Physics Department Graduate Courses

PY501 - Quantum Physics I

Basic principles of quantum physics with emphasis on selected applications to atoms, molecules, solids, nuclei, and elementary particles. First semester of a two-semester sequence.

PY 502 - Quantum Physics II

Basic principles of quantum physics with emphasis on selected applications to atoms, molecules, solids, nuclei, and elementary particles. Second semester of a two-semester sequence.

PY 506 - Nuclear and Subatomic Physics

Introduction to nuclear and subatomic phenomena: properties of nuclear radiations and detectors, accelerators, nuclear forces and nuclear structure, elementary articles, fundamental symmetries and conservation laws.

PY 507 - Elementary Particle Physics

Introduction to fundamental symmetries and dynamics of quarks and leptons. The Standard Model, Dirac equation, Feynman rules in QED and QCD, the Higgs mechanism, and the electroweak unification.

PY 508 - Ion and Electron Physics

Charged particle dynamics, introduction to plasma physics, processes in ionized gases, electron emission, and the physics of electron beams.

PY 509 - Plasma Physics

Individual and collective motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields and through ionized gases.

PY 511 - Mechanics I

First semester in a two-semester sequence in particle and continuum mechanics at intermediate level. Single-particle dynamics: Elementary Newtonian mechanics, harmonic oscillator, central force motion, conservation laws, motion in non-inertial frames, Coriolis and centrifugal forces, Lagrangian dynamics, Hamilton’s equations.

PY 512 - Mechanics II

Second semester of a two-semester sequence in particle and continuum mechanics at intermediate level. Dynamics of systems of particles and continua: Center of mass, collisions, rigid bodies, inertia tensor, principal axes, stress and strain tensors, mechanical properties of fluids and solids, waves in discrete and continuum systems, coupled oscillators, normal modes, elements of special relativity.

PY 514 - Electromagnetism I

First semester of a two-semester sequence. An intermediate course in electromagnetic theory using methods of vector calculus. Electrostatic field and potential, dielectrics, solutions to Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations, magnetic fields of steady currents.

PY 515 - Electromagnetism II

Second semester of a two-semester sequence. Electromagnetic induction, magnetics, fields in matter, Maxwell’s equations, wave guides, radiation.

PY 516 - Physical Optics

Physical optics with major emphasis on wave properties of light. Boundary conditions, interference, and diffraction, optics of thin films, fiber optics and applications to absorption, scattering and laser operation.

PY 517 - Atomic and Molecular Physics

The quantum mechanical treatment of structure and spectra for atoms and molecules. The hydrogen atom, helium atom, multielectron atoms, selection rules, diatomic and simple polyatomic molecules and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

PY 525 - Computational Physics

Computational approaches to physics problem solving using standard software relevant for physicists. Electrostatic potentials, data analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, Fourier optics, particle orbits, Schroedinger’s equation. Examples and assignments for each topic chosen to complement other physics courses.

PY 528 - Introduction to Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy

Concepts in plasma physics, basics of thermonuclear reactions, charged particle collisions, single particle motions and drifts, radiation from plasmas and plasma waves, fluid theory of plasmas, formation and heating of plasmas, plasma confinement, fusion devices and other plasma applications.

PY 543 - Astrophysics

Basic physics necessary to investigate, from observational data, internal conditions and evolutions of stars. The formation and structure of spectral lines, methods of energy generation and transport, stellar structure, degeneracy, white dwarfs and neutron stars.

PY 552 - Introduction to the Structure Of Solids

Basic consideration of crystalline, polycrystalline, and amorpohous solids, metals, conductors and semiconductors.

PY 561 - Electronics for Physicists

Analog and digital electronics laboratory course serving as introduction to use of modern instrumentation required for experimental research in physics. Bipolar and field effect transistors, operational amplifiers, oscillators, power supplies, analog-digital and digital-analog conversion and digital logic circuits.

PY 575 - Mathematical Introduction to Celestial Mechanics

Central orbits, N-body problem, 3-body problem, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, perturbation theory, applications to motion of celestial bodies.

PY 576 - Orbital Mechanics

Keplerian motion, iterative solutions, numerical integration, differential corrections and space navigation, elements of probability, least squares, sequential estimation, Kalman filter.

PY 660 - Advanced Placement Physics for Secondary School Teachers

A preparation for teaching advanced placement physics to high school students. Review of the physics content on the AP curriculum and discussion of teaching techniques, demonstrations, and laboratories for use in such a program.

PY 711 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics I

Introduction to relativistic quantum theory of Dirac particles and the positron. Other topics include second quantization technique and its application to many-body problems, radiation theory and quantization of the electromagnetic field.

PY 712 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics II

A general propagator treatment of Dirac particles, photons, and scalar and vector mesons. Applications of Feynman graphs and rules illustrating basic techniques employed in treatment of electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions. Renormalization theory, the effects of radiative corrections and aspects of the general Lorentz covariant theory of quantized fields.

PY 721 - Statistical Physics I

Basic elements of kinetic theory and equilibrium statistical mechanics, both classical and quantum, applications of the techniques developed to various ideal models of non-interacting particles.

PY 722 - Statistical Physics II

Emphasis on the static and dynamic properties of real interacting systems. Topics including equilibrium theory of fluids and linear response theory of time-dependent phenomena.

PY 727 - Semiconductor Thin Films Technology

Techniques and processes encountered in growth and characterization of epitaxial semiconductor films. Examples of growth techniques: solution growth, chemical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy and sputtering. Film characterization includes electrical characterization using Hall technique, optical characterization using x-ray and electron microscopy techniques, surface and thin film analysis such as Auger and secondary ion mass spectroscopy.

PY 730 - Nuclear Structure Physics I

Advanced description of nuclear models and nuclear reactions. Topics including internucleon forces, compound-nucleus processes, shell model, optical model, R-matrix theory, direct reactions, collective model, electromagnetic transitions, isobaric analog states.

PY 753 - Introduction to the Structure Of Solids II

The properties of semiconductors, superconductors, magnetics, ferroelectrics, and crystalline defects and dislocations.

PY 754 - Properties of Surfaces and Interfaces

Properties of surfaces and interfaces of materials. Relation between electronic properties and atomic structure.

PY 860 – Advanced Placement Physics for Secondary School Tecahers

A preparation for teaching advanced placement physics to high school students. Review of the physics content on the AP curriculum and discussion of teaching techniques, demonstrations and laboratories for use in such a program.

Upper Level Core Curriculum Courses

Course approach and philosophy for the following courses are discussed in core descriptions.

PY 781, 782 - Quantum Mechanics I, II

Fundamental concepts and formulations, including interpretation and techniques and the application of theory to simple physical systems, such as the free particle, the harmonic oscillator, the particle a potential well and central force problems. Other topics include approximation methods, identical particles and spin, transformation theory, symmetries and invariance, and an introduction to quantum theory of scattering and angular momentum.

PY 783 - Advanced Classical Mechanics

Introduction to theoretical classical mechanics, special relativity, and the motion of charged particles. Topics include variational principles, Hamilton dynamics and canonical transformation theory, structure of the Lorentz group and elementary dynamics of unquantized fields.

PY 785, 786 - Advanced Electricity and Magnetism I, II

Topics including techniques for solution of potential problems, development of Maxwell’s equations, wave equations, energy, force and momentum relations of an electromagnetic field, covariant formulation of electrodynamics, radiation from accelerated charges.

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