Courses by Semester

This page provides notes on Physics course offerings. For other course attributes see the Guide.

  • For in-depth advising regarding Physics course choice, especially for upper-level classes, please contact a Physics Advisor.
  • Students may register for any course, regardless of requisites, with consent of the instructor.
  • If you would like to see a question answered on this page that isn't answered already, please send email to Jim Reardon.

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103 General Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 103 in the Guide] [103 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introduction to physics at the non-calculus level. Principles of mechanics, heat, and waves, with applications to a number of different fields. Not recommended for students in the physical sciences and engineering.

Requisites: MATH 112, 113, 114, 171, placement into MATH 211 or 221, or special student standing. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 201, 207, or 247.

104 General Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 104 in the Guide] [104 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 103. Principles of electricity and magnetism, light, optics, and modern physics, with applications to a number of different fields. Not recommended for students in the physical sciences and engineering.

Requisites: PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, E M A 201 or special student standing. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248.

106 Physics of Sports

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 106 in the Guide] [106 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A tenth of a second, a single inch, or a slightly different angle can make all the difference in a sporting event. Application of physical principles to competitive sport, leading to a better understanding of performances in such sports as track and field, cycling, archery, golf, football and basketball.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, or 247.

107 Ideas of Modern Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 107 in the Guide] [107 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

The twentieth-century physical world picture and its origins. Selected topics in classical physics, relativity, and the quantum theory with emphasis on the meaning of basic concepts and their broader implications, rather than practical applications.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement or special student standing

109 Physics in the Arts

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 109 in the Guide] [109 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

The nature of sound and sound perception; fundamentals of harmony, musical scales, and musical instruments. Studies of light including lenses, photography, color perception, and color mixing.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement or special student standing. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 371.

115 Energy and Climate

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 115 in the Guide] [115 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introduction to energy, focusing on energy sources and their impacts on humans and the environment, particularly through climate change. Develop basic physics skills to form opinions on energy-related issues affecting the world as well as your own use of energy. Apply the physical principles of mechanics, heat, electricity, and atomic nuclei to various energy sources (fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear) and their impacts.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, or 247.

198 Directed Study

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits1.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 198 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introductory-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

199 Directed Study

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelElementary
StudentsUndergraduate, basic
Credits1.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 199 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introductory-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

201 General Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits5.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 201 in the Guide] [201 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for engineering students. Mechanics: kinematics, statics, dynamics; energy and momentum.

Requisites: MATH 217 or 221. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 207 or 247.

202 General Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits5.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 202 in the Guide] [202 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for engineering students. Electricity, magnetism, light, and sound.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, or E M A 201) and (MATH 217 or 221). Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 208 or 248.

205 Mod Physics for Engineers

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 205 in the Guide] [205 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Introduction to atomic, solid state, and nuclear physics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202, 208 or 248. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 241, 244, or 249.

206 Special Topics in Physics

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 5.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 206 in the Guide] [206 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special topics in physics at the intermediate undergraduate level.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 103, 201, 207 or 247) and (MATH 217 or 221)

207 General Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits5.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 207 in the Guide] [207 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for students majoring in biological sciences. Mechanics: kinematics, statics, dynamics; energy and momentum. Heat and sound.

Requisites: MATH 217 or 221. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 201 or 247.

208 General Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits5.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 208 in the Guide] [208 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 207: calculus-based introduction to physics intended for students majoring in biological sciences. Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 201, 207, 247, E M A 201, or (PHYSICS 103 and MATH 217 or 221). Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 202 or 248.

235 Intro-Solid State Electronics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 235 in the Guide] [235 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

An introduction to the physical principles underlying solid-state electronic and photonic devices, including elements of quantum mechanics, crystal structure, semiconductor band theory, carrier statistics, and band diagrams. Offers examples of modern semiconductor structures. Prior experience with MATLAB [such as E C E 203] is strongly encouraged but not required.

Requisites: MATH 222 and (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248), or member of Engineering Guest Students

241 Intro to Modern Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 241 in the Guide] [241 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Kinetic theory; relativity; experimental origin of quantum theory; atomic structure and spectral lines; topics in solid state, nuclear and particle physics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and MATH 222. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 205, 244, or 249.

247 A Modern Intro to Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits5.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 247 in the Guide] [247 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Calculus-based introduction to physics intended for Physics, AMEP, and Astronomy-Physics majors. Mechanics, waves, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, topics in modern physics; with computation. A more mathematically rigorous and in-depth introduction to physics than the other introductory physics sequences.

Requisites: MATH 222 or concurrent enrollment

248 A Modern Intro to Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits5.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 248 in the Guide] [248 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 247. Electromagnetism, circuits, optics, additional topics in modern physics; with computation.

