Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Survey of the principal areas of both classical and modern physics. Emphasis on the nature of the physical universe and the application of physical principles to life in the modern world.
Not suitable to meet a general physics requirement for natural science majors.
(Cross-listed with CHEM). (1-4) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: MATH 195 or MATH 140
Physical science principles for future elementary teachers. Emphasis on experiments that address current elementary science education standards and that are appropriate for their future students to do, such as measurements of mass, length, time, light from atoms, charge and current, motion due to forces, energy and work, heat, waves, optics, building bridges and making musical instruments, studying states of matter and chemical reactions.
(4-2) Cr. 5. F.S.SS.
Prereq: 1 1/2 years of high school algebra, 1 year of geometry, 1 semester of trigonometry
General background in physical concepts, principles, and methods for those who do not plan advanced study in physics or engineering. Mechanics, fluids, heat and thermodynamics, vibrations, waves, sound.
(4-2) Cr. 5. F.S.SS.
Prereq: PHYS 111
General background in physical concepts, principles, and methods for those who do not plan advanced study in physics or engineering. Electricity and magnetism, ray and wave optics, topics in modern physics.
(4-0) Cr. 4. F.S.
Prereq: high school: 1 1/2 yr. algebra, 1 yr. geometry, 1 semester trigonometry
Emphasis on basic physics principles applied to biological problems. Topics include mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism. A coordinated laboratory, Physics 115 laboratory is available.
(0-2) Cr. 1. F.S.
Experiments related to the elementary topics of physics for the life sciences. Mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism.
(2-2) Cr. 3. F.
Introductory level course on sound for nonphysics majors. Properties of pure tones and harmonics; human perception of sound; room acoustics; scales; production, and analysis of musical by voice, string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.
Not suitable to meet a general physics requirement for natural science majors
Cr. R. F.
(1-1) Gain experience in key skills that physicists/astronomers use routinely, but are rarely explicitly taught in formal courses. Participate in faculty-led discussions on frontier areas and careers.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(4.5-1) Cr. 5. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Proficiency in algebra, trigonometry, vector manipulation, and topics covered in MATH 165, and credit or enrollment in MATH 166.
For engineering and science majors. 3 hours of lecture each week plus 3 recitations and 1 laboratory every 2 weeks. Elementary mechanics including kinematics and dynamics of particles, work and energy, linear and angular momentum, conservation laws, rotational motion, oscillations, gravitation. Heat, thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases; waves and sound.
(4.5-1) Cr. 5. F.S.
Prereq: Proficiency in algebra, trigonometry, vector manipulation, and topics covered in MATH 165, and credit or enrollment in MATH 166.
For engineering and science majors. 3 hours of lecture each week plus 3 recitations and 1 laboratory every 2 weeks. Elementary mechanics including kinematics and dynamics of particles, work and energy, linear and angular momentum, conservation laws, rotational motion, oscillations, gravitation. Heat, thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases; waves and sound.
(4-2) Cr. 5. F.S.SS.
Prereq: PHYS 221 OR PHYS 241, MATH 166
3 hours of lecture each week plus 1 recitation and 1 laboratory each week. Electric forces and fields. Electrical currents; DC circuits. Magnetic forces and fields: LR, LC, LCR circuits; Maxwell's equations; ray optics and image formation; wave optics; topics in modern physics.
(4-2) Cr. 5. F.S.
Prereq: PHYS 221 OR PHYS 241, MATH 166
3 hours of lecture each week plus 1 recitation and 1 laboratory each week. Electric forces and fields. Electrical currents; DC circuits. Magnetic forces and fields: LR, LC, LCR circuits; Maxwell's equations; ray optics and image formation; wave optics; topics in modern physics.
(4.5-1) Cr. 5. F.
Prereq: Proficiency in algebra, trigonometry, vector manipulation, and topics covered in MATH 165, and credit or enrollment in MATH 166.
Covers all of mechanics; Kinematics and dynamics of particles, work and energy, linear and angular momentum, conservation laws, rotational motion, oscillations, gravitation, and extremum principles. Topics in kinetic theory, thermodynamics, waves and sound.
(4.5-1) Cr. 5. F.
Prereq: Proficiency in algebra, trigonometry, vector manipulation, and topics covered in MATH 165, and credit or enrollment in MATH 166.
