Welcome to the Canvas information page for the course

Intensive Course in Computational Atomic Physics, 10 credits

given by the Department of Physics of Lund University, in collaboration with The Queen's University of Belfast, Université de Rennes and Uppsala University.

Please note: This page contains only general information about the course. It does not contain any course material. If you are a student on the course you have to log in to the Canvas portal in the site navigation to find the courses of your programme.

However, we will supply preparatory material continuously.

Content

The course was initiated by The Queen's University of Belfast, Lund University, Université de Rennes 1 and Uppsala University. Lecturers from Malmö University will also join.

This is a summer course given irregularly, next occasion is in the summer of 2026. The course is completely online and the idea is that you will get training in doing calculations and numerical experiments. The teaching will consist of lectures and workshops, in the first part of the summer and then a project that you perform during the second.

During the course, subjects such as the following will be covered: Atomic structure, central field, correlation, relativistic effects, radiative transitions, Configuration Interaction, Hartree-Fock and Dirac-Fock-methods, Z-dependent theory. Atomic processes, close-coupling approach, R-matrix method, photoionization, electron-ion collisions, resonances. Applications of atomic physics within for example astrophysics, fusion research or fluorescent light research.

General information

Semester: summer.
Level: second cycle.
Language of instruction: English.
Forms of teaching: lectures, workshops and a project - everything online; no activities on campus in person
Assessment: Participation during classes and workshops, written report on finished set of smaller computational projects, group presentation of selected smaller project, written report on a larger and specialized project.
Grading scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with distinction (U, G, VG).
Syllabi on Lund University's central website: FYST87 syllabus on lu.se (in English) and FYST87 syllabus on lu.se (in Swedish).
Old course code: FYST47

Course literature

Most of the course literature will be provided via the Canvas page of the course, for registered students. A part of it is covered in this book:

Froese Fischer, C., Brage, T. and Jönsson, P., Computational Atomic Structure - An MCHF Approach, ISBN 9780750304665

Do also have your book in Quantum Mechanics and introduction to Atomic Physics handy.

Teachers

Tomas Brage (course responsible), tomas.brage@fysik.lu.se
Alan Hibbert, a.hibbert@qub.ac.uk
Mariko Dunseath-Terao, mariko.dunseath-terao@univ-rennes1.fr
Kevin Dunseath, kevin.dunseath@univ-rennes1.fr
Jon Grumer, Jon.grumer@physics.uu.se

Schedule

The schedule can be found at TimeEdit:

Enter FYST87 in the search box to search for the schedule on TimeEdit.

Entry requirements

FORMAL REQUIREMENTS: Admission to the course requires 120 credits scientific studies in which 75 credits in physics and 45 credits in mathematics is included, or a Degree of Bachelor in physics – in both cases including knowledge equivalent to FYSB24 Atomic and Molecular Physics, 7.5 credits, FYSB22 Basic quantum mechanics, 7.5 credits, and NUMA01 Beräkningsprogrammering with Python, 7.5 credits, and English 6/B.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Introductory courses in Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Physics, including the treatment of angular momentum and an orientation of the basics on atomic structure. Basic knowledge of programming in, for example, Python and Matlab, is recommended before the course starts.

Application

Apply to the course through the Swedish website Antagning.se (in Swedish). Select Summer in the field for termin (English: semester). Search for: "FYST87"

For non-Swedish speakers, please refer to below instructions in order to apply to the course.
Instructions in English for applying to programmes and courses (pdf, 791 kB).

During the application period, you can read about the course on Lund University's central website:

Read more

Do you have questions? Please contact us at studentadministration@fysik.lu.se