Courses - PHYS Upper Division
310. Analytic Mechanics (3) F
Prerequisite: PHYS 151. Corequisite: MATH 364A or MATH 370A.
Kinematics and dynamics of mass points and systems of particles. Conservation laws. Harmonic motion. Central force problem. Noninertial frames of reference. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of laws of mechanics.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)
320. Thermodynamics (3) F
Prerequisite: PHYS 152. Prerequisite/Corequisite, PHYS 254.
Laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic potentials, kinetic theory methods, phase transitions, equilibrium ensembles and related formalism with applications to classical and quantum systems.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)
340A. Electricity and Magnetism I (3) S
Prerequisites: PHYS 152, PHYS 310. Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 370A or MATH 364A.
Vector calculus, electrostatics, and magnetostatics. Formulation of Maxwell's equations in vector analytic form.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)
340B. Electricity and Magnetism II (3) F
Prerequisite: PHYS 340A.
Special relativity. Applications of Maxwell's equations: Plane electromagnetic waves, guided waves, radiation, interaction of electromagnetic waves and matter.
(Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)
350. Modern Physics (3) S
Prerequisites: PHYS 310; MATH 370A or MATH 364A.
Physical phenomena and models leading to development of quantum mechanics. Schroedinger equation, one-dimensional quantum mechanical problems, uncertainty principle, one-electron atoms, elementary applications of quantum mechanics.
(Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)
360. Physics With Symbolic Algebra Software (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 254. Prerequisite/Corerequisite: MATH 247.
Learning symbolic algebra programming (e.g. Mathematica) to enhance the problem-solving abilities of students in physics, engineering and mathematics. Interpolation and fitting of experimental data. Sophisticated graphics, animations, analytic calculations, and numerical solutions for a variety of physics problems.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)
380. Electronics (4) S
Prerequisite: PHYS 152.
Network analysis and complex impedance, transistor circuits, operational amplifiers, active filters and oscillators, digital electronics, analog-digital interfacing, microprocessors.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs., laboratory 3 hrs.)
385. Materials Science (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A and PHYS 152 and (CHEM 111B or PHYS 320), completion of CHEM 11B is strongly recommended.
Introduction to general principles of energy materials including catalytics, photovoltaic, and thermoelectric materials based on nanostructural and/or nanoporous systems. Students will be required to complete preparatory modules on Kinetics (reaction dynamics), Electrochemistry, Fermi statistics, and Diodes.
Letter grade only (A-F). Same course as CHEM 385. Not open for credit to students with credit in CHEM 385.
385L. Materials Science Laboratory (2)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A and PHYS 152 and (CHEM 111B or PHYS 320), completion of CHEM 111B is strongly recommended
Introduction to synthesis, characterization methods, and property measurement of advanced materials
Letter grade only (A-F), Course fee may be required. (Laboratory 6 hours). Same course as CHEM 385L. Not open for credit to students with credit in CHEM 385L.
385C. Materials Science Colloquium (1)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A and PHYS 152 and (CHEM 111B or PHYS 320), completion of CHEM 111B is strongly recommended.
Discussion of advances as reported in recent literature related to energy materials. Provides experience in library use, organization, presentation, and critical evaluation of the literature.
Letter grade only (A-F). Same course as CHEM 385C. Not open for credit to students with credit in CHEM 385C.
390. Exploring Physics Teaching (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 151 and consent of instructor.
Exploration of teaching physics as a learning assistant in secondary physics classrooms and in the lower-level laboratories and tutorials of the college physics curriculum. An exploration of the profession of teaching physics at many levels.
(Lecture, 3 hrs )
410./515. Relativity (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 340A. Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 370A or MATH 364A. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 410; graduates enroll in PHYS 515.)
Lorentz transformation, relativistic kinematics and dynamics, 4-vectors and tensors, transformation of electric and magnetic fields, covariant form of Maxwell's equations, introduction to general relativity.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)
422./522. Statistical Physics (3) S
Prerequisites: PHYS 310, PHYS 320, PHYS 350. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 422; graduates enroll in PHYS 522.)
