Course Descriptions
PHYS 3050 Descriptive Astronomy for Teachers
Preparation for teaching earth sciences and general sciences. Meets jointly with PHYS 0050 in lecture and laboratory; extra term project required. Motions of the earth, time, the calendar, telescopes, the solar system, stars and galaxies. Includes laboratory and observations at Chamberlin Observatory. Prerequisite(s): explicit permission of instructor. Note: PHYS 3050 is primarily for teachers in service who are planning to teach science in either elementary or secondary schools. Can apply toward a graduate degree.
4 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 3111, PHYS 3112, PHYS 3113
Quantum Physics I, II, III — 3 qtr. hrs. each
Introductory quantum mechanics; atomic, molecular, nuclear, particle physics. Prerequisites for PHYS 3111: PHYS 2252, PHYS 2260, PHYS 2530 or PHYS 2556, PHYS 2613 and differential equations. Prerequisite for PHYS 3112: PHYS 3111. Prerequisite for PHYS 3113: PHYS 3112.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 3311, PHYS 3312, PHYS 3313 Advanced Laboratory I, II, III
Advanced experimental techniques in physics. Meets with PHYS 2311, PHYS 2312, PHYS 2313. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
1 qtr. hr. each
PHYS 343411, PHYS 343412 Condensed Matter Physics I, II
Crystal structure; crystal structure analysis; elastic properties; crystal defects and mechanical properties; thermal properties and phonons; Free electron gas; energy bands; semiconductors; quasiparticles and excitations; dielectrics and ferroelectrics; magnetic properties; superconductivity, nanomaterials. Prerequisites for PHYS 3411: PHYS 2252, PHYS 2260. Prerequisite for PHYS 3412: PHYS 3411.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 3510 Analytical Mechanics
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Credit cannot be received for both PHYS 2556 and PHYS 3510. Offered depending on demand. Prerequisite: PHYS 2513.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 3611, PHYS 3612, PHYS 3613 Electromagnetism
Vector algebra; differential vector calculus (gradient, divergence and curl); integral vector calculus (gradient, divergence and Stokes' Theorems); line, surface and volume integrals; Electrostatics: the electric field, electric potential, work and energy in electrostatics; method of images, boundary value problems and solutions to Laplace's equation in Cartesian, spherical and cylindrical coordinates. Multipole expansion of the electric potential; electric
fields in matter: polarization; the electric displacement vector; boundary conditions, linear dielectrics. Magnetostatics: magnetic fields and forces; magnetic vector potential; magnetic fields in matter: magnetization; fields of magnetized objects; linear and nonlinear magnetic materials. Electromotive force, Ohm's law; electromagnetic induction, Faraday's law; Maxwell's equations; the displacement current; boundary conditions; the Poynting theorem; momentum and energy density of the fields; the Maxwell stress tensor; the wave equation and electromagnetic waves in vacuum and matter; absorption and dispersion; wave guides; the potential formulation and gauge transformations; retarded potentials; dipole radiation.
3 qtr. hrs. each
Prerequisites for PHYS 3611: PHYS 1213 and 1223 or 1113 and 1123, MATH 2070. Prerequisites for PHYS 3612: PHYS 3611. Prerequisite for PHYS 3613: PHYS 3612.
PHYS 3700—3709 Advanced Special Topics in Physics
PHYS 3700 General
PHYS 3701 Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 3702 Atomic Physics
PHYS 3703 Laboratory
PHYS 3704 Condensed Matter
PHYS 3705 Theoretical
PHYS 3706 Electromagnetism
PHYS 3707 Optics
PHYS 3708 Thermal and Statistical Physics
PHYS 3709 Astrophysics
Offered depending on demand. Prerequisite: instructor's permission. May be taken more than once for credit.
PHYS 3711, PHYS 3712 Optics I, II
Gaussian optics and ray tracing using matrix methods and their application to optical design; elementary theory of aberrations; light as electromagnetic wave, diffraction, interference; interferometers and their applications; elementary theory of coherence; selected topics. Laboratory work as appropriate. Usually offered only alternate years. Prerequisites for 3711: PHYS 1213 and PHYS 1223 or PHYS 1113 and PHYS 1123; MATH 2070. Prerequisite for PHYS 3712: PHYS 3711. Corequisite for PHYS 3712: PHYS 2613. PHYS 3711: 4 qtr. hrs. PHYS 3712.
