Courses by Semester

This page provides notes on Physics course offerings. For other course attributes see the Guide.

For in-depth advising regarding Physics course choice, especially for upper-level classes, please contact a Physics Advisor.
Students may register for any course, regardless of requisites, with consent of the instructor.
If you would like to see a question answered on this page that isn't answered already, please send email to Jim Reardon.

103 General Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 103 in the Guide] [103 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introduction to physics at the non-calculus level. Principles of mechanics, heat, and waves, with applications to a number of different fields. Not recommended for students in the physical sciences and engineering.

Requisites: MATH 112, 113, 114, 171, placement into MATH 211 or 221, or special student standing. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 201, 207, or 247.

103 Course Notes

Physics 103 is an introductory physics course. Students are assumed to have no prior exposure to physics. Math used in the course includes algebra, trigonometry, and vectors. Note that more math is used in Physics 103 than in Chemistry 103. Graphical representations of data are emphasized. Recommended for students who do not need a calculus-level course. Students in the physical sciences and engineering should take a 200-level course, such as Physics 201, 207, or 247.

A statistical survey of student success in Physics 103 indicates that students who have taken (or placed out of) both Math 112 and 113 do slightly better than those who have taken (or placed out of) either Math 112 or 113, and that both groups do substantially better than students who have taken (or placed out of) neither Math 112 nor 113.

Physics 103 naturally leads into Physics 104. Students who take Physics 103, and then realize that they need a calculus-based physics course, may proceed into Physics 202 or 208 if they have taken (or placed out of) Math 217, 221, or 275.

Physics 103 typically has evening exams.

104 General Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 104 in the Guide] [104 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 103. Principles of electricity and magnetism, light, optics, and modern physics, with applications to a number of different fields. Not recommended for students in the physical sciences and engineering.

Requisites: PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, E M A 201 or special student standing. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248.

104 Course Notes

Physics 104 assumes as requisite not only the Physics content of Physics 103, but also the math used in Physics 103 (algebra, trigonometry, vectors); as in Physics 103 graphical representations of data are emphasized. Recommended for students who do not need a calculus-level course. Students in the physical sciences and engineering should take a 200-level course, such as Physics 202, 208, or 248.

Students who take Physics 201, 207, or 247 who decide not to continue with a calculus-based physics sequence may enroll in Physics 104.

Physics 104 typically has evening exams.

106 Physics of Sports

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 106 in the Guide] [106 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A tenth of a second, a single inch, or a slightly different angle can make all the difference in a sporting event. Application of physical principles to competitive sport, leading to a better understanding of performances in such sports as track and field, cycling, archery, golf, football and basketball.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, or 247.

107 Ideas of Modern Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 107 in the Guide] [107 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

The twentieth-century physical world picture and its origins. Selected topics in classical physics, relativity, and the quantum theory with emphasis on the meaning of basic concepts and their broader implications, rather than practical applications.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement or special student standing

109 Physics in the Arts

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 109 in the Guide] [109 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

The nature of sound and sound perception; fundamentals of harmony, musical scales, and musical instruments. Studies of light including lenses, photography, color perception, and color mixing.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement or special student standing. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 371.

115 Energy and Climate

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 115 in the Guide] [115 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introduction to energy, focusing on energy sources and their impacts on humans and the environment, particularly through climate change. Develop basic physics skills to form opinions on energy-related issues affecting the world as well as your own use of energy. Apply the physical principles of mechanics, heat, electricity, and atomic nuclei to various energy sources (fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear) and their impacts.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, or 247.

198 Directed Study

Typically Offered	Occasional
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	1.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 198 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introductory-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

199 Directed Study

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Elementary
Students	Undergraduate, basic
Credits	1.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 199 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introductory-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

201 General Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	5.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 201 in the Guide] [201 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for engineering students. Mechanics: kinematics, statics, dynamics; energy and momentum.

Requisites: MATH 217 or 221. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 207 or 247.

201 Course Notes

Physics 201 is an introductory physics course. Students are assumed to have no prior exposure to physics.

Compared with Physics 207, Physics 201 has a restricted range of topics (heat and sound are not covered in Physics 201); application examples are typically taken from engineering disciplines. Compared with Physics 247, Physics 201 covers topics at a lower level of mathematical rigor. Compared with EMA 201, Physics 201 covers additional topics, such as energy.

Physics 201 naturally leads into Physics 202. Students who take Physics 201 may choose to continue in Physics 208, but may not choose to continue in Physics 248 without instructor approval.

Physics 201 typically has evening exams.

202 General Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	5.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 202 in the Guide] [202 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for engineering students. Electricity, magnetism, light, and sound.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, or E M A 201) and (MATH 217 or 221). Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 208 or 248.

202 Course Notes

Physics 202 assumes as requisite the physics covered in Physics 201.

Compared with Physics 208, Physics 202 typically treats topics with a slightly higher level of mathematical analysis; application examples are typically taken from engineering disciplines.

Physics 202 typically has evening exams.

205 Mod Physics for Engineers

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 205 in the Guide] [205 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introduction to atomic, solid state, and nuclear physics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202, 208 or 248. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 241, 244, or 249.

206 Special Topics in Physics

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 5.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 206 in the Guide] [206 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special topics in physics at the intermediate undergraduate level.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 103, 201, 207 or 247) and (MATH 217 or 221)

206 Course Notes

Spring 2022: The Spring 2022 version of Physics 206 (Special Topics in Physics) will cover the Physics of Sports. The preliminary list of sports to be covered includes track and field, skiing, and golf.

