Topics for master thesis works

Topics of master and PhD theses in the AG Statistische Physik involve the theory of strongly coupled quantum systems and interaction of light and matter. The following topics are of special interest and are being supported by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft, DFT) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF):

  1. Combined ab initio simulations and molecular dynamic simulations for matter under extreme conditions: density functional theory, equation of state, and kinetics
  2. Description of phase transitions and metal-nonmetal transitions: light elements and complex mixtures at high pressures
  3. Theory of Thomson scattering and diagnostic of dense plasmas: experiments at free-electron lasers
  4. Calculation of Equation of State, transport properties, and opacities for plasmas under laser fusion conditions
  5. Modeling structure and thermal evolution of giant planets and brown dwarfs

Lectures

Some of the following lectures are held in alternation with collegues. Please find relevant information at the LSF Online-Portal - the university portal for students, guests, teachers and employees.

Master of Physics

Physics of Dense Plasmas (Prof. Dr. Redmer & Prof. Dr. Kraus)

(4 SWS V, 2 SWS Ü, 6 Leistungspunkte, Wintersemester)

Teaching content:

  • Introduction: basic plasma parameters, plasma waves, laser-matter interaction, high-energy lasers, shock waves, optical diagnostics
  • Plasmas as Fermi systems: screening, bound states and Mott effect, partially ionized plasmas, MD simulations, basics of density functional theory (DFT), application to warm dense matter
  • Interaction of X-rays with matter: synchrotrons, Free Electron Lasers (FELs) and X-ray diagnostics
  • Transport and optical properties: transport coefficients and dielectric function
  • Dense plasmas in planetary physics, Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), and stellar astrophysics

Astrophysics (Prof. Dr. Redmer & Prof. Dr. Kraus)

(4 SWS V, 1 SWS S, 1 SWS Ü, 9 Leistungspunkte, Sommersemester, deutsch oder englisch)


Teaching Content:

  • Introduction: astrophysical objects, brightness, distances, wavelengths, Fermi-Dirac statistics and Pauli principle, Planck formula, opacity, nuclear reactions and fusion
  • Thermal history of the universe: Hubble’s law, 3-K microwave background radiation, Big Bang and primordial nucleosynthesis
  • Stars: Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, spectral classes, formation of stars and Jeans criterion, main sequence, stellar structure, p-p chain and CNO sycle, the Sun, White Dwarfs, neutron stars, Black Holes and gravitational waves
  • Planetary physics: solar system, classification and detection methods for exoplanets, interior structure and thermal evolution of giant planets
  • Cosmology: general theory of relativity, Friedmann equation and solutions, expanding universe, dark matter and dark energy