2 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 3751, 3752 Radiometric Atmospheres I, II
Introduction to the physical atmosphere; morphology, processes, thermal dynamics, radiation transfer, energy budget and transport; selected methods of parametric modeling, measurement techniques. Offered depending on demand. Prerequisites for PHYS 3751: PHYS 2252, PHYS 2260, PHYS 2313, MATH 2070. Prerequisite for PHYS 3752: PHYS 3751.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 3781 Atmospheric Spectroscopy I
Classical and quantum mechanical radiation theory for atoms and molecules; spectral line profiles, curves of growth; examples from optical radiation of atmospheric gases in air, in laboratory. Offered depending on demand. Prerequisite: bachelor's degree in science or engineering or upper-division course in modern physics.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 3782 Atmospheric Spectroscopy II
Atomic and molecular energy level, transition probabilities in optical spectrum using angular momentum techniques; examples from spectra of atmospheric gases. Prerequisite: PHYS 3781.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 3783 Atmospheric Spectroscopy III
Line-by-line and band model methods of quantitative interpretation of laboratory, atmospheric radiative transfer; current research problems in atmospheric trace constituents. Prerequisite: PHYS 3782.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 3841, PHYS 3842 Thermal Physics I, II
Laws of thermodynamics; thermal properties of gases, condensed matter; kinetic theory of gases; classical, quantum statistics. Usually offered only alternate years. Prerequisites for PHYS 3841: PHYS 1213 and PHYS 1223 or PHYS 1113 and PHYS 1123, MATH 2070. Prerequisite for PHYS 3842: PHYS 3841. PHYS 3841: 4 qtr hrs PHYS 3842:
2 qtr hrs
PHYS 3930 Honors Studies III.
Supplemental material to one of regular courses offered concurrently at this level. Prerequisite: instructor's permission. Corequisite: registration in designated 3000-level physics course.
1 qtr. hr.
PHYS 3991 Independent Study
PHYS 3992 Directed Study
PHYS 3995 Independent Research
PHYS 4111, 4112, 4113* Quantum Mechanics I, II, III*
Angular momentum theory, including vector coupling coefficients, Wigner-Eckart theorem, symmetries, many-body systems, advanced applications in time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, radiative transitions, Dirac equation and Feynman diagrams.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 4141, 4142, 4143 Advanced Quantum Mechanics I, II, III
Continuation of sequence PHYS 4111, PHYS 4112, PHYS 4113. Quantum theory of radiation, relativistic quantum mechanics of spin-1/2 particles, covariant perturbation theory; radiative decay, mass shifts, photon/electron scattering; weak, strong interactions. Offered depending on demand. Prerequisite: PHYS 4113.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 4211, 4212, 4213 Atomic & Molecular Structure I, II, III
Atomic, molecular spectra; structure, properties of atoms, molecules; collision
processes. Prerequisite: PHYS 4113.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 4251, 4252, 4253 Introduction to Astrophysics I, II, III
Advanced, gateway course. Variety of methods in modern astrophysics, current research literature related to quantitative interpretation of celestial phenomena, including stellar atmospheres and evolution, stellar and galactic dynamics, gravitation, cosmology, cosmogony. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 4411, 4412 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics I, II
Materials structure analysis; elastic properties; defects; plastic mechanical properties; thermal properties and phonons; free electron gas; energy bands and Fermi surfaces; crystalline and amorphous semiconductors; quasiparticles and excitations; electrical properties and ferroelectrics; magnetic properties and ferromagnetics; classical and high-Tc superconductors;
other advanced materials. Corequisites: PHYS 4111, PHYS 4112.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 444413* Advanced Condensed Matter Physics III*
Materials properties at nanoscale; dimensionality and quantum confinement (quantum wells, wires, and dots); nanotubes; optoelectronic nanostructures; novel superconducting and magnetoresistive materials; first-principle computational techniques; design of novel smart materials and nanostructures.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 4511 Advanced Dynamics
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics; rigid body dynamics; small oscillations; nonlinear mechanics.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 4551 Mathematical Physics I
Expansions in orthogonal bases; complex variable theory — analytic functions,
Taylor and Laurent series, contour integration. Special functions — Legendre, Bessel.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 4552 Mathematical Physics II
Test functions and distributions, statistical analysis of data, numerical methods.
3 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 4611, 4612, 4613* Advanced Electricity and Magnetism I, II, III* — 3 qtr. hrs. each
Review of electrostatics and magnetostatics; vector calculus including Green functions; relationship between microscopic and macroscopic observables; electromagnetic waves; special relativity; applications to optics, including negative refractive index materials, nonlinear optics and short-pulse propagation.
3 qtr. hrs. each
PHYS 4750 Seminar in Physics
1 qtr. hr.
PHYS 4752 Graduate Seminar: Atomic and Molecular Physics
1 qtr. hr.
PHYS 4754 Graduate Seminar: Condensed Matter Physics
1 qtr. hr.
PHYS 4811 Statistical Mechanics — 5 qtr. hrs.
Fundamentals of thermodynamics; microcanonical and canonical ensemble; quantum formulation; noninteracting particle systems.
5 qtr. hrs.
PHYS 4910 Special Topics in Physics
PHYS 4991 Independent Study
PHYS 4992 Directed Study
PHYS 4995 Independent Research
PHYS 5600, 5601, 5602, 5603
Continuous Enrollment
PHYS 6991 Independent Study
PHYS 6992 Directed Study
PHYS 6995 Independent Research
* Elective quarter