Department of Physics

Observational techniques in astronomy with emphasis on constellation identification, celestial movements, and telescopic observation. Individualized night observations are required.

A course in astronomy dealing with stars and stellar systems. Topics will include observational astronomy, the electromagnetic spectrum, relativity, stellar and galactic structures, cosmology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

In-depth study of a selected topic in astrophysics at the introductory graduate level. May include a laboratory or computational component.

Experiments in classical and modern physics, designed to develop skills in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of experimental data.

An introduction to the structure of the atomic nucleus, natural and artificial radioactivity, nuclear decay processes and stability of nuclei, nuclear reactions, properties of nuclear forces, and nuclear models. Also, particle phenomenology, experimental techniques and the standard model. Topics include the spectra of leptons, mesons, and baryons; strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions.

Introduction to solid state physics and materials science, with emphasis placed on the applications of each topic to experimental and analytical techniques. Topics include crystallography, thermal and vibrational properties of crystals and semiconductors, metals and the band theory of solids, superconductivity and the magnetic properties of materials.

Fundamentals of relativistic particle dynamics including particle acceleration; weak and strong focusing; linear beam optics and particle transfer matrices; linear and non-linear synchrotron motion; introduction to the statistical descriptions of particle beams; and radiation production by accelerated relativistic particles. Examples relevant to betatrons, cyclotrons, synchrotrons, and linear accelerators will be given.

Introduction to computationally based problem solving in physics with an emphasis on understanding and applying various numerical algorithms to different types of physics problems. Topics will include numerical integration (quadrature), numerical solution of ordinary differential equations, Runge-Kutta and Numerov methods, polynomial approximations, numerical linear algebra, and Monte-Carlo methods. These computational methods will be applied to problems in classical and quantum mechanics, as well as electromagnetic theory.

A study of the classical theory and phenomena of electricity and magnetism. Topics include the calculation of electric and magnetic fields, magnetic and dielectric properties of matter, and an introduction to Maxwell's equations. The course contains a mandatory recitation section.

A mathematical study of the concepts of mechanics. Vector calculus methods are used. Topics include mechanics of a system of particles, Lagrangian mechanics, Hamilton’s canonical equations, and motion of a rigid body.

Introduction to the physical and mathematical structure of quantum theory, including the historical and experimental origins of the subject. The curriculum includes techniques for solving the Schrodinger wave equation, particularly for the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom. The course contains a mandatory recitation section.

A course in electrodynamics developed from Maxwell’s Equations. Topics include Maxwell’s Equations, Conservation Laws, Electromagnetic Waves, Potentials and Fields, Radiation, and the interplay of electrodynamics and special relativity. The course contains a mandatory recitation section.

A study of the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics. Topics include the thermodynamics of simple systems, kinetic theory of gases, statistical mechanics of gases and an introduction to quantum statistics.

This course follows directly from PHYS 552. It includes a more detailed study of simple systems, an introduction to abstract quantum mechanics and Dirac notation, and applications to operator methods. Particular attention is paid to electron spin, angular momentum theory, operator treatment of the harmonic oscillator, the Pauli exclusion principle, perturbation theory, and scattering. The course contains a mandatory recitation section.

In-depth study of a selected topic in physics at the graduate level. May include a laboratory or computational component.

These courses afford the student an opportunity to pursue individual study and research.

Basic mathematical methods with applications: vector analysis, linear algebra, series and series of functions, Hilbert spaces, complex variable theory.

Continuation of PHYS 601. Basic mathematical methods with applications: integral transforms, ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations.

Particle in a central-force field. Dynamics in a rotating reference frame. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations. Small oscillations. Kinematics and dynamics of a rigid body. Canonical transformation, Hamilton-Jacobi theory.

Electrostatics: Gauss' Law and Poisson and Laplace equations. Methods for the solution of boundary-value problems with rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical symmetry. Expansion in multipoles. Dielectrics. Magnetostatics and Faraday's law.

Mathematical foundations of Hilbert spaces. Background on Hamiltonian mechanics and electro-magnetism. Postulates of Quantum Mechanics, measurements and Schroedinger equation. Simple systems. Schroedinger Equation in 1-3 dimensions and solutions for specific systems. Symmetries and angular momentum. Time-independent perturbation theory.

These courses afford the student an opportunity to pursue individual study.

Special topics related to particle accelerators and their applications. Departmental approval required.

M.S. level research supervised by the student's thesis advisor.

M.S. level research supervised by the student's thesis advisor.

Electrodynamics: Maxwell equations, plane electromagnetic waves and wave propagation, waveguides, radiating systems, special theory of relativity, including the dynamics of relativistic particles and electromagnetic fields.

