Physics
Courses
PHYS 501 Mathematical Physics I 3.0 Credits
Covers various topics in mathematical physics and their numerical implementations, including calculus of residues and further applications of complex variables; vector spaces, Fourier series, and generalized functions; integral transforms; theory and application of ordinary and partial differential equations; special functions; boundary value and initial value problems; Green's function theory and applications; and integral equations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 502 Mathematical Physics II 3.0 Credits
Continues PHYS 501.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 506 Dynamics I 3.0 Credits
Covers Lagrangian-Hamiltonian formulations, variational principles, particle kinematics and dynamics, and small oscillations and normal modes.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 511 Electromagnetic Theory I 3.0 Credits
Covers electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic waves, boundary value problems of electromagnetic theory, theory of Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction, classical electrodynamics, special relativity, waveguides, and radiation theory.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 512 Electromagnetic Theory II 3.0 Credits
Continues PHYS 511.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 516 Quantum Mechanics I 3.0 Credits
Covers axioms of quantum mechanics and the basic mathematical tools, one-dimensional Schrodinger equation, spin and general two-level systems, harmonic oscillator, general theory of angular momentum, hydrogen atom, elements of atomic spectroscopy, quantum theory of scattering, electron spin, addition of angular momenta, stationary and time-dependent perturbation theory, fine and hyperfine structure of the hydrogen atom, interaction of light and matter, and Dirac Equation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 517 Quantum Mechanics II 3.0 Credits
Continues PHYS 516.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 518 Quantum Mechanics III 3.0 Credits
Continues PHYS 517.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 521 Statistical Mechanics I 3.0 Credits
Covers thermodynamics; probability theory; Gibbs-Boltzmann formulation; relation between density of states and entropy; partition functions; ensembles; Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac, phonon, photon, and electron systems; and phase transitions.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 522 Statistical Mechanics II 3.0 Credits
Continues PHYS 521.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 531 Galactic Astrophysics 3.0 Credits
The goal of this course is to present an introduction to the processes responsible for the formation, structure, evolution, and present-day appearance of the Milky Way and other galaxies. Using the Milky Way Galaxy as a guide, we will develop analytical and numerical tools to help us understand the properties of these magnificent objects, near and far. For the most part, these tools will be based on familiar concepts in classical mechanics and thermodynamics.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 532 Cosmology 3.0 Credits
Covers cosmological models, age and distance scales in the universe, the hot big bang, primordial nucleosynthesis, inflation, baryonic and non-baryonic matter, galaxy formation and evolution, dynamics of structure formation, statistics of cosmological density fields, and cosmic background fluctuations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 540 Big Data Physics 3.0 Credits
This course provides the framework for physics students at all levels to begin interacting with large data sets in physics. Data analysis will be done using Python tools, including standard libraries for machine learning. Practical application of classification and regression techniques for both unsupervised and supervised data are emphasized, in addition to dimensionality reduction techniques and time-domain analysis. An introduction to statistical methods, Bayesian inference, and Markov-chain Monte Carlo methods provide a foundation for application of machine learning tools.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 553 Nanoscience 3.0 Credits
Physical basis of nanoscale materials and systems including discussion of low-dimensional structures and their physical properties, the self-assembly of nanostructures, applications in various fields of science and technology, and techniques for fabrication and characterization on the nanoscale.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 554 Quantum Technology 3.0 Credits
The course provides an applied physics/engineering treatise of the fundamental building blocks of quantum computers. The topics include the physics of quantum computing, different quantum bit (qubit) technologies (ion trap/ superconducting/ semiconductor spin qubits), full hardware and system level aspects, the state-of-the-art, challenges, and near future outlook of the paradigm.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 558 Quantum Information 3.0 Credits
Introduction to the principles of quantum information and quantum information processing. Covers the basic postulates of quantum physics (e.g. superposition, entanglement, measurement) necessary for quantum computing and examines the way in which quantum information is stored and processed (e.g. quantum bits, quantum gates, quantum algorithms).
