely related field.

Offer in 2020 - 2021 Yes (1st sem and 2nd sem) Examination No Exam

Offer in 2021 - 2022 Yes

mailto:[email protected]

Course Grade Pass/Fail

Grade Descriptors Pass Completion of weekly objectives. Demonstrate understanding of various topics

covered, primarily through active participation in group discussions and ability ot

present and lead discussion on select topics. Short writing exercise on select topic to

be determined with instructor.

Fail Lack of participation, failure to present/lead discussions on select topics or complete

course objectives.

Course Type Lecture-based / discussion-based

Course Teaching

& Learning Activities

Activities Details No. of Hours

Lectures 2 hours/week

Assessment Methods

and Weighting

Methods Details Weighting in final

course grade (%)

Assignment Participation in readings &

discussion, leading

discussion via presentation

of select readings.

80%

Project report 3-page mock proposal of

topic agreed upon by

instructor.

20%

Required/recommended

reading and online materials

Scientific journal articles TBD each semester.

Additional Course Information

PHYS8450 Graduate Electromagnetic Field Theory

Offering Department Physics

Course Co-ordinator Prof Z D Wang, Physics < [email protected] >

Teachers Involved Prof Z D Wang, Physics

Course Objectives The aim of this course is to provide students with the advanced level of

comprehending on the theory of classic electromagnetic field, enabling them

to master key analytical tools for solving real physics problems.

Course Contents &

Topics

This course will introduce and discuss the following topics: Boundary-value

problems in electrostatics and Green Function method, Electrostatics of

Media, Magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations and conservation laws, Gauge

transformations, Electromagnetic waves and wave guides.

Course Learning

Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. analyse and solve various electrostatic and magnetostatic problems with

Green's Function

2. comprehend and explain many electromagnetic phenomena

3. recognise and comprehend the important concepts of conservation laws

and gauge transformations, which should be very helpful for doing

research in future

Pre-requisites

(and Co-requisites

and

Impermissible

combination)

---

Offer in 2019 - 2020 Y 1st sem Examination Dec

Offer in 2020 - 2021 Y


Grade Descriptors Pass Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills

required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and

critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to

apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply

highly effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply highly effective lab

skills and techniques. Critical use of data and results to draw appropriate and insightful

conclusions.

Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for

attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical

and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve

problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.

Course Type Lecture-based elective course

Course Teaching



Lectures 36

Tutorials 12

Reading / Self study 80

Assessment Methods

and Weighting

Methods Details Weighting in

final

course grade (%)

Assignments 30

Examination 3-hour written

examination

70

Required/recommend

ed reading

and online materials

J.D. Jackson: Classical Electrodynamics (John Wiley & Sons, 1999)

L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz: Classical Theory of Fields (Pergamon, 1982)

Additional Course

Information

---

PHYS8552 Physics of Quantum Liquids


Course Co-ordinator Dr. C.J. Wang, Physics < [email protected] >

Teachers Involved Dr. C.J. Wang, Physics

Course Objectives The collective behavior of systems consisting of many particles (bosons or

fermions) gives rise to new states of matter, which emerge at low

temperatures where interactions are important. This course aims to introduce

the students to those novel quantum states, emphasizing the general themes

such as elementary excitations, broken symmetry, hydrodynamic description,

and topological properties of condensed matter. Theoretical language useful

in the interpretation of experiments, such as response functions, will be

discussed. The emphasis will be on a selected few examples that illustrate the

above concepts and techniques. The course is intended for both

experimentalists and theorists.

Course Contents &

Topics

This course will concentrate on the phenomena of emergent many-body states

that require not only the effects of quantum mechanics, but also that of

quantum statistics to its proper explanation. Examples include: superfluidity,

superconductivity and the quantum Hall states. We will emphasize on the

interaction effects and discuss the primary feature brought about by the

interaction. Some general themes related to these quantum states, such as

elementary excitation, Ginzburg-Landau description and symmetry breaking

will be discussed.

Course Learning

Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. understand the general phenomenology of superfluidity and its

definition

2. apply response function formalism to understand simple experiments

and carry out analysis based on analytic properties based on response

function

3. understand the many-body phenomena based on many-body wave

functions and can describe the elementary excitations on top of it.

Pre-requisites Student should have passed PHYS4351, Advanced Quantum Mechanics,

(and Co-requisites

and

Impermissible

combination)

PHYS4550, Advanced Statistical Mechanics.


Offer in 2020 - 2021 To be confirmed








conclusions.






