| Note: Text highlighted in red indicates
that a change has been made to the course listing. The red text indicates the current, updated information. |
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY |
171.101 (E,N) |
GENERAL PHYSICS FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE MAJORS I (4) Staff Limit 23 per section Coreq:173.111-112; 110.108-109 or 110.106 One-year course in general physics covering mechanics, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, optics, and atomic physics. |
Lec. I
Sec. 01
02
03
04
05
06
07
Lec II
08
09
10
11
12
13
14 |
TTh 9-10:15
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
TTh 10:30-11:45
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50
F 8-8:50 |
171.102 (E,N) |
GENERAL PHYSICS FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE MAJORS II (4) Staff Limit 24 per section Prereq: C- or better in 171.101 Coreq:173.112; 110.109 One-year course in general physics covering mechanics, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, optics, and atomic physics. |
Lec.
Sec. 01
02
03
04
05 |
MWF 11-11:50
Th 8-8:50
Th 8-8:50
Th 8-8:50
Th 8-8:50
Th 8-8:50 |
171.103 (E,N) |
GENERAL PHYSICS I FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE MAJORS (4) Staff Limit 24 per section
Coreq: 173.111-112; 110.108-109 or 110.106-107 Standard calculus based physics tailored to students majoring in one of the biological sciences. Topics in modern physics and in fluid dynamics will be covered in this course.
Sec. 10 added 7/23/08 |
Lec.
Sec. 01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10 |
MWF 9-9:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50
T 8-8:50 |
171.105 (E,N) |
CLASSICAL MECHANICS I (4) Staff Limit 30 Coreq: 173.115-116 and 110.108-109 Recommended for students who plan to major or minor in Physics. Students enrolled in this course should enroll in the Classical Mechanics Lab only. Classical electricity and magnetism with fewer topics than 171.101-102 and 171.103-104 but in greater depth, and is for students who intend to take 171.201-202. |
Sec. 01 |
MWF 11-11:50,
Th 10:30-11:20 |
173.111 (N) |
GENERAL PHYSICS LAB I (1) Staff Limit 24 per section Experiments are chosen from both physical and biological sciences and are designed to give students background in experimental techniques as well as to reinforce physical principles. |
Sec. 01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 |
M 1:30-4:20
M 1:30-4:20
M 1:30-4:20
T 1:30-4:20
T 1:30-4:20
T 1:30-4:20
W 1:30-4:20
W 1:30-4:20
W 1:30-4:20
Th 1:30-4:20
Th 1:30-4:20
Th 1:30-4:20
Th 9-12
M 6-9pm
M 6-9pm
T 6-9pm
T 6-9pm
W 6-9pm
W 6-9pm
W 6-9pm
Th 6-9pm
Th 6-9pm
T 6-9pm |
173.112 (N) |
INTRO GENERAL PHYSICS LAB II (1) Staff Limit 24 per section Prereq: 173.111 Coreq: 171.102; 171.104; or 171.106 Experiments are chosen from both physical and biological sciences and are designed to give students background in experimental techniques as well as to reinforce physical principles.
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Sec. 01
02
03
04
05 |
W 1:30-4:30
W 6-9pm
Th 1:30-4:30
Th 6-9pm
T 6-9pm |
171.113 (N) |
SUBATOMIC WORLD (3) Staff Limit 44 Introduction to concepts of physics of the subatomic world: Symmetries, relativity, quanta, neutrinos, particles, and fields. Emphasis on ideas of modern physics, not on the mathematics. Intended for nonscience majors |
Sec. 01 |
MWF 11-11:50 |
172.113 (N)
(W) |
INTRODUCTION TO FRONTIER PHYSICS (1) Feldman Limit 25 45 Explores modern experimental methods and theoretical ideas in physics. |
Sec. 01 |
M 1:30-2:20 |
173.115 (N) |
CLASSICAL MECHANICS LABORATORY (1) Staff Limit 30 Coreq: 171.105 Experiments chosen to complement the lecture course Classical Mechanics I, II 171.105-106 and introduce students to experimental techniques and statistical analysis. |
Sec. 01 |
M 6-9pm |
171.201 (E,N) |
SPECIAL RELATIVITY AND WAVES (4) Gritsan Limit 30-Sec. 01 / Limit 10-Sec. 02 Prereq: 171.105-106 (preferred) or 171.101-102 or 171.103-104; 110.108-109; Coreq: Calculus 110.202 or 110.211-212
Course continues introductory physics sequence (begins with 171.105-106). Special theory of relativity, mathematics of waves, harmonic oscillation, forced and damped oscillators, electromagnetic waves, diffraction, and interference.
