Physics
PHYS 102X 4 Credits
Energy and Society (n)
Exploring the concept of energy. Investigation of the sources, conversion, distribution and ultimate dispersion of energy, as well as the consequences of its use in the development and maintenance of modern society. May be used to fulfill part of the natural science requirement. Designed for non-science majors. Course fee: $42. (3+3) Offered Spring
PHYS 103X 4 Credits
College Physics (n)
Classical physics including vectors, kinematics, Newton's Laws, momentum, work, energy, rotational motion, oscillations, waves, gravity, fluids, heat, temperature, Laws of Thermodynamics and kinetic theory. For mathematics, science and liberal arts majors. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisites: High school algebra, trigonometry and geometry or permission of instructor.) (3+3) Offered Fall
PHYS 104X 4 Credits
College Physics (n)
Coulomb's Law, electrical potential, capacitance, Kirchoff's Laws, magnetic fields, Faraday's Law, electromagnetic waves, physical and geometrical optics, waves and particles, atomic and nuclear physics. For mathematics, science and liberal arts majors. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisite: PHYS 103X or permission of instructor.) (3+3) Offered Spring
PHYS 113 1 Credit
Concepts of Physics
Review of experimental and theoretical studies of fundamental interactions of nature leading to major advances in human knowledge. Application of these discoveries to modern technologies, such as solid state electronics, lasers, holography, nuclear fusion, medical diagnostics, remote sensing, etc. (1+0) Offered Fall
PHYS 115X 4 Credits
Physical Science I (n)
Basic concepts and general overview in physics. Presents interrelatedness and interdependence within this scientific field. Course fee: $42. (Recommended: DEVM 105.) (3+3) Offered Fall
PHYS 116X 4 Credits
Physical Science II (n)
Basic concepts and general overview in chemistry, astronomy, meteorology and geology. Presents interrelatedness and interdependence of these scientific fields. Course fee: $42. (Recommended: PHYS 115X and DEVM 105.) (3+3) Offered Spring
PHYS 175X 4 Credits
Introduction to Astronomy (n)
Examination of the science of astronomy and its social consequences, with an emphasis on the interrelationships between astronomy and other sciences. Topics covered: astronomical concepts and tools, the solar system, stellar astronomy and cosmology. Designed for non-science majors. Course fee: $42. (3+3) Offered Fall
PHYS 211X 4 Credits
General Physics (n)
Vectors, kinematics, Newton's Laws, momentum, work, energy, rotational motion, oscillations, waves, gravity and fluids. For engineering, mathematics and physical science majors. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in MATH 201X or permission of instructor. Recommended: one year of high school physics.) (3+3) Offered Fall, Spring
PHYS 212X 4 Credits
General Physics (n)
Heat, temperature, Laws of Thermodynamics, Coulomb's Law, electrical potential, capacitance, Kirchoff's Laws, Biot-Savart Law, Faraday's Law and electromagnetic waves. For engineering, mathematics and physical science majors. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in MATH 202X; and PHYS 211X or ES 208 or concurrent enrollment in ES 210; or permission of instructor.) (3+3) Offered Fall, Spring
PHYS 213X 4 Credits
Elementary Modern Physics (n)
Geometrical and physical optics, elementary-level modern physics including special relativity, atomic physics, nuclear physics, solid-state physics, elementary particles, simple transport theory, kinetic theory and concepts of wave mechanics. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisites: PHYS 211X or 212X; or permission of instructor.) (3+3) Offered Fall
PHYS 220 3 Credits
Introduction to Computational Physics (n)
Introduction to computational techniques for solving physics problems. The computer is used as a tool to provide insight into physical systems and their behavior in all areas of physics. (Prerequisites: PHYS 211X, 212X, 213X; and Math 202X; or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Spring
PHYS 311 4 Credits
PHYS 312 4 Credits
Mechanics (n)
Newtonian mechanics, motion of systems of particles, rigid body statics and dynamics, moving and accelerated coordinate systems, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, continuum mechanics, theory of small vibrations, tensor analysis and rigid body rotations. (Prerequisites: PHYS 211X; MATH 302; and PHYS 311 for 312; or permission of instructor.) (4+0) 311 Offered Fall, 312 Offered Spring
PHYS 313 4 Credits
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (n)
