PHY - Physics

Physics: PHY

Lower-Division Courses

PHY X01. Mechanics.

Designed for students who intend to major in science or mathematics.

PHY X01L. Laboratory for Physics 301.

PHY X02K. General Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound.

Noncalculus technical course in physics. Completion of high school trigonometry or Mathematics 305G is highly recommended.

PHY X02L. General Physics Technical Course: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics.

Noncalculus technical course in physics.

PHY X02M. Laboratory for Physics 302K.

PHY X02N. Laboratory for Physics 302L.

PHY X03E. Electromagnetic, Quantum, and Semiconductor Physics.

Discuss electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, photons, matter waves, atomic physics, band structure, semiconductors, diodes, and transistors.

PHY X03K. Engineering Physics I.

A general survey of physics; primarily laws of motion, heat, and wave phenomena.

PHY X03L. Engineering Physics II.

Electricity and magnetism, optics, and atomic phenomena.

PHY X03M. Laboratory for Physics 303K.

PHY X03N. Laboratory for Physics 303L.

PHY X04. Introductory Physics Seminar.

Discussion of the development of important ideas in physics, with emphasis on their relevance to contemporary research.

PHY X05M. Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K.

Participate in an introductory mechanics laboratory.

PHY X05N. Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L.

Participate in an introductory electricity, magnetism, and optics laboratory.

PHY X06. Elementary Physics Methods.

Designed for students who have not had high school physics, have weak problem-solving skills, and need preparation for Physics 301 or 303K.

PHY X08. Introduction to Research.

Introductory laboratory experience; use of tools and test equipment; beginning apprenticeship in active physics research.

PHY X08F. Introduction to Research.

Introductory laboratory experience; use of tools and test equipment; beginning apprenticeship in active physics research.

PHY X09K. Elementary Physics for Nontechnical Students.

Mechanics, heat, and sound. Designed for students who do not intend to do further work in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or medicine.

PHY X09L. Elementary Physics for Nontechnical Students.

Electricity and magnetism, light, atomic and nuclear physics. Designed for students who do not intend to do further work in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or medicine.

PHY X10. Topics in Physics.

PHY X10C. Topics in Conference Course.

Supervised study of selected topics in physics, by individual arrangement with department and instructor.

PHY X15. Wave Motion and Optics.

Study of general properties of waves; examples include sound, electromagnetic, and mechanical waves; special emphasis on light and optics.

PHY X15L. Laboratory for Physics 315.

PHY X16. Electricity and Magnetism.

PHY X16L. Laboratory for Physics 316.

PHY X17K. General Physics I.

Mechanics, heat, and sound, with biomedical applications. An introductory course designed and recommended primarily for premedical students and others in the biomedical sciences whose professional or preprofessional training includes an introductory course in calculus. Satisfies most medical and dental school requirements for physics.

PHY X17L. General Physics II.

Electricity and magnetism, light, atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics, and their biomedical applications. Designed and recommended primarily for premedical students and others in the biomedical sciences whose professional or preprofessional training includes an introductory course in calculus. Satisfies most medical and dental school requirements for physics.

PHY X17M. Laboratory for Physics 317K.

PHY X17N. Laboratory for Physics 317L.

PHY X19S. Topics in Physics.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Physics. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.

PHY X29S. Topics in Physics.

Upper-Division Courses

PHY X19S. Topics in Physics.

PHY X21. Modern Physics: Plan II.

Conceptual foundations of modern physics. Examines quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, relativity, and general relativity, including large-scale structure and cosmology; and the development of analytic problem-solving skills, including estimation.

PHY X29. Introduction to Computational Physics.

Computational methods for problem solving and research in physics; numerical analysis and computer simulation methods for physics applications using different types of computers.

PHY X29S. Topics in Physics.

PHY X29W. Cooperative Physics.

Covers the work period of physics students in the Cooperative Education Program, which provides supervised work experience by arrangement with the employer and the supervising instructor.

PHY X33. Modern Optics.

Review of geometrical optics, polarization, interference, and optical instruments. Subjects include Fourier optics, light propagation in fibers, quantum optics, and coherence.

PHY X33L. Laboratory for Physics 333.

PHY X36K. Classical Dynamics.

Elementary linear vector algebra, Newtonian mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics, central force motion, dynamics of rigid bodies, and theory of small oscillations.

PHY X36L. Fluid Dynamics.

Fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics developed and applied to laminar and turbulent flows. Subjects include the Navier-Stokes equations, pipe and channel flow, drag, boundary layers, convection, and rotating fluids.

PHY X38K. Electronic Techniques.

Elementary circuit theory, amplifiers, feedback, pulse and digital techniques, signal processing, and microprocessors as applied to physics instrumentation.