207 General Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	5.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 207 in the Guide] [207 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for students majoring in biological sciences. Mechanics: kinematics, statics, dynamics; energy and momentum. Heat and sound.

Requisites: MATH 217 or 221. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 201 or 247.

207 Course Notes

Physics 207 is an introductory physics course. Students are assumed to have no prior exposure to physics.

Physics 207 is intended for students in the biological sciences. Compared with Physics 201, Physics 207 covers additional topics, such as heat and sound. Application examples are typically taken from the bio-sciences. Compared with Physics 247, Physics 207 covers topics at a lower level of mathematical analysis.

Physics 207 naturally leads into Physics 208. Students who take Physics 207 may choose to continue in Physics 202, but may not choose to continue in Physics 248 without instructor approval.

Physics 207 typically has evening exams.

208 General Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	5.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 208 in the Guide] [208 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 207: calculus-based introduction to physics intended for students majoring in biological sciences. Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 201, 207, 247, E M A 201, or (PHYSICS 103 and MATH 217 or 221). Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 202 or 248.

208 Course Notes

Physics 208 assumes as requisite the physics covered in Physics 207.

Compared with Physics 202, Physics 208 typically treats topics with a slightly lower level of mathematical analysis; application examples are typically taken from the bio-sciences.

Physics 208 typically has evening exams.

235 Intro-Solid State Electronics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 235 in the Guide] [235 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

An introduction to the physical principles underlying solid-state electronic and photonic devices, including elements of quantum mechanics, crystal structure, semiconductor band theory, carrier statistics, and band diagrams. Offers examples of modern semiconductor structures. Prior experience with MATLAB [such as E C E 203] is strongly encouraged but not required.

Requisites: MATH 222 and (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248), or member of Engineering Guest Students

241 Intro to Modern Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 241 in the Guide] [241 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Kinetic theory; relativity; experimental origin of quantum theory; atomic structure and spectral lines; topics in solid state, nuclear and particle physics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and MATH 222. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 205, 244, or 249.

247 A Modern Intro to Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	5.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 247 in the Guide] [247 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for Physics, AMEP, and Astronomy-Physics majors. Mechanics, waves, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, topics in modern physics; with computation. A more mathematically rigorous and in-depth introduction to physics than the other introductory physics sequences.

Requisites: MATH 222 or concurrent enrollment

248 A Modern Intro to Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	5.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 248 in the Guide] [248 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 247. Electromagnetism, circuits, optics, additional topics in modern physics; with computation.

Requisites: PHYSICS 247 and (MATH 234 or concurrent enrollment or MATH 376 or concurrent enrollment)

249 A Modern Intro to Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 249 in the Guide] [249 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 248. Modern physics: introduction to quantum mechanics, topics from nuclear and particle physics, condensed matter physics, and atomic physics. Three lectures and one discussion per week.

Requisites: PHYSICS 248

265 Intro-Medical Physics

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	2.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 265 in the Guide] [265 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A general interest survey that introduces the principles and applications of medical physics. Topics include biomechanics, energy usage and temperature regulation, pressure, sound and hearing, ultrasound, electricity in the body, optics and the eye, ionizing radiation in diagnosis and therapy, radiobiology, and nuclear medicine.

Requisites: PHYSICS 104, 202, 208, or 248

298 Directed Study

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 298 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

299 Directed Study

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 299 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

301 Physics Today

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 301 in the Guide] [301 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A series of weekly presentations and discussions of current research topics in physics, by scientists directly involved in those studies. Provides undergraduates with access to the topics and excitement of the research frontier in a manner not possible in normal subject courses.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202 or concurrent enrollment, PHYSICS 208 or concurrent enrollment, or PHYSICS 248 or concurrent enrollment

301 Course Notes

An undergraduate seminar covering current research topics.

Each lecture will be given by a different researcher who will describe his/her field and his/her own work. Opportunities will be offered for students to become involved in research work. This course is designed to help foster contact between students and faculty to enable opportunities for independent study, directed study, or senior thesis projects with faculty in subsequent semesters.

Physics Majors: Physics 301 counts as an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

307 Intmed Lab-Mech&Mod Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	2.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 307 in the Guide] [307 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Experiments in modern physics, with discussion of statistical uncertainties and error analysis. Propagation of error. Available labs include gamma-ray spectroscopy, X-ray physics and diffraction, blackbody radiation, and Cavendish measurement of the gravitational constant G.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202, 208, 248 or graduate/professional standing.

307 Course Notes

This course includes a thorough introduction to statistics and data analysis.

Knowledge of topics in electricity and magnetism at the level of Physics 202, 208, or 248 is required at the outset.

Prior completion of a course in modern physics, such as Physics 205, 235, 241, or 249, before taking Physics 307 is strongly recommended.

Physics majors: this course satisfies the laboratory requirement. It is recommended that it be the first intermediate physics lab course that you take. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

The current experiments are (Fall 2019):
1. Elements of Gamma-ray Counting and Gamma ray Spectroscopy.
2. Franck-Hertz Experiment.
3. Probability Distributions and Decay of Excited Quantum States.
4. Cavendish Experiment (G).
5. Attenuation of Gamma-rays in Matter.
6. Stefan-Boltzmann Law and and Planck’s Law
7. X-ray Diffraction in Crystals.