Thermodynamic systems, equations of state, the laws of thermodynamics, changes of phase, thermodynamics of reactions, kinetic theory and introduction to statistical mechanics. (Prerequisite: PHYS 212X or permission of instructor.) (4+0) Offered Fall
PHYS 331 3 Credits
PHYS 332 3 Credits
Electricity and Magnetism (n)
Electrostatics, dielectrics, magnetostatics, magnetic materials and electromagnetism. Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation and physical optics. (Prerequisites: PHYS 212X; MATH 202X; and PHYS 331 for PHYS 332; or permission of instructor.) (3+0) 331 Offered Fall, 332 Offered Spring
PHYS 381W,O 3 Credits
Physics Laboratory (n)
Laboratory experiments in classical and modern physics. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisites: COMM 131X or 141X; ENGL 111X and ENGL 211X or 213X; and PHYS 213X or permission of instructor.) (1+6) Offered Fall
PHYS 382W 3 Credits
Physics Laboratory (n)
Laboratory experiments in classical and modern physics. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisite: PHYS 381.) (1+6) Offered Spring
PHYS 411 4 Credits
PHYS 412 4 Credits
Modern Physics (n)
Relativity, elementary particles, quantum theory, atomic and molecular physics, x-rays and nuclear physics. (Prerequisites: PHYS 213X, MATH 302, 314; and PHYS 411 for 412; or permission of instructor.) (4+0) 411 Offered Fall, 412 Offered Spring
PHYS 445 4 Credits
Solid State Physics and Physical Electronics (n)
Theory of matter in the solid state and the interaction of matter with particles and waves. (Prerequisites: MATH 302, 314; and PHYS 411; or permission of instructor.) (4+0) Offered Spring
PHYS 462 4 Credits
Geometrical and Physical Optics (n)
Geometrical optics, interference and diffraction theory, nonlinear optics, Fourier optics and coherent wave theory. Course fee: $42. (Prerequisites: MATH 302, 314; and PHYS 213X, 331; or permission of instructor.) (3+3) Offered Fall
PHYS 488 1-3 Credits
Undergraduate Research
Advanced research topics from outside the usual undergraduate requirements. (Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Recommendations: A substantial level of technical/scientific background.) Offered Fall, spring
PHYS 611 3 Credits
PHYS 612 3 Credits
Mathematical Physics
(Cross-listed with MATH 611 and MATH 612)
Mathematical foundations of classical and modern physics, including complex analysis; linear algebra and elementary tensor theory; theory of Hilbert spaces, generalized functions; elements of the Sturm-Liouville theory of ordinary linar differential equations; Fourier analysis; solutions of linear partial differential equations and integral equations using series, transform and spectral decomposition methods. (Prerequisites: For PHYS/MATH 611, MATH 422 or equivalent. For PHYS/MATH 612, PHYS/MATH 611 or equivalent. Graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) 611 Offered Fall, 612 Offered Spring
PHYS 614 3 Credits
Ice Physics
(Cross-listed with GEOS 614)
A survey of the physics of ice. Topics will include the crystal structure and properties of ice, high pressure phases, hydrogen bonding, mechanical properties, thermal properties, electrical and acoustic properties, nucleation and growth, optical properties and surface properties (adhesion, friction). (Prerequisites: MATH 421, 422; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 621 3 Credits
Classical Mechanics
Lagrange's equations, two-body problem, rigid body motion, special relativity, canonical equations, transformation theory and Hamilton-Jacobi method. (Prerequisites: PHYS 312 or equivalent; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Fall
PHYS 622 3 Credits
Statistical Mechanics
Classical and quantum statistics of independent particles, ensemble theory and applications. (Prerequisites: PHYS 621; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 626 3 Credits
Fundamentals of Plasma Physics
Single charge particle motion in the electromagnetic fields, plasma kinetic theory, Vlasov equations for collisionless plasmas, magnetohydrodynamic equations, linear plasma waves and instabilities, nonlinear plasma waves and instabilities. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Fall
PHYS 627 3 Credits
Advanced Plasma Physics
Vlasov description of small amplitude waves in magnetized plasmas, advanced particle orbit theory, fluctuation and incoherent scattering theory, plasma discontinuities and collisionless shocks, weak turbulent theory, statistical theory of turbulence. (Prerequisite: PHYS 626 or equivalent; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered As Demand Warrants
PHYS 628 3 Credits
Digital Time Series Analysis