Entropy and temperature, Boltzmann distribution and Helmholtz free energy, thermal radiation, chemical potential, Gibbs distribution, ideal gas, Fermi and Bose gases, heat and work, Gibbs free energy and chemical reactions, phase transformations and kinetic theory.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lec-discussion 3 hrs)
434./534. Astrophysics (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 310, PHYS 320, and PHYS 340A or consent of the instructor. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 434; graduates enroll in PHYS 534.)
Topics in astrophysics. A particular semester schedule might include one or two topics from: Stellar interiors and evolution, radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres, relativistic cosmology, galaxy formation, accretion disk physics and quasars.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs)
445./545. Experimental Methods in Physics I (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 254; PHYS 450 or consent of instructor. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 445; graduates enroll in PHYS 545.)
Modern physical measurement techniques including scanning probe microscopy and pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance. Noise and fluctuations in physical measurements. Low noise measurement techniques including lock-in amplifier, gated integrator and boxcar averager, bridge circuits, convolution, auto-and cross-correlation and FFT.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 2 hrs., laboratory 3 hrs.)
446./546. Experimental Methods in Physics II (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 254; PHYS 450 or consent of instructor. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 446; graduates enroll in PHYS 546.)
Modern physical measurement techniques in condensed matter physics in high magnetic fields and low temperatures. Examples are temperature and magnetic field effects in magnetic materials, Meissner effect and superconducting transition temperature in superconductors, and mobility and Hall effect in semiconductors.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 2 hrs., laboratory 3 hrs.)
450. Quantum Physics I (3) F
Prerequisites: PHYS 310, PHYS 340A, PHYS 350.
Schroedinger equation, atomic physics, harmonic oscillator, scattering, perturbation theory, Heisenberg and Dirac representations, spin, symmetries (angular momentum, time reversal, and parity), applications.
(Lec-discussion 3 hrs.)
451. Quantum Physics II (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 450.
Measurement processes, atomic physics, identical particles, quantum statistics, numerical methods, many-body systems, density matrix, applications.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)
470./569. Introduction to Solid State Physics (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 450. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 470; graduates enroll in PHYS 569.)
Study of properties of solids from quantum theoretical viewpoint. Includes lattice vibratons, elastic constants, and thermal, electric, and magnetic properties.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)
476./576. Modern Optics with Laboratory (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 340A. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 476; graduates enroll in PHYS 576.)
Propagation of electromagnetic waves, optical resonators, laser spectroscopy and operation, optical phase conjugation, nonlinear optics and selected application. Experiments illustrating principles and techniques of electro-optics and laser physics. Applications include optical methods in communications, atomic spectroscopy, and nonlinear optics.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 2 hrs., laboratory 3 hrs.)
480./580. Computer Interfacing in Experimental
Physics (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 380 or consent of instructor. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 480; graduates enroll in PHYS 580.)
Modern data acquisition and analysis methods using computer-based equipment and high level software. Physics experiments performed with standard personal computers, research-quality data acquisition hardware, and programmable instruments. Computer use as tool in execution and interpretation of experiments.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 2 hrs., laboratory 3 hrs.)
490./590. Selected Topics in Physics (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 490; graduates enroll in PHYS 590.)
Physics topics selected from such areas as atomic and nuclear physics, astrophysics, physics of materials, low temperature physics, acoustics, and theoretical physics.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes. (Lecture 3 hrs.)
491A. Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Physics - Force and Motion (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Physics content and pedagogy aimed at supporting secondary education. Force and Motion.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 3 hrs)
491B. Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Physics - Energ and Momentum (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Physics content and pedagogy aimed at supporting secondary education. Energy and Momentum.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 3 hrs)
491C. Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Physics - Waves and Optics (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Physics content and pedagogy aimed at supporting secondary education. Waves and Optics.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 3 hrs)
491D. Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Physics - Electrcity and Magnetism (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Physics content and pedagogy aimed at supporting secondary education. Electricity and Magnetism.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 3 hrs)
491E. Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Physics - Nuclear and Thermal (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Physics content and pedagogy aimed at supporting secondary education. Nuclear, Thermal.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 3 hrs)
495./595. Colloquium (1)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Weekly meetings for presentation and discussion of current research in physics.
Credit /No credit grading only. (Seminar 1 hr) (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 495; graduate students enroll in PHYS 595)
496. Special Problems in Physics (1-3)
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and senior standing.
Physics problems selected by instructor for considered and mature analysis. Written and 10-minute oral reports required.
