Upper-Division

PHYS 102 Modern Physics

Topics in quantum physics including the Schrodinger equation; angular momentum and spin; the Pauli exclusion principle; and quantum statistics. Applications in multi-electron atoms and molecules, and in solid-state, nuclear, and particle physics.

Credits

5

Instructor

Tesla Jeltema, Robert Johnson

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A, PHYS 5L, PHYS 5B, PHYS 5M, PHYS 5C, PHYS 5N and PHYS 5D; or PHYS 6A, PHYS 6L, PHYS 6B, PHYS 6M, PHYS 6C, PHYS 6N, and PHYS 5D; or equivalent.

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter

PHYS 105 Mechanics

Particle dynamics in one, two, and three dimensions. Conservation laws. Small oscillations, Fourier series and Fourier integral solutions. Phase diagrams and nonlinear motions, Lagrange's equations, and Hamiltonian dynamics.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sriram Shastry

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 plus MATH 24. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 116C or MATH 107 is required.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 110A Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics

Examines electrostatics, including the electric field, potential, solutions to Laplace's and Poisson's equations, and work and energy; electricity in matter (conductors, dielectrics); magnetostatics, including the magnetic field and vector potential, Ampere's and Faraday's laws; magnetism in matter; and Maxwell's equations.

Credits

5

Instructor

Michael Hance

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5C; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24; and PHYS 116C or MATH 107.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 110B Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics

Examines electromagnetic waves, including absorption and dispersion, reflection and transmission, and wave guides; conservation laws and gauge invariance; time-dependent vector and scalar potentials and application to radiation of charges and antennae; and electrodynamics and relativity.

Credits

5

Instructor

The Staff

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 110A; and PHYS 116C or MATH 107.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 112 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Consequences of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, elementary statistical mechanics, thermodynamics of irreversible processes.

Credits

5

Instructor

David Lederman

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5D and MATH 23B. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 102 is required.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 115 Computational Physics

This course applies efficient numerical methods to the solutions of problems in the physical sciences which are otherwise intractable. Examples will be drawn from classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and electrodynamics. Students apply a high-level programming language, such as Python, to the solution of physical problems and develop appropriate error and stability estimates.

Credits

5

Instructor

Steven Ritz

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102 and PHYS 105; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24; and PHYS 116C or MATH 107, or equivalent. Basic programming experience in Python or similar language.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 116A Mathematical Methods in Physics

Infinite series, topics in linear algebra including vector spaces, matrices and determinants, systems of linear equations, eigenvalue problems and matrix diagonalization, tensor algebra, and ordinary differential equations.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sriram Shastry

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): MATH 23A.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 116B Mathematical Methods in Physics

Complex functions, complex analysis, asymptotic series and expansions, special functions defined by integrals, calculus of variations, and probability, and statistics.

Credits

5

Instructor

George Brown

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24; and MATH 23A; and concurrent enrollment in MATH 23B.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 116C Mathematical Methods in Physics

Fourier series and transforms, Dirac-delta function, Green's functions, series solutions of ordinary equations, Legendre polynomials, Bessel functions, sets of orthogonal functions, and partial differential equations.

Credits

5

Instructor

Onuttom Narayan

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24; and PHYS 116B and MATH 23A and MATH 23B.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 120 Polymer Physics

Statistical properties polymers; scaling behavior, fractal dimensions; random walks, self avoidance; single chains and concentrated solutions; dynamics and topological effects in melts; polymer networks; sol-gel transitions; polymer blends; application to biological systems; computer simulations will demonstrate much of the above. Students cannot receive credit for this course and PHYS 240.

Credits

5

Instructor

Joshua Deutsch

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 112.

PHYS 129 Particle Physics and Astrophysics

The standard model of particle physics; physics beyond the standard model; neutrino physics; the early universe; dark matter and dark energy; selected topics in general relativistic cosmology and high-energy astrophysics. (Formerly Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics.)

Credits

5

Instructor

Mike Hance

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5D, PHYS 102, and MATH 23B; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21. Students with equivalent coursework may contact instructor for permission to enroll.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 133 Intermediate Laboratory

Demonstration of phenomena of classical and modern physics. Development of a familiarity with experimental methods. Special experimental projects may be undertaken by students in this laboratory.

Credits

5

Instructor

Art Ramirez, Aiming Yan, Jason Nielsen

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5C and PHYS 5D and one from CSE 5J, or CSE 14, or CSE 20, or ASTR 119, or by permission of the instructor. Enrollment is restricted to physics, applied physics, physics (astrophysics), and science education majors and physics minors.

