Physics and Astronomy Courses

PHYS 200/201. Modern Physics. 3 crs. ea. Introduction to quantum physics and relativity. Includes discussion of Schrodinger equation and its application to atomic and molecular spectra, a brief introduction to lasers, solid state, nuclear physics, elementary particles.

PHYS 202. Optics. 3 crs. Same as 021-176.

PHYS 203. Thermodynamics. 3 crs. Same as 021-175.

PHYS 204/205. Electricity and Magnetism. 3 crs. Same as 021-178/179.

PHYS 208/209. Physical Mechanics. 3 crs. ea. Same as 021-182, 183.

PHYS 210/211. Classical Mechanics. 3 crs. ea. Study of Langrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, variational methods, central force problems, rigid body motion, small oscillations and canonical transformation.

PHYS 214/215. Electromagnetic Theory. 3 cr. ea. Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell equations, electromagnetic waves, waveguides, radiation scattering and diffraction, special theory of relativity, radiation by moving charges.

PHYS 216/217. Mathematical Methods in Physics. 3 crs. ea. A study of vectors, matrices, tensors, linear transformations, complex variables, Fourier series, orthogonal functions, partial differential equations of physics, Fourier and Laplace transforms.

PHYS 218/219. Advanced Laboratory. 3 crs. ea. Experimental projects in spectroscopy, electronics, nuclear physics, low temperature and Solid State Physics.

PHYS 220/221. Quantum Mechanics. 3 crs. ea. A study of wave and matrix mechanics, angular momentum, perturbation theory, scattering theory, and applications.

PHYS 222/223. Statistical Mechanics 3 crs. ea. Ensemble theory, classical and quantum statistics, dense gases and liquids, magnetism, applications in solid state physics, superfluids, superconductivity, kinetic theories, special topics.

PHYS 226/227. Solid State Physics. 3 crs. ea. Crystal lattice, X-ray diffraction, electron in periodic potential, Bloch theorem, band structure, semiconductors and carriers, phonons, optical properties, amorphous structures, superconductivity, special topics.

PHYS 230. Current Issues in Physics Education. 3 crs. This course examines issues in teaching physics at the introductory level to a diverse student population. Topics include laboratory experiences, test taking skills, and reading comprehension, as well as physics content.

PHYS 232/233. Advanced Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. 3 crs. ea. This course provides an advanced treatment of fluid-flow phenomena in the atmosphere and will cover nonlinear wave theory and its use in the development and interpretation of the atmosphere. Hydrodynamics instability mechanism, which are in present in atmospheric flow and turbulence, will also be covered.

PHYS 234. Introduction to Atmospheric Science. 3 crs. Introductory course designed to provide a comprehensive background in weather, climate, and atmospheric optics. Lectures will stress the understanding and application of basic principles of physics and chemistry for semi-quantitative description the Earth's atmosphere.

PHYS 236/237. Electronic Physics. 3 crs. ea. An examination of analog and digital electronics and instrumentation. Consists of two one-hour lectures and a two-hour laboratory.

PHYS 238/239. Theoretical Physics. 3 crs. ea. Special topics of current interest in mathematical physics and in quantum and statistical physics.

PHYS 250/251. Atmospheric Physics. 3 crs. ea. Atmospheric thermodynamcs, hydrostatics, cloud and radiative processes and chemical cycles. Cloud physics and formation, energy balance, and the impact on global climate. Elementary dynamics with applications to the earth and planetary atmospheres.

PHYS 252. Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere. 3 crs. Elements of radiative transfer as applied to the upper and lower atmospheres and ocean surface. Both passive and active remote sensing methods are discussed. Satellite technology and applications to the understanding of the earth and extraterrestrial atmospheres will be discussed.

PHYS 253. Atmospheric Radiation. 3 crs. Application of radiative transfer theory to problems in planetary atmosphere, with primary emphasis on the earth's atmosphere; principles of atomic and molecular spectroscopy; infrared band representation; absorption and emissions of atmospheric gases; radiation flux and flux divergence computations; radiative transfer and fluid motions; additional application such as greenhouse effect, inversion methods and climate models.

PHYS 254. Current Topics in Atmospheric Physics. 1 cr. Atmospheric Thermodynamics, hydrostatics, cloud and radiative processes and chemical cycles. Cloud physics and formation, energy balance, and the impact on global climate Elementary dynamics with applications to the earth and planetary atmospheres.

PHYS 266/267. Advanced Mathematical Methods in Physics. 3 crs. ea. Group theory, calculus of variations, integral equations, and other topics with applications to physics.

PHYS 276/277. Advanced Topics in Quantum Mechanics. 3 crs. ea. Quantum radiation theory, relativistic quantum theory, and convariant perturbation theory.

PHYS 278/279. General Seminar. 3 crs. ea. Lectures on current topics of interest in physics.

PHYS 280/281. General Seminar. 2 crs. ea. Lectures on current topics of interest in physics.

PHYS 282/283. General Seminar. 1 cr. ea. Lectures on current topics of interest in physics.

PHYS 284,/285. Special Topics in Astrophysics. 3 crs. ea. Current topics of interest in astrophysics.

PHYS 286/287. Special Topics in Laser Spectroscopy. 3 crs. ea. Current research problems of interest in astrophysics.

PHYS 290/291. Special Topics in Statistical Mechanics. 3 crs. ea. Special topics of current interest in statistical mechanics.

PHYS 292/ 293. Special Topics in Solid-State Physics. 3 crs. ea. Special topics of current interest in Solid-State Physics.

PHYS 298/299. Graduate Research. 1-6 crs. Supervised research for students without approved thesis or dissertation topics. This course may be repeated.

PHYS 300/301. M. S. Thesis Research. 1-6 crs. Independent research for the M.S. degree.

PHYS 400. Ph.D. Dissertation Research. 1-12 crs. Consists of independent research for the Ph.D. degree.

Astronomy

PHYS 240. Basic Astronomical Data. 3 crs. Methods for the determination of basic astronomical parameters: stellar distributions, masses, temperatures, luminosities, motions, empirical age estimates: galactic constituents, rotation, morphology; clusters of galaxies; distance scale and Hubble flow.

PHYS 242. Interaction of Radiation and Matter. 3 crs. Generation and transformation of electromagnetic radiation in astronomical sources: thermal and nonthermal bremsstrahlung processes: scattering; radiation transport in spectral lines, derivation of compositions and physical parameters from atomic and molecular spectra of stars, galaxies, and interstellar matter.

PHYS 243. The Galaxy. 3 crs. Constituents of the galaxy, distributions and motions of stars, interstellar matter, theories of spiral structure, energetic phenomena.

PHYS 244. Stellar Structure and Evolution. 3 crs. Theory of the physical processes governing the structure and evolution of stars; equations of stellar structure, generation of nuclear energy nucleosynthesis, star formation, late stages of stellar evolution, dense phases of stellar remnants, black holes.