College of Arts & Sciences

Physics

Chair Claudio Rebbi

Director of Undergraduate Studies Ulrich Heintz

Director of Graduate Studies James Stone

Professors Ahlen, Bansil, Butler, Castro Neto, Chamon, Cohen, El-Batanouny, Erramilli, Glashow, Goldberg, Kearns, Klein, Lane, Ludwig, Miller, Pi, Rebbi, Redner, Roberts, Rohlf, Rothschild, Ruckenstein, Sandvik, Skocpol, Smith, Stanley, Stone, Sulak, Whitaker

Associate Professors Averitt, Carey, Heintz, Mohanty, Schmaltz, Tsui

Assistant Professors Bose, Duffy, Katz, Polkovnikov

Lecturers Jariwala, Voroshilov, Weinstein

Research Professors Hong, Shank

Research Associate Professors Krapivsky, Ivanov

Research Assistant Professors Kotov, Lynch

Adjunct Professor Gershoni

Professors Emeriti Booth, Chasan, R. Cohen, Corinaldesi, Edmonds, Franzen, Hellman, Shimony, Stachel, Willis, Zimmerman

Associated Faculty Bigio (ENG), Brecher (AS), Brower (ENG), Campbell (ENG), DeLisi (ENG), Derújula, Evans (ENG), Kreimer (MA), Meller (ENG), Mertz (ENG), Moustakas (ENG), Sergienko (ENG), Swan (ENG), Teich (ENG), Ünlü (ENG)

The undergraduate physics program at Boston University gives students a foundation of knowledge and problem-solving ability on which they can build a variety of careers. The department prides itself on the quality of its teaching while also maintaining a vigorous research program. The diverse faculty assures concentrators an opportunity for unusually close interaction with their teachers and mentors. Students are encouraged to participate in ongoing research projects, and many get involved as early as their sophomore year. Qualified students enroll as seniors in independent work projects leading to a degree with distinction (CAS PY 401, 402).

Although many of our graduates continue their careers in physics or astronomy, a BA in physics also offers preparation for careers in such areas as industrial research and development, engineering, environmental sciences, medical physics, geophysics, oceanography, computer science, and energy resource management. It is also an ideal preparation for entering professional schools such as medicine, law, teaching, engineering, or business management. Reflecting the diversity of careers available to our students, the department offers two options for the concentration in physics, as well as joint concentrations in astronomy and physics, and philosophy and physics. In addition, the department offers a minor concentration in physics, which is an excellent complement to degrees in engineering, mathematics, or other sciences.

The Metcalf Science Center, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, houses department headquarters, instructional laboratories, lecture rooms, and offices, as well as laboratories devoted to low temperature physics, surface physics, condensed matter physics, molecular biophysics, and materials research. The Physics Research Building, located nearby at 3 Cummington Street, houses classrooms, laboratories dedicated to high-energy and condensed-matter physics, world-class computers, and outstanding facilities for the fabrication of scientific instruments and the design of sophisticated electronics equipment. In addition, several physics research groups have laboratories in the Center for Photonics on St. Mary’s Street. Researchers at Boston University also perform experiments at a variety of national and international facilities, including Brookhaven National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the U.S., CERN (France/Switzerland), Super-Kamiokande (Japan), and the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) (Switzerland).

An extensive network of computational facilities supports the research activities of the department. There are networked centralized multiprocessors available to departmental faculty, staff, and students. Additional Unix and Linux servers and workstations, as well as many Windows PCs, are available to research groups. For computationally intensive applications, students have access to supercomputing resources supported through the Center for Computational Science and the Information Technology Office. The University’s Scientific Computing Facility consists of a 1024-node BlueGene/L supercomputer from IBM with a peak capacity of 5.7T flops (trillion floating point operations per second), 4 IBM p690 servers with 112 processors, an IBM p655 server with 48 processors, and a 22 node IBM BladeCenter. In addition, an IBM Linux cluster with 52 dual-processor compute nodes and 24 display nodes provides further computational capacity as well as high-end, three-dimensional visualization through the Deep Vision Display Wall. The Departmental Computer Facility supports a wide range of software applications for physics data collection, analysis, simulation, and visualization.