Sec. 02 added 4/24/08 |
Lec.
Sec. 01
02 |
MWF 11-11:50
Th 1:30-2:20
Th 1:30-2:20 |
172.203 (N) |
CONTEMPORARY PHYSICS SEMINAR (1) Staff Limit 30 Prereq: 171.101-102, 171.103-104, or 171.105-106 This seminar exposes physics majors to a broad variety of contemporary experimental and theoretical issues in the field. Students read and discuss reviews from the current literature, and are expected to make an oral or written presentation. |
Sec. 01 |
T 1:30-2:20 |
171.207 (N) |
SPECIAL RELATIVITY (1) Gritsan Limit 20 per section Prereq: 171.105-106 (preferred) or 171.101-102 or 171.103-104; Calculus 110.108-109. Coreq: Calculus 110.202 or 110.211-212
Three-week introduction to special relativity for students who elect to take 171.309 209 in place of 171.201. Meets with 171.201
Course added 4/24/08 |
Lec.
Sec. 01
02 |
MWF 11-11:50
Th 1:30-2:20
Th 1:30-2:20 |
171.309 209 (N) |
WAVE PHENOMENA WITH BIOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS (4) Staff Limit 30 Prereq: 171.101-102 or 171.103-104 or 171.105-106 Introduction to wave phenomena, primarily through study of biophysical probes that depend on the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. Topics include Fourier Analysis; standing waves; sound and hearing; diffraction and crystallography; geometrical and physical optics – the physics of modern light microscopy; quantum mechanics – how living things absorb light; NMR and MRI. Occasional laboratory exercises are included. |
Lec.
Sec. 01 |
MWF 9-9:50
Th 1:30-2:20 |
171.301 (N) |
ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY II (4) Staff Limit 30 Prereq: 171.101-102 or 171.105-106; 110.201-202; Coreq: 110.302 or 110.416 Static electric and magnetic fields in free space and matter; boundary value problems; electromagnetic induction; Maxwell's equations; and an introduction to electrodynamics. |
Lec.
Sec. 01 |
TTh 9-10:15
F 10-10:50
W 12-12:50 |
171.303 (N) |
QUANTUM MECHANICS I (4) Staff Limit 30 Prereq: 171.202, 171.204, 110.113 Fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. Uncertainty relations, Schrodinger equation in one and three dimensions, tunneling, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, spin, Pauli principle, perturbation theory (time-independent and time-dependent), transition probabilities and selection rules, atomic structure, scattering theory. |
Lec.
Sec. 01 |
MWF 9-9:50
T 1:30-2:20 |
171.312 (N) |
STATISTICAL PHYSICS AND THERMODYNAMICS (4) Staff Limit 25 Undergraduate course that develops the laws and general theorems of thermodynamics from a statistical framework. |
Lec.