General Education Code

SR

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

PHYS 134 Physics Advanced Laboratory

Individual experimental investigations of basic phenomena in atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sasha Sher

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 133 and PHYS 102.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Winter, Spring

PHYS 135 Astrophysics Advanced Laboratory

Introduction to the techniques of modern observational astrophysics at optical and radio wavelengths through hands-on experiments. Offered in some academic years as a multiple-term course: PHYS 135A in fall and PHYS 135B in winter, depending on astronomical conditions.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 135

Instructor

Tesla Jeltema, David Smith

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 133 and at least one astronomy course. Enrollment is restricted to physics (astrophysics) majors. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors majoring or minoring in astrophysics.

Quarter offered

Winter, Spring

PHYS 135A Astrophysics Advanced Laboratory

Introduction to techniques of modern observational astrophysics at optical and radio wavelengths through hands-on experiments. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors majoring or minoring in astrophysics. Offered in some academic years as single-term course PHYS 135 in fall, depending on astronomical conditions.

Credits

3

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 135A

Instructor

Tesla Jeltema

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 133 and at least one astronomy course. Enrollment is restricted to physics (astrophysics) majors.

PHYS 135B Astrophysics Advanced Laboratory

Introduction to techniques of modern observational astrophysics at optical and radio wavelengths through hands-on experiments. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors majoring or minoring in astrophysics. Offered in some academic years as single-term PHYS 135 in fall, depending on astronomical conditions.

Credits

2

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 135B

Instructor

George Brown

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 135A. Enrollment is restricted to physics (astrophysics) majors.

PHYS 137 Advanced Optics Laboratory

Application of advanced optical techniques to the study of problems in astrophysics, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Techniques include interferometry, Fourier optics, adaptive optics, optical tweezers, photon correlation spectroscopy, optical pumping, laser spectroscopy, and more.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sasha Sher

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102 or ECE 102; and PHYS 133 or by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 139A Quantum Mechanics I

Basic principles and mathematical techniques of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics: Schrodinger equation and Dirac notation; one-dimensional systems, including the free particle and harmonic oscillator; three-dimensional problems with spherical symmetry; angular momentum; hydrogen atom; spin; identical particles and degenerate gases.

Credits

5

Instructor

Josh Deutsch

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24; and PHYS 116C or MATH 107.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 139B Quantum Mechanics II

Approximation methods in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics: time-independent perturbation theory (non-degenerate and degenerate) and addition of angular momenta; variational methods; the WKB approximation; time-dependent perturbation theory and radiation theory; scattering theory.

Credits

5

Instructor

Jason Nielsen

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24; and PHYS 116C or MATH 107; and PHYS 139A.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 150 Quantum Computing

Basic concepts in quantum mechanics including quantum states, measurements, operators, entanglement, entanglement entropy, "no cloning" theorem, and density matrices. Classical gates, reversible computing, quantum gates. Several quantum algorithms including Deutsch's algorithm, Simon's algorithm Shor's algorithm and the Grover algorithm. Quantum error correction. Adiabatic quantum computing.

Credits

5

Instructor

Peter Young

Requirements

PHYS 5A; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 or AM 10.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 152 Neural Networks, Statistical Physics and Computing

Review of select topics in statistical physics including information theory, entropy, coupled systems, phase transitions, and symmetry breaking. Introduction to multivariate algorithms, with an emphasis on their foundations in statistical physics and classical mechanics. Notebooks, data preparation, cross-validation, supervised and unsupervised learning. Practical considerations for training and optimizing neural networks and related tools.

Credits

5

Instructor

Mike Hance

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 105 and PHYS 112; and CSE 20 or ASTR 119 or PHYS 115 or prior programming experience with permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 155 Solid State Physics

Interatomic forces and crystal structure, diffraction, lattice vibrations, free electron model, energy bands, semiconductor theory and devices, optical properties, magnetism, magnetic resonance, superconductivity.

Credits

5

Instructor

Jairo Velasco

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 112 and PHYS 139A; students with equivalent coursework may contact instructor for permission to enroll.

PHYS 156 Applications of Solid State Physics

Emphasizes the application of condensed matter physics to a variety of situations. Examples chosen from subfields such as semiconductor physics, lasers, superconductivity, low temperature physics, magnetism, and defects in crystals.

