| Physics |
PHYS 805 - Experimental Physics
Credits:
4.00
Experiments in nuclear, solid-state, and surface physics.
Includes discussion of laboratory techniques, data analysis,
and data presentation. Special projects assigned to
individual students.
PHYS 810 - Introduction to Astrophysics
Credits:
4.00
Review of the sun, stars, Milky Way, external galaxies, and
expansion of the universe. Recent discoveries of radio
galaxies, quasi-stellar objects, cosmic black-body
radiation, x rays, ad gamma rays precede a discussion of
Newtonian and general relativistic cosmological models,
steady-state/big-bang theories, and matter-antimatter
models. (Also offered as EOS 810.) (Alternate years only.)
PHYS 811 - Topics in Modern Physics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Discussions, lectures, and laboratory work on topics of
current interest in physics. An introductory course for
secondary school teachers and others with some science
background.
PHYS 812 - Physics of the Ionosphere
Credits:
4.00
Introduces basic plasma physics using a case study of the
Earth's ionosphere and its connection both to the upper
atmosphere and to the Earth's magnetosphere. Topics
include single-particle motion, fluid and kinetic
descriptions of ionospheric plasma, wave propagation, and
instabilities. Prereq: electricity and magnetism I or
equivalent; calculus II. (Also offered as EOS 812.)
PHYS 818 - Introduction to Solid-State Physics
Credits:
4.00
Crystal structure, diffraction, lattice vibrations,
electronic and optical properties of metals and
semiconductors; selected topics in modern condensed matter
physics. Prereq: introduction to quantum mechanics I,
electricity and magnetism I or equivalent. (Normally offered
every other year.)
PHYS 820 - Nuclear Physics
Credits:
4.00
Nuclear phenomenology, reactions, models, radiation,
interaction of radiation with matter; accelerators;
properties and interactions of elementary particles;
symmetries and symmetry breaking standard model. Prereq:
introduction to quantum mechanics I and II; electricity and
magnetism I and II; or permission of instructor.
PHYS 854 - Introduction to Scientific Computing
Credits:
3.00
Introduction to the tools and methodology of scientific
computing via the examination of interdisciplinary case
studies from science and engineering. Emphasis on numerical
approaches to solving linear systems, eigenvalue-eigenvector
problems, and differential equations. Problems are solved on
various hardware platforms using a combination of software
and data visualization packages. Prereq: linear algebra;
differential equations; introduction to programming;/ or
permission. (Also offered as MATH 854; CS 854.) Lab.
PHYS 895 - Independent Study
Credits:
1.00 to 8.00
Individual project under direction of a faculty adviser.
PHYS 899 - Master's Thesis
Credits:
1.00 to 6.00
Cr/F.
PHYS 901 - Physics Teaching Seminar
Credits:
1.00
Course for new graduate students providing an introduction
to their role as teaching assistants. Designed to raise
awareness of professional responsibilities, to provide
instruction on theory-based teaching and learning, and to
provide opportunities for reflective practice. Cr/F.
PHYS 902 - Issues in Teaching and Learning Physics
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Issues in teaching and learning physics including cognitive
models of learning; assessment tools; meta-cognitive issues;
role of mathematics; effectiveness of labs; issues in
problem solving; misconceptions studies. Extensive
reading, writing, discussion and reflection is required. May
be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits.
PHYS 931 - Mathematical Physics
Credits:
3.00
Complex variables, differential equations, asymptotic
methods, integral transforms, special functions, linear
vector spaces and matrices, Green's functions, and
additional topics selected from integral equations,
variational methods, numerical methods, tensor analysis, and
group theory. (Also offered as MATH 931.)
PHYS 932 - Mathematical Physics
Credits:
3.00
Complex variables, differential equations, asymptotic
methods, integral transforms, special functions, linear
vector spaces and matrices, Green's functions, and
additional topics selected from integral equations,
variational methods, numerical methods, tensor analysis, and
group theory. (Also offered as MATH 932.)
PHYS 935 - Statistical Physics
Credits:
3.00
Review of thermodynamics and kinetic theory, followed by
an introduction to classical and quantum statistical
mechanics. Microcanonical, canonical, and grande canonical
ensembles; ideal Fermi and Bose gases and applications of
statistical mechanics to selected physical problems. Prereq:
PHYS 931; 939; 943.
PHYS 939 - Theoretical Mechanics I
Credits:
3.00
Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian formulation of the
classical mechanics of particles and rigid bodies; continuum
mechanics. Topics that serve as background for the study of
modern physical theories are emphasized.
PHYS 940 - Theoretical Mechanics II
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 939.
PHYS 941 - Electromagnetic Theory
Credits:
3.00
The formulation and detailed application of electromagnetic
theory to physical problems. The material covered is at the
level of the text by J.D. Jackson, "Classical
Electrodynamics".
PHYS 942 - Electromagnetic Theory
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 941.
