PHYSICS 128: INFORMATION ON COURSE PROJECTS

ORGANIZATION:

1. You will be working in teams of two students. Both students will receive the same grade for their presentation, but separate grades for their term paper.
2. Each team has to chose a topic on modern physics of its own choice. Examples for topics are listed below. You may also pick a section in the textbook that will not be covered in class. If you intend to chose a topic that is neither on the list below nor part of the textbook, then you need to obtain my approval.
3. Each presentation on a given topic should be 20 minutes long (10 minutes for each student). I will schedule your presentation. You can use your laptop or write on the board. The format is entirely up to you.
4. You have to prepare a paper of about 7 pages length (less or more pages is fine) on the same topic as your presentation. Note that it is due some time before the final exam (check the syllabus).
5. You are on your own concerning the literature search. I regard this as part of your work.

SUGGESTIONS (that may influence the grading):

1. Provide a brief overview on literature and history.
2. Mention experimental observations, if any (how does the phenomenon manifests itself in experimental data?).
3. Explain theoretical techniques and models.
4. Chose examples.
5. What are the open questions (prospects for future research)?

PLEASE BE CAREFUL (these will certainly influence the grading):

1. You need to comprehend the topic independently from the instructor.
2. Try to present the topic in a clear and systematic manner so that your fellow students will be able to comprehend the material.
3. Do not copy complete sections from books or articles (provide references instead).
4. Reformulate the topic in your own words.
5. Try to avoid a typical "read-and-present" situation. Instead consider (i) where are the limits of the theory/idea/concept? (ii) what are the fundamental problems this concept addresses? (iii) be critical of existing ideas!

EXAMPLE TOPICS:

- Frozen light
- Accurate measurement of time
- Many-worlds interpretation
- X-ray crystal spectroscopy
- Cosmological antigravity
- Gravitational waves
- Quantum computing
- Faster than light
- Blackbody radiation
- Bose-Einstein condensate
- X-ray binaries
- Scanning tunneling microscope
- Free-electron lasers
- Quantum seeing in the dark
- Quantum teleportation
- Quantum physics of time travel
- Quantization of spacetime
- Ripples in spacetime
- Cosmological antigravity
- Friction at the atomic scale
- Negative energy
- Dark matter/dark energy
- Magnetars
- Gamma-ray bursts
- Antihydrogen
- Big bang theory
- Black holes
- Evolution of the universe
- Next generation nuclear power
- Manhattan project
- Medical imaging
- The Earth's elements