311 Mechanics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 311 in the Guide] [311 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Origin and development of classical mechanics; mathematical techniques, especially vector analysis; conservation laws and their relation to symmetry principles; brief introduction to orbit theory and rigid-body dynamics; accelerated coordinate systems; introduction to the generalized-coordinate formalisms of Lagrange and Hamilton.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and (MATH 234, 321, or 376), or graduate/professional standing

311 Course Notes

This course is an intermediate undergraduate level course in classical mechanics. It is a step up in mathematical sophistication from any 200-level physics course.

Knowledge of multivariate calculus at the level of Math 234 is required at the outset.

Students may find it helpful to have taken or be concurrently taking differential equations (Math 319), linear algebra (Math 340), or both (Math 320 or Math 320!):
–Math 320 is adequate for the rest of the undergraduate physics curriculum;
–the combination of Math 319 and 340 is recommended for those planning to do graduate work;
–Math 320! (the honors section of Math 320) is the equivalent of the combination of Math 319 and 340.

However, a statistical analysis of student outcomes in Physics 311 does not suggest that prior exposure to linear algebra and/or differential equations is necessary (or sufficient) to get a good grade in Physics 311.

Physics Majors: this is core requirement for the Physics major. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

Topics Usually Covered:
Origin and development of classical mechanics;
conservation laws and their relation to symmetry principles;
basic orbit theory including planets and scattering;
rigid-body dynamics;
accelerated coordinate systems;
introduction to the generalized-coordinates;
Introduction to Lagrangian and Hamilton mechanics;
chaos and nonlinear dynamics.

In addition, the class introduces and uses the following mathematics:
Vector analysis, coordinate transformations;
Basic vector calculus, the Laplacian, Stokes’s Theorem;
Numerical solutions of coupled first order differential equations (Runge-Kutta integration);
Linear algebra.

321 Elect Circuits & Electronic

Typically Offered	Fall
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 321 in the Guide] [321 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Direct current circuits, circuit theorems, alternating current circuits, transients, non-sinusoidal sources, Fourier analysis, characteristics of semiconductor devices, typical electronic circuits, feedback, non-linear circuits; digital and logic circuits.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202, 208, 248 or graduate/professional standing.

321 Course Notes

Physics 321 is a laboratory course (with lectures) in the basic fundamentals of circuit theory and electronic circuits.

This course is designed to provide a sound background in the basic principles of electronic circuits and instruments and would be very desirable for any student contemplating working in a research laboratory.

This course provides a solid foundation for a subsequent more advanced electronics course such as Physics 623.

Physics Majors: This course satisfies the Laboratory Requirement. It may be taken any time after you complete Physics 202, 208, or 248. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

Typical laboratory experiments include:

–Basic measurement techniques;
–DC and AC bridge circuits;
–RC and RLC filters;
–Fourier analysis;
–Diode characteristics and circuits
–BJT and FET Characteristics;
–Single-transistor amplifiers;
–Linear op-amp circuits;
–Non-linear op-amp circuits;
–Digital logic;
–Flip-flops.

322 Electromagnetic Fields

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 322 in the Guide] [322 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Electrostatic fields, capacitance, multi-pole expansion, dielectric theory; magnetostatics; electromagnetic induction; magnetic properties of matter; Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves; relativity and electromagmetism. Experiments for this course are covered in PHYSICS 308.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208 or 248) and (MATH 234, 321 or 376), or graduate/professional standing

322 Course Notes

Physics 322 is intended to give students an introduction to the concepts and mathematics used to describe electromagnetic phenomena.

Physics 322 uses vector calculus. It is recommended that Math 321 be taken before Physics 322. Math 321 (and Math 322) are highly recommended for those planning to do graduate work.

Physics majors: Physics 322 satisfies a Core Requirement. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

Physics topics usually covered include:
–Electrostatic fields;
–Capacitance;
–Multipole expansions;
–Dielectric theory;
–Magnetostatics;
–Electromagnetic induction;
–Magnetic properties of matter;
–Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves;
–Relativity and electromagnetism.

323 Electromagnetic Fields

Typically Offered	Occasional
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 323 in the Guide] [323 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special relativity, electromagnetic momentum, electromagnetic waves: propagation, interference, scattering, reflection and refraction at a dielectric interface, waves in a conductor. Wave packets and group velocity, dispersion. Waveguides and transmission lines. Retarded potentials. Radiation.

Requisites: PHYSICS 322 or graduate/professional standing

323 Course Notes

Physics 323 is a continuation of Physics 322.

Physics majors: Physics 323 is an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

Physics topics usually covered include:
–Special relativity;
–Electromagnetic momentum;
–Electromagnetic waves: propagation, interference, scattering, and reflection and refraction at a dielectric interface;
–Waves in a conductor;
–Wave packets and group velocity;
–Dispersion;
–Waveguides and transmission lines;
–Retarded potentials;
–Radiation.

325 Optics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 325 in the Guide] [325 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Classical and modern optics, including imaging, polarization optics, optical telescopes, optical microscopes, interference and interferometers, optical fibers and fiber-optic communication, optical resonators, lasers, optical modulators, introduction to quantum and nonlinear optics. Concepts covered in lecture reinforced by weekly laboratory experiments.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and (PHYSICS 322 or concurrent enrollment), or graduate/professional standing

325 Course Notes

Physics 325 is a laboratory course (with lectures) intended as an introduction to classical and modern optics.

This course provides a solid foundation for a subsequent more advanced optics course such as Physics 625.