Covers all of mechanics; Kinematics and dynamics of particles, work and energy, linear and angular momentum, conservation laws, rotational motion, oscillations, gravitation, and extremum principles. Topics in kinetic theory, thermodynamics, waves and sound.
(4-2) Cr. 5. S.
Prereq: PHYS 221 or PHYS 241, credit or enrollment in MATH 166
Electrostatics, potentials and fields, currents, fields of moving charges, the magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, DC and AC circuits, Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves, electric and magnetic fields in matter. Topics in optics, special relativity and modern physics.
(4-2) Cr. 5. S.
Prereq: PHYS 221 or PHYS 241, credit or enrollment in MATH 166
Electrostatics, potentials and fields, currents, fields of moving charges, the magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, DC and AC circuits, Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves, electric and magnetic fields in matter. Topics in optics, special relativity and modern physics.
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Cr. R. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the department cooperative education coordinator; sophomore classification
Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
A largely nonmathematical but intellectually challenging exploration of physics, which assumes no previous work in the field. Selected material from classical and modern physics establishes the conceptual framework for the study of major areas of contemporary physics, culminating in the discussion of topics at the frontier of present knowledge. Topics vary yearly and may include quarks, lasers, superconductivity, fission and fusion, solid state devices, gravitational waves, string theory, facilities, left handed materials, and quantum computing.
Not suitable to meet a general physics requirement for natural science majors.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 222, MATH 266
Concepts of temperature, entropy, and other characteristic thermodynamic functions, with application to macroscopic properties of matter. The laws of thermodynamics. Introduction to statistical mechanics, including quantum statistics. Application to black body radiation, crystalline vibrations, magnetic ions in solids, electronic heat capacity of metals. Phase transformations and chemical reactions.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 222, credit or enrollment in MATH 267
Oscillating systems including damped and forced oscillations; fluids, geometric optics, water waves, the wave equation, Fourier and Laplace transforms, non-uniform media, cylindrical and spherical waves, polarization, interference and diffraction, transmission lines, non-linear waves.
Cr. 1-2. Repeatable. S.
Prereq: PHYS 322
Experiments in classical and modern physics performed independently by each student.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 222, credit or enrollment in MATH 266
Quantum nature of matter: photons, de Broglie's postulate: wave-like properties of matter; Bohr's model of hydrogen atom; Schrodinger equations in one dimension: energy quantization; detailed solutions for potential steps, barriers and wells; one-electron atoms, spin and magnetic interactions; ground states, optical and x-ray excitations of multi-electron atoms.
(0-2) Cr. 1. F.
Prereq: Credit or enrollment in PHYS 321
Experiments related to the foundations of modern physics. The dual wave and particle character of electrons and photons, statistics, interferometry and x-ray spectroscopy.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 321
Quantum statistics; lasers; physics of molecules. Properties of solids, including electron band structure, superconductivity and magnetism. Nuclear physics, including nuclear sizes and masses, stability, decay modes, reactions, fission and fusion. Elementary particles, including strangeness, charm, and quarks. Fundamental forces of nature.
(0-2) Cr. 1. S.
Prereq: Credit or enrollment in PHYS 322
Experiments related to the foundations of modern physics. Radioactive decay, elementary particles, Hall effect, quantization, spectroscopy, statistics and instrumentation.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 361
Rigid body motion; small oscillations, normal modes. Special relativity including length contraction, time dilation, simultaneity, Lorentz transformation, 4-vector covariant formalism, relativistic mechanics.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 222
Static electric and magnetic fields, potential theory; electromagnetism, Maxwell's equations.
Cr. R. S.
Recommended for all junior physics majors. Career opportunities: graduate school programs and application, job placement, alternative careers, basic skills needed for the job market competition.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Cr. R. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the department cooperative education coordinator; junior classification
Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period.
Cr. 1-2. Repeatable, maximum of 2 credits. F.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Review of materials and curricula for secondary school physics presented and discussed by members of the class. Required for approval to teach physics in secondary schools.
(Dual-listed with PHYS 521). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 321, PHYS 365, or equivalent with permission of instructor
Introduction to ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, and their applications. Topics selected from: basic optics, atom-photon interactions, electrodynamics of condensed matter, laser physics, ultrafast and nonlinear optics, ultrashort pulse generation, broadband pulse generation, time-resolved spectroscopy and instrumentation.