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 561 Biophysics 3.0 Credits
A one-course introduction to Biophysics. Topics may include structure of biomolecules, protein stability, electron transfer, protein folding, protein substrates, allostery, and self-assembly. No biological background is assumed.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 562 Computational Biophysics 3.0 Credits
Covers mathematical applications of biological simulations. Using classical and statistical mechanics, we will cover topics including atomic scale simulations, statistical sampling, and models of molecular cellular systems and living processes.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 571 Nonlinear Dynamics 3.0 Credits
This course introduces the basic ideas of the new science of nonlinear dynamics and develops methods to carry out fundamental computations of fractal dimension, Lyapunov exponents, and topological invariants.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 576 Introduction to Particle Physics 3.0 Credits
This course provides an introduction to the physics of fundamental particles. Topics include the fundamental forces, quarks and leptons, Feynman diagrams, symmetries and conservation laws, relativistic kinematics, bound states, and experimental methods.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 601 Advanced Quantum Mechanics I 3.0 Credits
Relativistic one-particle quantum mechanics; Dirac theory radiation theory; free fields; interactions; quantum electrodynamics; introduction to elementary particle theory; quantum chromodynamics.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 626 Solid State Physics I 3.0 Credits
Crystal lattices; Bloch theorem; classical and quantum theory of lattice vibrations; phonons, electron states in solids; calculation of energy bands and Fermi surfaces; dynamics of electrons in metals; electron-electron interactions; plasmons; electron-phonon interactions; polarons; semiconductor and insulator crystals; transport properties of solids; thermal properties; optical properties; magnetism; magnons; superconductivity.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 627 Solid State Physics II 3.0 Credits
Crystal lattices; Bloch theorem; classical and quantum theory of lattice vibrations; phonons, electron states in solids; calculation of energy bands and Fermi surfaces; dynamics of electrons in metals; electron-electron interactions; plasmons; electron-phonon interactions; polarons; semiconductor and insulator crystals; transport properties of solids; thermal properties; optical properties; magnetism; magnons; superconductivity.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 631 Relativity Theory I 3.0 Credits
Covers particle and field dynamics in special relativity, tensor calculus for Riemannian space-time manifolds, Einstein's gravitational field equations and their principal solutions in general relativity, black holes, general relativistic variational principles, big bang cosmology, and quantization of general relativity.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 676 Nuclear Physics I 3.0 Credits
Review of systematics of experimental phenomena; nuclear structure theory, including shell model, interacting-boson model, Hartree-Fock approaches, and collective models; intermediate energy theory and experiment, including electron, nucleon, and pion scattering and reactions; group theoretical approaches; interfaces of quark-meson-nucleon coexistence.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 677 Nuclear Physics II 3.0 Credits
Review of systematics of experimental phenomena; nuclear structure theory, including shell model, interacting-boson model, Hartree-Fock approaches, and collective models; intermediate energy theory and experiment, including electron, nucleon, and pion scattering and reactions; group theoretical approaches; interfaces of quark-meson-nucleon coexistence.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 679 The Standard Model 3.0 Credits
This class will focus on classical fields in general, as well as the relationship between classical and quantum fields. It will include discussions of special relativity, group theory, and simple lie groups, as well as the theoretical development of electromagnetism, the weak, and strong forces. The course will develop electroweak unification in particular, and unified theories in general. It will conclude with a discussion of Grand Unified Theories.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHYS 898 Master's Thesis 1.0-9.0 Credit
This course is open only to the students pursuing the MS degree in Physics, who are in the MS thesis track. Requires supervised research at the master's level.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 5 times for 54 credits
PHYS 997 Research 1.0-12.0 Credit
Research.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS 998 Ph.D. Dissertation 1.0-12.0 Credit
Ph.D. dissertation.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS I599 Independent Study in PHYS 0.0-12.0 Credits
Self-directed within the area of study requiring intermittent consultation with a designated instructor.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS I699 Independent Study in PHYS 1.0-6.0 Credit
Self-directed within the area of study requiring intermittent consultation with a designated instructor.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 4 times for 12 credits
PHYS I799 Independent Study in PHYS 0.0-12.0 Credits
Self-directed within the area of study requiring intermittent consultation with a designated instructor.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS I899 Independent Study in PHYS 0.0-12.0 Credits
Self-directed within the area of study requiring intermittent consultation with a designated instructor.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS I999 Independent Study in PHYS 0.0-12.0 Credits
Self-directed within the area of study requiring intermittent consultation with a designated instructor.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS T580 Special Topics in Physics 0.0-9.0 Credits
Topics decided upon by faculty will vary within the area of study.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS T680 Special Topics in Physics 0.0-9.0 Credits
Topics decided upon by faculty will vary within the area of study.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS T780 Special Topics in Physics 0.0-9.0 Credits
Assignment of readings and study in current topics of experimental and theoretical interest.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS T880 Special Topics in Physics 0.0-9.0 Credits
Topics decided upon by faculty will vary within the area of study.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHYS T980 Special Topics in Physics 0.0-9.0 Credits
Topics decided upon by faculty will vary within the area of study.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