Sec. 01 |
MF 1:30-2:45
W 1:30-2:20 |
171.313 (N) |
INTRODUCTION TO STELLAR PHYSICS (3) Staff Limit 25 Prereq: 110.108-109, 171.202 Survey of stellar astrophysics. Topics include stellar atmospheres, stellar interiors, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution, supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, binary stars, accretion disks, protostars, and extrasolar planetary systems. |
Sec. 01 |
TTh 10:30-11:45 |
171.405 (N) |
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS (3) Staff Limit 10 Prereq: 171.304, 110.201-202 Undergraduate course covering basic concepts of condensed matter physics: crystal structure, diffraction and reciprocal lattices, electronic and optical properties, band structure, phonons, superconductivity and magnetism. |
Sec. 01 |
MW 3-4:15 |
171.415 (N) |
MATHEMATICAL METHODS FOR PHYSICISTS (4) Staff Limit 25 Prereq: 110.201-202 Selection of topics in applied mathematics most frequently used by physicists. First term focuses on analytic methods: functions of complex variables, series and perturbation methods for solving differential equations, Sturm-Liouville theory and special functions, Fourier series and transforms. |
Lec.
Sec. 01 |
MWF 10-10:50
T 3-3:50 |
171.501 |
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH: UNDERGRADUATES Staff Students may register for independent research with a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. A research plan should be sent to the Director of Undergraduate Study before the add/drop date that includes project details, the number of hours of effort each week and the number of credits. This course may not be used for one of the two electives required for a BA, but one semester of research may be used as one of four focused electives in a BS program. |
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171.503 (W) |
SENIOR THESIS Staff
Open to Senior Dept. majors only Preparation of a substantial thesis based upon independent student research, supervised by at least one faculty member in Physics and Astronomy. This course may only be taken for credit during one semester. However, students are expected to have engaged in their research project during previous semesters through 171.501-502, summer research, etc. This course may not be used as one of the two electives required for a BA, but can be used as one of the four focused electives in a BS program. |
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171.601 |
THEORETICAL MECHANICS Staff Limit 15 The Lagrangian, Hamiltonian, and Hamilton-Jacobi methods of mechanics, with applications to some vibrational and rotational problems. A discussion of classical perturbation theory is included |
Sec. 01 |
MW 3-4:15 |
172.601 |
DEPARTMENT COLLOQUIUM Robbins Course added 7/15/08 |
Sec. 01 |
Th 3-4 |
171.603 |
ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY Staff Limit 20 Theory of the Maxwell equations, with static and dynamic applications, boundary-value problems, guided and free waves, diffraction, scattering, special relativity, electron theory. |
Sec. 01 |
WF 1:30-2:45 |
171.605 |
QUANTUM MECHANICS Staff Limit 30 Review of wave mechanics and the Schrodinger equation, Hilbert space, harmonic oscillator, the WKB approximation, central forces and angular momentum, scattering, electron spin, density matrix, perturbation theory (time-independent and time-dependent), quantized radiation field, absorption and emission of radiation, identical particles, second quantization, Dirac equation. |
Sec. 01 |
TTh 10:30-11:45 |
171.612 |
INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM Staff Limit 25 Basic physics of stellar structure and evolution will be discussed with emphasis on current research. |
Sec. 01 |
TTh 9-10:15 |
171.613 |
RADIATIVE ASTROPHYSICS
Staff Limit 20 A two-term sequence including equation of transfer, connection to thermo-dynamics, diffusion; linear EM waves: dispersion relations, polarization; special relativity; classical EM radiation; brems-strahlung; synchrotron radiation; Compton scattering; properties of plasmas; charged particles in matter; atomic and molecular spectroscopy; time-dependent perturbation theory; calculation of quantum transition rates for both radiative and collisional processes; techniques for solution of the transfer equation, applications to stellar atmospheres and interstellar nebulae. |
