Undergraduate Catalogue - UPRM

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
FISI 4997. SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS.
One to six credit hours. Prerequisite:
Authorization of the Director of the Department.
Short research problems, assigned or selected,
subject to approval by the instructor. A written
report is required.
FISI 4999. UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH.
One to three credit hours. Prerequisite:
Authorization of the Director of the Department.
A research project in either basic or applied physics
to be supervised by a member of the Department.
Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate
Courses
FISI 5037-5025. INTRODUCTION TO SOLID
STATE PHYSICS. Three credit hours per
semester. Three hours of lecture per week each
semester.
An introduction to X-ray diffraction, crystal
structures, elastic constant of crystals, lattice energy
and vibrations; thermal properties of solids,
dielectric properties, ferroelectric crystals;
diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism,
antiferromagnetism; free electron model of metals,
superconductivity, excitons, photoconductivity and
luminescense.
FISI 5047. LASER PHYSICS. Three credit
hours. Three hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisites: FISI 4105 and FISI 4068.
Semi-classical theory of laser operation. Analysis
of laser light characteristics, interaction of radiation
with matter, optical resonators, pumping schemes,
common laser systems, and non-linear optics.
ASTRONOMY
ASTR 3005. DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY.
Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per
week. Open only to non-science or nonengineering
majors.
A descriptive treatment of the structure of the
universe beginning with naked-eye astronomical
observations and progressing to telescopic
observations and simple interpretations. Topics to
be covered include the solar system, stars, stellar
systems and galaxies. Occasional observation
periods at night or early morning, as determined by
the professor.
ASTR 4005. ASTRONOMY I. Three credit
hours. Three hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisite: FISI 3151 or FISI 3011 or FISI 3161
or FISI 3171.
A descriptive course covering facts and theories
pertaining to the solar system and the sideral
universe.
ASTR 4006. ASTRONOMY II. Three credit
hours. Three hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisite: ASTR 4005.
A continuation of ASTR 4005, including an
introduction to celestial mechanics and
astrophysics.
ASTR 5005. FORMATION AND EVOLUTION
OF GALAXIES. Three credit hours. Three hours of
lecture per week.
Formation, types, structures, evolution, and
interactions of galaxies.
ASTR 5007. PLANETARY ASTRONOMY.
Three credit hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisite: ASTR 4005 or authorization of the
Director of the Department.
The study of the properties, physical formation, and
evolution of the planets and solar system.
METEOROLOGY
METE 4006. METEOROLOGY. Three credit
hours. Three hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisite: FISI 3152 or FISI 3012 or FISI 3162
or FISI 3172.
An elementary treatment of general meteorology.
METE 4007.
METEOROLOGICAL
MEASUREMENTS. One credit hour. One threehour
laboratory per week. Prerequisite: METE
4006.
Laboratory exercises in measurement of
meteorological variables. Meteorological
instruments.
METE 4008. PHYSICAL METEOROLOGY.
Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per
week. Prerequisites: FISI 4051 and METE 4007.
Radiation, radiation measurements, meteorological
optics, atmospheric electricity, and dynamics of the
atmosphere.
Undergraduate Catalogue 2004-2005 217