Courses

    Uses interactive group work to aid student learning in co-requisite course PHYS 3220. In this tutorial, students will work in small groups to practice how to solve challenging problems and their underlying conceptual basis, as well as using hands-on activities, demonstrations, and other techniques to help learn content. Coreq., PHYS 3220.

    Covers mathematical theory of electricity and magnetism, including electrostatics, magnetostatics, and polarized media, and provides an introduction to electromagnetic fields, waves, and special relativity. Prerequisites: Requires prerequisite courses of PHYS 2210 (minimum grade C-).

    Uses interactive group work to aid student learning in co-requisite course PHYS 3310. In this tutorial, students will work in small groups to practice how to solve challenging problems and their underlying conceptual basis, as well as using hands-on activities, demonstrations, and other techniques to help learn content. Coreq., PHYS 3310.

    Continuation of PHYS 3310. Electromagnetic induction; magnetic energy; microscopic theory of magnetic properties; Ac circuits; Maxwell's Equations; planewaves; waveguides and transmission lines; radiation from electric and magnetic dipoles and from an accelerated charge. Prereq., PHYS 3310.

    One lect. and one three-hour lab per week. Introduces laboratory electronics for physical science students. Includes basic electronic instruments, dc bridge circuits, operational amplifiers, bipolar transistors, field-effect transistors, photodiodes, noise in electronic circuits, digital logic, and microcontrollers. Students gain hands-on experience in designing, building, and debugging circuits. Concludes with a three-week project in which students design and build an experiment of their choice and present a seminar on the results. Prereq., PHYS 2150 and 2130 or 2170.

    Two lect., one three-hour lab plus variable unsupervised labs each week. Students design and build their own experiments using a modular type of optical research kit. Experiments cover basic research methods in instrument design, laser physics, Fourier optics, holography, spectroscopy, and interferometry. Students learn how to plan major projects and evaluate critically the significance of results. Course concludes with a four-week major project. Prereq., PHYS 3330.

    Prereq., EBIO 1220, or MCDB 1150, or MCDB 4500/5500, or PHYS 1120, or 2020, or instructor consent. Same as PHYS 5130 and MCDB 4130.

    Discusses the fundamentals of plasma physics, including particle motion in electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, collisions, diffusion, and resistivity. Presents examples from space plasmas, astrophysical plasmas, laboratory fusion plasmas, and plasmas in accelerators. Prereqs., PHYS 1110--1120, PHYS 3310, and MATH 2400 or APPM 2350.

    Statistical mechanics applied to macroscopic physical systems; statistical thermodynamics, classical thermodynamics systems; applications to simple systems. Examines relationship of statistical to thermodynamic points of view. Prereqs., PHYS 3220 and APPM 2360.

    Discusses crystal structure, lattice dynamics, band theory, semiconductors, and ferromagnetism. Prereq., PHYS 3220. Same as ECEN 4345.

    Extends quantum mechanics to include perturbation theory and its applications to atomic fine structure, interactions with external forces, the periodic table, and dynamical processes including electromagnetic transition rates. Prereqs., PHYS 3220, 3320.

    Introduces structure of the atomic nucleus, spectroscopy of subnuclear particles, scattering, reactions, radioactive decay, fundamental interactions of quarks and leptons. Prereq., PHYS 4410.

    One lect., one lab per week to be taken with PHYS 4410. Experiments introduce students to realities of experimental physics so they gain a better understanding of theory and an appreciation of the vast amount of experimental work done in the physical sciences today. Prereqs., PHYS 3220 and 3320. Coreq., PHYS 4410. Same as PHYS 5430.

    Investigates the role of experiment in physics; case studies in the history and philosophy of physics and in scientific methodology. Prereq., PHYS 1020 or 1120 or 2020 or instructor consent. Same as PHYS 5450, PHIL 4450.

    Learn how people understand key concepts in physics. Through examination of physics content, pedagogy and problems, through teaching, and through research in physics education, students will explore the meaning and means of teaching physics. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how education research is done and how people learn. Useful for all students, especially for those in interested in physics, teaching and education research. Prereq., PHYS 3210 and 3310 or instructor consent. Same as PHYS 5560 and EDUC 4460.

    Basic electromagnetic theory of light, using Maxwell's equations. Examples in geometrical optics; extensive applications in physical optics including diffraction and polarization. Spectra, including Zeeman effect and fluorescence. Recent advances in experimental techniques: microwaves, lasers, image converters. Prereq., PHYS 3320.

    Students are matched with a faculty member and work independently on a research topic. Typically, the honors program lasts three semesters. A senior thesis and an oral presentation of the work are required. See also PHYS 4620 and PHYS 4630. Prereq., 3.00 GPA. Registration by special arrangement with the Department of Physics.

    Students are matched with a faculty member and work independently on a research topic. Typically, the honors program lasts three semesters. A senior thesis and an oral presentation of the work are required. See also PHYS 4610 and PHYS 4630. Prereq., 3.00 GPA. Registration by special arrangement with the Department of Physics.

    Students are matched with a faculty member and work independently on a research topic. Typically, the honors program lasts three semesters. A senior thesis and an oral presentation of the work are required. See also PHYS 4610 and PHYS 4620. Prereq., 3.00 GPA. Registration by special arrangement with the Department of Physics.

    Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum; offered intermittently depending on student demand and availability of instructors. See also PHYS 4820 and PHYS 4830. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.

    Selected topics for undergraduate independent study. Subject matter to be arranged. See also PHYS 4850. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.

    Selected topics for undergraduate independent study. Subject matter to be arranged. See also PHYS 4840. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.

    Prereq., PHYS 1120 or 2020, and MCDB 1060 or 1150, or EBIO 1220, or instructor consent. Same as PHYS 5970 and MCDB 4970.

    This course and its continuation, PHYS 5040, form a survey of classical mathematical physics. Studies complex variable theory and finite vector spaces, and includes topics in ordinary and partial differential equations, boundary value problems, potential theory, and Fourier analysis. Prereqs., MATH 4001 and 4320. Same as MATH 5030. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

    Continuation of PHYS 5030. Includes group theory, special functions, integral transforms, integral equations, and calculus of variations. Prereq., PHYS 5030. Same as MATH 5040.

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