DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS (PHYS) Surendra Singh Degrees Conferred:
APPLIED PHYSICS (APHY) Requirements for the Master of Science in Applied Physics Degree: Students choosing this degree program must notify the Graduate Affairs Committee by November 30 of their first year of study. An advisory committee is then formed consisting of the research advisor as chairman, two members of the physics faculty, and one member of the graduate faculty not from the Physics department. Students in this degree program can choose either a 31 semester hour thesis path or a 37 semester hour non-thesis path. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in their graduate courses. Both degree paths require that the student complete PHYS 501V Seminar (Introduction to Research), PHYS5073 Mathematical Methods of Physics I, PHYS5413 Quantum Mechanics I, and PHYS5323 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory II. The student must complete one of the three courses in the Techniques in Research block: PHYS5123 Condensed Matter Physics; PHYS5133 Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics; or PHYS502V Individual Study in Advanced Physics. Students must also complete at least one of the following three courses: PHYS5754 Applied Nonlinear Optics, PHYS5713 Solid State Physics, or PHYS5513 Atomic and Molecular Physics. Thesis path students must complete at least three additional elective courses, with at least one in physics. Non-thesis path students must complete at least six additional elective courses, with at least three in physics. Students will select electives from courses listed in the graduate catalog as appropriate to their field of specialization, with course selection approved by their advisory committee. The thesis path will require completion of six masters thesis hours under PHYS 600V and will require a written thesis successfully defended in a comprehensive oral exam given by their advisory committee. The non-thesis path will require completion of three hours under PHYS 502V Individual Study in Advanced Physics, and will require a written project report successfully defended in a comprehensive oral exam given by their advisory committee.
PHYSICS (PHYS) Areas of Concentration: Atomic and molecular, condensed matter, laser, quantum optical physics, theoretical physics, and physics education. Prerequisites to Degree Program: Prospective students must satisfy the requirements of the Graduate School as described in the Graduate School Catalog and have the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Physics. In addition, to be admitted to graduate study in physics without deficiency, candidates should have an undergraduate degree with the equivalent of a 30-hour major in physics including intermediate-level courses in mechanics and electricity and magnetism, and mathematics through differential equations. Students who present less than the above may be admitted with deficiency dependent on degree track subject to the approval of the department's Graduate Admissions Committee. Students may eliminate deficiencies while concurrently enrolling in graduate courses, provided prerequisites are met. While submission of Graduate Record Examination scores is not required for admission, students who have taken the GRE advanced physics test are urged to submit their test scores to the Physics Department to facilitate advising and placement. Prospective students from foreign countries in which English is not the native language must submit TOEFL scores of 550 or above and Test of Spoken English scores of 50 or above. Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree: Students choosing this degree program must notify the Graduate Affairs Committee by April 30 in their first year of study. An advisory committee is then formed consisting of the research adviser as chairman and two other members of the graduate faculty, one of whom must be from the Physics Department. The student must complete a total of 30 semester hours with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 in graduate courses including Introduction to Theoretical Physics4 (3 hrs), Mathematical Methods in Physics (3 hrs), Advanced Modern Physics (8 hrs), Modern Physics Laboratory (1 hr), Advanced Electromagnetic Theory (3 hrs), Advanced Mechanics (3 hrs), Quantum Mechanics (6 hrs), and Master's Research (1 hr), the last satisfied by a written research report. A final comprehensive oral exam is given by the advisory committee. Emphasis in the exam will be on material in the research report. Requirements for the Master of Science Degree: Students choosing this degree program must notify the Graduate Affairs Committee by April 30 of their first year of study. An advisory committee is then formed consisting of the research adviser as chairman, two members of the physics faculty, and one member of the graduate faculty not from the Physics Department. The student must complete a total of 30 semester hours with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 in graduate courses including Introduction to Theoretical Physics5 (3 hrs), Mathematical Methods in Physics (3 hrs), Advanced Modern Physics (8 hrs), Modern Physics Laboratory (1 hr), Advanced Electromagnetic Theory (3 hrs), Advanced Mechanics (3 hrs), Quantum Mechanics (3 hrs), and Master's Thesis (6 hrs), the last satisfied by a written thesis successfully defended in a comprehensive oral exam given by the advisory committee. Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree: Students choosing this degree program must notify the Graduate Affairs Committee by April 30 in their first year of study. The students must complete a total of 42 semester hours with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 in graduate courses including Advanced Modern Physics6 (8 hrs), Mathematical Methods in Physics (6 hrs), Modern Physics Laboratory (1 hr), Advanced Mechanics (3 hrs), Advanced Electromagnetic Theory (6 hrs), Quantum Mechanics (6 hrs), and Statistical Mechanics (3 hrs). To be admitted to candidacy for the degree the student must (a) file a Declaration of Intent with the Graduate School, (b) pass the candidacy exam, (c) form an advisory committee, and (d) be approved by the physics faculty. The advisory committee consists of the research adviser as chairman, three members of the physics faculty, and one member of the graduate faculty not from the Physics Department. The candidacy exam consists of written and oral parts. It is given early in each spring semester. Students entering the program with a bachelor's degree will take the exam in their fourth semester of study. Students entering with a master's degree will take it the first time offered. The written exam is over course work at the graduate level. Students failing this part will be allowed to take the exam the following year for the final time. Students passing this part proceed immediately to the oral part. In this the student is assigned a topic of current research interest. Following a survey of the literature the student reports on this topic to an oral exam committee consisting of three members of the physics faculty chosen at random. Questions on the topic and other subjects are asked. The committee may judge the exam passed, or may allow additional time for preparation. If the exam is failed, a new committee is formed and a new exam is given. If the student fails the exam again the student must take the entire candidacy exam again the next year for the final time. Finally, the student must earn 18 hours of credit in Doctoral Dissertation, submit a dissertation and defend it successfully in an oral examination given by the advisory committee.
