Course Offerings
Introductory Courses
Intermediate Courses
Advanced Courses
CAS CC104:
Core Natural Science II: The Evolution of the Physical Universe and of the Earth
Traces the evolution of the physical universe and our scientific
understanding of it. Special classes devoted to dialogue among
professors in the sciences, philosophy, and theology. Topics
include Big Bang theory, evolution of the stars, laws of the
physical universe, evolution of the earth, and planetary ecology.
Laboratory work, including night labs in the observatory. 4 cr.
CAS PY100:
Physics of the Twentieth Century and Beyond
Prereq: one year of high school physics. A historical survey of modern
physics, focusing on quantum mechanics and relativity as applied to the
microworld (subatomic physics) and the macroworld (the early universe).
Covers exotic phenomena from quarks to quasars, from neutrinos to neutron
stars. For non-science majors.
CAS PY105,106:
Elementary Physics
Satisfies premedical requirements; presupposes algebra and
trigonometry. Principles of classical and modern physics.
Mechanics, conservation laws, hear, light, electricity and
magnetism, waves, light and optics, atomic and nuclear physics.
Lecture, discussion and lab. 4cr.
CAS PY132:
The Physics of Motion: How Far, How Fast, How Big
A noncalculus, conceptual physics course that examines the
physical principles underlying different mechanisms of motion.
Topics of discussion include: "Why are there no birds as big
as elephants?" and "If a T Rex were chasing you, could
you outrun it?" For non-science majors. 4 cr.
CAS PY138:
The Physics of Chance and Necessity
A conceptual survey of physics, based on the role
played by chance in nature. Topics include: Newtonian mechanics;
heat and entropy; chaos theory; wave-particle duality; the
evolution of order out of randomness as exemplified by galaxies,
crystals, and life itself. For non-science majors. 4 cr.
CAS PY211,212
General Physics
Basic principles of physics emphasizing Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws,
thermal physics, electricity and magnetism and geometrical optics using calculus.
Lectures, discussion and laboratory. 4 cr.
Prereq: CAS MA 123 or equivalent; coreq: MA 124, MA 127 or MA 129 or consent of instructor for students concurrently taking MA 123.
CAS PY231
The Physics in Music
An introduction to musical acoustics, which covers vibrations and
waves in musical systems, intervals and the construction of
musical scales, tuning and temperament, the percussion
instruments, the piano, the string, woodwind, and brass
instruments, room acoustics, and the human ear and
psychoacoustical phenomena important to musical performances.
Some aspects of electronic music are also discussed. 4 cr.
CAS PY241,
242 Principles of General
Physics I, II
Calculus-based introduction to principles and methods of physics.
Mechanics, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, atomic and
nuclear physics, and relativity are treated. Topics relevant to
medical science are emphasized. Ideal for pre-medical students. 4
cr.
CAS PY 251,252 Principles of Physics
Introduction to mechanics, conservation laws, hear and
thermodynamics, electrostatics, magnetism, alternating current,
electromagnetic radiation, geometrical optics. Primarily for
physics, mathematics and astronomy concentrators, but open to
other students with a strong background in mathematics. 4 cr.
CAS PY313
Elementary Modern Physics
Waves and physical optics, relativistic mechanics, experimental
foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure, physics of
molecules and solids, atomic nuclei and elementary particles.
Along with CAS PY 211,212, and PY 313 completes a three-semester
introductory sequence primarily intended for students of engineering.
4 cr.
CAS PY 354 Modern Physics
Introduction to special relativity, foundations of quantum theory,
and introduction to wave mechanics, topics in atomic and
molecular structure, solid state, and nuclear physics. Lectures,
discussions, laboratory. 4 cr.
CAS PY355
Methods of Theoretical Physics
Prereq: ((CAS PY 251 & CAS PY 252 & CAS MA 225) OR (CAS PY 211 & CAS PY 212 & CAS MA 225)) or consent of instructor. First and second order differential
equations. Partial differential equations (waves, heat, Schrodinger) and
series solutions of differential equations. Vectors and vector calculus.
Matrices, matrix algebra, and matrix transformations. Rotations, similarity,
unitarity, hermicity, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors.
4 cr.
CAS PY371 Electronics for Scientists
A survey of practical electronics for all CAS science students
wishing to gain a working knowledge of electronic instrumentation,
and in particular, its construction. 4 cr.
CAS PY401,402
Senior Independent Work
Need approval of CAS Honors Committee. 4 cr.
CAS PY405
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I
Vector analysis; Gauss's law; electric field intensity; energy
and potential; conductors, dielectrics, and capacitance; Poisson's
and Laplace's equations; steady magnetic fields. Prereq: CAS PY 355 or
consent of instructor.