Typical laboratory experiments include:

–thin and thick lenses;
–Michelson interferometer;
–Fabry-Perot interferometer;
–diffraction gratings;
–Fourier optics;
–slit diffraction;
–optical fibers;
–acousto-optic modulators.

361 Machine Learning in Physics

Typically Offered	Occasional
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 361 in the Guide] [361 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A detailed introduction to the use of machine learning techniques in physics. Topics will include basics of probability theory and statistics, basics of function fitting and parameter inference, basics of optimization, and machine learning techniques. A selection of physics topics that are particularly amenable to analysis using machine learning will be discussed. These might include processing collider data, classifying astronomical images, solving the Ising model, parameter estimation from physics data sets, learning physical probability distributions, finding string theory compactifications, and finding symbolic physical laws.

Requisites: MATH 234 and (PHYSICS 104, 202, 208, or 248), or graduate/professional standing

371 Acoustics for Musicians

Typically Offered	Fall
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Gen-Ed	Quantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 371 in the Guide] [371 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Intended for music students who wish to learn about physical basis of sound, sound perception, musical scales, musical instruments, and room acoustics.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement

371 Course Notes

This course is intended primarily for undergraduate and graduate music students who wish to learn about the physical basis of sound and musical instruments.

Elementary physics principles are used to describe oscillating systems, waves, and wave propagation. The relationship between the physical stimulus (frequency, amplitude, sound pressure, Fourier components) and the perception of sound (pitch, loudness, timbre) are discussed. The fundamental frequencies of strings and pipes and their overtone structure (partials) are treated quantitatively. The physical basis of consonance is used to show the origin of the diatonic scale. Differences between tunings (just tuning, tempered, meantone) are studied. The physics of musical instruments is explained, including the mechanism by which steady tones are excited, enhanced, and propagated in the string, reed, brass, and percussion families, as well as the voice. The origin of formants in the sound spectrum is discussed. Other topics treated are physiology of hearing and the fundamental principles of room acoustics. In every lecture, a number of lecture demonstrations is presented. A short term paper on a topic of the student’s choosing in the area of musical acoustics is due at the end of the term.

Physics majors: Physics 371 does not count towards physics degree requirements.

406 Special Topics in Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 4.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 406 in the Guide] [406 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special topics in physics at the advanced undergraduate level.

Requisites: PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235

407 Advanced Laboratory

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	2.00 - 4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 407 in the Guide] [407 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Advanced experiments in classical and modern physics. Possible experiments include beta decay, muon lifetime, nuclear magnetic resonance, Stern-Gerlach atomic beam, Mossbauer scattering, velocity of light, Zeeman effect, and Compton scattering. Techniques for the statistical analysis of experimental data and keeping a proper research lab notebook are emphasized. Two (four) credit students will typically perform four (eight) experiments.

Requisites: PHYSICS 307

407 Course Notes

Physics 407 is a laboratory course strongly recommended for students who are going on to do experimental work at the graduate level. It is also suitable for students who want a broad and thorough background in laboratory work. Many of the experiments are associated with the subject matter of Physics 241, 415, 448 and 449. Physics 407 is intended to provide an experience somewhat like being in a research lab: it has less overall structure, and requires more student initiative, than the other physics laboratory courses.

Familiarity with basic techniques of characterization of uncertainties and of error propagation are assumed at the outset.

Physics majors: Physics 407 satisfies the Laboratory Requirement. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

415 Thermal Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 415 in the Guide] [415 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

An introduction to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics from a physics perspective. Thermodynamics, phase equilibrium, kinetic theory of gases, classical and quantum statistical mechanics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 205, 241, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235) and PHYSICS 311, or graduate/professional standing

415 Course Notes

Physics 415 is an introduction to the physics of macroscopic collections of particles, classical and quantum. A highlight of the course is understanding how the quantum nature of particles is often necessary for understanding the macroscopic behavior of collections of those particles. The course begins with an introduction to probability theory. That theory is then used to develop thermodynamics, describing work, heat, entropy, and related concepts. The course then proceeds to statistical mechanics, which looks at thermodynamics from the point of view of the microscopic physics governing the particles that make up the thermodynamic system. Finally, the topic of quantum statistical mechanics is introduced and applied to simple quantum systems, such as metals and gases.

This course assumes a good knowledge of multivariate calculus, which is used extensively in the course. It relies on the material learned in mechanics (Physics 311), modern physics (205, 241, 244, or 249) and, to a lesser extent, electricity and magnetism.

Physics Majors: Physics 415 satisfies a Core Requirement. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

448 Atomic and Quantum Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 448 in the Guide] [448 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Review of atomic and other quantum phenomena and special relativity; introduction to quantum mechanics treating the more advanced topics of atomic physics and applications to molecular, solid state, nuclear, and elementary particle physics and quantum statistics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235) and PHYSICS 311 and 322, or graduate/professional standing

448 Course Notes

Physics 448 and 449 form a two-semester sequence that covers a variety of topics in quantum and atomic physics. It is to a great extent the culmination of the undergraduate physics curriculum, pulling together many ideas from other courses, adding quantum theory, and applying them to real systems. The first semester begins with the theory of relativity and then follows with a long introduction to quantum mechanics. The second semester focuses mainly on applications of quantum mechanics to atoms and other more complex systems.

Multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations are used extensively in Physics 448 and 449.

