Duke University 2009-2010 - Office of the Registrar - Duke University

in which research is being done by faculty and staff. With the help of faculty advisors, students select a course program
to fit their individual backgrounds and goals, often including work in a related field. Students are encouraged to begin
research work early in their careers, normally not later than the end of the fall of their second year, when students
complete most of their formal coursework. Active areas of research include experimental studies in atomic physics,
accelerator physics, biophysics, condensed matter, high energy, nonlinear, nuclear, optics and photon-laser physics, as
well as theoretical work in condensed matter, nonlinear, nuclear and particle physics, and string theory. In addition, the
Physics Department is a major participant in the university-wide Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems and the
Center for Theoretical and Mathematical Science.
Physics (PHYSICS)
201. Survey of Nonlinear and Complex Systems. Survey lectures by Duke experts active in CNCS research; regular
attendance in the CNCS seminar series; and a weekly meeting to discuss the lectures and seminars. May be repeated
once. Prerequisite: Physics 213. Instructor: Behringer. 2 units.
203. Introduction to Statistical Mechanics. Fundamentals of kinetic theory, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
with applications to physics and chemistry. Undergraduate enrollment requires consent of director of undergraduate
studies. Prerequisite: Physics 211. Instructor: Finkelstein. 3 units.
205. Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics. Introductory survey course on nuclear and particle physics.
Phenomenology and experimental foundations of nuclear and particle physics; fundamental forces and particles,
composites. Interaction of particles with matter and detectors. SU(2), SU(3), models of mesons and baryons. Weak
interactions and neutrino physics. Lepton-nucleon scattering, form factors and structure functions. QCD, gluon field and
color. W and Z fields, electro-weak unification, the CKM matrix, Nucleon-nucleon interactions, properties of nuclei,
single and collective particle models. Electromagnetic and hadronic interactions with nuclei. Nuclear reactions and
nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics. Relativistic heavy ion collisions. Prerequisites: for undergraduates, Physics 211,
212; for graduate student, Physics 315, which may be taken concurrently. Instructor: Walter. 3 units.
211. Quantum Mechanics I. Experimental foundation, wave-particle duality, the Schroedinger equation and the
meaning of the wave function, analytical and numerical solution of one-dimensional problems, formulation in terms of
states and operators, angular momentum and spin, applications to the harmonic oscillator and hydrogen atom.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 104 or 107 and Physics 143L. Instructor: Scholberg. 3 units.
212. Quantum Mechanics II. Further development of quantum mechanics with applications. Topics include:
perturbation methods (time-independent and time-dependent), path integrals, scattering theory, local density theory,
elements of relativistic quantum mechanics, and miscellaneous examples drawn from atomic, condensed matter,
particle, and nuclear physics. Prerequisite: Physics 211. Instructor: Springer. 3 units.
213. Nonlinear Dynamics. Introduction to the study of temporal patterns in nonequilibrium systems. Theoretical,
computational, and experimental insights used to explain phase space, bifurcations, stability theory, universality,
attractors, fractals, chaos, and time-series analysis. Each student carries out an individual research project on a topic in
nonlinear dynamics and gives a formal presentation of the results. Prerequisites: Computer Science 6, Mathematics 107,
and Physics 41L, 42L, or equilavent. Instructor: Behringer. 3 units. C-L: Computer Science 264
214. Biophysics in Cellular and Developmental Biology. Application of the experimental and theoretical methods of
physical sciences to the investigation of cellular and developmental systems. Topics include the physical techniques for
investigating biological organization and function as well as examples of key applications. Prerequisites: Calculusbased
introductory physics, Biology 119 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Instructor: Edwards (Physics) and
Kiehart (Biology). 3 units. C-L: Biology 214
217S. Advanced Physics Laboratory and Seminar. Experiments involving the fields of electricity, magnetism, heat,
optics, and modern physics. Written and oral presentations of results. Instructor: Oh. 3 units.
222. Special and General Relativity. Review of special relativity; ideas of general relativity; mathematics of curved
space-time; formation of a geometric theory of gravity; Einstein field equation applied to problems such as the
cosmological red-shift and blackholes. Prerequisite: Physics 181 and Mathematics 107 or equivalents. Instructor:
Plesser. 3 units.
230. Mathematical Methods in Physics. Includes topics in complex analysis, residue calculus, infinite series, integration,
special functions, Fourier series and transforms, delta functions, and ordinary differential equations; and use of
MATHEMATICA for graphical, symbolic, and numerical computation. Prerequisite: Mathematics 107. Instructor:
Kotwal. 3 units.
246S. Selected Topics in Theoretical Physics. Topics vary as indicated on Physics Department website. Consent of
Instructor required. Instructor: Bass. 3 units.
255. Astrophysics. An introductory survey of astrophysics with an emphasis on topics of current interest. Introduction
to General Relativity, Stellar and Galactic Evolution, Standard Cosmology, Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis, Early Universe,
Neutrino Astrophysics, Supernovae and Cosmic Rays, Special Topics. Prerequisites: Physics 176, 181, 182, 211;
Physics 212 is recommended. Instructor: Kruse. 3 units.
Departments, Programs, and Course Offerings 183