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Courses - PHYS Graduate Level

510. Graduate Mechanics (3) F

Prerequisite: PHYS 310.
Variational principles, Lagrange's equations, Hamilton's equations, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, relativistic mechanics and small oscillation theory.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 4 hrs.)

515./410. 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.)

522./422. 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). (Lecture-discussion 3 hrs.)

534./434. 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)

540A.Graduate Electrodynamics (3) S

Prerequisite: PHYS 340B.
Boundary-value problems, applications of special functions to electro/magnetostatics, Green's function techniques, multipole expansion of electrostatic field, dielectric media, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

545./445. 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)

546./446. 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.)

550A. Quantum Mechanics I (3) F

Prerequisite: PHYS 450.
Mathematical and postulational basis of quantum mechanics, one-dimensional problems, two-level systems, angular momentum, central potentials, time independent and time dependent perturbation theory.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

550B. Quantum Mechanics II (3) S

Prerequisite: PHYS 550A.
Scattering, rotation group and irreducible tensor operations, identical particles, semi-classical radiation theory, atoms, path integral formalism, and other selected topics.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

554. Nuclear Physics (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 550A.
Deuteron problem, nucleon-nucleon potential, shell model, nuclear models, nuclear reactions, elementary particles, weak interactions, strong interactions.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

555. Elementary Particle Physics (3)

Prerequisites: PHYS 310, PHYS 340B, PHYS 450.
Feynman diagram language of scattering and decay, space-time symmetries, relativistic kinematics, hadron quantum numbers and quark models, QED, QCD and gluons, weak interactions.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

560A,B. Mathematical Methods of Physics (3,3)

Prerequisites: MATH 370A,B or equivalent.
Linear vector spaces, eigenvalue problem, functions of complex variable, special functions, properties and methods of solving partial differential equations of physics, integral equations, tensor analysis, and group theory.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 4,3 hrs.)

562. Advanced Computational Methods in Physics (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 450
Computational methods applied to study advanced physics problems such as symbolic and numerical programming, and their applications in various fields (e.g. quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, statistical physics, condensed matter physics, astrophysics, atomic and subatomic physics, etc.)
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

569./470. Introduction to Solid State Physics (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 450. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 470; graduates enroll in PHYS 569.)
Study of the properties of solids from a quantum theoretical viewpoint. Topics include lattice vibrations, elastic constants, and thermal, electric and magnetic properties.
Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hrs.)

576./476. 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)

580./480. 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.)

590./490. 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.)

595./495. Colloquium (1)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
Weekly meetings for presentation and discussion of current research in physics. (Undergraduates enroll in PHYS 495; graduate students enroll in PHYS 595) Credit /No credit grading only. (Seminar 1 hr)

691. Directed Study (1)

Intensive study of advanced topics in physics.
May be repeated to a maximum of 2 units. Letter grade only (A-F).

692. Professional Physics Internship (1-4)

Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy in the Masters of Science in Professional Physics program.
Internship in an industrial setting using advanced professional physics skills. An oral presentation is required. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 units in different semesters.
Credit/ No Credit grading only. (1-4 hours contact)

694. Seminar in Special Topics (1)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Physics.
Study of research papers and research methods in selected topics. If demand for more than one subject exists, multiple sections may be given in any one semester.
May be repeated to a maximum of 2 units; only 1 unit may be applied to the master's degree. Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 1 hr.)

695. Colloquium (1)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Weekly meetings for presentation and discussion of current research in physics. Even though only 1 unit is for M.S. degree, graduate students are expected to attend each semester they are enrolled in University.
Credit/No Credit grading only. (Seminar 1 hr.)

697. Directed Research (1-3)

Theoretical and experimental problems in physics requiring intensive analysis.
Letter grade only (A-F).

698. Thesis (1-6)

Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy for the M.S. in Physics.
Planning, preparation, and completion of acceptable thesis in partial fulfillment of requirements for master's degree. A half-hour seminar presenting and defending results of the thesis required. Credit obtained upon formal acceptance of thesis.

699. Professional Project (1-4)

Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy in the Masters of Science in Professional Physics degree program.
A significant project undertaken to gain and demonstrate fluency with advanced methods of physics as it is used professionally. The project will demonstrate the acquisition of skills. An oral presentation is required.
Credit/No Credit grading only. May be repeated to a maximum 4 units in different semesters.


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