Review of thermodynamics. Classical statistical mechanics and applications. The virial expansion. Quantum statistical mechanics and the micro-canonical, canonical, and grand-canonical ensembles. The Fermi and Bose gases, and applications. Special topics in statistical mechanics.

Studies of high level computer languages. Computational techniques used in physics. Numerical techniques for differential and integral problems. Algebraic processing languages. Introduction to scientific visualization techniques.

Further development of quantum mechanics. Multi-particle states, bosons and fermions. Classical Limit. Variational principle, time-dependent perturbation theory and scattering. Path integral formulation. Symmetry and groups, addition of angular moments. Examples from solid state, atomic, nuclear, and particle physics.

Nuclear forces, models of nuclear structure and reactions, hadron and lepton scattering, introduction to constituent quark model and hadron spectroscopy.

Discrete and continuous symmetries and application to particle physics, SU(2) and SU(3) symmetries and static properties of hadrons. Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, quantum electrodynamics and Feynman rules, strong and weak interactions, Standard Model and physics beyond the Standard Model.

Electronic and lattice properties of solids, band structures of metals, semiconductors and insulators, dynamics of electron and phonons, electromagnetic and optical properties of metals and doped semiconductors, phenomenology of superconductivity and magnetism, and selected experimental methods of solid state physics.

Irreducible tensor methods. Radiative excitation and ionization processes. Atom-atom scattering. Time-evolution of atomic observables in external fields. Multiple channel quantum defect theory and complex atomic and molecular spectra.

Overview of the underlying physics of modern particle accelerators. Beam acceleration, coupled and uncoupled beam transport, nonlinear dynamics, collective effects, phase space cooling, and free-electron lasers will be covered. Depending on the instructor, additional topics of current interest such as coherent synchrotron radiation, wakefields and impedances, and novel methods of acceleration will be discussed.

Overview of the tools and techniques used in the design of particle accelerators and the measurement of their components. The course is targeted for both physicists and engineers, and its intent is to provide them with a common language and understanding. The course consists of 6 modules of 2 weeks each. Each module will be a combination of assigned readings, lectures, computer-based design, and hand-on measurements. Typical topics to be addressed in the 6 modules are: beamline design, electromagnetic cavity design, magnets, beam instrumentation, engineering principles for superconducting rf accelerators, machine learning.

Further developments in classical mechanics and electromagnetism and their application to accelerator physics: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of equations of motion, canonical transformations, adiabatic invariants, linear and nonlinear resonances. Louisville's theorem, solutions of Maxwell's equation in cavities and waveguides, wakefields, radiation and retarded potentials, and synchrotron radiation.

Properties and behavior of materials and systems at low temperature with emphasis on particle accelerator and microwave applications. Macroscopic quantum phenomena in condensates. Superfluidity, electrodynamic properties of superconductors.

This course will introduce design and general operating principles for particle accelerators, including acceleration methods for particles and beams. Topics will include the evolution and descriptions of particle beams under acceleration, physics of accelerated particle beams, as well as the effects of space charge, high-order modes (HOMs), and other collective effects. Aspects of both normal conducting (RF) and superconducting (SRF) particle beam acceleration will be covered.

An introduction to basic Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) methods in hadron-scattering experiments. Focus will be placed on perturbative methods and partonic interpretations of specific processes. The course will begin with a general overview of QCD, and specific processes will be studied in detail to illustrate the general features of patronic physics and their QCD interpretations. The course will close with a summary of questions of current research interest.

This seminar is designed to enhance both written and oral communication skills as applied to physics. Topics include effective display of data, preparation of scientific reports and preparation and delivery of scientific talks.

Thorough coverage of areas selected to meet special needs and interests.

Special topics related to particle accelerators and their applications.

Electrodynamics: Maxwell equations, plane electromagnetic waves and wave propagation, waveguides, radiating systems, special theory of relativity, including the dynamics of relativistic particles and electromagnetic fields.

Review of thermodynamics. Classical statistical mechanics and applications. The virial expansion. Quantum statistical mechanics and the micro-canonical, canonical, and grand-canonical ensembles. The Fermi and Bose gases, and applications. Special topics in statistical mechanics.

Studies of high level computer languages. Computational techniques used in physics. Numerical techniques for differential and integral problems. Algebraic processing languages. Introduction to scientific visualization techniques.

Further development of quantum mechanics. Multi-particle states, bosons and fermions. Classical Limit. Variational principle, time-dependent perturbation theory and scattering. Path integral formulation. Symmetry and groups, addition of angular moments. Examples from solid state, atomic, nuclear and particle physics.