PHYS 943 - Quantum Mechanics
Credits:
3.00
Introduces nonrelativistic quantum theory, covering wave
mechanics, Dirac notation, angular momentum, the use of
perturbation theory to calculate atomic energy levels, the
interaction of atoms with radiation, and various approaches
to calculating the differential scattering cross-section.
PHYS 944 - Quantum Mechanics
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 943.
PHYS 951 - Plasma Physics I
Credits:
3.00
Kinetic theory of plasmas; plasma waves, instabilities,
turbulence, diffusion, adiabatic motion of charged
particles, nonlinear plasma phenomena. Prereq: PHYS 935;
941; 941. (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS 952 - Plasma Physics II
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 951.
PHYS 953 - Solar Magnetohydrodynamics
Credits:
3.00
Introduction to solar physics, with emphasis on gas dynamics
and magnetic fields. Interior structure, the theory of
convection, wave motions in the presence of magnetism and
gravity, coronal heating theories, steady and nonsteady
flows, dynamo theory, and the theory of solar flares and
other transient phenomena. Salient observational data are
reviewed. (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS #954 - Solar Wind and Cosmic Rays
Credits:
3.00
The solar wind and its effects on cosmic rays. The basic
equations of the solar wind: mass, momentum, angular
momentum, and energy balance. Transport processes. Waves,
shocks, and instabilities in the solar wind. The basic
equations of energetic particle transport. Solar modulation
of solar and glacatic cosmic rays. Interaction of energetic
particles with shock waves. Salient data are reviewed.
(Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS 955 - Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Credits:
3.00
Applies principles of fluid dynamics and
magnetohydrodynamics to the Earth's atmosphere and oceans
and to space plasmas. Emphasizes common problems and
techniques. Topics include mass, momentum, energy
conservation; static equilibriums; quasigeostrophic flow;
waves (acoustic-gravity, planetary, magnetoacoustic);
surface waves in the ocean and in space; instabilities
(convection, baroclinic Rayleigh-Taylor, Kelvin Helmholz);
boundary layer problems (Ekman layers, Stewartson layers,
tearing modes; resonance absorption); supersonic flows (the
solar wind, shock waves). Prereq: MATH 845 and 846, or
PHYS 931. (Also offered as EOS 955.) (Normally offered every
other year.)
PHYS 961 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Credits:
3.00
Relativistic wave equations, propagator theory and Feynman
diagrams, quantum theory of radiation, second quantization,
introduction to quantum field theory and related topics.
Prereq: PHYS 939; 944. (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS 962 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 961.
PHYS #963 - Nuclear Physics
Credits:
3.00
Introduction to nuclear processes including nuclear forces,
nuclear structure and models, static properties, beta and
gamma emission, and nuclear reactions. Selected topics in
experimental methods. Prereq: PHYS 944. (Normally offered
every other year.)
PHYS #964 - Nuclear Physics
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 963.
PHYS 965 - Advanced Solid-State Physics
Credits:
3.00
Theory of crystalline metals, semiconductors, and
insulators. Selected topics from the following: surfaces,
films, quantum dots, clusters, solid-state devices. Prereq:
PHYS 935; 941; 943. (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS #969 - Nuclear Physics Seminar
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Lectures and discussions of current topics in nuclear and
particle physics. (Not offered every year.)
PHYS #978 - Condensed Matter Physics Seminar
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Lectures and discussions of current topics in condensed
matter physics. May be repeated.
PHYS 987 - Magnetospheres
Credits:
3.00
Introduces plasma of physics of the interaction of solar and
stellar winds with planets having internal magnetic fields,
most predominately, the Earth. Both MHD and kinetic
descriptions of internal and boundary processes of
magnetospheres as well as treatment of the interaction with
collisional ionospheres. Flow of mass, momentum, and energy,
through such systems. Prereq: PHYS 951; 952;/or permission.
(Also offered as EOS 987.) (Normally offered every other
year.)
PHYS 988 - High Energy Astrophysics
Credits:
3.00
One-semester course on the physical principles underpinning
the field of high energy astrophysics. Subjects covered
include production, detection, and transport processes of
neutral and charged high energy particles and photons.
Emphasizes the applications of these processes to the
detection and measurement problem and theory of telescope
design. Uses astrophysical examples to illustrate the
subject matter. First part serves as a basis for discussing
the astrophysics of the heliosphere, including solar flares,
galactic and solar cosmic rays, and the influence of the
Earth's magnetic field on the cosmic rays. Prereq: PHYS 941;
942; 944. (Also offered as EOS 988.) (Normally offered every
other year.)
PHYS #989 - Space Physics Seminar
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Lectures and discussions of current research in the physics
of fields and particles in space. May be repeated to
6 credits. (Not offered every year.)
PHYS 995 - Special Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Any special fields of study not covered by the above courses
may be included. Topic choices in previous years:
astrophysics; elementary particles; lasers/masers; many-body
theory; general relativity and cosmology; group theory;
atomic physics; quantum theory of light; nonlinear
equations, and chaos. May be taken more than once.
(Not offered every year.)
PHYS 999 - Doctoral Research
Credits:
Cr/F.