Graduate Physics (PHY)

The minimum prerequisite for 50000-69999 level courses is graduate standing. The minimum prerequisite for courses 70000 and higher is doctoral standing. Additional prerequisites may apply and are listed in this catalog.

50020 Advanced Physics Lab (2)
Advanced experiments in classical and modern physics are selected to accompany and to supplement graduate-level physics courses. Repeat registration permitted.

50093 Variable Title Workshop in Physics (1-6)
Workshops individually designed to provide instruction and training in specific areas of physics. S/U grading. Prerequisite: special approval.

50095/70095 Special Topics (1-3)
Topic announced when scheduled. Prerequisite: special approval.

50096 Individual Investigation (1-3)
Individual projects for physics graduate students. IP permissible.

50195/70195 Special Topics (1-3)
Topic announced when scheduled. Prerequisite: special approval.

52500 Physics of Laboratory Devices and Techniques (3)
Physics of semiconducting devices such as diodes, transistors; laboratory techniques using temperature control, vacuum pumps; X-ray, neutron, light and electron scattering.

52512 General Electronic Instrumentation (4)
Laboratory-based course in digital and analog electronics. Computer interfacing and computer-based technique all within context of applications in measurements, signal-to-noise enhancement and control instrumentation. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 4 hours weekly.

54291 Planetarium Operation and Programming (1)
Planetarium operation, advantages and limitations. Slides, technamation, special effects and programs for K-12 grades, public and special groups. Prerequisite: special approval.

54600 Introduction to Biological Physics (3)
Introduces ideas essential to physical understanding of biological systems. Topics include: introduction to molecular components of the cell; statistical mechanics and transport in biological systems; selected topics in biophysics. Prerequisite: special approval.

54802 Astrophysics (3)
Galactic structure, stellar formation and evolution, origin of the elements (or nucleosynthesis), nonoptical astronomies and a description of various cosmological theories. Prerequisite: MATH 12003.

55201 Electromagnetic Theory (4)
Properties of electric and magnetic fields developed by vector methods. Treatment of static fields in vacuum and matter. Theory of classical electromagnetic fields with emphasis on dynamic fields.

55301 Thermal Physics (3)
An introduction to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, with applications in material science and engineering. Prerequisite: PHY 36001.

55401 Mathematical Methods in Physics (4)
Consolidation of vector analysis, curvilinear coordinate systems, tensors, matrix algebra, vector spaces, common groups in physics, calculus of residues, contour integration, methods for differential equations in physics; additional topics important for physics selected from special functions, integral equations, calculus of variations. Prerequisite: MATH 32052.

55403 Data Analysis and Computational Physics Techniques (3)
Study of uncertainties in physical measurements. Data reduction and error analysis techniques. Monte Carlo simulation method. Least-squares fits to data. Basic computational physics techniques. Prerequisites: MATH 12003 and PHY 23102.

55501 Electromagnetic Waves and Modern Optics (3)
Interactions between light and matter from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective; producing and controlling light; devices and spectroscopic techniques based on modern optics. Prerequisites: PHY 55201.

56101 Quantum and Atomic Physics (4)
Bohr theory, wave mechanics, wave packets. Application to barriers, oscillators, hydrogen atoms, multielectron atoms, X-rays, molecular spectra. At level of Eisberg-Resnick’s Quantum Physics. Prerequisite: special approval.

56301 Introduction to Nuclear Physics (3)
Introduction to the concepts of nuclear physics including basic properties of the atomic nucleus, experimental techniques, nuclear models and reactions, nuclear fission and fusion, and elementary particles. Prerequisite: PHY 36001.  Pre- or corequisite: MATH 32052.

56401 Introduction to Solid State Physics (3)
Fundamental unifying concepts and experimental techniques needed to understand thermal, electrical and optical properties of ions and electrons in solids. Special topics of current research. Prerequisite: PHY 36002.

60091/80091 Physics Seminar (1)
Discussion of current literature or of original research in physics. Participation by students, faculty and guests. S/U grading; IP permissible.

60093/70093 Variable Title Workshop in Physics (1-6)
Workshops individually designed to provide instruction and training in specific areas of physics. S/U grading.

60094/70094 College Teaching of Physics (1-3)
Methodology of teaching in a university, college or junior college. Includes observation of kinds of teaching and practice teaching. S/U grading; IP permissible.

60098 Research (1-15)
Research or individual investigation. Credits earned may be applied toward meeting degree requirements if department approves. Repeat registration permitted. IP permissible.

60199 Thesis I (2-6)
Thesis students must register for total of 6 hours, 2 to 6 hours in a single semester, distributed over several semesters if desired. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: Approval of advisor.

60295/70295 Advanced Topics (1-3)
 Selected special topics of current research interest. IP permissible. Prerequisite: special approval.

60299 Thesis II (2)
Thesis students must continue registration each semester until all degree requirements are met. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: PHY 60199.