Nuclear forces, models of nuclear structure and reactions, hadron and lepton scattering, introduction to constituent quark model and hadron spectroscopy.

Discrete and continuous symmetries and application to particle physics, SU(2) and SU(3) symmetries and static properties of hadrons. Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, quantum electrodynamics and Feynman rules, strong and weak interactions. Standard Model and physics beyond the Standard Model.

Electronic and lattice properties of solids, band structures of metals, semiconductors and insulators, dynamics of electron and phonons, electromagnetic and optical properties of metals and doped semiconductors, phenomenology of superconductivity and magnetism, and selected experimental methods of solid state physics.

Many body and collective effects in condensed matter, including phase transitions, Bose and Fermi quantum liquids, superfluidity, superconductivity and magnetism, and properties of mesoscopic and low-dimensional systems.

Irreducible tensor methods. Radiative excitation and ionization processes. Atom-atom scattering. Time-evolution of atomic observables in external fields. Multiple channel quantum defect theory and complex atomic and molecular spectra.

Introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics; symmetries in relativistic wave equations; solutions to relativistic wave equations for bound states and scattering processes; classical field theory and role of symmetries in construction of conserved currents; introduction to second quantization of fields.

Overview of the underlying physics of modern particle accelerators. Beam acceleration, coupled and uncoupled beam transport, nonlinear dynamics, collective effects, phase space cooling, and free-electron lasers will be covered. Depending on the instructor, additional topics of current interest such as coherent synchrotron radiation, wakefields and impedances, and novel methods of acceleration will be discussed.

Overview of the tools and techniques used in the design of particle accelerators and the measurement of their components. The course is targeted for both physicists and engineers, and its intent is to provide them with a common language and understanding. The course consists of 6 modules of 2 weeks each. Each module will be a combination of assigned readings, lectures, computer-based design, and hand-on measurements. Typical topics to be addressed in the 6 modules are: beamline design, electromagnetic cavity design, magnets, beam instrumentation, engineering principles for superconducting rf accelerators, machine learning.

Motion of charged particles in electromagnetic fields. Coulomb collisions and transport processes. Collisional Boltzmann equation. Generation of various forms of plasma in the laboratory. Basic plasma diagnostic methods including plasma and laser spectroscopy, measurements of electron and ion density and energy distribution.

Further development in classical mechanics and electromagnetism and their application to accelerator physics: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of equations of motion, canonical transformations, adiabatic invariants, linear and nonlinear resonances. Louisville's theorem, solutions of Maxwell's equation in cavities and waveguides, wakefields, radiation and retarded potentials, and synchrotron radiation.

Properties and behavior of materials and systems at low temperature with emphasis on particle accelerator and microwave applications. Macroscopic quantum phenomena in condensates. Superfluidity, electrodynamic properties of superconductors.

The Yukawa potential in classical and quantum mechanics. One- and two-meson exchange amplitudes. Pion-exchange interactions: one- and two-pion exchange two-nucleon potentials, and two-pion exchange three-nucleon potentials. Electromagnetic interactions. Nucleon-nucleon scattering. Realistic models of two- and three-nucleon potentials. Relativistic corrections to the nuclear Hamiltonian. Electro-weak currents of nucleons and nuclei.

This course will introduce design and general operating principles for particle accelerators, including acceleration methods for particles and beams. Topics will include the evolution and descriptions of particle beams under acceleration, physics of accelerated particle beams, as well as the effects of space charge, high-order modes (HOMs), and other collective effects. Aspects of both normal conducting (RF) and superconducting (SRF) particle beam acceleration will be covered.

Quantization of the Klein-Gordon field, interactions in quantum field theory and Feynman diagrams, quantization of the Dirac field, quantization of the electromagnetic field, quantum electrodynamics, renormalization, quantum chromodynamics and asymptotic freedom.

Further development of topics in quantum field theory. The course addresses renormalization, non-abelian gauge theories, and advanced calculation techniques.

An introduction to basic Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) methods in hadron-scattering experiments. Focus will be placed on perturbative methods and partonic interpretations of specific processes. The course will begin with a general overview of QCD, and specific processes will be studied in detail to illustrate the general features of patronic physics and their QCD interpretations. The course will close with a summary of questions of current research interest.

This seminar is designed to enhance both written and oral communication skills as applied to physics. Topics include effective display of data, preparation of scientific reports and preparation and delivery of scientific talks.

A continuation of PHYS 891 at an advanced level. This seminar is designed to enhance both written and oral communication skills as applied to physics. Topics include effective display of data, preparation of scientific reports and preparation and delivery of scientific talks.

Thorough coverage of areas selected to meet special needs and interests.

Special topics related to particle accelerators and their applications.