Graduate Courses
Physics 617
Electronics for Physicists
5 credits
An intensive introduction to electronic circuits, devices, and instrumentation with emphasis on laboratory experience.
one 2-hour class, two 3-hour labs. Prereq: 263 or grad standing.
Physics 670
Physics for In-Service Teachers
Su | 1-15 credits
Designed to deepen teachers' understanding of basic physical concepts and methods of treatment of selected topics; includes lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and individualized laboratory work.
Prereq: 15 cr hrs in physics, teaching experience, and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 30 cr hrs. Intended for secondary school science teachers.
Physics 801
Seminar in Physics
Su, Au, Wi, Sp | 1 credit
Seminars will be conducted by various members of the staff on topics of current interest in their fields of specialization; students will participate in the presentation and discussion of material.
Prereq: Acceptable specialized courses and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 20 cr hrs. This course is graded S/U.
Physics 816
Topics in Physics
Su, Au, Wi, Sp | 3-6 credits
Laboratory and/or theoretical work on an individual basis on topics of current interest.
Prereq: 616 or equiv and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 30 cr hrs. This course is graded S/U.
Physics 821
Classical Dynamics
Au | 4 credits
Lagrangian dynamics, variational principles, Hamilton's equations, canonical transformations, symmetries and conservation laws, small oscillations, normal coordinates, and classical fields.
Prereq: 664 or equiv.
Physics 822
Elasticity and Fluid Mechanics
4 credits
Elasticity of solids; stress and strain tensors, dislocations; fluid mechanics; ideal and viscous fluids, chaos, and turbulence.
Prereq: 821 or permission of instructor.
Physics 827
Quantum Mechanics I
Au | 5 credits
Postulates and Schroedinger equation, linear vector spaces, one-dimensional problems, path-integral formulation of quantum theory; multiparticle systems, symmetry, orbital angular momentum, and central potentials.
Prereq: 633 or equiv or permission of instructor.
Physics 828
Quantum Mechanics II
Wi | 5 credits
Spin angular momentum and its dynamics; addition of angular momenta; variational method; time-dependent and time-independent perturbations, semiclassical treatment of electromagnetic radiation.
Prereq: 827.
Physics 829
Quantum Mechanics III
Sp | 5 credits
Quantized electromagnetic radiation; scattering theory; density matrix; Dirac equation, relativistic hydrogen atom; Hartree-Fock theory, atoms, and molecules.
Prereq: 828.
Physics 830
Quantum Mechanics IV
4 credits
Systems with several electrons, exclusion principle; applications to atoms and molecules, and to scattering; Hartree-Fock approximation; Dirac equation for free electrons and for hydrogen.
Prereq: 829.
Physics 834
Electromagnetic Field Theory I
Au | 4 credits
Boundary value problems involving static electric and magnetic fields, fields in material media.
Prereq: 656 or equiv.
Physics 835
Electromagnetic Field Theory II
Wi | 4 credits
Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation by simple systems, wave guides.
Prereq: 834 or permission of instructor.
Physics 836
Electromagnetic Field Theory III
Sp | 4 credits
Special theory of relativity, dynamics of relativistic particles, collisions between charged particles, energy loss, scattering, radiation by moving charges.
Prereq: 835 or permission of instructor.
Physics 846
Statistical Physics I
Wi | 4 credits
Physical thermodynamics and introduction to statistical physics; fundamental postulates, entropy, thermodynamic potentials and changes of phase; microscopic expression for entropy and basis of classical ensemble theory.
Prereq: 622 and 664 or equiv.
Physics 847
Statistical Physics II
Sp | 4 credits
anonical and grand ensembles; Quantum statistical mechanics; density matrices, partition functions, Bose and Fermi gases; Debye specific heat; black-body radiation; Bose-Einstein condensation; interacting systems.
Prereq: 846 and 828.
Physics 848
Advanced Statistical Physics
4 credits
Interacting systems; Ising and Heisenberg models of magnetism, theory of dense gases and liquids, phase transitions and critical phenomena; non-equilibrium statistical physics, Boltzmann equation.
Prereq: 829 and 847, or permission of instructor.
Physics 880.02
Advanced Topics: Elementary Particle Physics
3 credits
A systematic advanced treatment of areas of current interest in physics; topics will be announced each quarter: Elementary Particle Physics.
Prereq: 828 or permission of instructor. Repeatable.
Physics 880.05
Advanced Topics: Nuclear Physics
3 credits
A systematic advanced treatment of areas of current interest in physics; topics will be announced each quarter: Nuclear Physics.
Prereq: 828 or permission of instructor. Repeatable.
Physics 880.06
Advanced Topics: Condensed Matter Physics
3 credits
A systematic advanced treatment of areas of current interest in physics; topics will be announced each quarter: Condensed Matter Physics.
Prereq: 828 or permission of instructor. Repeatable.
Physics 880.08
Advanced Topics: Theory of Quantized Fields
3 credits
A systematic advanced treatment of areas of current interest in physics; topics will be announced each quarter: Theory of Quantized Fields.
Prereq: 828 or permission of instructor. Repeatable.
Physics 880.20
Special Topics
3 credits
A systematic advanced treatment of areas of current interest in physics; topics will be announced each quarter: Special Topics.
Prereq: 828 or permission of instructor. Repeatable.
Physics 999
Research in Physics
Su, Au, Wi, Sp | 1-18 credits
Research for thesis or dissertation purposes only. Repeatable.
This course is graded S/U.
