Introductory material, 2-slit experiment, matter waves and addition of amplitudes. Superposition principle, Uncertainty principle, properties of matter waves. Boundary conditions and energy level quantization and Schrodinger interpretation. Wave equation, application to one-dimensional problems, barrier penetration, Bloch states in solids and how bands form in solids. The universality of the harmonic oscillator potential, simple harmonic oscillator and applications. One-electron atoms, spin, transition rates. Identical particles and quantum statistics. Beyond the Schrodinger equation: variational methods and WKB. Required for Physics majors.
4 hr./wk.
Review of Schrodinger equation, Uncertainty principle. Formalism: Observables, Operators, etc. Application to simple cases: 2-level systems, electron in magnetic field; Angular momentum- Bohr model revisited; Magnetic properties of solids; Time-independent perturbation theory and applications; Time-dependent perturbation theory; Lasers, Masers, etc. Adiabatic processes: Berry's phase, when does phase matter? Quantum entanglement, Bell's theorem and recent experiments. Required for Physics majors.
4 hr./wk.
3 hr./wk.
Theory and application of lasers and masers. Physical principles underlying the design of lasers, coherent optics, and non-linear optics.
3 hr./wk.
Topics in complex variables; methods for ordinary and partial differential equations; Green's functions; eigenfunction expansions; integral transforms; integral equations; tensor analysis; group theory; higher algebra; numerical methods. All master's students will generally be required to take PHYS V0100.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
The Lagrangian formulation, including Hamilton's principle; Lagrange's equations; central force motion; Kepler problem, scattering; rigid body motion; transformation matrices. Eulerian angles, inertia tensor. The Hamiltonian formulation including canonical equations; canonical transformations; Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Small oscillations. Continuous systems and fields. Relativistic dynamics. All master's students will generally be required to take PHYS V1100.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, and boundary value problems; Maxwell's equations; multipole radiation from accelerated charges; scattering theory; special theory of relativity. All master's students will generally be required to take PHYS V1500-1600.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
Historical foundations. The Schroedinger formulation, wave packets, and uncertainty principle. Harmonic oscillator and potential barrier problems. W.K.B. approximation. Operators and eigenfunctions. Central forces and orbital angular momentum. Scattering, Born approximation, partial waves. Linear vector spaces. The Heisenberg formulation. Spin and total angular momentum. Perturbation theory: bound state, time-dependent. Systems of identical particles. Introduction of relativistic quantum mechanics. All master's students will generally be required to take PHYS V2500-2600.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
Introduction to the structure, properties and function of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and membranes. In depth study of the physical basis of selected systems including vision, nerve transmission, photosynthesis, enzyme mechanism and cellular diffusion. Introduction to spectroscopic methods for monitoring reactions and determining structure including light absorption or scattering, fluorescence NMR and X-ray diffraction. The course emphasizes reading and interpretation of original literature.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
An introduction to protein structure and molecular interactions needed for analysis of individual proteins. Focus on proteins that highlight important biophysical properties. Project-based courses emphasizing readings and interpretation of original literature. The groups of proteins chosen can be biological machines, including ribosomes; actin/myosin and muscle proteins; kinesin/dynesin transporters and cellular motion and deformation and bacterial flagellar motors. Alternatively, the class can study processes based on transmembrane potential gradients including respiration, photosynthesis and chemiosmotic energy coupling as well as nerve function.
Prerequisite: 1 yr. of Math, 1 yr. of Physics (Cell biology or biochemistry is recommended.)
4 hr./wk.
Probability theory, ensembles, approach to equilibrium, quantum and classical ideal and non-ideal gases, cooperative phenomena, density matrices, averages and fluctuations, and other selected topics, such as the time-temperature Green's functions, non-zero temperature variational and perturbation methods.
PHYS V2500.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
Principles of crystallography; crystal structure; lattice vibrations, band theory, defects; study of ionic crystals, dielectrics, magnetism, and free electron theory of metals and semiconductors. Topics of current interest such as high temperature superconductivity, quantum Hall Effect, and fullerenes will be included, depending on interest.
PHYS V2500.
3 hr./wk., plus conf.
The concepts and tools of experimental physics. Basic analog apparatus and digital electronics; the use of minicomputers for data acquisition, the control of experiments and data analysis; discussion of intrinsic noise and error analysis. Execution of several advanced experiments, including statistics of radioactive decay, Raman spectroscopy, temperature dependence of resistivity, and others. The second semester of this course is PHYS W5901.
2 lect., 2 lab. hr./wk.
The concepts and tools of experimental physics. Basic analog apparatus and digital electronics; the use of minicomputers for data acquisition, the control of experiments and data analysis; discussion of intrinsic noise and error analysis. Execution of several advanced experiments, including statistics of radioactive decay, Raman spectroscopy, temperature dependence of resistivity, and others. The second semester of this course is PHYS W5901.
2 lect., 2 lab. hr./wk.
Recent developments and trends in the field of biology. Required of all candidates for the M.S. degree.
2 hr./wk.
Colloquium must be taken twice.