COURSES: PHYSICS (PHYS) PHYS400V Laboratory and Classroom Practices in Physics (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) The pedagogy of curricular materials. Laboratory and demonstration techniques illustrating fundamental concepts acquired through participation in the classroom as an apprentice teacher. Prerequisite: PHYS 3114 and PHYS 3414. PHYS4103 Physics in Perspective (SP, Odd years) Human implications of physics, including life's place in the universe, the methods of science, human sense perceptions, energy utilization, social impacts of technology, and the effect of physics on modern world views. No credit given toward a B.S. major in physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 3603 or PHYS 3614. PHYS4113 Physics in Perspective (SP, Odd years) Human implications of physics, including life's place in the universe, the methods of science, human sense perceptions, energy utilization, social impacts of technology, and the effect of physics on modern world views. Credit allowed for only one of PHYS 4113 or PHYS 4103. Prerequisite: PHYS 3614. PHYS4203 Physics of Devices (SP, Even years) Principles of physics applied in a selection of technologically important devices in areas including computing, communications, medical imaging, lasers, and energy utilization. Students will utilize technical journals. No credit given toward a B.S. major in physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 3603 or PHYS 3614. PHYS4213 Physics of Devices (SP, Even years) Principles of physics applied in a selection of technologically important devices in areas including computing, communications, medical imaging, lasers, and energy utilization. Students will utilitize technical journals. Credit allowed for only one of PHYS 4203 or PHYS 4213. Prerequisite: PHYS 3614. PHYS4333 Thermal Physics (SP, Even years) Equilibrium thermodynamics, statistical physics, and kinetic energy. Prerequisite: PHYS 3614. PHYS462VL Modern Physics Laboratory (1-3) (FA) Advanced experiments, projects, and techniques in atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics. PHYS4713 Solid State Physics (SP) Crystal structure, diffraction and symmetry. Lattice vibrations, elasticity and optical properties. Electronic structure, band theory, transport and magnetism. Course emphasizes applications and current topics in semiconductors, optics and magnetism. Corequisite: PHYS 3414 and PHYS 4333. Prerequisite: PHYS 3614. PHYS4803 Mathematical Physics (IR) Development of mathematics used in advanced physics, including tensors, matrices, group theory, special functions and operators. Prerequisite: MATH 2574. PHYS501V Seminar (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) Regular informal discussions of research reported in journals and monographs. PHYS502V Individual Study in Advanced Physics (1-3) (FA, SP) Guided study in current literature. PHYS5033 Introduction to Theoretical Physics (FA) Accelerated course on mechanics and electromagnetic theory. Topics in mechanics include Newton's laws, variational principles and Lagrange's equations, Hamilton's equations, rigid body motion, and small vibrations. Topics in electromagnetism include electrostatics, Maxwell's equations, radiation theory, wave propagation, and applications. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PHYS5054 Advanced Modern Physics I (FA, SP) The principal theorectical and experimental aspects of modern physics, including special relativity, quantum theory, atomic structure and spectra, solid state, nuclear and elementary particle physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 3114 and PHYS 3414. PHYS5064 Advanced Modern Physics II (FA, SP) The principal theoretical and experimental aspects of modern physics, including special relativity, quantum theory, atomic structure and spectra, solid state, nuclear and elementary particle physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 3114 and PHYS 3414. PHYS5073 Mathematical Methods of Physics I (FA) Applications of complex variables, differential equations, special functions, Green's functions, and matrix analysis to problems in physics. Introduction to numerical and statistical techniques used in physics research. (Same as MATH 5073) Prerequisite: MATH 3423. PHYS5083 Mathematical Methods of Physics II (SP) Applications of matrices, tensors, and linear vector spaces to problems in physics. Introduction to groups and their representations, and symmetry principles in modern physics. (Same as MATH 5083) Prerequisite: PHYS 5073 or MATH 5073. PHYS5103 Advanced Mechanics (SP) Dynamics of particles and rigid bodies. Hamilton's equations and canonical variables. Canonical transformations. Small