60395/70395 Advanced Topics (1-3)
Selected special topics of current research interest. Prerequisite: special approval.

64101/74101 Advanced Problem Solving in Physics (3)
This course imparts advanced problem-solving skills not acquired in regular courses. Examples from four basic areas of physics (classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and statistical physics) will be emphasized. Graduate letter grades and S/U grading. Prerequisite: PHY 6/75101 and 6/75203 and 6/76161 and 6/75301.

65101/75101 Classical Mechanics (3)
Lagrange’s equations, variational principles, two-body central force problems, rigid body motion, Hamilton’s equations, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, small oscillations. Prerequisite: special approval.

65203/75203 Classical Electrodynamics I (3)
Introduction to electrostatics, boundary value problems, multipoles, electrostatics of macroscopic media, magnetostatics, time-varying fields, Maxwell’s equations, conservation laws. Prerequisite: special approval.

65204/75204 Classical Electrodynamics II (3)
Plane electromagnetic waves, simple radiating systems, scattering, special theory of relativity, relativistic dynamics, radiation of moving charges, Bremsstrahlung. Prerequisite: PHY 6/75203.

65301/75301 Statistical Mechanics I (4)
An introduction to statistical mechanics, including classical and quantum statistics. Derives thermodynamic quantities from a statistical viewpoint.

66161/76161 Quantum Mechanics I (3)
Fundamental concepts of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Solution of simple one-dimensional problems. Abstract Hilbert-space description. Matrix representations. Quantum dynamics. Extension to three dimensions. Spin and orbital angular momentum. Prerequisite: special approval.

66162/76162 Quantum Mechanics II (3)
Angular momentum theory. Symmetries and conservation laws. Application of approximation methods to realistic problems. Systems of identical particles. Scattering theory. Relativistic single-particle wave equations. Prerequisite: PHY 6/76161.

66201/76201 Particle Physics (3)
Discussion of particle detectors, invariance principles and conservation laws, fundamental interactions, quark model of hadrons, basic concepts of field theory, the Standard Model and selected topics of current interest. Prerequisite: PHY 6/76162.

66302/76302 Nuclear Physics (3)
Theory of nuclear processes including properties of nuclear quantum states, two body forces, nuclear structure and models, nuclear reactions and nuclear radiation physics. Prerequisite: PHY 56101.

66401/76401 Solid State Physics I (3)
Crystalline state, with emphasis on wave propagation, zone and band theory, phonons. Applications to electrical and thermal conductivities, specific heats, optical, dielectric and magnetic properties. Prerequisite: PHY 56101 or 6/76161.

66402/76402 Solid State Physics II (3)
Covers several topics, including conduction in metals, dielectric and ferroelectric properties, the origin of magnetism, phenomenological and BCS descriptions of superconductivity, elastic theory and semiconductor physics. Prerequisite: PHY 6/76401 and 6/76161.

68401/78401 Liquid Crystal Physics (3)
The molecular structure and properties of liquid crystals and their role in biological systems and industrial applications. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physics (PHY) or chemical physics (CPHY).

75302 Statistical Mechanics II (3)
Classical and quantum statistics with emphasis on Fermi and Bose systems. Introduction to approximate methods including cluster expansions and virial coefficients. Applications to critical phenomena. Prerequisite: PHY 6/75301.

76163 Quantum Mechanics III (3)
Second quantization and field theory formalism are developed for the many-particle system. Topics include the electron gas and nuclear matter. Prerequisite: PHY 6/76162.

76303 Advanced Nuclear Physics (3)
Advanced concepts and theories of nuclear interactions. Topics include the nucleon-nucleon interaction, nuclear structure, reactions, nuclear matter and strong interactions of elementary particles. Prerequisite: PHY 6/76302 and 76163.

76403 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics (3)
Advanced theories of solids, fluids, superfluids, magnetic, ferroelectric and liquid crystal systems and the experimental methods that probe them. Prerequisite: PHY 6/76402.

80097 Physics Colloquium (1)
Presentation by invited speakers of research and other topics on graduate level followed by discussion period. Regular attendance of all physics majors expected. Three or more meetings each semester as arranged. S/U grading; IP permissible.

80098 Research (1-15)
Research or individual investigation for doctoral students who have not yet passed their candidacy exams. Credit earned may be applied toward the degree if the department approves. IP permissible. Prerequisite: admission to doctoral study.

80199 Dissertation I (15)
Doctoral dissertation, for which registration in at least two semesters is required, first of which will be semester in which dissertation work is begun, and continuing until the completion of 30 hours. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: admission to candidacy for doctoral degree and special approval.

80299 Dissertation II (1 or 15)
Continuing registration required of doctoral students who have completed the initial 30 hours of dissertation and continuing until all degree requirements are met. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: PHY 80199.

88191 Chemical Physics Seminar (1)
Discussions of current literature or of original research in chemical physics. Participation by students, faculty and guests. S/U grading; IP permissible.