(Dual-listed with PHYS 532). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 304 or CHEM 325.
Quantitative description of biological systems using basic physical laws, including a brief discussion of a variety of biophysical techniques. Topics include: thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, gene expression, structure and physical properties of nucleic acids and proteins, folding of nucleic acids and proteins, chemical kinetics, catalysis, allosteric enzymes, cell membrane structure and physical properties, and machines in cell membranes.
Cr. 1-6. Repeatable. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Theoretical research under supervision of physics faculty.
Cr. 1-6. Repeatable. F.S.SS.
Prereq: PHYS 311, permission of instructor
Laboratory project under supervision of physics faculty.
Cr. 2-5. Repeatable. F.S.SS.
Prereq: PHYS 322 and permission of instructor
Studies in modern experimental techniques via experimentation and simulation in various areas of applied physics, e.g. superconductivity, optical spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, x-ray diffraction, and computation of electronic and structural properties of matter.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 322, MATH 385
First semester of a full-year course. A systematic development of the formalism and applications of quantum mechanics. Solutions to the time independent Schrodinger equation for various one-dimensional potentials including the harmonic oscillator; operator methods; Heisenberg picture; angular momentum; the hydrogen atom; spin; symmetry properties.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 480
Continuation of 480. Addition of angular momentum; charged particles in electromagnetic fields; time-independent perturbation theory; variational principles; WKB approximation; interaction picture; time-dependent perturbation theory; adiabatic approximation; scattering; selected topics in radiation theory; quantum paradoxes.
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in physics, permission of instructor
No more than 9 credits of Phys 490 may be counted toward graduation.
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in physics, permission of instructor
No more than 9 credits of Phys 490 may be counted toward graduation.
(Cross-listed with E E). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Credit or enrollment in PHYS 322, PHYS 365, and PHYS 480
Review of wave and electromagnetic theory; topics selected from: reflection/refraction, interference, geometrical optics, Fourier analysis, dispersion, coherence, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, holography, quantum optics, nonlinear optics.
Cr. R. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the department cooperative education coordinator; senior classification
Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period.
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:
(2-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.
A practical introduction to communication methods in physics and astronomy classrooms and professional settings. For graduate physics majors only.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Cr. R. F.
(1-1) Discussion by research staff of their research areas, expected thesis research work, and opportunities in the field. For graduate physics majors only.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 511
Continuation of 511. Free electron model; crystal symmetry; band theory of solids; transport properties; Fermi surface; phonons; semiconductors; crystal surfaces; magnetism; superconductivity.
(Dual-listed with PHYS 421). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 321, PHYS 365, or equivalent with permission of instructor
Introduction to ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, and their applications. Topics selected from: basic optics, atom-photon interactions, electrodynamics of condensed matter, laser physics, ultrafast and nonlinear optics, ultrashort pulse generation, broadband pulse generation, time-resolved spectroscopy and instrumentation.
(4-0) Cr. 4. F.
Prereq: Credit or enrollment in PHYS 481
Basic properties and structures of nuclei, hadrons, and elementary particles; weak and strong interactions; the Standard Model; accelerators and detectors; nuclear models; nuclear decay and stability; nuclear astrophysics; the Higgs mechanism; the CKM matrix; running coupling constants; relativistic heavy-ion collisions; selected topics beyond the standard model such as SUSY and grand unification.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: MATH 266 or MATH 267
Fast-paced coverage of mathematical techniques needed for advanced analysis in the physical sciences, particularly for quantum mechanics and electrodynamics. Linear vector spaces and operators. Linear differential equations for time-evolution and steady-state problems, Green's functions and propagators, Sturm-Liouville problems. Functions of a complex variable, calculus of residues, series expansions, integral transforms and applications.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 304 and credit or enrollment in PHYS 481, MATH 465, credit or enrollment in MATH 365 or MATH 426
Thermodynamic properties of systems of many particles obeying Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein statistics; microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles and their application to physical problems; density matrices; introduction to phase transitions; renormalization group theory; kinetic theory and fluctuations.
(Dual-listed with PHYS 432). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 304 or CHEM 325.