Physics Majors: Physics 448 satisfies a Core Requirement. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

449 Atomic and Quantum Physics

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 449 in the Guide] [449 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 448. Review of atomic and other quantum phenomena and special relativity; introduction to quantum mechanics treating the more advanced topics of atomic physics and applications to molecular, solid state, nuclear, and elementary particle physics and quantum statistics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 448 or graduate/professional standing

449 Course Notes

Multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations are used extensively in Physics 448 and 449.

Physics Majors: Physics 449 satisfies a Core Requirement. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

472 Sci Bckgrnd-Globl Envr Prob

Typically Offered	Occasional
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 472 in the Guide] [472 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Designed to provide those elements of physics, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, biology and geology which are essential to a scientific understanding of global environmental problems. Specific examples of such problems include global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain and environmental toxins.

Requisites: PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, CHEM 103, 108, 109, 115, 116, or graduate/professional standing

498 Directed Study

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 498 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Advanced-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

499 Directed Study

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 499 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Advanced-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

501 Radiation Physics & Dosimetry

Typically Offered	Fall
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 501 in the Guide] [501 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interactions and energy deposition by ionizing radiation in matter; concepts, quantities and units in radiological physics; principles and methods of radiation dosimetry.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 323, 449 and MATH 320) or graduate/professional standing or declared in Medical Physics VISP

525 Introduction to Plasmas

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 525 in the Guide] [525 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Basic description of plasmas: collective phenomena and sheaths, collisional processes, single particle motions, fluid models, equilibria, waves, electromagnetic properties, instabilities, and introduction to kinetic theory and nonlinear processes. Examples from fusion, astrophysical and materials processing processing plasmas.

Requisites: (E C E 320 or PHYSICS 322), graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

527 Plasma Confinement&Heating

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 527 in the Guide] [527 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Principles of magnetic confinement and heating of plasmas for controlled thermonuclear fusion: magnetic field structures, single particle orbits, equilibrium, stability, collisions, transport, heating, modeling and diagnostics. Discussion of current leading confinement concepts: tokamaks, tandem mirrors, stellarators, reversed field pinches, etc.

Requisites: N E/PHYSICS/E C E 525, graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

531 Intro to Quantum Mechanics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 531 in the Guide] [531 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Historical background and experimental basis of quantum mechanics; de Broglie waves, correspondence principle, uncertainty principle, Schrodinger equation, hydrogen atom, electron spin, Pauli principle; applications of wave mechanics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235) and PHYSICS 311 and 322, or graduate/professional standing

531 Course Notes

Physics 531 provides formal introduction to quantum mechanics at undergraduate level.

Topics:

The course takes off from where classical principles fail and mysteries of quantum physics set in.
The Schrodinger Wave Equation is introduced and one-dimensional model problems with potential barriers and the harmonic oscillator are solved.
The bra-ket notation and operator formalism is introduced.
Bound state problems in three dimensions: Hydrogen atom, Higher Z atoms, Molecules, Nuclei, Hadrons
Orbital and spin angular momentum and quantum statistics is explored
Perturbation theory and applications to bound states, scattering, and radiation problems are also studied.

Physics Majors: Physics 531 satisfies a Core Requirement; however it is recommended that you take Physics 448 and 449 instead of Physics 531. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

535 Intro-Particle Physics

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 535 in the Guide] [535 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Review of quantum physics; introduction to particles, antiparticles and fundamental interactions; detectors and accelerators; symmetries and conservation laws; electroweak and color interactions of quarks and leptons; unification theories.

Requisites: PHYSICS 448 or concurrent enrollment, PHYSICS 531 or concurrent enrollment, or graduate/professional or special student standing

535 Course Notes

This course provides introduction to elementary particle physics. What is matter at a fundamental level? What is antimatter? How are matter and antimatter created and destroyed? What are the fundamental forces and how are they transmitted? These questions and others are addressed by Physics 535.

Physics Majors: Physics 535 counts as an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

545 Intro to Atomic Structure

Typically Offered	Fall
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 545 in the Guide] [545 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Nuclear atom; hydrogen atom; Bohr-Sommerfeld model, wave model, electron spin, description of quantum electron spin, description of quantum electrodynamic effects; external fields; many-electron atoms; central field, Pauli principle, multiplets, periodic table, x-ray spectra, vector coupling, systematics of ground states; nuclear effects in atomic spectra; interaction with coherent radiation, optical forces, laser cooling and trapping.

Requisites: PHYSICS 448 or concurrent enrollment, PHYSICS 531 or concurrent enrollment, or graduate/professional or special student standing

545 Course Notes

Physics 545 is aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students in astronomy, chemistry, engineering, and physics who desire or need a good understanding of the properties of atoms. The course assumes a basic understanding of quantum theory, though many aspects of it will be reviewed in the course.

Physics Majors: Physics 545 counts as an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

546 Lasers

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	2.00 - 3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 546 in the Guide] [546 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

General principles of laser operation; laser oscillation conditions; optical resonators; methods of pumping lasers, gas discharge lasers, e-beam pumped lasers, solid state lasers, chemical lasers, and dye lasers; gain measurements with lasers; applications of lasers.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 322 or E C E 420) and (PHYSICS 449, 531, or 545), graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

546 Course Notes

Physics 546 is primarily aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are using or anticipate using lasers in a research environment. Emphasis is placed on obtaining a strong physical understanding of the principles of lasers and their applications.