oscillations. Prerequisite: PHYS 5033 and PHYS 5073. PHYS5213 Statistical Mechanics (FA) Classical and quantum mechanical statistical theories of matter and radiation. Prerequisite: PHYS 4333 and PHYS 5064. PHYS5313 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory I (FA) Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations, plane waves, waveguides, cavities, radiating systems, special relativity. Prerequisite: PHYS 5033 and PHYS 5073. PHYS5323 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory II (SP) Electrostatic boundary value problems, multiples, relativistic electrodynamics, MHD and plasma physics, radiation by moving charges. Prerequisite: PHYS 5313. PHYS5413 Quantum Mechanics I (FA) Non-relativistic quantum mechanics; the Schrodinger equation; the Heisenberg matrix representation; operator formalism; transformation theory; spinors and Paull theory; the Dirac equation; applications to atoms and molecules, collision theory, semiclassical theory of radiation. Prerequisite: PHYS 5064. PHYS5423 Quantum Mechanics II (SP) Non-relativistic quantum mechanics; the Schrodinger equation; the Heisenberg matrix representation; operator formalism; transformation theory; spinors and Paull theory; the Dirac equation; applications to atoms and molecules, collision theory, semiclassical theory of radiation. Prerequisite: PHYS 5064 and PHYS 5413. PHYS5523 Theory of Relativity (IR) Conceptual and mathematical structure of the special and general theories of relativity with selected applications. Critical analysis of Newtonian mechanics; relativistic mechanics and electrodynamics; tensor analysis; continuous media; and gravitational theory. Prerequisite: PHYS 5103 and PHYS 5323. PHYS5713 Solid State Physics (SP, Odd years) Crystalline structure, lattice dynamics. Debye theory, electron theory of metals, band theory of solids, superconductivity, and magnetism. Prerequisite: PHYS 5054. PHYS5734 Laser Physics (SP) (Formerly PHYS 5613) A combined lecture/laboratory course covering the theory of laser operation, laser resonators, propagation of laser beams, specific lasers such as gas, solid state, semiconductor and chemical lasers, and laser applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 3414 and PHYS 3544. PHYS5754 Applied Nonlinear Optics (FA) (Formerly PHYS 5633) A combined lecture/laboratory course. Topics include: practical optical processes, such as electro-optic effects, acousto-optic effects, narrow-band optical filters, second harmonic generation, parametric amplification and oscillation, and other types of nonlinear optical spectroscopy techniques which are finding current practical applications in industry. Prerequisite: PHYS 3414 and PHYS 3544. PHYS5774 Introduction to Optical Properties of Materials (FA) (Formerly PHYS 5723) A combined lecture/laboratory course covering crystal symmetry optical transmission and absorption, light scattering (Raman and Brillouin) optical constants, carrier mobility, and polarization effects in semi-conductors, quantum wells, insulators, and other optically important materials. Prerequisite: PHYS 3414 and PHYS 3544. PHYS5794 Lightwave Communication (FA, SP, SU) A laboratory-based course in light propagation in planar and fiber waveguides, optical coupling, operation principles of semiconductor lasers, detectors, and LEDs, hands-on experience with applications in communication systems. Prerequisite: PHYS 3414 or ELEG 3703. PHYS588V Selected Topics in Experimental Physics (1-3) (IR) PHYS590V Master of Arts Research (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) PHYS600V Master of Science Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) PHYS6413 Advanced Quantum Theory I (SP, Even years) Second quantization, with applications to quantizing electromagnetic fields and to many-body theory. Introduction to Feynman diagrams. Prerequisite: PHYS 5423. PHYS6613 Quantum Optics (FA, Odd years) Properties of light and its interaction with atoms, particular attention given to the laser and recent experiments. Classical theory of resonance; Optical Bloch Eqs.; 2 level atoms in steady fields; pulse propagation; semiclassical theory of the laser, coherent states and coherent functions; gas, solid, and dye lasers; photon echoes and superradiance; quantum electrodynamics and spontaneous emission. Prerequisite: PHYS 5413 or equivalent. PHYS6623 Optical Coherence Theory (FA, Even years) Diffraction theory and optical imaging systems, with emphasis on coherent versus incoherent imaging from the viewpoint of Fourier optics. Special attention is given to the coherent optical techniques made possible with the laser. Prerequisite: PHYS 5323. PHYS700V Doctoral Dissertation (1-18) (FA, SP, SU) |