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Concentration in Physics (1902)

Students concentrating in physics have two curricular options: Option I, which gives students the flexibility to combine physics with another focus area in an interdisciplinary program, and Option II, which is intended to prepare students for the study of physics or a closely related subject in graduate school. In consultation with their academic advisors, students should choose between Option I and II by the end of the sophomore year.

Option I

This option provides students with a strong physics preparation, but also allows them the flexibility to pursue an interdisciplinary academic program combining physics with training in a related science or engineering department or program: Astronomy, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Energy & Environmental Studies, Geography, Mathematics, or Mechanical Engineering. It is well suited for students planning to pursue graduate studies in a discipline other than physics or to enter a career in a related field upon graduation.

Students pursuing Option I must consult closely with their physics advisor and file a formal plan of study with the department. This plan is a contract, signed by the student, his or her physics advisor, his or her advisor from the other participating department, and the Director for Undergraduate Studies in Physics. The student’s proposal requires a statement of purpose and motivation regarding the interdisciplinary plan, and a semester-by-semester list of courses to be completed.

Prerequisites  CAS MA 123 and 124, or 127; CAS PY 251, 252, 354, 355 (or PY 211, 212, 313, 355). Both mathematics and physics should normally be started in the freshman year.

Principal Courses  CAS PY 405, 408, and 451. Two additional physics courses at the 300 level or above (but not including PY 313, 354, 355, 401, 402, 482, 491, 492, or 581) are also required. In addition, three coordinated courses from a participating science or engineering department are required. If the participating department is in CAS, at least one of these courses must be at the 300 level or higher, and the other two must be at the 200 level or higher. If these are mathematics courses, they must be different from the required courses mentioned below. If the participating department is in ENG, all three courses must be at the junior level or above. PY 581 may be used to satisfy the requirement of a 300-level course from a participating department in CAS or a course from a participating department in ENG. A grade of C or higher must be attained in all principal courses.

Required Related Courses  CAS MA 225 and one other mathematics course at the 200 level or higher chosen in consultation with the student’s physics advisor. A grade of C or higher must be attained in both of these required related courses.

Recommended  CAS PY 371, 406, 421, 410, 452, 482

Option II

This option provides students with a comprehensive and rigorous education in classical and modern physics. It is well suited for students intending to pursue graduate study in physics or a closely related field, or those planning to enter a technical physics-related career upon graduation.

Prerequisites  CAS MA 123 and 124, or 127 or 129; CAS PY 251, 252, 354, 355 (or PY 211, 212, 313, 355). Both mathematics and physics should normally be started in the freshman year.

Principal Courses  CAS PY 405, 406, 408, 410, 451, 452, and 581. An additional physics course is also required. This may be any physics course at the 300 level or higher with the exceptions of CAS PY 313, 354, 401, 402, 482, 491, and 492. A grade of C or higher must be attained in all principal courses.

Required Related Courses  CAS MA 225 and one other mathematics course at the 200 level or higher chosen in consultation with the student’s physics advisor. A grade of C or higher must be attained in both of these required related courses.

Recommended  CAS PY 371, 401, 402, 421, 482, 543, and 551. Students planning to pursue a graduate program in physics or a closely related discipline are strongly encouraged to enhance their mathematics education with some or all of the following: CAS MA 242, 411, 412, and 561. Entering freshman physics students who have some calculus background normally complete their requirements for the concentration in the following sequence:

Freshman Year

CAS PY 251, 252. (PY 211 is a permissible alternative to PY 251, and PY 212 is a permissable alternative to PY 252.)

CAS MA 123, 124 or—with prior credit for MA 123—MA 124, 225. (Well-prepared students may substitute MA 127 or 129 for MA 123, 124 with consent of instructor.)

Four course selections remain open for CAS requirements and electives.

Sophomore Year

CAS PY 354 (offered fall only). PY 313 is a permissible alternative.

CAS PY 355 (offered spring only)

CAS MA 225 or MA elective (fall)

CAS MA elective (either semester, or during junior or senior year)

Five or six course selections remain open for CAS requirements and electives.

Junior Year

CAS PY 405, 406

CAS PY 408 (fall)

CAS PY 451 (spring)

CAS MA elective (either semester, or during sophomore or senior year)

Three or four course selections remain open for CAS requirements and electives.

Senior Year

CAS PY 410 (spring)

CAS PY 452 (fall)

CAS PY 581 (fall)

CAS PY elective (either semester)

CAS MA elective (either semester, or during sophomore or junior year)

Four or five course selections remain open for CAS requirements and electives.