The assumed mathematical background for the course is calculus with a bit of differential equations and matrix algebra. Some familiarity with electromagnetic fields is assumed, though much of what is needed will be reviewed in the course. Also some acquaintance with the basic structure of atoms and molecules is helpful, although again most of the needed material will be reviewed. A basic understanding of quantum mechanics is assumed, being necessary to understand the interaction between laser light and various types of materials.

Physics Majors: Physics 546 counts as an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

551 Solid State Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 551 in the Guide] [551 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mechanical, thermal, electric, and magnetic properties of solids; band theory; semiconductors; crystal imperfections.

Requisites: PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, 448, 531, E C E/PHYSICS 235, or graduate/professional standing

551 Course Notes

Physics 551 covers the structure and properties of metals, insulators, and semiconductors. It is intended for graduate students or advanced undergraduate students interested in condensed matter physics. Electronic states and lattice dynamics and transport properties are treated from a physically motivated perspective. Choices of specific topics to be covered will vary with different instructors and include:
Superconductivity
Magnetism
Low-Dimensional Physics
Surface Physics

Physics 551 assumes a good undergraduate knowledge of quantum mechanics. Familiarity with electricity and magnetism is recommended.

Physics Majors: Physics 551 counts as an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

588 Radiation Production Detection

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	4.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 588 in the Guide] [588 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Fundamental physics of ionizing radiation production and detection applied to medical science. Topics: scintillator/semiconductor detectors, ionizing radiation detectors, charged and neutral particles for external beam radiotherapy, production of radionuclides with cyclotron and linear accelerators for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, radiochemistry, and X-ray tube physics.

Requisites: B M E/H ONCOL/MED PHYS/PHYSICS 501

601 Scientific Presentation

Typically Offered	Occasional
Level	Advanced
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	2.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Has Honors Section	Yes

[Physics 601 in the Guide] [601 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Oral and written reports to give practice in the presentation of scientific papers.

Requisites: Senior standing and declared in an Honors program or graduate/professional standing

601 Course Notes

In Physics 601 each student will be required to make multiple presentations, in a variety of formats, to practice communicating with other scientists in seminar-like format, and with non-scientists in public lecture format. The topics are chosen by mutual consent of the instructor and the students.

Physics Majors: Physics 601 counts as an Advanced Physics Elective. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

603 Wkshp-College Physics Tchg

Typically Offered	Occasional
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 2.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 603 in the Guide] [603 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Discussion, practice, and occasional lectures on various aspects of the teaching of physics. Course planning; course materials; lecture, demonstration, and discussion techniques; laboratory; problem solving; examinations, grading, and evaluation. Problems arising in the teaching of physics; levels of difficulty, differences in talents and backgrounds; methods of presentation of various specific topics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 311 and 322

619 Microscopy of Life

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Intermediate
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 619 in the Guide] [619 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Survey of state of the art microscopic, cellular and molecular imaging techniques, beginning with subcellular microscopy and finishing with whole animal imaging.

Requisites: PHYSICS 104, 202, 208, or 248 or MED PHYS/PHYSICS 265

623 Electronic Aids to Measmnt

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 623 in the Guide] [623 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Fundamentals of electronics, electronic elements, basic circuits; combinations of these into measuring instruments.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and (MATH 234 or 376), or graduate/professional standing

623 Course Notes

Physics 623 is primarily intended for graduate students who will work in a research laboratory and require a basic background in electronic design and the use of electronic instruments.

Highly motivated undergraduates are welcome in this course, and generally do well, but must understand that this course is primarily intended for graduate students. Very little background in electronics is assumed, beyond the basics of electricity and magnetism and AC and DC circuits at the level of an introductory physics course (V_R=IR, V_L=L dI/dt, V_C = Q/C = ∫ dt I/C).
But the course goes very fast from there, completing the material found in Physics 321 in the first few weeks. If you take it you should:
a) be willing and able to spend ~16 hours/week on the course;
b) have considerable facility and practice at general problem solving;
c) be familiar with differential equations and the algebra of complex variables.

We strongly recommend that undergraduates discuss these issues with the instructor before enrolling.

The experiments start with the use of basic components such as transmission lines, transistors, and amplifier circuits.

They move on to experiments which include the study of feedback amplifiers, oscillators, and electronic noise.

The final third of the course is devoted to digital circuitry, with experiments such as analog /digital conversion, computer circuit simulation, and programmable logic.

Physics Majors: Physics 623 counts toward the Laboratory Requirement. For more information, see the Undergraduate Physics Majors Handbook.

625 Applied Optics

Typically Offered	Fall
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	4.00
Breadth	Physical Science
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 625 in the Guide] [625 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Optical methods in research and technology. Reflection, refraction, absorption, scattering. Imaging. Sources and sensors. Schlieren methods. Interferometry. Instrumental spectroscopy. Fourier optics, image processing, holography. Laser technology, Gaussian beams, nonlinear optics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 322 or graduate/professional standing

681 Senior Honors Thesis

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Has Honors Section	Yes

[Physics 681 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing Physics Honors in the Major.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

682 Senior Honors Thesis

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree
Has Honors Section	Yes

[Physics 682 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing Physics Honors in the Major.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

691 Senior Thesis

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	2.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 691 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

692 Senior Thesis

Typically Offered	Spring
Level	Advanced
Students	Undergraduate, advanced
Credits	2.00 - 3.00
L&S Credit	Counts for L&S degree

[Physics 692 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

Courses in the 700+ range are not normally open to undergraduate students. Advanced undergrads can take them if they have a 3.5 GPA in all physics and math courses and can obtain permission from the instructor.

