Education

By hands-on computer exercises, you will learn in the course how to compute many different properties of solids at one or more length scales. Case studies will offer an overview of the computational tools that are available for materials scientists and condensed matter physicists to understand materials at the atomic level and above -- and even to design them.

Keywords | Simulations at the atomic scale, Material physics, DFT, Computational materials design

Lecturer | prof. Stefaan Cottenier & prof. Leo Kestens (EA08)

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E024122/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E024122/2025

Basic concepts and advanced quantummechanics. A basic knowledge of the quantummechanics is required (as the concept of one-dimensional Schrödinger equation). It is the final intention to treat the (one-body) perturbation theory in great detail. The lectures are expected to give a founded basis for more specialised issues such as semi-conducting physics, atomic and molecular physics, subatomic physics, many-body problems, molecular modeling, etc.

Keywords | Quantum mechanics, Angular momentum, Perturbation theory

Lecturers | prof. Veronique Van Speybroeck & prof. Dimitri Van Neck

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E023060/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E023060/2025

Only a restricted amount of problems in physics can be efficiently solved in an analytical fashion. A wide variety of physical problems, however, can be efficiently solved with the aid of computer simulations, numerical techniques and physics-based algorithms. Often, computational physics is considered as a third leg in physics next to theoretical and experimental physics. The course aims at introducing and describing the methodology of computational physics. This is done by means of detailed examples stemming from quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and solid-state physics. The focus of the course is NOT on computer programming, but on outlining how one can conduct physics on a computer.

Keywords | Computational physics, Numerical and simulation techniques, Algorithms, Uncertainty quantification

Lecturers | prof. Jan Ryckebusch (WE05) & prof. Toon Verstraelen

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C001827/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/C001827/2025

Theoretical Mechanics aims at providing a mathematical formulation of mechanics. It gives the students insight into the construction of a mathematical model for a physical theory. In the course 'Theoretical Mechanics I' attention is paid to the mechanics of point particles. The first part which is devoted to Newtonian mechanics, is partly complementary to the mechanics which students have seen in the first bachelor's course "Physics I", at least in the sense that it covers the same concepts and techniques, but is presented now in a more mathematical and less descriptive way. The second part, Lagrange and Hamilton dynamics, offers an acquaintance with a more general formulation of mechanics which plays an important role in many domains of theoretical physics (quantum mechanics, field theories, ...).

Keywords | Theoretical mechanics, Systems of particles, Newtonian formalism, Lagrangian formalism, Hamiltonian formalism

Lecturer | prof. Dimitri Van Neck

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E040050/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E040050/2025

This course unit belongs to the learning pathway "Computer skills" in the Bachelor program Physics and Astronomy. Computational methods are the "bicycles of the mind": computational algorithms offer new opportunities in experimental setups or in simulations of theoretical models, all of which would be unthinkable with simple manual calculation, a calculator or a spreadsheet. Therefore, creative application of programming skills and software libraries form an important set of skills for students in the Physics and Astronomy program. These skills will prove helpful in the remainder of the study program and they are also strongly appreciated assets on the job market. This course will provide a basic theoretical understanding of numerical algorithms and their relevance to physics and astronomy. Hands-on sessions and projects during the term will complement the theory with hands-on skills to tackle various problems in the domain with computational methods.

Keywords | Computational physics and astronomy, Numerical methods

Lecturers | prof. Toon Verstraelen & prof. Jonathan Leliaert (WE04)

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C004212/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/C004212/2025

This course contributes to the realization of the basic competences for teachers and the training competences of the educational Master's program at Ghent University. The physics knowledge acquired in the domain subjects serves as a basis for becoming acquainted with situations and problems that a physics teacher will encounter, for gaining insights, strategies and inspiration for dealing with these situations, and for practicing all kinds of teaching skills. The course is built around online modules and microteaching sessions, each time linked to feedback, (self) reflection or group discussion.

Keywords | Powerful learning environment, Educational efficiency, 'Eindtermen', Curricula, Misconceptions, Activating teaching methods, Giving and seeking feedback, Didactic research

Lecturers | prof. Stefaan Cottenier & prof. Philippe Smet (WE04)

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/H002224/2025

This course unit belongs to the learning pathway "Theoretical physics" in the Bachelor program Physics and Astronomy. To familiarize the students with the concepts, laws and ways of thinking of chemical thermodynamics and with the applications to phase transitions and chemical reactions. To provide insight into the molecular background of thermodynamic concepts. To discuss the various aspects of the problem of reaction rate. To demonstrate how rate equations are deduced from experimental data and how rate equations and reaction mechanisms are related. To explain and evaluate the theories on reaction rates which are currently used.

Keywords | Quantum mechanics, Theoretical Physics

Lecturers | prof. Dimitri Van Neck & prof. Frank Verstraete (WE05)

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C002245/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/C002245/2025

Computational modeling of biomedical processes such as drug-target interaction is one of the emerging fields in biomedicine, providing a complementary and quantitative tool to experiments which may be limited in temporal and spatial resolution. Molecular dynamics simulations and machine-learning based approaches are emerging as powerful methods for studying biomedical problems. This course covers the basics of these computational methods and their application in biomedicine.