Transfer students or students deciding to become physics concentrators after the first semester may substitute CAS PY 211, 212, and 313, or their equivalents, for the introductory courses CAS PY 251, 252, and 354 respectively. The same option is available for students whose academic experience has not prepared them for PY 251, 252. However, it is strongly recommended that interested students join the mainstream physics program as early as possible in their undergraduate careers. In that case, substitution of PY 252 for PY 212 and PY 354 for PY 313 is encouraged.

Well-prepared students may be able to take advanced undergraduate courses earlier than the above schedules indicate. They should consult with their advisors and with the course instructors in pursuing this possibility. Students wishing a slower pace may postpone some of the 400-level classes to their senior year. Again, close  consultation with a student’s physics advisor is required.

Upper-level students are strongly encouraged to become involved with a research group and gain exposure to ongoing projects. This experience provides students with an appreciation for the difference between coursework and open-ended research. It offers essential practical training for students who wish to pursue technical careers after obtaining their undergraduate degree and broadens the background of those planning graduate study in physics. Students are also encouraged to enroll in the Undergraduate Seminar course, CAS PY 482. This 2-credit seminar examines research topics of current interest in depth. The subject of the course changes from semester to semester.

Joint Concentration in Philosophy and Physics (1530)

Described in Philosophy.

Joint Concentration in Astronomy and Physics (1965)

Described in Astronomy.

Minor Concentration in Physics (1902)

Advisors Heintz, Skocpol

Principal Courses  CAS PY 251, 252 or PY 211, 212; and PY 354 (or 313); and two courses from CAS PY 355, 405, 406, 408, 410, 451, 452. A minimum grade of C in each course must be earned.

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BA/MA in Physics (1902)

Advisor Heintz

This five-year program is intended for students who want to continue their education in physics at a graduate level, as well as for students who want to extend their knowledge of physics beyond the undergraduate level before entering the job market. Students should enroll in this program no later than the end of their sophomore year. No student will be admitted to the program later than the end of the junior year.

Before entering the program, students must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 2.7 (B–) in sciences and mathematics, as well as complete the 300-level course requirements for the BA with a concentration in physics. Before award of the dual degree, students must satisfy all College of Arts & Sciences degree requirements.

The total number of semester courses required for both degrees is 36. Please refer to Special Courses and Programs under College of Arts and Sciences on this site for general information about BA/MA programs.

Prerequisites  CAS MA 123 and 124, or 127; CAS PY 251, 252, 354, 355

Principal Courses  CAS PY 405, 406, 408, 410, 451, 452, 501, 511, 512, 521, 541, 581, and either 543 or 551. In addition, students are required to enroll for two semesters of Directed Research (GRS PY 901, 902) in their final year, in connection with their work on a master’s thesis, or to achieve a “low pass” on the graduate comprehensive examination. In the latter case, the student must also take one additional physics course at the 500 level or above.

Required Related Courses  CAS MA 225 and one other mathematics course at the 200 level or higher chosen in consultation with the student’s physics advisor.

Recommended Courses  CAS PY 502, 543, 551, 561; CAS MA 242, 411, 412, 531, 561.

In the principal courses numbered 300–499, a minimum average grade of C must be attained. In the principal courses numbered 500 or above, the minimum passing grade is B–.

BA/MA in Astrophysics and Space Physics (1968)

Described in Astronomy.

Organizations

Photon, the undergraduate physics society, is a member of the Society for Physics Students  of the American Physical Society and sponsors many interesting programs during the year.

Sigma Xi  See Honor Societies.

Sigma Pi Sigma See Honor Societies.

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Courses

Courses marked with a (†) satisfy divisional studies requirements.

Course listing is divided into three groups: (1) introductory, (2) intermediate, and (3) advanced.

Introductory Courses  Introductory physics courses for premedical, predental, and other preprofessional students may be chosen from CAS PY 105, 106, or 211, 212, or 241, 242. CAS PY 105, 106 and 241, 242 cover all of classical and modern physics in two semesters. CAS PY 211, 212 cover classical physics only. CAS PY 212 may be followed by CAS PY 313, which includes modern physics. Physics and other science concentrators or engineers with an interest in physics may elect the more intensive CAS PY 251, 252, which is usually followed by CAS PY 354. The four introductory sequences differ primarily in the level of mathematics employed. CAS PY 105, 106 assume a knowledge of algebra and trigonometry only. The other sequences require knowledge of calculus, which is used most extensively in CAS PY 251, 252.