Course Teaching



Lectures 36

Guided studies 12

Assessment Methods

and Weighting


final

course grade (%)

Continuous assessment including

homework assignments and term

paper

100

Required/recommend

ed reading

D. Pines and N. Nozieres, Theory of Quantum Liquids, in two volumes

(Westview Press, 1994)

and online materials James F. Annett, Superconductivity, Superfluids, and Condensates, Oxford,

2004

D. Pines and N. Nozieres, Theory of Quantum Liquids, in two volumes,

Westview Press, 1994

A.J. Leggett, Quantum Liquids, Oxford, 2006

P. Chaikin and T. Lubensky, Principles of Condensed Matter Physics,

Cambridge, 2000

M. Tinkham, Introduction to Superconductivity, 2nd Edition, Dover, 1996

P. de. Gennes, Superconductivity of Metals and Alloys, Westview Press,

1999

D. Yoshioka, The Quantum Hall Effect, Springer, 2002

R.E. Prangle and S. Girvin, The Quantum Hall Effect, Springer, 1989

J.K. Jain, Composite Fermions, Cambridge, 2007

X.-G. Wen, Quantum Field Theory of Many-Body Systems: From the Origin

of Sound to an Origin of Light and Electrons, Oxford Graduate Texts, 2007

Additional Course

Information

---

PHYS8654 General Relativity


Course Co-ordinator Dr M Su, Physics < [email protected] >

Teachers Involved Dr M Su, Physics

Course Objectives To introduce students to the field of general relativity. To provide conceptual

skills and analytical tools necessary for astrophysical and cosmological

applications of the theory.

Course Contents &

Topics

The Principle of equivalence. Inertial observers in a curved space-time.

Vectors and tensors. Parallel transport and covariant differentiation. The

Riemann tensor. The matter tensor. The Einstein gravitational field equations.

The Schwarzschild solution. Black holes. Gravitational waves detected by

LIGO.

Course Learning

Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. apply the mathematical and physical ideas of the theory of general

relativity for the study of various systems in astrophysics and

cosmology

2. explain the observational effects at the scale of the Solar System that

cannot be described by Newtonian gravity from a general relativistic

point of view

3. demonstrate knowledge and discuss the dynamic interactive physical

processes in astrophysics by using a general relativistic approach

Pre-requisites

(and Co-requisites

and

Impermissible

combination)

---


Offer in 2020 - 2021 Y








conclusions.






Course Teaching



Lectures 36

Tutorials 12


Assessment Methods

and Weighting


final

course grade (%)

Assignments 20

Examination 2-hour written

exam

60

Test 20

Required/recommend

ed reading


Lecture notes provided by Course Coordinator

R. M. Wald: General Relativity (University of Chicago Press, 1984)

T. A. Moore: A General Relativity Workbook (Univ Science Books, 2012)

J. B. Hartle: Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity

(Addison-Wesley 2003)

B. Schutz: A First Course in General Relativity (Cambridge University Press,

2009)

Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk

Additional Course

Information

---

PHYS8750 Nanophysics


Course Co-ordinator Prof S J Xu, Physics < [email protected] >

Teachers Involved Prof S J Xu, Physics

Course Objectives This course is designed to let fresh postgraduate students know fundamental

concepts and principles of nano physics, such as two-dimensional electron

gas, quantum Hall effects, one-dimensional electron system, quantum wires

and nanotubes, zero-dimensional electron systems, single electron effects and

quantum dots.

Course Contents &

Topics

Introduction to nano physics and quantum size effect. Dimensionalities and

density of states. Optical and transport properties of two-dimensional electron

gas formed at heterostructures and within novel graphene monolayers with

external fields. Quantum Hall Effects. Physics of one-dimensional electron

systems including carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires.

Fundamental physics of zero-dimensional electron systems. Single electron

effects. Quantum dots and nanocrystals. Fundamental principles and

applications of scanning tunneling microscopy in the study of nano physics. If

time permits, the making and application aspects of nanomaterials will also

be discussed.

Course Learning

Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. recall basic concepts and knowledge of dimensionality, density of

states, quantum size effect

2. identify and compare optical and transport properties of

two-dimensional electron gas with external fields, especially quantum

Hall effects

3. recognize the fundamental principles and important applications of

scanning tunneling microscopy in the study of nano physics

4. describe the basic physics of one-dimensional electron systems

including carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires

5. understand the central physics of zero-dimensional quantum dots and

nanocrystals, single electron effects

Pre-requisites

(and Co-requisites

and

Impermissible

combination)

---

Offer in 2019 - 2020 N Examination ---

Offer in 2020 - 2021 N








conclusions.






Course Teaching



Lectures 36

Tutorials 12


Assessment Methods

and Weighting


final

course grade (%)

Assignments 10

Essay 20

Examination 70

Required/recommend

ed reading


Lecture notes prepared by Course Coordinator

Additional Course

Information

---

First Semester

Time MON TUE WED THU FRI

08:30 -

09:20

PHYS8201

LE 7

PHYS8201

MB 141

09:30 -

10:20

PHYS1650A

MW T2

PHYS3351

MW T3

PHYS3750

MW 103

PHYS7450/

PHYS8450

LE 3

PHYS8201

LE 7

PHYS1650A

MW T2

PHYS3351

MW T3

PHYS8201

MB 141

PHYS3750

MW 103

PHYS7450/

PHYS8450

LE 3

10:30 -

11:20

PHYS1650A

MW T2

PHYS3351

MW T3

PHYS2265A

KK LG104

PHYS7750/

PHYS8750

MW 103

PHYS1150A

MW T1

PHYS2261

CYP P2

PHYS4450

MW 325

PHYS3750

MW 103

PHYS7450/

PHYS8450

LE 3

11:30 -

12:20

PHYS1150A

CYP P4

PHYS2261

CYP P2

PHYS4450

MW 325

PHYS2265A

KK LG104

PHYS7750/

PHYS8750

MW 103

PHYS1150A

MW T1

PHYS2261

CYP P2

PHYS4450

MW 325

PHYS2265A

KK LG104

PHYS7750/

PHYS8750

MW 103

12:30 -

13:20

PHYS1250A

CYP P4

PHYS2250A

CPD LG.34

PHYS4551

MW 325

PHYS1250A

CYP P4

PHYS2250A

CPD LG.34

PHYS4551

MW 325

13:30 -

14:20

PHYS1250A

CYP P4

PHYS2250A

CPD LG.34

PHYS3650

MB 141

PHYS3151

MB 151

PHYS4450

MW 325

PHYS4551

MW 325

Time MON TUE WED THU FRI

14:30 -

15:20

PHYS3151

MB 151

PHYS4550

MW 325

PHYS8552

KK LG106

PHYS3650

MB 141

PHYS3151

MB 151

PHYS4550

MW 325

PHYS1056

CYP P4

PHYS3650

MB 141

15:30 -

16:20

PHYS3350

MW T7

PHYS8552

KK LG106

PHYS4654/

PHYS8654

CYC P1

PHYS3350

MW T7

PHYS1056

CYP P4

PHYS4654/

PHYS8654

CYC P1

16:30 -

17:20

PHYS3350

MW T7

PHYS8552

KK LG106

PHYS2150

JL G03

PHYS3660

MW 325

PHYS2055

MW T6

PHYS4655

MW 325

PHYS1056

CYP P4

PHYS4654/

PHYS8654

CYC P1

17:30 -

18:20

PHYS2055

MW T6

PHYS4655

MW 325

PHYS2150

JL G03

PHYS3660

MW 325

PHYS2055

MW T6

PHYS4655

MW 325

PHYS2150

JL G03

PHYS3660

MW 325

5T,\T6009 Research methods in statistics (COMPULSORY)This course includes two modules.

The first module, Asymptotic Statistics, inffoduces some fundamental tools inasymptotic statistics which potential gradtate students will find useful inpteparngfor work on a research degree in statistics. Focus is on applications ofstate-of-the-art statistical techniques and their underlying theory. Contents maybe selected from: 1) Modes of stochastic convergence; 2) Lrrnit theorems; 3)Stochastic orders and the deltamethod; 4) Order statistics and sample quantiles:5) M-estimator, Z-estimator and the maximum likelihood estimator; 6) Non-parametric estimation of distributions; 7) U-statistics and projection estimators;8) Other topics as determined by the instructor.

The second module, High-dimensional Statistics, introduces some fundamentaltools in high-dimensional statistics. Focus is on applications of state-of-the-artstatistical techniques and their underlying theory. Contents may be selectedfrom: 1) Curse of the dimension;2) Estimation of high-dimensional means; 3)Estimation of high-dimensional covariance matrix; ) High-dimensional PCA;5) Higlr-dimensional regression; 6) High-dimensional factor models; 7)Compressed sensing; 8) Other topics as determined by the instructor.

Assessrnent: One 2-hour written examination; 25% coursework, 75% examination.

5T,4.T60 I 0 Advanced probabilityThis course provides an inffoduction to measure theory and probability. Thecourse will focus on some basic concepts in theoretical probability which areimportant for students to do research in actuarral science, probability andstatistics. Contents include: sigma-algebra, measurable space, measure andprobability, measure space andprobability space, measurable functions, randomvariables, tntegration theory, characteristic functions, convergence of randomvariables, conditional expectations, martingales.

Assessment: one 2-hour witten examination; 25% coursework, 75% examination.

course list for cross-institutional course enrolment ... · demonstrate understanding of various...

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