Graduate Classes

PHYSICS 590A:  Seminar in Teaching College Physics

Consents:  This seminar serves two purposes: (1) to set up and prepare to teach each week’s specific undergraduate laboratory experiment and (2) to read and discuss important studies that have come from the field of physics education research. In the short term, this survey of physics education research is meant to inform and improve the beginning teaching assistant’s effectiveness in the undergraduate classroom. In the long term, this seminar provides our graduate students with a significantly deeper teaching experience than the standard job as an introductory lab TA.

Audience: Required for physics graduate students, to be taken concurrently with the first semester of service as a teaching assistant.

 Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 590B:  Seminar in Teaching College Physics II

Contents: This course accompanies a graduate teaching assistant's work in the intro electricity and magnetism labs.  Various physics education research ideas, results, and articles are examined in addition to preparation for weekly teaching duties.

 Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 502: Mathematical Physics

Content: Physics 502 is a graduate course in mathematical methods that have proved useful in solving theoretical problems in physics and that should form part of the toolkit of any theoretical physicist. In this course we will follow a modular structure in which some of the most important mathematical methods are introduced. We have selected the following modules: Probability theory and stochastic processes; Random matrix theory with applications to disordered system; An introduction to path integrals in quantum mechanics and stochastic processes; Nonlinear dynamical systems and chaos theory; Green’s functions with applications to electromagnetism.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.

PHYSICS 525: Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics

 Content: An introduction is given to the quantum mechanics of solids. Properties of metals, insulators and semiconductors will be discussed. Equations governing the charge transport inside materials and at their interfaces will be derived. Applications such as solid-state diodes, transistors, photovoltaic and thermoelectric structures will be discussed. Quantum phenomena arising in reduced dimensions, including mesoscopic/nanoscale systems, quantum wells, surfaces and interfaces, will be discussed. Topics will also include the phenomena of superconductivity and magnetism, and the Quantum Hall state.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.

Text: Solid State Physics, Aschcroft, NW

PHYSICS 526:  Statistical Physics

Contents:  Statistical mechanics is a systematic approach to constructing probabilistic descriptions of large numbers of interacting microscopic degrees of freedom in order to understand the macroscopic behavior of equilibrium systems. Topics covered in this course include thermodynamics, probability theory, equilibrium properties of classical and quantum gases, interacting systems, phase transitions, and scaling near critical points.

 Prerequisites:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 528: Continuum Mechanics

 Content: This course provides students with the basic physics necessary to describe continuous media such as fluids and solids. It is an introductory course intended for graduate students as well as upper-level undergraduate students. Students will learn how to apply Newtonian mechanics and conservation laws to deformable systems which can bend, stretch, and flow. Topics include hydrostatics, buoyancy, surface tension, elastostatics, buckling, stress and strain tensors, Navier-Stokes equations, incompressible flow, viscosity and viscous flow, elastic vibrations, and dimensionless numbers. The course will also include selected special topics such as turbulence, seismology, jumps and shocks, instabilities and linear stability analysis, vorticies, boundary layers, and convection.

Prerequisite: (Written Permission of Instructor Required Prior to Pre-Registration)

Audience: Graduate Students and Advanced Undergraduates

PHYSICS 534: Physical Biology

 Content: The course explores physical and statistical constraints used by biological systems, from bacteria, to large organisms, and to entire populations, to sense external environmental signals, and shape a response.

PHYSICS 544:  Advanced Laboratory

 Contents:  Modern experimental techniques and hands-on laboratory projects, and astronomical photometry.

Particulars:  Each student will complete written reports for at least three experimental projects.  All student must enroll in both classes.

 Prerequisites:  Physics 253 and consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 556: Single Molecule Biophysics 

Content: Single Molecule Biophysics covers the fundamental single-molecule techniques (physical principles, chemical strategies for sample preparations and methods of analysis) and illustrates how they may be used in studies of biological significance. In particular, the course discusses atomic force microscopy (static and dynamic) electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopic imaging, tethered particle motion (TPM), molecular manipulation techniques (magnetic and optical tweezers), fluorescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy, super-resolution techniques, and other recent developments in single-molecule approaches. Demonstrations of some of these techniques with “field trips” to labs and facilities on campus are offered. The flipped classroom method is implemented so that much class time is dedicated to student presentations of current single-molecule literature and student-led discussions. Finally, elements of research project development and grant writing are taught as the students are coached through a research project they have to individually develop and turn in as a major part of their grade.

 Prerequisites:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 552:  Biomacromolecules

Contents:  Biomacromolecules is a course meant to provide graduate students and advanced undergraduates with the fundamental knowledge necessary to perform research in biophysics. Toward this goal, the first part of the course will introduce the structure of different types of biomacromolecules including an overview of the nature of the chemical bonds involved in the structure and function of biomacromolecules. The course then discusses the interaction of biomacromolecules with different types of environments, bio macromolecular driving forces and mechanics, biopolymer bending and torsional elasticity and molecular motors.

Prerequisites:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 554:  Molecular Biophysics

Contents:  The course focuses on how structure and dynamics at the molecular level contribute to the observed function of biological systems, with a specific emphasis on proteins. An introduction to protein structure and dynamics is given, followed by a detailed examination of specific protein systems, including those involved in solar energy conversion, visual transduction and molecular motion (motors). A parallel focus is on the physical techniques of spectroscopy and scattering that are used to obtain the molecular-scale information. The physical techniques are described in the context of the problems in molecular biophysics that they have solved.