701 Introductory Seminars

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	1.00

[Physics 701 in the Guide] [701 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Designed to give new students an introduction to the broad range of modern research going on at UW Physics, and to help students find research opportunities in the department. Each week, faculty from each major research area will present their research in a seminar setting. The research areas will include selected topics both in theory and experiment from biophysics; atomic, molecular, and optical physics; plasma; condensed matter; quantum information and computation; high energy and nuclear physics; particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

707 Quantum Computing Laboratory

Typically Offered	SU
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	4.00

[Physics 707 in the Guide] [707 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Provides an intensive introduction to the experimental techniques of quantum computing. Students will do 8 experiments chosen from: Bell violation with entangled photons, Stern-Gerlach, Pulsed NMR, Optical pumping of Rb, Nanofabrication, Fiber optics communication, Diode pumped YAG laser, and Acousto-optic modulator.

Requisites: PHYSICS 709 and (PHYSICS 531 or 731)

709 Intro to Quantum Computing

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 709 in the Guide] [709 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A detailed introduction to quantum computation and quantum information processing. Basic topics of quantum mechanics that are most relevant to quantum computing, particularly measurement theory. Specialized topics such as entanglement, other measures of quantum correlation and the Bell inequalities. Classical and quantum information theory, classical and quantum complexity theory. Qubits, quantum gates, quantum circuits. Teleportation, quantum dense coding, quantum cryptography. Quantum algorithms: Deustch, Simon, Shor, Grover, and adiabatic algorithms. Basic quantum error correction: 5-qubit, Steane and Shor codes. Completion of one undergraduate course in quantum mechanics recommended, such as PHYSICS 448 or 531.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

711 Theoreticl Physics-Dynamics

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 711 in the Guide] [711 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Lagrange's equations, Principle of Least Action, orbits and scattering, kinematics of rotation, rigid body dynamics, small oscillations, special relativistic dynamics, Hamiltonian formulation, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, canonical perturbation theory, chaos, continuum mechanics, introduction to general relativity.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

715 Statistical Mechanics

Typically Offered	Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 715 in the Guide] [715 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Statistical foundations, Liouville's theorem, ensembles, classical and quantum distribution functions, entropy and temperature, connection with thermodynamics, partition functions, quantum gases, non-ideal gases, phase transitions and critical phenomena, non-equilibrium problems, Boltzmann equation and the H-theorem, transport properties, connections with quantum field theory, applications of statistical mechanics to selected problems.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

716 Statistical Mechanics

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 716 in the Guide] [716 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Symmetries and symmetry breaking, phase transitions, mean field theory, critical exponents, scaling hypothesis, renormalization group, diagrammatic expansion, epsilon-expansion, exact solution of the 2d Ising model. Boltzman kinetic equation, H-theorem, Fokker-Planck and Langevin equations, Born-Markov master equation, Lindblad superoperators, classical and quantum noise, theory of amplifiers.

Requisites: PHYSICS 715 and 731

717 Relativity

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 717 in the Guide] [717 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special and general theories of relativity, relativistic electrodynamics, cosmology, unified field theories.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

721 Theor Physics-Electrodynmcs

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 721 in the Guide] [721 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Green functions, boundary value problems, macroscopic media, Maxwell's equations, the stress tensor and conservation laws, electromagnetic waves, wave propagation, dispersion, waveguides, radiation, multipole expansions, diffraction and scattering, special relativity, covariance of Maxwell's equations, Lienard-Wiechert potentials, radiation by accelerated charges. Knowledge of electrodynamics (such as PHYSICS 322) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

724 Waves&Instabilities-Plasmas

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 724 in the Guide] [724 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Waves in a cold plasma, wave-plasma interactions, waves in a hot plasma, Landau damping, cyclotron damping, magneto-hydrodynamic equilibria and instabilities, microinstabilities, introduction to nonlinear processes, and experimental applications. Basic knowledge of plasmas [such as N E/E C E/PHYSICS 525] and advanced electromagnetics [such as PHYSICS 721 or E C E 740] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

725 Plasma Kinetic&Radiatn Proc

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 725 in the Guide] [725 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Coulomb Collisions, Boltzmann equation, Fokker-Planck methods, dynamical friction, neoclassical diffusion, collision operators radiation processes and experimental applications. Basic knowledge of plasmas [such as N E/E C E/PHYSICS 525] and advanced electromagnetics [such as PHYSICS 721 or E C E 740] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

726 Plasma Magnetohydrodynamics

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 726 in the Guide] [726 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

MHD equations and validity in hot plasmas; magnetic structure and magnetic flux coordinates; equilibrium in various configurations; stability formulation, energy principle, classification of instabilities; ideal and resistive instability in various configurations, evolution of nonlinear tearing modes; force-free equilibria, helicity, MHD dynamo; experimental applications. Basic knowledge of plasmas [such as N E/E C E/PHYSICS 525] and advanced electromagnetics [such as PHYSICS 721 or E C E 740] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

731 Quantum Mechanics

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 731 in the Guide] [731 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Schrodinger equation, operator theory, matrix mechanics, transformation theory, Heisenberg representation, orbital angular momentum, bound-state problems, scattering theory, stationary perturbation theory, degenerate systems, time-dependent perturbation theory, Born approximation, other approximation methods. Knowledge of quantum mechanics and atomic physics (such as PHYSICS 449 or 531) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

