theoretical physics, YOU MESSIN?

antiselfdual

dabh wrote: »

And there was no fourth year Quantum Field Theory course in the B.S. era!

Before Samson?

Maybe_Memories

Would anyone else rank Timoney as the most boring person in the world?

And does Kovacs ever stay on topic for more than 5 minutes..?

PurpleFistMixer

Regarding programming in TP, in 3rd year atm we're starting to do C++ (as part of Computer Simulations). Anything we did in previous years (that hilariously simple 061 course in JF and a bit of C in computational labs in SF) seems rather insufficient.

Regarding switching to maths, I almost did (the form was filled out, meetings were held, courses were considered) and then didn't, after months of agonising deliberation. Don't knock physics, guys, it's pretty cool too. And you can't do labs at home. (I like labs.)

dabh

antiselfdual wrote: »

Before Samson?

Exactly!

Aoibheann

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

Don't knock physics, guys, it's pretty cool too. And you can't do labs at home. (I like labs.)

This is also true - physics is pretty cool. Unfortunately it's just not great for the first year and a half of the course anyway.. ¬_¬ Next semester looks an awful lot better. I just think there's probably a lot more maths I want to do over physics.. (like yourself, I could yet end up changing my mind. I was just going to arrange a meeting with my tutor this summer when I decided to give it another year!) And as regards liking labs, it seems that about half the people who actually transfer to maths are doing it just to avoid labs, which is pretty bad. Labs aren't amazing, but they're totally different from everything else you get to do and the reports are graaaand (contrary to public opinion). Lazy, lazy people need better reasons to transfer! :pac:

antiselfdual

dabh wrote: »

Exactly!

I'd like to think that's how all dates are reckoned in the School of Mathematics.

Anyway, I switched to Maths from TP, I have no regrets.

EyesLeft

Maybe_Memories wrote: »

Hopefully. I'll do all the physics modules and any of the maths one that might be useful for something like String Theory or QFT.
No number theory or any of that ****

How weird to think number theory isn't related to string theory: what about modular functions etc etc.

blagards

Aoibheann wrote: »

Ah, so you're pretty much doing exactly what I'll do should I transfer to Maths! What courses are you taking, the TP courses aside - if you don't mind me asking? I've a fair idea of what I want to take, but that'll probably get messed up with clashes so I'm trying to be at least fairly open-minded about a few other courses!

And I'll almost certainly transfer next year - this year is giving physics another shot to see if it improves enough for me to stick with it, otherwise I'll be applying for a transfer as quickly as I can during the summer!

For the first semester Mathematical Economics, Number Theory and Functional Analysis, only took Functional Analysis cos it was the only thing that didn't clash with the other 5 which I wanted to do.

Podge_irl

EyesLeft wrote: »

How weird to think number theory isn't related to string theory: what about modular functions etc etc.

I don't recall ever coming across number theory in the last few years.

My supervisor is quite interested in it mind you, but it's merely as a side interest for him.

Maybe_Memories

So if I take all the physics modules in the next 4 years, can I qualify to do a postgrad in TP?
There's a 1 year MSc in Imperial College London, and to apply you need a "first class honours degree in physics or equivalent".
Can I apply for this if I do every physics module and studying the TP book in my own time?

EyesLeft

The physics taught in the physics wouldn't often be taught as part of a TP degree, so if you do maths and pick the TP options as much as possible, mechanics, qm, classical fields, statistical physics, methods, you should be well positioned to do TP at graduate level. Knowing a bit more maths, any maths, even number theory, is more important than lots of the physics, if you want to do TP. The advantage of doing the physics courses is that it would prepare you for a more computational or theoretical role in experimental physics.

PurpleFistMixer

You won't get accreditation with the Institute of Physics (UK crowd) if you do maths, as you won't have done the necessary experimental work. However, I believe that the nature of your undergrad isn't the be all and end all when it comes to applying for postgrad stuff, but obviously if you're trying to go into purely experimental physics with a degree in maths, you might have some difficulties. Not to say that it would be impossible, but you'd probably have to be particularly good to be considered over more technically qualified people.

EyesLeft

Does anyone have any idea what the IoP accreditation is for? Has anyone ever heard it mentioned in real life. In my six or seven years in the wild I have never been once glad of my IoP accredited degree!

antiselfdual

Maybe_Memories wrote: »

So if I take all the physics modules in the next 4 years, can I qualify to do a postgrad in TP?
There's a 1 year MSc in Imperial College London, and to apply you need a "first class honours degree in physics or equivalent".
Can I apply for this if I do every physics module and studying the TP book in my own time?

A Mathematics degree in which you took physics courses such as qm, stat phys, qft etc would be the equivalent of a physics degree (I presume you're talking about the Imperial MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces because you're mentioning TP and not an MSc in more experimental stuff, in which case Maths might not be the right equivalent...?)

Also IoP, what, why is that important? I don't think anyone even ever said TP was IoP accredited when I was in it. Boy does my useless Maths degree feel even more worthless now though, if only I had more accreditation...

Maybe_Memories

antiselfdual wrote: »

A Mathematics degree in which you took physics courses such as qm, stat phys, qft etc would be the equivalent of a physics degree (I presume you're talking about the Imperial MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces because you're mentioning TP and not an MSc in more experimental stuff, in which case Maths might not be the right equivalent...?)

Also IoP, what, why is that important? I don't think anyone even ever said TP was IoP accredited when I was in it. Boy does my useless Maths degree feel even more worthless now though, if only I had more accreditation...

Yeah I'm talking about the Imperial MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces.

PurpleFistMixer

They told us IoP accreditation was the reason for TPs doing labs, so I presume we get it. What it's actually good for is another question, but some accreditation is presumably better than none.

parity

Maybe_Memories wrote: »

So if I take all the physics modules in the next 4 years, can I qualify to do a postgrad in TP?
There's a 1 year MSc in Imperial College London, and to apply you need a "first class honours degree in physics or equivalent".
Can I apply for this if I do every physics module and studying the TP book in my own time?

Hi Maybe_Memories, I recently graduated in TP and I'm doing a PhD in Particle Physics in the UK. I can assure you that it absolutely does not matter whether you took introductory C++ in first year or group theory in second year. When you apply for a postgrad, whether it be a Masters or a PhD, what a supervisor is looking for is good grades firstly and then a demonstrable ability to cope with independent research and learning (an internship for example), not whether you have one more 9 week course than the other guy who applied.

Heck, I'm working with computer scientists and experimental physicists who decided to go and do a TP postgrad. They got the positions because the department realised these guys were smart and could pick up everything they needed as they went. I'm better than the CS guy when it comes to QFT but I'm blown away by his C++ skills so we all have things to learn and our respective strengths. I can't emphasise it enough, the course your doing does not matter (within reason of course!).

I'd also add that while courses done through the maths department stood to me (QFT and stat phys for example), there were also invaluable courses in physics, such as high energy physics. Doing a postgrad isn't all about sitting in a room with a paper and pen thinking about the universe anyway! I have to supervise undergrad maths problem solving tutorials and all I can think is "thank you paper 5!". Also so much research in TP these days involves data analysis of computer simulations. Though you don't get much of that anywhere in TP you get the ability to think in the right way about this in Physics labs.

Theres also a tad bit of snobbery in TP in Trinity too. A lot of my classmates (and myself for a while) thought that all theorists across the world were squirreled away in their maths departments giving the fingers derisively to their respective physics departments. In most countries its actually the physics departments that employ TPs and teach courses like QFT and group theory. It's actually a bit of a bizarre set up in Trinity how the course is taught, and it's all political, believe me! Don't fall into the trap of dissing physics in general because you don't like how things run in Trinity.

Pick your course by selecting the modules you like and the work ethic that suits you (labs or no for example). You'll have no real idea at this stage what area of physics/maths interests you and if you find you've missed out on a subject later on then you'll have no problem picking it up at that stage. I can't remember half the stuff I learned in my undergrad but I know I could re-learn it in a heartbeat. It's more important to graduate with the ability to understand physics/maths and solve problems that be able to regurgitate the definition of a homeomorphism or tensor bundle on demand.

Most of all, enjoy your decision