Master program Physics (Condensed Matter Physics)
Condensed matter physics explores these questions and focuses on how the fundamental properties of materials can be tailored and controlled on the atomic, molecular and nanometre scale to control their macroscopic optical, electronic, mechanical, magnetic and thermal properties. Condensed matter physics is the study of nature, the study of materials using sophisticated small and large-scale instrumentation and the description of physical phenomena in materials at a theoretical level.
A Master’s student in the Physics Department of TUM will embark on a tailored study program on advanced condensed matter physics, both from the perspectives of fundamentals and by exploring novel devices and applications. You will delve into the details of materials physics, to see how materials can be tailored at the atomic, molecular and nanometre scale using bottom-up and top-down nanofabrication methods to yield fascinating quantum phenomena that can be harnessed for novel technologies. You will study ultrafast processes occurring over attosecond and femtosecond timescales in atoms, molecules and hard and soft matter and will explore concepts and devices used in modern condensed matter physics.
The Master's degree program in Physics (Condensed Matter Physics) is a two-year international graduate program designed to give students advanced insights into current research trends and new developments in condensed matter physics.
Specialization Areas
Students can specialize in one or more areas of their choice:
- Advanced Condensed Matter Physics
- including advanced statistical physics and solid-state theory, the study of correlation phenomena and magnetism, the study of electronic structure of solids, advanced experimental and theoretical semiconductor physics, semiconductor electronic and photonic devices, interface and surface physics, magnetism and magnonics at the nanoscale, quantum many body theory, spin physics and spin electronics, superconductivity and low temperature physics, topological insulators, graphene and two dimensional materials.
- Experimental Techniques, Numerical and Simulation Methods
- including topics as solid-state spectroscopy, physics with neutrons, modern x-ray physics, advanced materials analysis with synchrotron radiation, magnetic measurement methods and nanoscience using scanning probe techniques.
- The Physics of Nanoscience
- including topics such as nanosystems, nanomaterials, nanostructured hard and soft materials, surface and nanoscale science. Special emphasis is placed on understanding advanced concepts relevant for nano-electronic and nano-photonic systems and devices.
- Quantum Optics and Nano-Photonics
- including topics as quantum optics, ultrafast physics and attosecond science, optics of nanostructured materials, plasmonics, nanostructured photonic media, the construction and use of coherent light sources from the infrared to X-rays, photonics devices, optoelectronics and the physics of ultra-cold quantum gases.
- Soft Matter Science
- including topics such as polymer physics, nanostructured soft materials.
Curriculum
The curriculum of the Master program Physics (Condensed Matter Physics) follows the uniform structure of the Physics Master programs. Students receive advice on their individual curriculum and choices from the broad elective catalogs by a mentor.
Typical Study Program
The study program of the first year of studies can be organized individually. The following study programs show examples of how the first year of the Master's degree program Physics (Condensed Matter Physics) could look like.
Applied Solid State Physics
| Modules | Cycle | CP |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical Physics | ||
| PH1001 Theoretical Solid State Physics | WS | 10 |
| Special Courses | ||
| PH2033 Magnetism | WS | 5 |
| PH2155 Semiconductor Physics | WS | 10 |
| PH2157 Applied Superconductivity: Josephson Effects, Superconducting Electronics and Superconducting Quantum Circuits | SS | 10 |
| PH2034 Spin Electronics | SS | 5 |
| Student Seminar, Advanced Lab Course and Non-Physics Elective Courses | ||
| Counseling by mentor | 4 + 6 + 8 | |
Nanosciences
| Modules | Cycle | CP |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical Physics | ||
| PH1001 Theoretical Solid State Physics | WS | 10 |
| Special Courses | ||
| PH2091 Nanosystems 1: Physics of Nano-Electronics | WS | 5 |
| PH2071 Fundamentals of Surface and Nanoscale Science | WS | 5 |
| PH2048 Nanostructured Soft Materials 1 | WS | 5 |
| PH2092 Nanosystems 2: Physics of Nano-Optics | SS | 5 |
| PH2072 Frontiers of Surface and Nanoscale Science | SS | 5 |
| PH2049 Nanostructured Soft Materials 2 | SS | 5 |
| Student Seminar, Advanced Lab Course and Non-Physics Elective Courses | ||
| Counseling by mentor | 4 + 6 + 8 | |
Soft Matter Science
| Modules | Cycle | CP |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical Physics | ||
| PH1001 Theoretical Solid State Physics | WS | 10 |
| Special Courses | ||
| PH2046 Polymer Physics 1 | WS | 5 |
| PH2048 Nanostructured Soft Materials 1 | WS | 5 |
| PH2003 Modern X-Ray Physics 1 or PH2053 Physics with Neutrons 1: Fundamentals | WS | 5 |
| PH2047 Polymer Physics 2 | SS | 5 |
| PH2049 Nanostructured Soft Materials 2 | SS | 5 |
| PH2004 Modern X-Ray Physics 2 or PH2054 Physics with Neutrons 2: Applications | SS | 5 |
| Student Seminar, Advanced Lab Course and Non-Physics Elective Courses | ||
| Counseling by mentor | 4 + 6 + 8 | |
Individual Curriculum
| Modules | Cycle | CP |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical Physics | ||
| Catalog, counseling by mentor | WS | 10 |
| Special Courses | ||
| Catalog, counseling by mentor | 30 | |
| Student Seminar | ||
| Catalog, counseling by mentor | 4 | |
| Advanced Lab Course | ||
| Catalog, counseling by mentor | 4 | |
| Non-Physics Elective Courses | ||
| Catalog, counseling by mentor | 8 | |
Direct Track into the Ph. D. program
Talented students can continue the Master's research phase seamlessly with a doctoral project, speeding up their academic career. Already during their research phase these students may join the Department Graduate Center Physics and participate in the program of TUM Graduate School.
The "Direct Track" combines the advantages of the traditional model with the speed of a "Fast Track" – without the disadvantages like a (formally) missing Master’s degree.