732 Quantum Mechanics

Typically Offered	Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 732 in the Guide] [732 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter, quantization of the electromagnetic field, spontaneous transitions, identical particles and spin, addition of angular momenta, tensor operators, complex atoms, Hartree approximation, molecules, Dirac equation, relativistic effects in atoms.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

735 Particle Physics

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 735 in the Guide] [735 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Structure of elementary particles, quarks and gluons, introduction to calculational techniques of particle interactions (Feynman diagrams), constituent models of electroweak and strong interactions and associated phenomenological techniques. Knowledge of introductory particle physics and quantum mechanics (such as PHYSICS 535) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

736 Nuclear, Particle&Astrophysics

Typically Offered	Spring
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 736 in the Guide] [736 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interaction of particles with matter; detector techniques at colliding beam machines, in nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology; experimental strategies in detector design; principles of simulation and Monte Carlo methods, error analysis and statistical techniques in data analysis. Knowledge of introductory particle physics (such as PHYSICS 535) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

746 Quantum Electronics

Typically Offered	Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 746 in the Guide] [746 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Elementary aspects of Lagrange theory of fields and field quantization; Bose, Fermi and Pauli operators; interaction of fields; quantum theory of damping and fluctuations; applications to lasers, nonlinear optics, and quantum optics. Knowledge of lasers [such as E C E/PHYSICS 546] and graduate-level electromagnetics [such as E C E 740 or PHYSICS 721] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

748 Linear Waves

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 748 in the Guide] [748 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

General considerations of linear wave phenomena; one dimensional waves; two and three dimensional waves; wave equations with constant coefficients; inhomogenous media; random media. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations; asymptotic methods. Knowledge of electromagnetics [such as E C E 320 or PHYSICS 321], mechanics [such as M E 340], or vibrations [such as M E 440] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

749 Coher Generatn&Particl Beam

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 749 in the Guide] [749 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Fundamental theory and recent advances in coherent radiation charged particle beam sources (microwave to X-ray wavelengths) including free electron lasers, wiggler/wave-particle dynamics, Cerenkov masers, gyrotrons, coherent gain and efficiency, spontaneous emission, beam sources and quality, related accelerator concepts experimental results and applications.

Requisites: E C E 740

751 Adv Solid State Physics

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 751 in the Guide] [751 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Lattice dynamics; band theory; Fermi surfaces; electrodynamics of metals; optical properties; transport properties. Knowledge of introductory solid state physics (such as PHYSICS 551) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

772 High Energy Astrophysics

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	3.00

[Physics 772 in the Guide] [772 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interactions among the particles, fields, and radiation of interstellar and intergalactic space. Gamma-ray, x-ray, and cosmic ray production, propagation, and detection. Knowledge of electrodynamics (such as PHYSICS 322) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

779 Advanced Quantum Computing

Typically Offered	Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 779 in the Guide] [779 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Explores applications of quantum theory to both the hardware and the software that underpin modern quantum information technology. Advanced quantum circuit theory: Clifford group and Gottesman-Knill theorem, Mathematica code. Decoherence: density matrices, probability distributions, T1 and T2. Advanced error correction: master equation, Kraus operators, fault tolerance, quantum tomography. Hardware: Trapped ions, Paul traps, sideband cooling, CZ and MS gates, neutral atoms, superconductors, quantum dots.

Requisites: PHYSICS 531 or 731

799 Independent Study

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Students	Graduate, basic
Credits	1.00 - 3.00

[Physics 799 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Graduate-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

801 Topics-Theoretical Physics

Typically Offered	FLSU
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 3.00

[Physics 801 in the Guide] [801 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Selected topics in theoretical physics.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

805 Special Topics in Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 3.00

[Physics 805 in the Guide] [805 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special topics in physics at the graduate level.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

831 Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Typically Offered	Fall
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 831 in the Guide] [831 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Quantum theory of free and interacting fields, formal scattering theory, dispersion theory.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

832 Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Typically Offered	Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 832 in the Guide] [832 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 831. Quantum theory of free and interacting fields, formal scattering theory, dispersion theory.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

835 Collider Phys Phenomenology

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	2.00 - 3.00

[Physics 835 in the Guide] [835 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Standard model. Application to e+e-, proton-antiproton, pp, and ep colliders. Jets. Weak boson, heavy-quark, and Higgs boson production and decay. Quarkonia. Neutral B meson mixing. Grand unification. Supersymmetry.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

848 Nonlinear Waves

Typically Offered	Occasional
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	3.00

[Physics 848 in the Guide] [848 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

General considerations of nonlinear wave phenomena; nonlinear hyperbolic waves; nonlinear dispersion; nonlinear geometrical optics; Whitham's variational theory; nonlinear and parametric instabilities; solitary waves; inverse scattering method. Knowledge of electromagnetics [such as E C E 320 or PHYSICS 321] or mechanics [such as M E 340] encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

900 Colloquium

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	0.00 - 1.00

[Physics 900 in the Guide] [900 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Lectures by staff and visitors.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

910 Seminar in Astrophysics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	0.00 - 1.00

[Physics 910 in the Guide] [910 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Current topics in astrophysics.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

922 Seminar in Plasma Physics

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	0.00 - 1.00

[Physics 922 in the Guide] [922 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Current topics in plasma physics.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

990 Research

Typically Offered	Fall; Spring; Summer
Students	Graduate, advanced
Credits	1.00 - 12.00

[Physics 990 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Research supervised by individual faculty members.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing