Physics (PHY)

A course in optical experiments encompassing geometrical and physical optics. This course is to be taken with Physics 304.

Pre-req: PHY 304 (may be taken concurrently).

Introduction to Thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics, and application. 3 cr. lec.

A course in laboratory measurements encompassing transistors, integrated circuits, and their associated circuits. This course is to be taken with Physics 314.

A detailed study of core problems in Astrophysics such as orbital dynamics, radiation processes, stellar structure and evolution, galactic dynamics, and cosmology.

Laboratory exercises on modern physics topics encompassing both experiments of historic significance and current applications. To be taken with Physics 320, or equivalent.

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad introduction to the structures and physical properties of solids, which are of extraordinary importance in the modern world.

A course in using numerical methods and computer programming languages for solving complex physics problems and for the simulation of various physical processes. 2 lec-2 lab.

Mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics, particles in potential fields, perturbation theory and other approximation methods, scattering, applications to simple systems. 3 lec.

This is the second part of a two-semester introduction to quantum mechanics. Emphasis is on applications of quantum theory including approximation techniques and the study of more realistic quantum systems.

Developments in producing and detecting correlated photon pairs has enabled implementation of undergraduate laboratories demonstrating fundamental quantum mechanical principles. This laboratory also incorporates fundamental solid state and materials science experiments.

Pre-req: PHY 525 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D and PHY 542 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

An introduction to the theory of orthogonal functions, curvilinear coordinate systems, vector and tensor fields and their applications in Physics. Problems are drawn from different areas of physics. 3 lec.

A second semester of a full year course on methods of solving problems in physics: calculus of variations, ordinary partial differential equations and special functions with real physics problems.

Pre-req: PHY 545.

An indepth study of mechanics for education majors specializing in Physics with emphasis on problem solving techniques, demonstrations, experiments and computer applications. (PR: PHY 203, MTH 122 and MTH 140)

A study of electrostatics and associated boundary-value problems, electric multipoles and macroscopic media, dielectrics, magnetostatics, time-varying fields, Maxwell equations and conservation laws, plane electromagnetic waves and wave propagation.

The course introduces thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to graduate students of physics and other science and engineering disciplines as two complimentary approaches to study physical properties of systems in equilibrium.

General relativity, the classical theory of one of the four fundamental forces, is not a standard course offer. This course of Special and General Relativity intends to fill this gap by introducing the key concepts that lead to a revolution in our understanding of space and time. The students will learn about spacetime curvature, metrics, geodesics, black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology.

Modern Astrophysics is firmly grounded in the fundamental principles of physics, and will offer students the opportunity to use the physics they have learned in understanding the nature of the universe. This course provides a graduate-level introduction to astrophysics, focusing on stellar structure and evolution.

This course studies complex phenomena that occur in solids and quantum liquids, and exposes the students to some theoretical tools used to describe the basic interactions behind these phenomena.

Study of variational principes and Lagrange's equations, the two-body central force problem, the kinematics and dynamics of rigid-body motion, Hamilton equations of motion, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, and small oscillations.

A course in fundamental concepts of physics. Subject content varies. Designed primarily to strengthen conceptual understanding of teachers.

This course covers advanced topics of quantum mechanics at the graduate level. Topics include fundamental issues, approximation methods and applications.

Pre-req: PHY 630 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

This course will review and develop theories of real and complex analysis, group theory, tensors, special functions, differential and integral transforms, emphasizing their application to electrodynamics, quantum statistical mechanics, etc.

Advanced Independent Study in Physics.

Advanced Independent Study in Physics.