Dan Ingersoll
Linda Caldwell ByusGraduate Programs
| Graduate Programs | Degree Programs | Admission Requirements | Financial Support | Course Offerings |
You receive graduate credit for courses offered at the 500- and 600-level. Courses at the 500-level are designed primarily for students requiring advanced undergraduate material that they have not covered prior to entering 600-level course work. You must complete at least 12 semester hours of work at the 600-level or above. Departmental proficiency and course requirements are given in the degree program descriptions. Numbers in parentheses indicate semester hours credit for each course.
Note: Course denoted by an asterisk are offered if requested by a sufficient number of students.
| 500 Physics Seminar | (1-4; maximum 4 for any one degree) |
| Weekly physics colloquium series presenting guest speakers on topics of interest to the scientific community. Required of all graduate students in residence. Offered for credit / no credit only. | |
| 520 Advanced Laboratory Physics | (1-4; maximum 4 for any one degree) |
| Techniques of nuclear physics, solid state physics, and optics. | |
| * 521 Introduction to Biophysics | (4) |
| Designed to acquaint the advanced undergraduate and graduate science major with the physical principles required to understand modern quantitative biology. Covers both experimental and theoretical aspects of physical biology. | |
| 530 Topics in Physics | (1-4; maximum 12) |
| Study of topics of current interest in physics beyond the coverage in other course offerings. | |
| 535 Introduction to Astrophysics | (4) |
| Applications of atomic and nuclear physics to the problems of stellar structure and evolution. Cosmological implications of recent astronomical discoveries. | |
537 Intermediate Thermodynamics and Introduction to Statistical Physics | (4) |
| Development of formal thermodynamics including the first, second, and third laws, thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell's relations, phase transitions, and illustrative applications of thermodynamics. Introduction to the kinetic theory approach to the behavior of systems not in equilibrium, the Boltzmann equation, and transport processes. Development of statistical mechanics and the ensemble approach to equilibrium statistical thermodynamics. | |
| 541 Optics and Laser Physics | (4) |
| Lecture and laboratory course covering all aspects of lasers. Students are taught the basics of physical and geometrical optics and atomic physics in such detail as necessary to understand the design, operation, and application of lasers. Topics include matrix methods in ray optics, gaussian beams, cavity design, rate equation models of laser gain media, pulsed and CW lasers, different types of lasers, and nonlinear optics. Applications to communications, optical computing, and image processing are discussed. | |
| 542 Spectroscopy of Atoms and Molecules | (4) |
| A survey of the structure of atoms and molecules using optical spectroscopy as a tool. In the lecture component, the quantum theory of atoms and molecules is reviewed, including solutions to the Schroedinger equation, spectroscopic notation, transition rates, and selection rules. The laboratory component examines a variety of light sources, with increasing resolution. Zeeman, fine structure, and hyperfine structure in particular are considered. Emphasis is on laboratory investigation. | |
| * 545 Introduction to Geophysics | (4) |
| Problems in geophysics with emphasis on their physical basis and mathematical analysis. | |
| 551 Classical Mechanics | (4) |
| Mechanics, nonrelativistic and relativistic, of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies treated by Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian methods utilizing vector and matrix analysis and calculus of variations. | |
* 552 Introduction to Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics | (4) |
| Fluid properties, statics, flow concepts and basic equations, dimensional analysis, and dynamic similitude. One-dimensional compressible flow with area change, heat transfer, and friction. Ideal flows. Current topics of applied fluid mechanics are introduced through computer-aided analysis. | |
| * 555 Introduction to Acoustics | (4) |
| Physical principles and applications of production and transmission of mechanical waves. | |
| 561 Electromagnetic Theory | (4) |
| Mathematically quantitative lecture and problem course in the theory of electromagnetism. Topics include multipole fields, electromagnetic field equations, electromagnetic waves, reflection and refraction, radiating systems, classical electron theory, spherical waves, interference phenomena, and diffraction theory. | |
| 571 Advanced Electronics | (3) |
| Applications of solid state electronic devices and circuits. Includes laboratory experience with discrete devices, integrated circuits, and transducers, and their application to measurements in research situations. | |
| 591, 592 Introduction to Quantum Physics | (3, 3) |
| Introduction to the quantum theory and its application to physical systems. | |
| 610 Research | (1-10; maximum 10) |
| Independent research projects in theoretical or experimental physics. | |
| * 611 Relativity | (4) |
| Philosophical and experimental basis of relativity, its mathematical consequences in the fields of mechanics and electromagnetism. Prerequisite: PHY 451/551, or with departmental permission, concurrent registration in PHY 551. | |
| 615, 616 Astrophysics | (3, 3) |
| (615) Protostars and main sequence stars; proton-proton and carbon cycle energy production. Evolution of main sequence stars, nucleosynthesis, supernovae, white dwarfs, and neutron stars. (616) Cosmology, big bang theory of origin, primordial fireball radiation, future prospects of our relativistic expanding universe. Prerequisites: PHY 591, 592, or consent of instructor. | |
| 620 Topics in Modern Physics | (1-4; maximum 10) |
| The study of various topics of interest in physics that are not covered in the formal course offerings. Prerequisite: PHY 551, or consent of instructor. | |
642 Advanced Kinetic Theory and Statistical Mechanics | (4) |
| Transport theory of gases; Chapman-Enskog development. Classical and quantum statistical mechanics with applications to many- particle systems. Prequisities: PHY 551, 591, 592. | |
| 671, 672 Electromagnetism | (4, 2) |
| Electromagnetic theory and applications. Prerequisites: (671) PHY 561; (672) PHY 671. | |
| 681 Modern Theory of Solids | (4) |
| Properties of condensed matter, particularly solids, developed from the quantum viewpoint. Applications of the theory to transport phenomena, Fermi surface effects, superconductivity, Josephson devices. Prerequisites: PHY 691, 692, or consent of instructor. | |
| 691, 692 Modern Quantum Physics | (4, 4) |
| Fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and the mathematical techniques of Schroedinger and Heisenberg. Computer solution of quantum mechanical problems. Prerequisites: (691) PHY 591, 592; (692) PHY 691. | |
| 700 Research for Master's Thesis | (1-12; minimum 6, maximum 12) |