PHY X39C. Physics Cognition and Pedagogy.

Investigate physics-specific education literature, and think about how the results of these studies apply to teaching practice. Discuss obstacles to students' academic success such as stereotype threat, identity, implicit bias, and mindset. Reflect on how to make a difference in students' learning as a physics learning assistant.

PHY X41. Selected Topics in Physics.

PHY X41.1. Energy Production.

The various means that exist or have been suggested for generating energy; comparison in terms of efficiency, safety, and effects on the environment.

PHY X41.3. Musical Acoustics.

Study of the production, transmission, and perception of the special kind of sound called music, based on the application of elementary principles of physics.

PHY X41.4. The Nature of Things.

A qualitative survey of all of physics, from falling bodies to quarks, making heavy use of classroom demonstrations.

PHY X41.5. Pseudoscience.

Study of a variety of ideas treated very seriously by the communications media but having no basis in fact, including astrology, extrasensory perception, and flying saucers; why such areas are not part of science.

PHY X41.6. Writing.

PHY X41.7. Research Methods: UTeach.

PHY X41T. Topics in Physics.

PHY X45. Biophysics.

Basic concepts of physics developed and applied to biological systems. Subjects include energy in living systems, entropic interactions, molecular forces and self-assembly, biopolymers, bio-membranes, cell-cell interactions, pattern formation, collective behavior, higher order systems, population dynamics and evolution.

PHY X52K. Classical Electrodynamics I.

Electrostatic fields, magnetostatic fields, derivation of Green's theorems and functions and of Maxwell's equations.

PHY X52L. Classical Electrodynamics II.

A continuation of Physics 352K, emphasis is placed on conservation laws, electromagnetic waves, potentials and fields, radiation, and Lorentz invariance. One or more special subjects, such as Rayleigh scattering and energy loss by relativistic charged particles in matter will be developed.

PHY X53L. Modern Physics Laboratory.

Laboratory experiments investigating the breakdown of classical physics for microscopic phenomena. Includes absorption and emission spectra, the photoelectric effect, blackbody radiation, the Compton effect, X-ray diffraction, and other experiments in modern physics.

PHY X55. Modern Physics and Thermodynamics.

Introduction to modern physics and thermodynamics: photons (spectra, photoelectric effect, blackbody radiation, Compton effect), atoms (Rutherford, Bohr), matter waves (Planck, deBroglie, probability interpretation, Schroedinger), nuclei, particles, special relativity, the laws of thermodynamics, and statistical physics.

PHY X62K. Quantum Physics II: Atoms and Molecules.

The two-electron atom; spin and statistics; coupling schemes for many-electron atoms; atoms and the radiation field; perturbation methods for decay and collisions; thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties of solids; and free-electron metal and band theory. May include subjects such as superconductivity, Josephson tunneling, and others.

PHY X62L. Quantum Physics III: Particles and Nuclei.

Nuclei and nucleons, their gross properties; the hadrons; symmetries and conservation laws; nuclear stability; electromagnetic, weak, and hadronic interactions; nuclear reactions at low, medium, and high energies; nucleon structure; tools of experimental nuclear physics; models of theoretical nuclear physics; nuclear technology.

PHY X69. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics.

Basic concepts of thermal physics; entropy, enthalpy, free energy, phase transitions, equilibrium distribution functions, applications.

PHY X70T. Senior Thesis.

Individual research with faculty supervision. First half involves preparation of proposal; second involves completion of written thesis.

PHY X71C. Individual Study in Physics.

Supervised reading or research in physics.

PHY X73. Quantum Physics I: Foundations.

Postulates of quantum mechanics, the bound states of the finite square well, the harmonic oscillator, operator-eigenvalue formulism and selected examples, the hydrogen atom, angular momentum, rigid rotor, and spin. May include simple scattering theory.

PHY X74. Advanced Laboratory I.

Modern experimental techniques, theory of error, and analysis of experiments; both modern and classical experiments in atomic and nuclear physics, electricity and magnetism, optics and heat.

PHY X75C. Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics.

Discuss the physics of the expanding universe, Einstein's equations, inflationary expansion, the basics of nuclear physics and big bang nucleosynthesis, and the content of the Universe: the known particles and forces of the standard model of particle physics as well as the unknown dark matter and dark energy.

PHY X75P. Introductory Plasma Physics.

Orbit theory and drifts, introduction to plasma stability and waves, applications to plasma confinement and heating.

PHY X75R. Introduction to Relativity.

Overview of the special and general theories of relativity, with emphasis on recent developments in gravitation.

PHY X75S. Introductory Solid-State Physics.

Crystal structure, classification of solids, cohesion, thermal and electrical properties of solids, magnetic properties of solids, imperfections.

