Professors: Chen, Dewar (Chair), Kim, Lykken, Marasinghe (Graduate Director), Moreno, Schwalm, and Young

Program Description

The Department of Physics offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Current research in the department emphasizes solid state physics, materials science, astrophysics, and health physics. Departmental facilities permit both theoretical and experimental research investigations.

Admission Requirements

1. Completed a minimum of 21 semester credits of undergraduate physics, plus mathematics through differential equations or the equivalent.
   
   
2. Coursework should include intermediate courses in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, thermal physics, and modern quantum physics. Adequate preparation in general chemistry also is necessary.
   
   
3. An applicant without satisfactory undergraduate training may be admitted to the program, but will be required to remove deficiencies by completing the necessary undergraduate courses without receiving graduate credit for them.
   
   
4. Ph.D. applicants are encouraged to submit the Graduate Record Examination scores for the general test and advanced physics test.

Degree Requirements

Master of Science

The program is designed to provide the student with basic physics courses at the graduate level and an introduction to research.

1. Complete the following courses: PHYS 509, Methods of Theoretical Physics; PHYS 539, Quantum Mechanics; PHYS 541, Theory of Electricity and Magnetism; and PHYS 545, Analytical Mechanics.
   
   
2. Complete six additional hours from the following: PHYS 510, Methods of Theoretical Physics; PHYS 540, Quantum Mechanics; and PHYS 542, Theory of Electricity and Magnetism.
   
   
3. Complete research project and thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy

The degree is a research degree and is conferred only in recognition of high achievement in independent scientific research and scholarship.

1. In addition to Physics 590, Research, the coursework will amount to approximately 36 hours.
   
   
2. Completion of a regular core of courses which includes:
   PHYS 509 and 510, Methods of Theoretical Physics
   PHYS 539 and 540, Quantum Mechanics
   PHYS 541 and 542, Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
   PHYS 543, Statistical Physics
   PHYS 545, Analytical Mechanics
   PHYS 549, Seminar
   
   
3. Completion of several specialized graduate level courses in physics in order to obtain the in-depth training essential for the development of their research interests.
   
   
4. Completion of at least nine semester hours of graduate work (400 level or above) in a single related field.
   
   
5. After successful completion of the first two semesters of coursework, students who entered the program with a bachelor’s degree will take a written qualifying examination which covers undergraduate and first-year graduate level courses. Student with a master’s degree will take this examination in the second semester of enrollment.
   
   
6. A student who fails to perform satisfactorily in this examination may be re-examined after waiting one semester. In general, no student will be allowed to take the qualifying examination more than twice.
   
   
7. No student may proceed formally toward the Ph.D. degree until this examination has been passed.
   
   
8. Written doctoral comprehensive examination in physics will normally be taken in the fifth semester of graduate enrollment. This must be completed before advancement to candidacy is granted.
   
   
9. Candidates for the Ph.D. must complete a research investigation. Upon satisfactory completion of the research investigation, the student is required to prepare a dissertation covering the research.
   
   
10. At the final oral examination, the candidate presents and defends the dissertation.

Courses

509. Methods of Theoretical Physics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. An introduction to the mathematical methods currently used in physics.

510. Methods of Theoretical Physics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. A continuation of Physics 509.

535. Solid State Physics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. The crystal lattice, electron theory of metals and semiconductors, and transport phenomena in solids.

536. Solid State Physics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. Lattice vibrations, phonon-electron interactions, and cooperative phenomena in solids.

539. Quantum Mechanics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. The Schroedinger equation, perturbation methods, and simple quantum mechanical systems.

540. Quantum Mechanics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. Matrix methods, spin, and scattering phenomena.

541. Theory of Electricity and Magnetism. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic waves.

542. Theory of Electricity and Magnetism. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. Special theory of relativity, scattering of charged particles, and radiation.

543. Statistical Physics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. The Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac statistics, and their application to the description of physical systems.

545. Analytical Mechanics. 3 credits. 3 hours per week. Variational methods. Lagrange’s equations, oscillations, Hamilton equations, and special relativity.

549. Seminar. 1 credit. Repeatable to maximum of 3 credits

550. Special Topics. 1 to 3 credits. Prerequisite: Consent of department. Investigation of special topics in advanced physics; the subject matter determined by student-faculty interest. May be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

590. Research. Credit arranged

402. Computers in Physics. 3 credits.

428. Advanced Physics Laboratory. 2 credits.

431. Introductory Quantum Physics. 3 credits.

434. Nuclear Physics. 3 credits.

437. Introductory Solid State Physics. 3 credits.

460. Introduction to Astrophysics. 3 credits.

461. Introductory Astrophysics II. 3 credits.

492. Special Problems. 1 to 3 credits.