†CAS PY 100 Physics of the Twentieth Century and Beyond

Prereq: one year of high school physics. A historical survey of modern physics, focusing on quantum mechanics and relativity as applied to the microworld (subatomic physics) and the macroworld (the early universe). Covers exotic phenomena from quarks to quasars, from neutrinos to neutron stars. For non-science majors. Meets with UNI NS 100. Glashow. 4 cr, 1st sem. (NS)

CAS PY 103 Cinema Physica

Conceptual introduction to physical law as portrayed in film. Quantitative understanding using simple estimates, elementary physics, and dimensional analysis. Kinematics; forces; conservation laws; heat and temperature; atoms, molecules and materials. Sample films: Speed; Armageddon; Independence Day; X-Men; The Sixth Sense; Contact. Cohen. 4 cr, 2nd sem. (NS) (lab)

†CAS PY 105, 106 Elementary Physics

Prereq for CAS PY 106: CAS PY 105 or equivalent. Satisfies premedical requirements; presupposes algebra and trigonometry. Principles of classical and modern physics. Mechanics, conservation laws, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, waves, light and optics, atomic and nuclear physics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Duffy, Skocpol, Tsui, Voroshilov. CAS PY 105: 4 cr, either sem; CAS PY 106: 4 cr, either sem. (NS) (lab)

CAS PY 195 Freshman Seminar for Physicists

Prereq: freshmen with declared majors in physics. Seminar where freshman physics majors learn successful strategies for studying physics and become familiar with BU’s policies, procedures, resources, and extracurricular activities. Exploration of research and career opportunities through invited speakers, book discussions, and laboratory tours. Heintz. 1 cr, 1st sem.

†CAS PY 211, 212 General Physics

Prereq: CAS MA 123 or equivalent; coreq: CAS MA 124, MA 127, or consent of instructor for students concurrently taking MA 123. Prereq for CAS PY 212: CAS PY 211 or equivalent. For premedical students who wish a more analytical course than CAS PY 105, 106, and for science concentrators and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, geometrical optics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Bose, Butler, Jariwala, Katz, Kearns, Mohanty, Roberts. CAS PY 211: 4 cr, either sem; CAS PY 212: 4 cr, either sem. (NS) (lab)

†CAS PY 231 The Physics in Music

Prereq: musical performance experience or consent of instructor (no physics prerequisite). An introduction to musical acoustics, which covers vibrations and waves in musical systems, intervals and the construction of musical scales, tuning and temperament, the percussion instruments, the piano, the string, woodwind and brass instruments, room acoustics, and the human ear and psychoacoustical phenomena important to musical performance. Some aspects of electronic music are also discussed. Roberts. 4 cr, 2nd sem. (NS)

†CAS PY 241, 242 Principles of General Physics I, II

Prereq: CAS MA 123 or equivalent; coreq: CAS MA 124, MA 127, or consent of instructor for students concurrently taking CAS MA 123. Prereq for CAS PY 242: CAS PY 241 or equivalent. Calculus-based introduction to principles and methods of physics. Mechanics, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, and relativity are treated. Topics relevant to medical science are emphasized. Ideal for premedical students. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Erramilli. 4 cr each, CAS PY 241, 1st sem; CAS PY 242, 2nd sem. (NS) (lab)

†CAS PY 251, 252 Principles of Physics

Prereq: CAS MA 123 or equivalent; coreq: CAS MA 124, MA 127, or consent of instructor for students currently enrolled in CAS MA 123. Prereq for CAS PY 252: CAS PY 251 or equivalent. Introduction to mechanics, conservation laws, heat and thermodynamics, electrostatics, magnetism, alternating currents, electromagnetic radiation, geometrical optics. Primarily for physics, mathematics, and astronomy concentrators, but open to other students with a strong background in mathematics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Rebbi, Heintz. 4 cr each, CAS PY 251, 1st sem; CAS PY 252, 2nd sem. (NS) (lab)

CAS PY 313 Elementary Modern Physics

Prereq: CAS PY 211, 212 and CAS MA 124. Waves and physical optics, relativistic mechanics, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure, physics of molecules and solids, atomic nuclei and elementary particles. Along with CAS PY 211, 212, PY 313 completes a three-semester introductory sequence primarily intended for students of engineering. Ludwig, Miller. 4 cr, either sem.

