M2 ICFP

Courtesy of G. Feve LPENS

The Condensed Matter Physics track is designed to offer an advanced and comprehensive training program in the field of condensed matter physics. The diversity of systems and phenomena establishes this field as the most dynamic and extensive domain in contemporary physics. Our program emphasizes a strong conceptual foundation while fostering a deep appreciation for both theoretical and experimental aspects.

During the first semester, the curriculum is structured around three fundamental core courses: Condensed Matter Theory, Advanced Statistical Physics, and Electrons in Solids. Additionally, students have the flexibility to choose from a range of major options that cater to their interests, including topics such as transport and superconductivity, light-matter interaction, and numerical methods for theory.

In the second semester, students have the opportunity to further specialize in specific subjects or broaden their knowledge base by selecting from a diverse array of elective options. Starting in mid-April, the lab internship provides an opportunity to work within a research institute, paving the way for further pursuit of a PhD thesis.

To aid students in their research focus and career aspirations, our program hosts a series of seminars tailored for students and offers opportunities for lab visits. The prospects for graduates of this track are exceptionally promising, with many opportunities in academia (following completion of a thesis) as well as in top-tier positions within industry, start-ups, and other high-level professional environments.

First semester

Three compulsory courses :

• Advanced Statistical physics
• Condensed Matter Theory
• Electrons in Solids : Fundamentals and Experiments

Two optionnal courses (2 x 6 ECTS) to choose - schedule compatibility ensured for  :

• Light-Matter Interaction in Quantum Nanostructures
• Electronic transport and superconductivity
• Electronic Structure Theory

Second semester

Four courses to choose among the second semester list of M2 ICFP (4 x 3 ECTS). Naturally related courses :

• Quantum Physics Out of Equilibrium
• Electrodynamics in Quantum Materials
• Localized spins in solids
• Physics of 2D Materials
• Reservoir-controlled quantum materials
• Topological theory in condensed matter
• Quantum physics and condensed matter in advanced technology
• Ultimate quantum conductors : Novel electronic states and transport  
  phenomena 

Any 3 ECTS master physics course can be chosen after agreement with the professors in charge of the track.

Guidelines for choice of courses

Professors in charge of the condensed matter track : Valia VOLIOTIS and Christophe MORA

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The Soft Matter and Biophysics track is aimed at students with an interest in both theoretical and experimental physics of living systems, soft matter physics, statistical physics and nonlinear physics. The track has a strong emphasis on studying the world around us and interaction of experiment, observation and theory. It has the flexibility to accommodate early specialization towards theory, data driven and numerical approaches or experiments. To favor a transition to real world research, be it in academia, industry or start-ups, project based evaluations and student cooperation are encouraged. Students who have taken the track mainly follow up with a PhD, however some have left for start-ups, industry and policy making.

During the first semester students are exposed to the background necessary to follow and conduct research in the above areas. Since the track has a broad scope in terms of studied problems, students have some freedom to choose their classes based on their interest and inputs from the tutors. All students must take the Advanced Statistical Physics class that provides a common scientific basis. They must also choose at least one course (or two) from Advanced Biophysics and Soft Matter Physics. The first semester also offers hands-on experimental class and data-driven computational classes, as options.

The second semester offers a wide range of courses that expose students to modern research topics in the wide range of subject areas covered by the track. The master ends with a 3 month internship that can be carried out anywhere in the world. The masters tutors with diverse experience in experimental and theoretical soft matter and biophysics are there to assist each student personally and also propose guidelines for choice of courses

. More generally, the teaching team is representative of the soft matter and biophysics community, and represents a network that can prove invaluable to students.

One compulsary course (6 ECTS) :

• Advanced Statistical physics

At least one of the two courses(6 ECTS) between — two are possible :

• Advanced Biophysics
• Soft Matter Physics

Three options (3 x 6 ECTS) to chose . The following courses are timetable-compatible :

• Advanced Methods in biological physics and soft matter
• Computational and data-driven physics
• Interfaces and morphogenesis
• Physics of fluids and nonlinear physics

During the first semester it will be possible to take one course from another master if the topic is not covered by the ICFP master. However, before taking a course from a non-ICFP program, the list of courses chosen must be validated by Aleksandra Walczak and Emmanuelle Rio.

Second semester

Four courses to be chosen from the list of second-semester courses (4 x 3 ECTS). Recommended courses :

• Active matter and collective behaviour
• Circuits and network dynamics in synthetic biology and neuroscience
• Confined flows and transfers in complex fluids
• Ecology, evolution and epidemiology
• Numerical methods for fluid dynamics
• Physics of multicellular systems
• Soft or Slender : mechanics of Nature-inspired, highly deformable bodies
• Turbulence

A course chosen from a master's program outside the ICFP with the agreement of the course director.

Professors in charge of the track : Aleksandra WALCZAK et Emmanuelle RIO

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First semester

Three compulsory courses (3 x 6 ECTS) :

• Advanced statistical physics
• Advanced quantum mechanics

and one between :

• Atoms and photons
• Condensed matter theory

Two courses to be chosen from the list of first-semester courses (2x6 ECTS). 
The following courses are timetable-compatible:

• Quantum information
• Light-matter interaction in quantum structures or quantum-condensed matter field theory
• Electronic transport and superconductivity 
• Advanced statistical physics and new applications
• General relativity
• Computational and data-driven physics

Semestre 2

Four courses to be chosen from the list of M2 ICFP courses in the second semester (4 x 3 ECTS). Recommended courses :

• Cavity and circuit QED
• Quantum computing
• Quantum physics out of equilibrium
• Quantum metrology
• Reservoir-controlled quantum materials
• Topological theory in condensed matter"
• Ultra cold atoms
• Waves in disordered media and localization phenomena

A course worth 3 ECTS can also be chosen from any physics master's program, with the agreement of the course director.

Professors in charge of the track: Jérôme BEUGNON et Laurent SANCHEZ-PALENCIA

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The aim of the Theoretical Physics program is to provide high-level training in modern theoretical physics in the fields of statistical mechanics, high energy and gravitation. It is structured around two core courses in the first semester, Quantum Field Theory and Advanced Statistical Mechanics. These are accompanied by three optional courses that complete the generalist part of the course, corresponding to a total of 30 ECTS. 

The second semester consists of a teaching period until March, followed by an internship from April to June. During this period, students must choose and validate a minimum of four courses, for a total of 12 ECTS. The range of courses on offer covers all disciplines where there is innovative scientific activity at international level, likely to attract future PhD students: in-depth studies in field theory and statistical mechanics, string theory, stochastic systems, complex systems, differential geometry, cosmology and related subjects, disordered systems.

The choice of internships and the orientation of the thesis are discussed with the course leaders at meetings and research seminars, during which the supervising professors strive to offer as accurate a picture as possible of research in theoretical physics.
 

First Semester 

Two compulsory courses (2 x 6 ECTS):

• Quantum field theory
• Advanced Statistical physics and new applications

3 courses (3x 6 ECTS) to choose among the first semester course list.
The following courses are timetable-compatible :

• Algorithms and computation
• Computational and data-driven physics
• General relativity
• Lie groups, Lie algebras and representations
• Statistical field theory and applications

Second Semester 

Four courses to be chosen from the list of M2 ICFP courses in the second semester (4 x 3 ECTS). Recommended courses:

• Active matter and collective behaviour
• Statistical Physics Concepts & Tools for Complex Systems
• Conformal Field Theory
• Cosmology
• Differential geometry and gauge theory
• Particles in the Dark Universe
• Introduction to AdS/CFT
• String Theory
• Machine Learning
• Phenomenology of the Standard Model and Beyond
• Quantum Field Theory II
• Random geometry and non-unitary quantum field theories
• Statistical Physics of Disordered Systems
• From statistical physics to machine learning & back

A course worth 3 ECTS can also be chosen from any physics master's program, with the agreement of the course director.

Guidelines for choice of courses

Professors in charge of the track: Gregory SCHEHR et Marios PETROPOULOS