Quantitative description of biological systems using basic physical laws, including a brief discussion of a variety of biophysical techniques. Topics include: thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, gene expression, structure and physical properties of nucleic acids and proteins, folding of nucleic acids and proteins, chemical kinetics, catalysis, allosteric enzymes, cell membrane structure and physical properties, and machines in cell membranes.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Credit or enrollment in PHYS 481
Theory of groups and group representations; introduction to both point and continuous groups, and their applications in physics.
(Cross-listed with E E). (3-3) Cr. 4.
Prereq: E E 311 and E E 332
Basic elements of quantum theory, Fermi statistics, motion of electrons in periodic structures, crystal structure, energy bands, equilibrium carrier concentration and doping, excess carriers and recombination, carrier transport at low and high fields, space charge limited current, photo-conductivity in solids, phonons, optical properties, amorphous semiconductors, heterostructures, and surface effects. Laboratory experiments on optical properties, carrier lifetimes, mobility, defect density, doping density, photo-conductivity, diffusion length of carriers.
(Cross-listed with E E). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: E E 535
P-n junctions, band-bending theory, tunneling phenomena, Schottky barriers, heterojunctions, bipolar transistors, field-effect transistors, negative-resistance devices and optoelectronic devices.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 362, MATH 307 or MATH 317
Tensor analysis and differential geometry developed and used to formulate Einstein field equations. Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions. Other advanced topics may include gravitational radiation, particle production by gravitational fields, alternate gravitational theories, attempts at unified field theories, cosmology.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 362, MATH 426, MATH 465
Variational principles, Lagrange's equations, Hamilton's canonical equations, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, infinitesimal transformations, classical field theory, canonical perturbation theory, classical chaos.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: PHYS 365, MATH 426
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems, Maxwell's equations, wave phenomena in macroscopic media, wave guides.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 571
Special theory of relativity, least action and motion of charged particles in electromagnetic fields, radiation, collisions between charged particles, multipole fields, radiation damping.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Topics of current interest.
(4-0) Cr. 4. F.
Prereq: PHYS 481
First semester of a full-year course. Postulates of quantum mechanics; time-dependent and time-independent Schrodinger equations for one-,two-, and three-dimensional systems; theory of angular momentum; Rayleigh-Schrodinger time-independent perturbation theory.
(4-0) Cr. 4. S.
Prereq: PHYS 591
Continuation of 591. Variational theorem and WKB method; time-dependent perturbation theory and 2nd quantization of the EM field in Coulomb gauge; method of partial waves and Born approximation for scattering by central potentials; identical particles and symmetry; Dirac and Klein-Gordon equation for free particles; path integral formalism.
Cr. arr.
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Individually directed study of research-level problems for students electing the nonthesis M.S. degree option.
Courses for graduate students:
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: PHYS 681
Quark model; Quantum Chromodynamics IQCD); perturbation methods for QCD; effective field theories for pions and nucleons; finite temperature field theories; quark-gluon plasma; phase transitions in QCD.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: PHYS 526 and PHYS 592
First semester of a full year course. Properties of leptons, bosons, and quarks and their interactions; quantum chromodynamics, Glashow-Weinberg-Salam model, grand unification theories, supersymmetry; modern theoretical techniques and tests of the Standard Model.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: PHYS 637
Continuation of 637. Properties of leptons, bosons, and quarks and their interactions; quantum chromodynamics, Glashow-Weinberg-Salam model, grand unification theories, supersymmetry, and superstring theory; modern theoretical techniques.
(Cross-listed with MATH). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Modeling of the dynamics of complex systems on multiple scales: Classical and dissipative molecular dynamics, stochastic modeling and Monte-Carlo simulation; coarse grained nonlinear dynamics, interface propagation and spatial pattern formation.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.
Topics of current interest.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. F.S.
Courses on advanced topics and recent developments.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. F.S.
Courses on advanced topics and recent developments.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. F.S.
Courses on advanced topics and recent developments.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. F.S.
Courses on advanced topics and recent developments.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. F.S.
Courses on advanced topics and recent developments.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. F.S.
Courses on advanced topics and recent developments.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: PHYS 681
Continuation of 681. Systematics of renormalization; renormalization group methods; symmetries; spontaneous symmetry breaking; non-abelian gauge theories; the Standard Model and beyond; special topics.
Cr. arr. Repeatable.
Prereq: Instructor permission required.
Graduate research.