Applied time series analysis, including correlation, convolution, filtering and spectral estimation of multivariate data. The statistical properties of estimators; signal detection; and array processing. (Prerequisites: MATH 401, 402 or equivalent; familiarity with a programming language such as C or Fortran; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 629 3 Credits
Methods of Numerical Simulation in Fluids and Plasma
The fundamentals of computer simulation for fluids and multi-particle systems. Topics include methods for the discretization of numerical solutions, and boundary and initial conditions. Methods will be applied to convection, diffusion and steady states in fluids and plasmas. (Prerequisites: MATH 310, 421 or equivalent; PHYS 311, 312, 331, 332 or equivalent; experience in programming; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 631 3 Credits
PHYS 632 3 Credits
Electromagnetic Theory
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations and potentials. Lorentz equations, field energy, gauge conditions, retarded potentials, waves, radiation and tensor formulations. (Prerequisites: PHYS 631 or the equivalent for PHYS 632; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) 631 Offered Alternate Fall, 632 Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 640 3 Credits
Auroral Physics
Survey of aurora phenomena, the associated physical processes and techniques used to investigate the aurora. Includes electron and proton impact spectra; physical processes that accelerate and precipitate electrons and protons; auroral currents; ionospheric effects of auroral activity; and principles for ground-based satellite spectroscopy and imaging and the measurements of magnetic and electric fields. (Prerequisites: PHYS 312, 332, 441 or equivalents; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 645 3 Credits
Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Introduction to the mechanics of fluid systems, the fundamental processes, Navier-Stokes' equations in rotating and stratified fluids, kinematics, conservation laws, vortex motion, irrotational flow, laminar flow, boundary layer phenomena, waves, instabilities, turbulent flows and mixing. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Fall
PHYS 650 3 Credits
Aeronomy
The physical and chemical processes that govern the response of planetary atmospheres to solar radiation and energetic particles; the formation of and characteristic processes in the layers within the ionosphere; and basic magneto-ionic theory. Includes principles of remote sensing by lidar and radar techniques. (Prerequisites: PHYS 312, 332, 411 or equivalents; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Fall
PHYS 651 3 Credits
PHYS 652 3 Credits
Quantum Mechanics
Schrodinger's equations, operator formalism, correspondence principle, central force problems, perturbation theory, quantum statistical mechanics and applications of quantum mechanics to collision problems, radiation and spectroscopy. (Prerequisites: PHYS 651 or the equivalent for PHYS 652; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) 651 Offered Alternate Fall, 652 Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 660 3 Credits
Radiative Transfer
The interaction of radiation with matter. The physical processes related to scattering, absorption and emission of radiation in an optical medium as well as the formulation and mathematical solution of radiative energy transport including multiple scattering in layered media. Demonstrations of how to use the theory in remote sensing applications and earth radiation budget studies (climate). (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in chemistry, geology or physics; or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered As Demand Warrants
PHYS 672 3 Credits
Magnetospheric Physics
The physics and dynamics of Earth's magnetosphere. Discusses the magnetosphere as a test bed for microscopic plasma processes, equilibrium configurations, plasma instabilities, highly nonlinear eruptive plasma processes and global dynamics which involve the interaction of various regions of the magnetosphere. Introduction to various aspects of magnetospheric physics with a systematic discussion of the various elements of the magnetosphere, their structure and dynamics, and a discussion of the relevant plasma physics. (Prerequisite: PHYS 626; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Spring
PHYS 673 3 Credits
Space Physics
Plasma physics of the heliosphere from the solar core to the interstellar medium. Includes coronal structure, interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind, shocks, interactions with planets, planetary magentospheres, cosmic rays, solar-terrestrial relations and instrumentation. (Prerequisites: PHYS 312, 332, 411 or equivalents; graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3+0) Offered Alternate Fall