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Master Programme in Physics - Particle Physics

2 years · 120 credits

This programme will be given for the last time autumn 2024. It will be replaced by the new specialisation Experimental Particle and Nuclear Physics in 2025.

What are the fundamental constituents of matter and what forces act upon them? Particle physics is the subject that addresses the fundamental principles governing our world: forces and constituents. This understanding is formulated mathematically as theories (previously called laws of nature). The subject matter evolves through experimental explorations and development of theories and models.

Today our understanding is described by the Standard Model theory, which has an exceptional predictive power, but is incomplete. We explore the predictions of the Standard Model and seek a more complete understanding, that is beyond the Standard Model. In practice we conduct the research in global experimental collaborations. Today these experiments are mainly done at the LHC collider at CERN.

At the Physics Department at Lund University, the Particle Physics Division is involved in two major experiments at the LHC: ATLAS and ALICE. The ATLAS experiment is devoted to looking for physics beyond the Standard Model, whereas the ALICE experiment is designed to look at a new state of matter called quarkgluon plasma.

As a Master’s student in particle physics you will be given the opportunity to follow the progress of those experiments and to take an active part in looking at the data as it is recorded by the experiments. The students should be prepared to visit foreign research centres such as CERN for shorter periods.

List of courses included in the Master programme in Physics - Particle Physics

Career prospects

The programme is ideal as the beginning of an academic career in particle physics, but also opens a door to other careers in a diversified society. During the programme you will gain skills in physics and mathematics as well as computers, information technology, e-Science and other cutting-edge technologies used in the experiments.

In addition to preparing the students for PhD studies in the field, the programme will also provide a suitable start for a future career as one of the international laboratories. As the experiences are performed in large international collaborations, the programme is also intended for those who plan a future working career in an international environment. The programme also provides the same career options as the general master programme in Physics.

Master Coordinator

Particle Physics

Peter Christiansen
Peter [dot] Christiansen [at] fysik [dot] lu [dot] se (Peter[dot]Christiansen[at]fysik[dot]lu[dot]se)