Credits

5

Instructor

Aris Alexandradinata

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 160 Practical Electronics

Provides a practical knowledge of electronics that experimentalists generally need in research. The course assumes no previous knowledge of electronics and progresses according to the interest and ability of the class. Based on weekly lectures. However, with the aid of the instructor, the students are expected to learn mainly through the design, construction, and debugging of electronics projects. Students are billed a materials fee.

Credits

5

Instructor

Robert Johnson

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5C and PHYS 5N or PHYS 6C and PHYS 6N.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 171 General Relativity, Black Holes, and Cosmology

Special relativity is reviewed. Curved space-time, including the metric and geodesics, are illustrated with simple examples. The Einstein equations are solved for cases of high symmetry. Black-hole physics and cosmology are discussed, including recent developments.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 171

Instructor

Wolfgang Altmannschofer

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 105, PHYS 110A, and PHYS 110B; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 and MATH 24.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 180 Biophysics

Physical principles and techniques used in biology: X-ray diffraction; nuclear magnetic resonance; statistics, kinetics, and thermodynamics of macromolecules; viscosity and diffusion; DNA/RNA pairing; electrophoresis; physics of enzymes; biological energy conversion; optical tweezers.

Credits

5

Instructor

Joshua Deutsch

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 112; students who have a biochemistry background may contact instructor for permission. Restricted to juniors and seniors.

General Education Code

PR-E

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 182 Scientific Communication for Physicists

Develops the writing skills necessary to prepare professional publications: how to structure a physics article; write for a specific audience with clarity, precision, and concision; and deliver a short informal presentation. Additionally, students become familiar with the peer review process and the ethics of the publication process.

Credits

5

Instructor

Aiming Yan, Terry Terhaar

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 133 and satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Enrollment is restricted to junior and senior majors in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, or physics education.

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 191 Teaching Practicum

Designed to provide upper-division undergraduates with an opportunity to work with students in lower division courses, leading discussions, reading and marking submissions, and assisting in the planning and teaching of a course. Prerequisite(s): excellent performance in major courses; instructor approval required; enrollment restricted to senior physics majors.

Credits

5

PHYS 192 Directed Student Teaching

Teaching of a lower-division seminar under faculty supervision. (See PHYS 42.) Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing; submission of a proposal supported by a faculty member willing to supervise.

Credits

5

PHYS 195A Senior Thesis I

Independent research for seniors conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students develop a written research proposal, thesis outline, and introductory material. Prerequisite(s): Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Enrollment is restricted to senior applied physics, physics, and physics (astrophysics) majors.

Credits

5

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 195B Senior Thesis II

Independent research for seniors conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students prepare an oral presentation of their results, and they submit a written senior thesis on their research topic. Prerequisite(s): Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Enrollment is restricted to senior applied physics, physics, and physics (astrophysics) majors.

Credits

5

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 199 Tutorial

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

5

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 199F Tutorial

Tutorial

Credits

2

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Cross-listed courses that are managed by another department are listed at the bottom.

Cross-listed Courses

AM 107 Introduction to Fluid Dynamics

Covers fundamental topics in fluid dynamics: Euler and Lagrange descriptions of continuum dynamics; conservation laws for inviscid and viscous flows; potential flows; exact solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation; boundary layer theory; gravity waves. Students cannot receive credit for this course and AM 217. (AM 107 formerly AMS 107.)

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

PHYS 107

Instructor

The Staff, Nicholas Brummell

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): AM 112 or MATH 107 or PHYS 116C or EART 111.

Quarter offered

Fall

ASTR 9A Introduction to Research in Physics and Astrophysics

Introduction to research for first-year students interested in physics and astrophysics. Students complete projects in small groups with scientists. Introduces techniques for collaboration; science writing; physics careers. Continuing course spanning two quarters. Enrollment is restricted to first-year proposed astrophysics and physics majors and by permission of the instructor.

Credits

2

Cross Listed Courses

PHYS 9A

Instructor

Ruth Murray-Clay, Jonathan Fortney

ASTR 9B Introduction to Research in Physics and Astrophysics

Introduction to research for first-year students interested in physics and astrophysics. Students complete projects in small groups with scientists. Introduces techniques for collaboration; science writing; physics careers. Continuing course spanning two quarters. Prerequisite(s): ASTR 9A. Enrollment is restricted to first-year proposed applied physics, physics, and physics (astrophysics) majors and by permission of the instructor.

Credits

3

Cross Listed Courses

PHYS 9B

General Education Code

PR-E