Sec. 01 |
MW 1:30-2:45 |
171.618 |
OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY Staff Limit 20 Astronomical coordinate systems and time-keeping. Geometrical optics and telescope design. General detector theory (noise sources, DQE, signal-to-noise considerations). Common optical detectors (CCD’s, photomultipliers, image intensifiers, photographic plates). Photometry and
photometric systems (correction of extinction, calibration techniques). Spectrographs and spectroscopy (prisms, gratings, echelles, interference filters, Fabry-Perot systems, spectrograph design, spectrophotometry). Introduction to radio astronomy and physical optics (antenna theory, signal-to-noise calculations, interferometry). Overview of problems unique to infrared and X-ray observations. |
Sec. 01 |
MWF 11-11:50 |
171.621 |
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS Staff Limit 20 This sequence is intended for graduate students in physics and related fields. Topics include: metals and insulators, diffraction and crystallography, phonons, electrons in a periodic potential, transport. |
Sec. 01 |
MW 3- 4:15 |
172.631 |
PHYSICS SEMINAR Staff Limit 25 First year graduate students only Intended for beginning graduate students. Study of the methods and results of modern physics and other topics of interest. Each student will discuss some phase of the subject. |
Sec. 01 |
T 12-12:50 |
172.633 |
LANGUAGE OF ASTROPHYSICS Staff Limit 20 Survey of the basic concepts, ideas, and areas of research in astrophysics, discussing general astrophysical topics while highlighting specialized terms often used compared to physics. |
Sec. 01 |
W 12-12:50 |
171.703
|
ADVANCED STATISTICAL MECHANICS Staff Limit 15 Prereqs: 171.303-304, 171.312 or equivalents Brief review of basic statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Then hydrodynamic theory is derived from statistical mechanics and classical treatments of phase transitions, including Ginzburg-Landau theory. Course canceled 7/23/08
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Sec. 01
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MF 3-4:15
|
172.711 |
INTERMEDIATE SEMINAR Staff Limit 25 Nonspecialized seminar in which second-year graduate students discuss subjects of general interest, supplementing the material of the standard courses and including recent advances in physics. |
Sec. 01 |
W 12-12:50 |
172.722 |
HOT TOPICS IN ASTROPHYSICS Staff Limit 20 |
Sec. 01 |
M 3- 4:50 |
172.731 |
CAS RESEARCH SEMINAR Staff Limit 20 |
Sec. 01 |
T 3- 4:50 |
172.735 |
STARBURST JOURNAL CLUB SEMINAR Staff Limit 20 |
Sec. 01 |
F 12- 12:50 |
172.751 |
ELEMENTARY PARTICLE PHYSICS SEMINAR Staff Limit 20 |
Sec. 01 |
W 1:30- 3 |
172.753 |
ADVANCED PARTICLE THEORY SEMINAR Staff Limit 20 |
Sec. 01 |
W 1:30- 3 |
171.754 |
ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI Krolik
Course added 5/16/08 |
Sec. 01 |
TTh 10:30-11:45 |
172.763 |
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS SEMINAR Staff Limit 20 |
Sec. 01 |
W 1:30- 3 |
171.764 |
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS ChienCourse added 5/16/08 |
Sec. 01 |
MW 3-4:15 |
171.783 |
ADVANCED PARTICLE THEORY Melnikov Course added 5/16/08 |
Sec. 01 |
MF 1:30-2:50 |
171.801 |
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH - GRADUATES
Sec. 01 Staff
Sec. 02 Sundrum
Sec. 03 Feldman
Sec. 04 Chien, Chia-ling
Sec. 06 Reich
Sec. 07 Chien, Chih-yung
Sec. 08 Krolik
Sec. 09 Barnett
Sec. 10 Norman
Sec. 11 Blumenfeld
Sec. 12 Heckman
Sec. 13 Moos
Sec. 14 Szalay
Sec. 15 Ford
Sec. 16 Bagger
Sec. 17 Wyse
Sec. 18 Henry
Sec. 19 Neufeld
Sec. 20 Tesanovic
Sec. 21 Blair
Sec. 22 Robbins
Sec. 24 Broholm
Sec. 25 Bianchi
Sec. 27 Kaplan
Sec. 28 Finkenthal
Sec. 29 Leheny
Sec. 30 Markovic
Sec. 31 Tchernyshyov
Sec. 32 Bennett
Sec. 33 Vishniac
Sec. 34 Gritsan
Sec. 35 Armitage
Sec. 36 Maksimovic
Sec. 37 Riess |
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