PHY X79H. Honors Tutorial Course.

Graduate Courses

PHY X19S. Topics in Physics.

PHY X29S. Topics in Physics.

PHY X80L. Plasma Physics I.

Particle drifts, equations for plasmas, magnetohydrodynamics, waves and instabilities in the two-fluid model, Vlasov equation, Landau damping, controlled thermonuclear research, plasma diagnostics.

PHY X80M. Plasma Physics II.

Plasma containment, stability theory in fluid models, derivation of Vlasov and Fokker-Planck equations, the dielectric tensor, velocity space and gradient instabilities, Nyquist diagrams.

PHY X80N. Experimental Physics.

Experimental work to provide exposure to physics research techniques.

PHY X80T. Topics in Advanced Physics.

Special topics for physics teachers.

PHY X81C. Computational Physics.

Dynamical and statical descriptions and solutions of many-body, nonlinear physical systems by computation. Theory of computation and applications to various branches of physics.

PHY X81M. Methods of Mathematical Physics I.

Theory of analytic functions; linear algebra and vector spaces; orthogonal functions; ordinary differential equations; partial differential equations; Green's functions; complex variables.

PHY X81N. Methods of Mathematical Physics II.

Continuation of Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 385M and Physics 381M. Topology, functional analysis, approximation methods, group theory, differential manifolds.

PHY X82M. Fluid Mechanics.

Flow of ideal and viscous fluids; introduction to turbulence; boundary layers; sound and shock waves.

PHY X82N. Nonlinear Dynamics.

Basic concepts of evolution and stability, examples of instabilities, low dimensional dynamical systems, chaos, characterization of temporal chaos, pattern formation, Hamiltonian systems.

PHY X82P. Biophysics I.

The cell, small molecules and chemical kinetics, forces on the molecular scale, proteins, lipids and membranes, biopolymers, neurons and electrical signal transduction, and complex pattern formation in cells and cell aggregates.

PHY X82Q. Biophysics II.

Advanced biophysics with emphasis on biologically relevant questions addressed with physical approaches. Biopolymer mechanics, protein-nucleic acid interaction, protein structure and dynamics, membrane dynamics, cytoskeletal dynamics, motor proteins, cell shape and motility, cell communication, tissue mechanics.

PHY X82S. Seminar in Nonlinear Dynamics.

PHY X85K. Classical Mechanics.

Classical and relativistic Hamiltonian mechanics; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; Lagrangian mechanics for continuous media; symmetry principles and conservation laws.

PHY X85L. Statistical Mechanics.

Equilibrium statistical mechanics; introduction to nonequilibrium concepts; ensembles; classical and quantum gases; statistical physics of solids.

PHY X85S. Seminar in Statistical Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X85T. Special Topics in Statistical Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X86K. Physics of Sensors.

Physical principles of acoustic, optical, electromagnetic, radiation, and motion sensors.

PHY X86N. Technical Seminar.

Physics for applied and industrial purposes.

PHY X86S. Seminar in Applied Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X87K. Electromagnetic Theory I.

Electrostatics and magnetostatics; boundary value problems; Maxwell's equations; plane waves; wave guides; diffraction; multipole radiation.

PHY X87L. Electromagnetic Theory II.

Magnetohydrodynamics and plasmas; relativity; collisions of charged particles; radiation from moving charges; radiation damping.

PHY X87M. Relativity Theory I.

Explore tensor calculus, differential geometry, special and general relativity, black holes, and gravitational waves.

PHY X87N. Relativity Theory II.

General relativity theory; gravitational field equations; weak field approximations; Schwarzschild solution, observable consequences; other topics.

PHY X88M. Graduate Colloquy.

Reviews of current topics in physics research.

PHY X88S. Seminar in Teaching Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X89K. Quantum Mechanics I.

Hilbert space and operators; Schroedinger and Heisenberg equations; solutions for systems in one and three dimensions; theory of spin and orbital angular momentum; the effect of symmetries; approximation techniques; elementary scattering theory.

PHY X89L. Quantum Mechanics II.

Perturbation techniques; systems of identical particles; quantum theory of radiation; emission and absorption of photons; selection rules; life times; scattering theory for light and particles, S-matrix; relativistic corrections to electron motion.

PHY X90. Graduate Research.

PHY X91M. Nonlinear Plasma Theory.

Quasi-linear theory, weak turbulence, large amplitude waves, plasma radiation, shock waves, shock structure, computer techniques.

PHY X91S. Seminar in Plasma Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X91T. Special Subjects in Plasma Physics.

Subjects to be announced.

PHY X91U. Seminar in Plasma Theory.

Current topics in plasma theory.

PHY X92K. Solid-State Physics I.

Lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; band theory of solids; transport properties of metals and semiconductors; optical properties; magnetic properties; magnetic relaxation; superconductivity.

PHY X92L. Solid-State Physics II.

Elementary excitations: phonons, electrons, spin waves; interactions: phonon-phonon, electron-electron, electron-phonon; theory of metals and semiconductors; transport theory; optical properties.

PHY X92N. Many-Body Theory.

Overview of many-body theory; second quantization; Green's functions and Feynman diagrams; finite-temperature, imaginary-time Green's functions; the disordered metal; path integrals; broken symmetries; and local moments.

PHY X92P. Advanced Optical Spectroscopy.

Examine the foundational principles and cutting-edge applications of advanced optical spectroscopy methods. Analyze the electrodynamics of solids (metals, insulators, semiconductors), which exhibit complex and rich electromagnetic behavior. Study the key components of a basic optical spectroscopy setup. Explore advanced spectroscopy techniques and current research frontiers in the field.

PHY X92Q. Density Functional Theory.

Examine the quantum theory of many-electron systems from the point of view of first-principles atomic-scale calculations. Develop the conceptual foundations of density functional theory and its uses in computational materials modeling, design, and discovery. Perform predictive calculations of structural, electronic, optical, vibrational, and magnetic properties of solids using high-performance computing environments.

PHY X92S. Seminar in Solid-State Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X92T. Special Topics in Solid-State Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X93S. Seminar in Relativity.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X93T. Special Topics in Relativity.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X94U. Special Topics in Theoretical Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X95. Topics in Survey of Atomic and Molecular Physics.

Spectra of atoms and diatomic molecules; quantum electronics; experimental techniques.

PHY X95K. Nonlinear Optics and Lasers.

Gaussian beam optics, interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter, semiclassical laser theory, experimental laser systems, nonlinear optical susceptibilities, harmonic generation, wave mixing, electro-optic and acousto-optic effects, coherent transient effects, optical breakdown, laser-plasma interactions.

PHY X95M. Laser Physics.

Continuation of Physics 395K. Advanced atomic physics of various laser systems, optical coherence and diffraction theory, pulse propagation and dispersion effects, advanced laser oscillator and amplifier physics, laser amplifier chain design, and chirped-pulse amplification.

PHY X95S. Seminar in Atomic and Molecular Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X95T. Special Topics in Atomic and Molecular Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X96G. Cosmology.

Explore inflationary cosmology, the formation of element abundances during Big Bang nucleosynthesis, cosmological perturbations and structure formation, the cosmic microwave background, and the content of the universe (including dark matter and dark energy). Examine unresolved problems in cosmology (such as the origin of the matter/antimatter asymmetry), the possibility of extra dimensions, what happened before the Big Bang, "big data" in cosmology, observational probes of dark energy, and inflation models and tests.

PHY X96J. Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics.

Historical introduction to elementary particles, elementary particle dynamics, relativistic kinematics, symmetries, bound states, the Feynman calculus, quantum electrodynamics, electrodynamics of quarks and hadrons, quantum chromodynamics, weak interactions, gauge theories.

PHY X96K. Quantum Field Theory I.

Quantization of the Klein-Gordon, Dirac, and electromagnetic field theories; theory of interacting fields, perturbation theory, and renormalization.

PHY X96L. Quantum Field Theory II.

Path-integral formalism, massless particles, electrodynamics, nonperturbative methods, one-loop calculations in quantum electrodynamics, general renormalization theory, soft photons, bound statics in quantum electrodynamics.

PHY X96P. String Theory I.

Introduction to string theory and conformal field theory. The free string, conformal invariance and conformal field theory, supersymmetry and string interactions.

PHY X96Q. String Theory II.

Advanced conformal field theory, perturbative string theory and compactification. Introduction to nonperturbative aspects of string theory.

PHY X96S. Topics in Particle Physics: Seminar.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X96T. Special Topics in Particle Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X96V. High Energy and Astroparticle Physics.

Review quantum field theory, aspects of the standard model and beyond, the naturalness problem, dark matter, early universe cosmology, and other selected subjects.

PHY X97K. Nuclear Physics.

Systematics of stable nuclei; nuclear structure; decay of the nucleus; cross sections and reaction mechanisms; the elementary particles.

PHY X97S. Seminar in Nuclear Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X97T. Special Topics in Nuclear Physics.

Topics to be announced.

PHY X97U. Graduate Seminar in Nanoscience.

Various seminar topics in nanoscience.

PHY X98. Thesis.

PHY X98R. Master's Report.

Prepare a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option.

PHY X98S. Seminar in High Energy Theory.

PHY X98T. Supervised Teaching in Physics.

A review of physics teaching strategies, administrative procedures, and classroom responsibilities. Includes a review and critique of each participant's classroom teaching.