4 cr.
CAS PY406
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II
Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves in vacuum and matter;
reflection and refraction; diffraction and interference;
coherence; special theory of relativity. 4 cr.
CAS PY408
Intermediate Mechanics
Dynamics of particles and rigid bodies. Newtonian mechanics.
Oscillatory motion and motion under a central force. Lagrange's
and Hamilton's equations. Coupled oscillations, normal modes, and continuum mechanics. Longitudinal and transverse mechanical waves. Prereq: CAS PY 355.
4 cr.
CAS PY410
Statistical Thermodynamics
The laws of thermodynamics, statistical basis of thermodynamics,
ensemble theory, equilibrium statistical mechanics and its
application to physical systems of interest, irreversibility,
transport, and the approach to equilibrium. Prereq: CAS PY 355 and 354 or 313.
4 cr.
CAS PY421
Advanced Scientific Computing in Physics
Introduces advanced computational techniques for research problems in physics,
with emphasis on computationally intensive applications in a parallel
supercomputing environment.
CAS PY451,452
Quantum Physics
Uncertainty principles; Schrodinger wave equation and
applications; operators; hermitian operators and unitary
transformations; harmonic oscillator; angular momentum and spin;
time dependence; magnetic resonance; parity and identity; helium
atom and hydrogen molecule; exclusion principle; Fermi-Dirac
statistics; Zeeman Effect. 4 cr.
CAS PY 482,
Undergraduate Physics Seminar
Intended primarily for upper-level physics students but open to
others with the consent of the instructor. The seminar examines
an area of current physics research in depth at an undergraduate
level. The seminar topic varies from year to year, covering
topics such as general relativity, particle physics, biophysics,
superconductivity, or other areas of contemporary interest 2 cr.
CAS PY491,492
Directed Study or Research in Physics
Intensive study of one aspect of physics under the supervision of
a faculty member. Var. cr.
CAS PY502
Computational Physics
Fundamental methods of computational physics and applications;
numerical algorithms, linear algebra, differential equations;
computer simulation; vectorization, parallelism, and optimization.
Examples and projects on scientific applications. Prereq: consent of instructor. 4 cr.
CAS PY511
Quantum Mechanics I
General theory of quantum mechanics, including the Schrodinger,
Heisenberg, and interaction pictures. The path intefral
formulation. Angular momentum: orbital and spin angular momentum,
addition of angular momenta, Wigner-Echart theorem. Scattering
theory: time-independent, partial waves and phase shift,
identical particles, time dependent and propagators.
Prereq: CAS PY 451 and 452. 4 cr.
CAS PY512
Quantum Mechanics II
Degenerate and non-degenerate perturbation theory. Second
quantization of nonrelativistic systems with applications to
scattering, lifetime of excited atomic states, many-body problems.
Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-Gordon equation.
Prereq: CAS PY 511. 4 cr.
CAS PY521
Electromagnetic Theory I
Vector and tensor analysis. Electrostatics, uniqueness, electrostatic energy,
capacitance. Boundary value problems, conformal mapping, variable sepparation,
Green's functions. Multipole expansion, electric polarization,
atomic models, anisotropic media. Contour integration and application
to frequency-dependent dielectric constant. Dielectrics, electrostatic energy,
boundary problems. Prereq: CAS PY 355.
4 cr.
CAS PY522
Electromagnetic Theory II
Continuation of CAS PY 521. Magnetostatics, dipole moment, magnetic materials,
boundary value problems. Electromagnetic induction, magnetic energy,
Maxwell's equations. Electromagnetic waves in materials, reflection,
refraction. Waveguides. Scattering and diffraction. Special relativity.
Lorentz transformations, covariant electrodynamics.
Interaction of charges with matter. Radiation, Lenard-Wiechert potential,
synchotron radiation, antennas. Prereq: CAS PY 521.
4 cr.
CAS PY541
Statistical Mechanics I
Probability theory. Ensembles. Steepest descent methods. Paramagnetism,
ideal gas, Einstein model, adsorption isotherms. Thermodynamics,
Maxwell relations, heat capacity. Bose and Fermi gases. Electrons in metals,
white dwarf stars, black-body radiation, phonons, Bose-Einstein
condensation. Interacting systems, virial expansion, Van der Waals gas.
Phase transitions: mean-field theories, spin systems. Prereq: CAS PY 355 and 354 or 313.
4 cr.
CAS PY542
Statistical Mechanics II
Continuation of CAS PY 541; emphasis on applications. Phase transitions:
thermodynamic theory of phase transitions, mean field theories (Landau theory).