Prerequisites:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 556:  Single Molecule Biophysics

 Contents:  This course will cover the fundamental single-molecule techniques and illustrate their physical principles and how they may be used for the study of biological materials. In particular, the physical principles of atomic force microscopy (static and dynamic), electron microscopy, tethered particle motion (TPM), nanoparticle manipulation (magnetic and optical tweezers), single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, and super-resolution microscopy will be discussed. Demonstrations of some of these techniques will be offered. Examples of the application of each of these techniques to biophysical problems will be discussed using current publications.  Each student will be required to present articles from the literature to the class and participate in vigorous discussions.

Prerequisites:  Consent of the instructor.

Physics 562:  Introduction to Soft Matter

Contents:  This survey course covers materials such as emulsions, gels, colloids, foams, polymers, liquid crystals, surfactants, simple liquid, and sand; methods such as rheology, microscopy, laser tweezers, scattering, and simulation; and diverse other topics such as energy landscapes, effective temperature, percolation, diffusion, nonlinear dynamics, spin glasses, and fractals.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 564: Introduction to Polymers

Contents:  Polymer structures and conformations, polymer synthesis, molecular weight distribution and characterization; properties of polymer solutions, solubility and miscibility, polymer blends; properties of bulk polymers, glass and melt transitions, crystallization, rubber elasticity, viscous flow and viscoelasticity, time-temperature superposition; polymer dynamics, Rouse and reptation models. This course is intended to give students an overview of important concepts in polymer science, and highlight some of the current areas of research and how it relates technological applications.

Text:  Polymers Chemistry, 2^nd Ed., Hiemenz & Lodge, 2007.

 Audience:  Graduate Students and Advanced Undergraduates.

PHYSICS 591R:  Graduate Seminar

 Contents:  This seminar is for 1st and 2nd year graduate students and covers a variety of topics associated with scientific and professional ethics, as well as attendance in departmental activities, such as the  colloquia series.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 726: Advanced Statistical Physics

Contents:  The course will first cover topics related to the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of stochastic processes in physics, chemistry and biology. Topics covered will include Langevin equations, the fluctuation dissipation theorem, Fokker-Planck equations, master equations, reaction rate theory and kinetic models. We shall also study (as time permits) some topics in quantum dynamics and linear response theory, first-passage problems in physics, and biological topics such as chemotaxis, chemoreception and movement of ions across membranes.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

Audience:  Graduate Students and Advanced Undergraduates

PHYSICS 731R: Quantum Computing/Information (Special Topics in Theoretical Physics)

PHYS 731R:  Special topics listed as:  PHYS 380 General Relativity

Contents:  An introduction to qubits, quantum gates, quantum circuits, quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation, quantum dense coding, Grover's search algorithm, Shor's factoring algorithm, quantum entanglement and Bell's theorem, and quantum error correction.  

 Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 731R:  Special Topics in Theoretical Physics

PHY 731R: Theoretical Physics

 Contents:  This course covers advanced topics in theoretical physics, at the discretion of the instructor.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 731R:  Special Topics in Theoretical Physics

PHY 731R: Field Theory

Contents:  This course gives a survey of modern field theory techniques relevant to condensed matter physics such as second quantization, path integral representation for many-particle systems, Ginzburg-Landau theory of phase transitions, Dirac and Majorana fields, topological gauge theories, dualities and bosonization. These techniques are introduced in the context of interacting electrons, topological phases of matter and symmetry-broken phenomena, such as crystals, superfluid and magnetic systems.

 Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 731R:  Special Topics in Theoretical Physics

PHY 731R: General Relativity

Consents:  Development and solution of the Einstein field equations for cases of astrophysical interest. May include Schwarzschild and Kerr metrics for black holes, Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmology, and gravitational waves.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

 PHYSICS 741R:  Special Topics in Biophysics

PHY 741R: Measuring and Modeling Animal Behavior

Contents:  This seminar will provide a survey of modern methods for quantitatively measuring and modeling animal behavior, focusing primarily on the scientific literature.  Readings will be composed of a combination of experimental, theoretical, and computational studies, with the overall goals of outlining the current state of our knowledge and highlighting areas of recent investigation.  Covered topic will include: measuring behavior from images and time series, analyzing patterns and sequences of behavior, biomechanics and control, collective and social behavior, and aspects of genetic and neurobiological mechanisms.  All students will be responsible for reading and presenting articles, completing approximately bi-weekly assignments, and developing a final project.

 Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 751R:  Special Topics in Solid State Physics

PHY 751R:  Advanced Topics in Polymer Materials

Contents:  This course is taken at the discretion of the instructor. It covers advanced topics in polymers which are not covered in PHYS 564.

 Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 751R:  Special Topics in Solid State Physics

PHY 751R:  Nanophononics

Contents:  Theoretical foundations, propagation and focusing of optical fields, resolution and localization, confocal microscopy, nanoscale optical microscopy, optical super-resolution techniques, optical interactions, quantum emitters, surface plasmons, optical antennas and nanophotonic devices, optical metamaterials, optical forces.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.

PHYSICS 751R:  Special Topics in Solid State Physics

PHY 751R:  Topological Phases of Matter

Contents:  This course will build the theory of topological phases of matter from the ground up.  It will cover topological phases in one, two, and three dimensions and their associated paradigmatic models.  There will be a final individual project whose topic will be chosen by the student from a list of proposed topics and references.

Prerequisite:  Consent of the instructor.