CAS PY 354 Modern Physics

Prereq: CAS PY 251, 252 (or 211, 212) and CAS MA 124; coreq: CAS MA 225. Introduction to special relativity, foundations of quantum theory, and introduction to wave mechanics, topics in atomic and molecular structure, solid state, and nuclear physics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Smith. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 355 Methods of Theoretical Physics

Prereq: CAS PY 251 and 252 (or 211 and 212), and CAS MA 225, or consent of instructor. First and second order ordinary differential equations. Partial differential equations (waves, heat, Schrödinger) and series solutions of differential equations. Vectors and vector calculus. Matrices, matrix algebra, and matrix transformations. Rotations, similarity, unitarity, hermiticity, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors. Lane. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 371 Electronics for Scientists

Prereq: CAS PY 212 or PY 252, CAS MA 124, or consent of instructor. A survey of practical electronics for all College of Arts & Sciences science students wishing to gain a working knowledge of electronic instrumentation, and in particular, its construction. Two four-hour laboratory-lecture sessions per week. Weinstein. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

Intermediate Courses

CAS PY 401, 402 Senior Independent Work

Prereq: approval of CAS Honors Committee. 4 cr each, 1st & 2nd sem.

CAS PY 405 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I

Prereq: CAS PY 355 or consent of instructor. Vector analysis; Gauss’s law; electric field intensity; energy and potential; conductors, dielectrics, and capacitance; Poisson’s and Laplace’s equations; steady magnetic fields. Ahlen. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 406 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II

Prereq: CAS PY 405. Maxwell’s equations; electro-magnetic waves in vacuum and matter; reflection and refraction; diffraction and interference; coherence; special theory of relativity. Ahlen. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 408 Intermediate Mechanics

Prereq: CAS PY 355. Dynamics of particles and rigid bodies. Newtonian mechanics. Oscillatory motion and motion under a central force. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics. Coupled oscillations, normal modes, and continuum mechanics. Longitudinal and transverse mechanical waves. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Schmaltz, Skocpol. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 408 Intermediate Mechanics

Prereq: CAS PY 354 (or 313) and PY 355, or consent of instructor. The laws of themodynamics, statistical basis of thermodynamics, ensemble theory, equilibrium statistical mechanics and its application to physical systems of interest, irreversibility, transport, and the approach to equilibrium. Polkovnikov. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 421 Advanced Scientific Computing in Physics

Prereq: CAS CS 420 or ENG EK 420, and CAS PY 354 or CAS PY 313. Introduces advanced computational techniques for research problems in physics, with emphasis on computationally intensive applications in a parallel supercomputing environment. Corequisite laboratory meets together with CAS CS 512 (or CAS CS 551), CH 455, and ENG EK 521, focusing on algorithms and computational tools with cross disciplinary application. Rebbi. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 451, 452 Quantum Physics

Prereq (451): CAS PY 354 (or 313) and CAS PY 355, or consent of instructor; prereq (452): CAS PY 451. Uncertainty principle; Schrödinger wave equation and applications; operators; hermitian operators and unitary transformations; harmonic oscillator; angular momentum and spin; time dependence; magnetic resonance; parity and identity; helium atom and hydrogen molecule; exclusion principle; Fermi-Dirac statistics; Zeeman Effect. Redner. 4 cr each: CAS PY 451, 2nd sem; CAS PY 452, 1st sem.

CAS PY 482 Undergraduate Physics Seminar

Intended primarily for upper-level physics students but open to others with the consent of the instructor. The seminar examines an area of current physics research in depth at an undergraduate level. The seminar topic varies from semester to semester, covering topics such as general relativity, particle physics, biophysics, superconductivity, or other areas of contemporary interest. (CAS PY 482 may be taken multiple times for credit.) Staff. 2 cr, either sem.

CAS PY 491, 492 Directed Study or Research in Physics

Prereq: consent of instructor and approval of advising office. Intensive study of one aspect of physics under the supervision of a faculty member. Variable cr, 1st & 2nd sem.

Advanced Courses

CAS PY 501 Mathematical Physics

Prereq: CAS MA 226 and CAS PY 403 or equivalent. Introduction to complex variables and residue calculus, asymptotic methods, and conformal mapping; integral transforms; ordinary and partial differential equations; nonlinear equations; integral equations. Pi. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 502 Computational Physics

Prereq: consent of instructor. Fundamental methods of computational physics and applications; numerical algorithms; linear algebra, differential equations; computer simulation; vectorization, parallelism, and optimization. Examples and projects on scientific applications. Sandvik. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 511 Quantum Mechanics I

Prereq: CAS PY 451 and PY 452. General theory of quantum mechanics, including the Schrödinger, Heisenberg, and interaction pictures. The path integral formulation. Angular momentum: orbital and spin angular momentum, addition of angular momenta, Wigner-Eckart theorem. Scattering theory: time-independent, partial waves and phase shift, identical particles, time dependent, and propagators. El-Batanouny. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 512 Quantum Mechanics II

Prereq: CAS PY 511. Continuation of CAS PY 511. Degenerate and nondegenerate perturbation theory. Second quantization of nonrelativistic systems with applications to scattering, lifetime of excited atomic states, many-body problems. Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-Gordon equation, Dirac equation. El-Batanouny. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 521 Electromagnetic Theory I

Prereq: CAS PY 405. Vector and tensor analysis. Electrostatics, uniqueness, electrostatic energy, capacitance. Boundary value problems, conformal mapping, variable separation, Green’s functions. Multipole expansion, electric polarization, atomic models, anisotropic media. Contour integration and application to frequency-dependent dielectric constant. Dielectrics, electrostatic energy, boundary value problems. Pi. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 522 Electromagnetic Theory II

Prereq: CAS PY 521. Continuation of CAS PY 521. Magnetostatics, dipole moment, magnetic materials, boundary value problems. Electromagnetic induction, magnetic energy, Maxwell’s equations. Electromagnetic waves in materials, reflection, refraction. Waveguides. Scattering and diffraction. Special relativity. Lorentz transformations, covariant electrodynamics. Interaction of charges with matter. Radiation, Lienard-Wiechert potential, synchotron radiation, antennas. Averitt. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 541 Statistical Mechanics I

Prereq: CAS PY 410. Probability theory. Ensembles. Steepest descent methods. Paramagnetism, ideal gas, Einstein model, adsorption isotherms. Thermodynamics, Maxwell relations, heat capacity. Bose and Fermi gases. Electrons in metals, white dwarf stars, black-body radiation, phonons, Bose-Einstein condensation. Interacting systems, virial expansion, Van der Waals gas. Phase transitions: mean-field theories, spin systems. Polkovnikov. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 542 Statistical Mechanics II

Prereq: CAS PY 541 or equivalent. Continuation of CAS PY 541; emphasis on applications. Phase transitions: thermodynamic theory of phase transitions, mean field theories (Landau theory). Fluctuations: equilibrium fluctuations, instabilities, fluctuation dissipation theories. Elementary kinetic theory: mean free path approach, Boltzmann equation. Stochastic mathematics: probability theory, Markoff processes, Gaussian processes. Brownian motion: Langevin equations, Fokker-Planck equation. Klein. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS PY 543 Introduction to Solid State Physics

Prereq: CAS PY 406, PY 410, PY 451, or consent of instructor. An introduction to crystal structure; lattice vibrations; electronic energy bands and Fermi surfaces; semiconductors, conductors, and insulators; superconductivity and magnetism. Smith. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 551 Introduction to Particle Physics

Prereq: CAS PY 451 and PY 452. Fundamental particles and their symmetries. Isospin and flavor. Discrete symmetries. Phenomenology of weak and strong interactions. Introduction to detector techniques. Bose. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS PY 581 Advanced Laboratory

Prereq: CAS PY 354. Classical experiments in atomic and nuclear physics, development of new experiments, basic research projects. Experiments include magnetic resonance, nuclear-decay studies, Zeeman effect, holography, black-body radiation, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer studies, and flux quantization, positron annihilation. Sulak. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS PY 621 Advanced Scientific Computing in Physics

Not offered 2009/2010

GRS PY 681 Electronics for Scientists

Not offered 2009/2010

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16 October 2009
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