2013-2014 Graduate Catalog Downloadable PDF (10.71MB)

532 Course Descriptions/PhysicsA PhD in Applied Physics is also offered. The Applied Physics program offers students the opportunityto receive a PhD while focusing on areas of research outside of those covered by the traditionalfundamental physics program. The interdisciplinary curriculum for this degree includes a core of foundationphysics courses plus a selection of graduate courses in associated science and engineering fieldsrelevant to a particular student’s area of research specialization. Furthermore, for students interested inmaterials research, the Physics Department also participates in the Materials Science and Engineering(MSEN) degree program, allowing students to obtain interdisciplinary graduate degrees with a specializationin the physics of materials.As part of the training of the graduate student pursuing the MS or PhD in physics, the Departmentof Physics recommends that all students serve as teaching assistants for at least two semesters.The current research areas of members of the department include experimental and theoreticalresearch in atomic, nuclear and low temperature/solid state physics. Other research areas within thedepartment include extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, astronomical instrumentation, the theory ofelementary particle interactions, atmospheric physics, quantum optics and experimental high energyphysics. Research laboratories supporting the experimental programs are well-equipped with modernresearch apparatus. Special support facilities include a wide array of departmental and University computersand a variable energy cyclotron.Physics(PHYS)601. Analytical Mechanics. (3-0). Credit 3. Hamilton approaches to dynamics; canonical transformationand variational techniques; central force and rigid body motions; the mechanics of small oscillations andcontinuous systems. Prerequisites: PHYS 302 or equivalent; MATH 311 and MATH 412 or equivalents;concurrent registration in PHYS 615.603. Electromagnetic Theory. (3-0). Credit 3. Boundary-value problems in electrostatics; basic magnetostatics;multipoles; elementary treatment of ponderable media; Maxwell’s equations for time-varyingfields; energy and momentum of electromagnetic field; Poynting’s theorem; gauge transformations. Prerequisites:PHYS 304 or equivalents; PHYS 615.606. Quantum Mechanics. (4-0). Credit 4. Schrodinger wave equation, bound states of simple systems,collision theory, representation and expansion theory, matrix formulation, perturbation theory. Prerequisites:PHYS 412 or equivalent; MATH 311 and MATH 412 or equivalents; concurrent registration inPHYS 615.607. Statistical Mechanics. (4-0). Credit 4. Classical statistical mechanics, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution,and equipartition theorem; quantum statistical mechanics, Bose-Einstein distribution and Fermi-Dirac distribution; applications such as polyatomic gases, blackbody radiation, free electron model formetals, Debye model of vibrations in solids, ideal quantum mechanical gases and Bose-Einstein condensation;if time permits, phase transitions and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Prerequisites:PHYS 408 and PHYS 412 or equivalents; PHYS 615.611. Electromagnetic Theory. (4-0). Credit 4. Continuation of PHYS 603. Propagation, reflection andrefraction of electromagnetic waves; wave guides and cavities; interference and diffraction; simple radiatingsystems; dynamics of relativistic particles and fields; radiation by moving charges. Prerequisite:PHYS 603.614. Introduction to Methods of Mathematical Physics. (4-0). Credit 4. A one-semester introduction tomathematical methods routinely encountered in the graduate study of physics: directed at physics studentswhose background has not adequately prepared them for enrollment in PHYS 615. Prerequisite:Approval of instructor.615. Methods of Theoretical Physics I. (4-0). Credit 4. Orthogonal eigenfunctions with operator andmatrix methods applied to solutions of the differential and integral equations of mathematical physics;contour integration, asymptotic expansions of Fourier transforms, the method of stationary phaseand generalized functions applied to problems in quantum mechanics. Prerequisites: MATH 311,MATH 407 and MATH 412 or equivalents.616. Methods of Theoretical Physics II. (3-0). Credit 3. Green’s functions and Sturm-Liouville theoryapplied to the differential equations of wave theory; special functions of mathematical physics; numericaltechniques are introduced; conformal mapping and the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation appliedto two-dimensional electrostatics and hydrodynamics. Prerequisites: PHYS 615.