Students gain experience with basic laboratory instrumentation and techniques, written and oral technical communication, and literature searching.

Prerequisites

PHYS 1620

Every Fall

Previously: PHYS 281

Historical development of the transition from classical to quantum physics, Bohr's atomic theory, Schroedinger's equation and applications to atomic, nuclear, and solid state systems. Introduction to relativity and to elementary particles.

Prerequisites

PHYS 1620

Every Spring

Previously: PHYS 371

Students will gain experience with laboratory instrumentation as they perform a laboratory exploration of some of the experiments that led to the transition from the classical physics paradigm to quantum mechanics. Some of the experiments for this course may include the photelectic effect, measurement of the speed of light, the measurement of charge-to-mass ratio of the electron and studies of nuclear decays.

Every Spring

Previously: PHYS 370

Detailed study of kinematics, Newtonian dynamics and rigid bodies. Introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations.

Prerequisites

PHYS 2600

Every other Spring, even years

Previously: PHYS 341

Equations of state, ideal and real gases, laws of thermodynamics, introduction to statistical mechanics. Topics developed from both macroscopic and microscopic points of view.

Prerequisites

PHYS 2600

Every other Spring, odd years

Previously: PHYS 351

Electrostatics, dielectrics, magnetostatics, Faraday's induction laws, and Maxwell's equations. Working knowledge of vector calculus is assumed.

Prerequisites

PHYS 2600

Every other Fall, even years

Previously: PHYS 361

This course includes: 1) an introduction to modern concepts in optics including electromagnetic waves, propagation of light through media, geometrical optics of lenses and mirrors, interference, coherence, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffractions; and 2) a brief introduction to modern optical applications, including Fourier optics, holography, light scattering, interferometry and laser technology.

Prerequisites

PHYS 2600

Occasional Interims

Previously: PHYS 363

This course will cover the general structure and formalism of quantum mechanics. Topics will include: Schrödinger's Equation and solutions for one-dimensional problems; Dirac notation and matrix mechanics; the harmonic oscillator; the hydrogen atom; angular momentum and spin; and approximation methods.

Prerequisites

PHYS 3610 or CHEM 3410; PHYS 2600

Every other Fall, odd years

Previously: PHYS 373

See Physics advisor.  Additional fees may apply.

Previously: PHYS 395

Selected topics in Physics.

Previously: PHYS 397