Methods used in the study of biophysics and biomedical physics. Study of the physical basis of spectroscopic methods including light absorption or scattering, fluorescence, NMR and X-ray diffraction for the study of biomolecules. Biomedical imaging including sonogram, MRI, and tomography will be discussed.
3 hr./wk.
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 Schrödinger 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 potential - Simple Harmonic oscillator and applications; One electron atoms, spin, transition rates; Identical particles and quantum statistics; Beyond the Schrödinger equation: Variational methods and WKB.
Spring only
4 hr./wk.
Formalism of quantum mechanics: observables, operators; application to simple cases: two-level systems, electron in a magnetic field, spin; time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory with applications; adiabatic processes; selected topics in atomic, optical, solid-state, nuclear and particle physics; quantum entanglement, Bell's theorem and recent experiments.
Fall only
3 hr./wk.
(Same as PHYS U4500) Crystal structure and symmetry; crystal diffraction; crystal binding; phonons and lattice vibrations; thermal properties of insulators; free electron theory of metals; energy bands; Fermi surfaces; semiconductors, selected topics in superconductivity, dielectric properties, ferro-electricity, magnetism.
3 hr./wk.
(Same as PHYS U4600) Examples, characteristic properties, and applications of important classes of materials (semiconductors, ceramics, metals, polymers, dielectrics and ferroelectrics, super-conductors, magnetic materials); surfaces and interfaces of solids; selected topics in the synthesis, processing and characterization of materials.
PHYS 55400 or equivalent, e.g.
EE 45400 (required of Physics majors in the Applied Physics/Material Science Concentration, and elective for other Physics majors and for Engineering majors).
3 hr./wk.
A seminar course on current topics in experimental and theoretical physics, with oral reports by students and faculty (required for Physics majors).
1 hr./wk.
Introduction to some of the basic methods for sample preparation and characterization relevant to materials science. Topics include synthesis of semiconductor thin films and high temperature superconductors, contact preparation, measurements of transport properties as a function of temperature, Raman spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (ESR), X-ray diffraction, absorption measurements in UV-visible range.
4 lect. hr./wk. for the first three wks., then 7 lab. hr./wk.
(Same as PHYS U6800) Three-level and four-level solid state lasers: ion-doped laser crystals and glasses. Solid-state laser engineering: end-pumping techniques. Laser characterization: limiting slope efficiency. Femtosecond pulse generation: synchronous pumping, active mode-locking of tunable solid-state lasers. Regenerative amplification of ultrashort pulses. Photons in semiconductors: light-emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers. Semiconductor-laser-pumped solid-state lasers; microchip lasers. Photon detectors; noise in photodectors. Polarization and crystal optics: reflection and refraction; optics of anisotropic media; optical activity and Faraday's effect; optics of liquid crystals; polarization devices. Electro-optics: Pockel's and Kerr effects; electro-optic modulators and switches; spatial modulators; photo-refractive materials. Nonlinear optics: frequency mixing and harmonic generation; optical solutions. Acousto-optics: interactions of light and sound; acousto-optic devices.
3 hr./wk.
(Same as PHYS U8100) Waves and Maxwell's equations. Field energetics, dispersion, complex power. Waves in dielectrics and in conductors. Reflection and refraction. Oblique incidence and total internal reflection. Transmission lines and conducting waveguides. Planar and circular dielectric wave-guides; integrated optics and optical fibers. Hybrid and linearly polarized modes. Graded index fibers. Mode coupling; wave launching. Fiber-optic communications: modulation, multiplexing, and coupling; active fibers: erbium-doped fiber lasers and amplifiers.
3 hr./wk.