PHYS 617 Introduction to Biophysics I 3(3,0) Introduction to the application of physics to biological problems. Topics include elementary chemical and biological principles, physics of biological molecules, and fundamentals of radiation biophysics. Preq: MTHSC 206, PHYS 221, or consent of instructor.
PHYS 620 Atmospheric Physics 3(3,0) Study of physical processes governing atmospheric phenomena. Topics include thermodynamics of dry and moist air, solar and terrestrial radiative processes, convection and cloud physics, precipitation processes, hydrodynamic equations of motion and large-scale motion of the atmosphere, numerical weather prediction, atmospheric electricity. Preq: MTHSC 108, PHYS 208 or 221.
PHYS 621 Mechanics I 3(3,0) Statics, motions of particles and rigid bodies, vibratory motion, gravitation, properties of matter, flow of fluids. Preq: PHYS 221.
PHYS 622 Mechanics II 3(3,0) Dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, vibrations of strings, wave propagation. Preq: PHYS 321 or consent of instructor.
PHYS 625 Experimental Physics I 3(1,4) Introduction to experimental modern physics, measurement of fundamental constants, repetition of crucial experiments of modern physics (Stern-Gerlach, Zeeman effect, photoelectric effect, etc.). Coreq: PHYS 321 or consent of instructor.
PHYS 626 Experimental Physics II 3(1,4) Continuation of PHYS 325.
PHYS 632 Optics 3(3,0) Covers a selection of topics, depending on the interest of the student. Topics may include the formation of images by lenses and mirrors, design of optical instruments, electromagnetic wave propagation, interference, diffraction, optical activity, lasers, and holography. Preq: PHYS 221.
PHYS 641 Electromagnetics I 3(3,0) Study of the foundations of electromagnetic theory. Topics include electric fields, electric potential, dielectrics, electric circuits, solution of electrostatic boundary-value problems, magnetic fields, and magnetostatics. Preq: PHYS 221 and MTHSC 208, or consent of instructor.
PHYS 642 Electromagnetics II 3(3,0) Continuation of PHYS 441. Study of foundations of electromagnetic theory. Topics include magnetic properties of matter, microscopic theory of magnetization, electromagnetic induction, magnetic energy, AC circuits, Maxwell's equations, and propagation of electromagnetic waves. Other topics may include waves in bounded media, antennas, electrodynamics, special theory of relativity, and plasma physics. Preq: PHYS 441 or consent of instructor.
PHYS 646 Solid State Physics 3(3,0) Introductory treatment of the crystal structure of solids and the properties of solids which depend on crystal structure, free electron model of metals, band theory of solids, Brillouin zones, crystalline defects, and diffusion. Preq: PHYS 222 or consent of instructor.
PHYS 652 Nuclear and Particle Physics 3(3,0) Study of our present knowledge concerning subatomic matter. Experimental results are stressed. Topics include particle spectra, detection techniques, Regge pole analysis, quark models, proton structure, nuclear structure, scattering, and reactions.
PHYS 655 Quantum Physics I 3(3,0) Discussion of solution of the Schroedinger equation for free particles, the hydrogen atom, and the harmonic oscillator. Preq: PHYS 322 and 441 or consent of instructor.
PHYS 656 Quantum Physics II 3(3,0) Continuation of PHYS 455. Application of principles of quantum mechanics as developed in PHYS 455 to atomic, molecular, solid state, and nuclear systems. Preq: PHYS 455.
PHYS 665 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3(3,0) Study of temperature development of the laws of thermodynamics and their application to thermodynamic systems. Introduction to low temperature physics is given. Preq: Six hours of physics beyond PHYS 222 or consent of instructor.
PHYS 811 Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3(3,0) Analytical methods and techniques used in theoretical physics: vector and tensor analysis as applied to physical problems, use of matrices and groups in classical and quantum mechanics, complex variables, and partial differential equations of physics.
PHYS 812 Methods of Theoretical Physics II 3(3,0) Continuation of PHYS 811. Use of integral transforms, integral equations, special functions, calculus of variations, and numerical approximations in solutions of physical problems.
PHYS (M E) 815 Statistical Thermodynamics I 3(3,0) Fundamental principles of kinetic theory and quantum statistical mechanics; Boltzmann statistics, Fermi-Dirac statistics, and Bose-Einstein statistics. Preq: A course in thermodynamics or consent of instructor
PHYS 816 Statistical Thermodynamics II 3(3,0) Generalized ensemble theory and fluctuations; applications to solids, liquids, gases, and blackbody radiation. Preq: PHYS 815.
PHYS 821 Classical Mechanics I 3(3,0) Dynamics of particles; variational principles and La-grange's equations; two-body central force problems; dynamics of rigid bodies; matrix formulations freely used.
PHYS 822 Classical Mechanics II 3(3,0) Special relativity in classical mechanics; Hamilton's equations; canonical transformations; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; small oscillations.
PHYS 841 Electrodynamics I 3(3,0) Field theory of electromagnetism; Maxwell's equations and their application to study of electromagnetic wave production and propagation; wave optics and theories of interference and diffraction.
PHYS 842 Electrodynamics II 3(3,0) Production and propagation of electromagnetic waves beginning with use of Maxwell's equations; wave guides; diffraction phenomenon; boundary effects; theory of electrons and microscopic phenomena.
PHYS 845 Solid State Physics I 3(3,0) Physical properties of crystalline solids; crystalline state determination by diffraction methods; theories of specific heat; properties of metallic lattices and alloys; lattice energy and ferroelectrics.
PHYS 846 Solid State Physics II 3(3,0) Continuation of PHYS 845. Electronic properties of solids, band theory of solids, physics of semiconductors, theories of magnetism, and magnetic resonance phenomena.
PHYS 852 Radiation Physics 3(3,0) Interactions and basic mechanisms involved in the natural radiation environments of space, which include a variety of energetic, charged particles with sufficient energy to penetrate heavily shielded spacecraft and pose potential hazards to astronauts and electronic systems. Preq: Undergraduate degree in Physics or Electrical Engineering or consent of instructor.
PHYS 875 Selected Topics 1-3(1-3,0) Students and interested faculty study areas of physics currently being extensively investigated. May be repeated for credit, but only if different topics are covered.
PHYS 890 Directed Activities in Applied Physics 1-6 Training and work on practical problems are supervised by department faculty or by appropriate adjunct professor. Written description of student's activities must be submitted to course supervisor at completion of activity. Maximum credit limits are six credit hours in a semester and three credit hours in a single summer session. To be taken Pass/Fail only.
PHYS 891 Master's Thesis Research 1-12
PHYS 951 Quantum Mechanics I 3(3,0) Review of wave mechanics, operator algebra and theory of representation, approximate methods for stationary problems, theory of scattering applied to atomic and nuclear problems.
PHYS 952 Quantum Mechanics II 3(3,0) Continuation of PHYS 951. Time-dependent perturbations, radiation, absorption and emission, relativistic quantum mechanics, introduction to quantum electrodynamics.
PHYS 966 Relativity 3(3,0) Special and general theory of relativity including tensor calculus, Lorentz transformation and three experimental tests of general theory: planetary motion and advance of perihelion of Mercury, bending of light rays in gravitational fields, and gravitational shift of spectral lines.
PHYS 991 Doctoral Dissertation Research 1-12