Keywords | Nanoscale Modeling, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Computational Drug Design, Drug Delivery Systems, Machine Learning

Lecturers | prof. Ahmad Reza Mehdipour & prof. An Ghysels (EA06)

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E074500/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E074500/2025

The prime goal of this educational unit is to provide a nonrelativistic introduction to quantum electrodynamics. In addition, electromagnetic interactions within the framework of the Dirac equation are also studied.

Keywords | Quantum mechanics, Electromagnetism, Modern physics, Quantum electrodynamics, Dirac Theory

Lecturer | prof. Dimitri Van Neck

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C000819/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/C000819/2025

Molecular modeling and simulations play a central role in the current development of industrial processes. It is an interdisciplinary research field in which physical and chemical insights are combined to understand the interactions on the nanoscale and the reactivity of individual chemical reactions. Due to the enormous increase of computational power and the development of very advanced numerical algorithms this approach is indispensable within the current field of chemical technology. Insight at the molecular scale allows to design innovative processes in a smart way. The application area is very broad and has proven its success for the development of many green and clean processes. This course describes the various methodologies that are needed to describe the electronic structure from first principles. This knowledge allows to deduce all necessary molecular properties to simulate reactions in complex molecular environments. The chemical kinetics and thermodynamics of individual chemical reactions are studies together with various reaction mechanisms in a variety of molecular environments.

Keywords | Catalysis, Chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, Density functional theory, Transition state theory, Molecular dynamics

Lecturer | prof. Veronique Van Speybroeck

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E071341/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E071341/2025

This course teaches the foundations of statistical physics for systems in equilibrium in order to make the bridge from the microscopic structure of matter towards its macroscopic thermodynamic behavior. Special attention is given towards the introduction of partition functions and the ensemble theory of Gibbs. The Boltzmann partition function, the classical Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and the quantum Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics are derived. The course focuses on the physics of systems with many degrees of freedom and deriving their thermodynamic properties. Various applications from the field of solid state physics, physical chemistry and atomic and molecular physics are covered.

Keywords | Statistical thermodynamics, ensembles, partition function, Boltzmann distribution, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distribution

Lecturer | prof. Louis Vanduyfhuys

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E021521/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E021521/2025

This course contributes to the realization of the basic competences for teachers and the training competences of the educational Master's program at Ghent University. The physics knowledge acquired in the domain subjects serves as a basis for becoming acquainted with situations and problems that a physics teacher will encounter, for gaining insights, strategies and inspiration for dealing with these situations, and for practicing all kinds of teaching skills. The course is built around online modules and microteaching sessions, each time linked to feedback, (self) reflection or group discussion.

Keywords | Powerful learning environment, Educational efficiency, 'Eindtermen', Curricula, Misconceptions, Activating teaching methods, Giving and seeking feedback, Didactic research

Lecturers | prof. Stefaan Cottenier & prof. Philippe Smet (WE04)

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/H002224/2025

This course constitutes the third part of general, fundamental physics in the "classical" domain that consists of three major, all-semester courses: I. Mechanics, II. Waves and Optics and Thermal Physics, and III. Electromagnetism (incl. relevant aspects of Modern Physics). The objective of this third part is to gradually develop the theory of electromagnetism in a "soft" mathematical framework and emanating from the very initial experiments in the domain of electrostatics on the one hand, and those in the area of magnetism on the other hand. This approach finally results in the four fundamental laws of Maxwell that govern all electromagnetic phenomena that are known to date. Numerous relevant examples of these phenomena are presented, discussed and explained, commonly on the basis of elementary mathematics. The
paramount importance from the point of view of scientific education and training, is that the student, by this logical and deductive approach, learns how a completely developed domain in natural sciences gradually evolves from basic experiments that lead to fundamental laws. As in Physics 1 and Physics 2, the essential role played by basic calculus in the whole of this process is highlighted. The aim of the
lab tasks (where lab is used in a broad way), which is an integrated part of Physics 3, is to enlarge the observational and experimental skills of the student, as well as the critical interpretation of results.

Keywords | Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetic oscillations, Waves and radition

Lecturer | prof. Stefaan Cottenier

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C000248/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/C000248/2025

This is a continuation to the course "Theoretical Mechanics I" of the second year of bachelor in engineering physics, where the attention is focused on the mechanics of rigid bodies . The Newtonian approach as well as the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian approach will be discussed. Within the Lagrangian formalism, a study is made of small oscillations in the neighbourhood of a stable equilibrium. Applications to engineering problems are discussed.

Keywords | Rigid bodies, Small oscillations

Lecturer | prof. Dimitri Van Neck

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/E040060/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/E040060/2025

The purpose of the course is to expose students to the most important methods in structural biology in the post-genomic era that can lead to information about the three dimensional structure of biomolecules. Special emphasis is placed on the integrative nature of modern structural biology.

Keywords | Experimental Methods in Structural Biology, 3D-Structure Determination of Biological Macromolecules via X-Ray Crystallography, (Cryo)-Electron Microscopy, Electron Tomography, Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering, Integrative Structural Biology

Lecturer | prof. Savvas Savvides (WE10) & prof. Ahmad Reza Mehdipour

Course specification [EN] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C003615/2025

Course specification [NL] https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/nl/C003615/2025