Fluctuations:equilibrium fluctuations, instabilities, fluctuation dissipation
theories. Elementary kinetic theory: mean free path approach, Bolzmann equation.
Stochastic mathematics: probability theory, Markoff process, Gaussian processes.
Brownian motion: Langevin equations, Fokker-Planck equation. Prereq:
CAS PY 541.
4 cr.
CAS PY543
Introduction to Solid State Physics
An introduction to crystal structure; lattice vibration;
electronic energy bands and Fermi surfaces: semiconductors,
conductors, and insulators; superconductivity and magnetism. 4 cr.
CAS PY551
Introduction to Particle Physics
Fundamental particles and their symmetries. Isospin and flavor.
Discrete symmetries. Phenomenology of weak and strong
interactions. Introduction to detector techniques.
Prereq: CAS PY 406, 410, and 451 or consent of instructor. 4 cr.
CAS PY581
Advanced Laboratory
Classical experiments in atomic and nuclear physics, development
of new experiments, basic research projects. Experiments include
magnetic resonance, nuclear-decay studies, Zeeman effect,
holography, black-body radiation, x-ray diffraction, Mossbauer
studies, and flux quantization, positron annihilation. Prereq: CAS PY 354.
4 cr.
GRS PY621 Advanced Scientific Computing in Physics
Introduces advanced computational techniques for research problems in physics, with emphasis on computationally intensive applications in a massively parallel supercomputing environment. Corequisite laboratory meets together with CAS CS 512 (or CAS CS 551), CH 455, and ENG EK 521, focusing on algorithms and computational tools with cross-disciplinary application. Rebbi. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
CAS PY681 Electronics for Scientists
Prereq: CAS PY 212 or PY 252, and CAS MA 124; or consent of instructor. A survey of practical electronics for all science students who wish to gain a working knowledge of electronic instrumentation and, in particular, its construction. Two four-hour laboratory-lecture sessions per week. Staff. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
GRS PY713
Quantum Field Theory I
Provides an introduction to the
techniques of quantum field theory with applications to high-energy and
condensed-matter physics. Topics include field equations and
quantization of many-body systems; Green function and linear response
theory; S-matrix and scattering theory; path integration; perturbation
expansions and the Feynman rules; renormalization and effective field
theories; expansion and critical exponents. 4 cr. Offering dependent on
sufficient enrollment. Could be either semester.
GRS PY741
Solid-State Physics I
Methods and properties of electron and
phonon band structures--local density functional, Green functions (APW
and KKR) and phase shift, pseudopotentials, tight binding.
Representative systems: covalent, ionic, simple metals, transition
metals, transition metal compounds, and correlation gaps. Screening,
dielectric function and applications: optical properties and
photoemission, excitons, electron-photon interaction, Kohn anomalies,
lattice instabilities. Electrons and phonons at surfaces. Transport
equations. 4 cr. Prereq: PY543 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
Fall Only.
GRS PY742 Solid-State Physics II
Prereq: GRS PY 741. Continuation of CAS PY 741; applications of quantum theory to solid-state systems with many-body effects: electron-phonon interaction and the Frölich Hamiltonian, polarons, superconductivity; microscopic theory of magnetism, spin waves, and magnons. Quantum transport theory and the Kubo formula. Scattering theory, localized states, averaging over disorder; Anderson localization. Various topics of current interest: quantum antiferromagnets, charge and spin density waves, heavy fermions, surface physics, quantum Hall effect, metal-insulator transition. Castro-Neto. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
GRS PY771 Biophysics
Prereq: facility with calculus; a BA in Physics, Chemistry, or the equivalent; and consent of instructor. Introduction to biomolecular forces, energy flow, and thermodynamics in biological systems. Hydrophobic interactions and membrane structure. Feedback and control mechanisms; allosteric enzymes. Mechanisms of transport in biological membranes. Emphasis on the physical principles underlying biological structure and function. (Offered alternate years.) Rothschild. 4 cr, 1st sem.
GRS PY895, 896 Seminar: Special Topics in Theoretical Physics
Prereq: consent of instructor. Theoretical research topics include general relativity, quantum field theory, high energy and particle physics, phase transitions, renormalization group, laser physics, kinetic equations, biophysics, computational physics, and selected topics in mathematical physics. Chamon.Variable cr,1st & 2nd sem.
GRS PY897
Seminar: Special Topics in Experimental Physics
Surface physics; intermediate energy nuclear physics experiments; low
temperature techniques, liquid and solid helium, and magnetism at low
temperatures. Raman effect, gels, and biophysics. High-energy physics
experimental techniques. 4 cr. Either sem. Fall 2003 -- Experimental
Methods in Surface Physics and Chemistry.