Requisites: PHYSICS 247 and (MATH 234 or concurrent enrollment or MATH 376 or concurrent enrollment)

249 A Modern Intro to Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 249 in the Guide] [249 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 248. Modern physics: introduction to quantum mechanics, topics from nuclear and particle physics, condensed matter physics, and atomic physics. Three lectures and one discussion per week.

Requisites: PHYSICS 248

265 Intro-Medical Physics

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits2.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 265 in the Guide] [265 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A general interest survey that introduces the principles and applications of medical physics. Topics include biomechanics, energy usage and temperature regulation, pressure, sound and hearing, ultrasound, electricity in the body, optics and the eye, ionizing radiation in diagnosis and therapy, radiobiology, and nuclear medicine.

Requisites: PHYSICS 104, 202, 208, or 248

298 Directed Study

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 298 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

299 Directed Study

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 299 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

301 Physics Today

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 301 in the Guide] [301 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A series of weekly presentations and discussions of current research topics in physics, by scientists directly involved in those studies. Provides undergraduates with access to the topics and excitement of the research frontier in a manner not possible in normal subject courses.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202 or concurrent enrollment, PHYSICS 208 or concurrent enrollment, or PHYSICS 248 or concurrent enrollment

307 Intmed Lab-Mech&Mod Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits2.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 307 in the Guide] [307 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Experiments in modern physics, with discussion of statistical uncertainties and error analysis. Propagation of error. Available labs include gamma-ray spectroscopy, X-ray physics and diffraction, blackbody radiation, and Cavendish measurement of the gravitational constant G.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202, 208, 248 or graduate/professional standing.

311 Mechanics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 311 in the Guide] [311 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Origin and development of classical mechanics; mathematical techniques, especially vector analysis; conservation laws and their relation to symmetry principles; brief introduction to orbit theory and rigid-body dynamics; accelerated coordinate systems; introduction to the generalized-coordinate formalisms of Lagrange and Hamilton.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and (MATH 234, 321, or 376), or graduate/professional standing

321 Elect Circuits & Electronic

Typically OfferedFall
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 321 in the Guide] [321 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Direct current circuits, circuit theorems, alternating current circuits, transients, non-sinusoidal sources, Fourier analysis, characteristics of semiconductor devices, typical electronic circuits, feedback, non-linear circuits; digital and logic circuits.

Requisites: PHYSICS 202, 208, 248 or graduate/professional standing.

322 Electromagnetic Fields

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 322 in the Guide] [322 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Electrostatic fields, capacitance, multi-pole expansion, dielectric theory; magnetostatics; electromagnetic induction; magnetic properties of matter; Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves; relativity and electromagmetism. Experiments for this course are covered in PHYSICS 308.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208 or 248) and (MATH 234, 321 or 376), or graduate/professional standing

323 Electromagnetic Fields

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 323 in the Guide] [323 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special relativity, electromagnetic momentum, electromagnetic waves: propagation, interference, scattering, reflection and refraction at a dielectric interface, waves in a conductor. Wave packets and group velocity, dispersion. Waveguides and transmission lines. Retarded potentials. Radiation.

Requisites: PHYSICS 322 or graduate/professional standing

325 Optics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 325 in the Guide] [325 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Classical and modern optics, including imaging, polarization optics, optical telescopes, optical microscopes, interference and interferometers, optical fibers and fiber-optic communication, optical resonators, lasers, optical modulators, introduction to quantum and nonlinear optics. Concepts covered in lecture reinforced by weekly laboratory experiments.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and (PHYSICS 322 or concurrent enrollment), or graduate/professional standing

361 Machine Learning in Physics

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 361 in the Guide] [361 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A detailed introduction to the use of machine learning techniques in physics. Topics will include basics of probability theory and statistics, basics of function fitting and parameter inference, basics of optimization, and machine learning techniques. A selection of physics topics that are particularly amenable to analysis using machine learning will be discussed. These might include processing collider data, classifying astronomical images, solving the Ising model, parameter estimation from physics data sets, learning physical probability distributions, finding string theory compactifications, and finding symbolic physical laws.

Requisites: MATH 234 and (PHYSICS 104, 202, 208, or 248), or graduate/professional standing

371 Acoustics for Musicians

Typically OfferedFall
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Gen-EdQuantitative Reasoning Part B

[Physics 371 in the Guide] [371 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Intended for music students who wish to learn about physical basis of sound, sound perception, musical scales, musical instruments, and room acoustics.

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A requirement

406 Special Topics in Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 4.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 406 in the Guide] [406 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special topics in physics at the advanced undergraduate level.

Requisites: PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235

407 Advanced Laboratory

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits2.00 - 4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 407 in the Guide] [407 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Advanced experiments in classical and modern physics. Possible experiments include beta decay, muon lifetime, nuclear magnetic resonance, Stern-Gerlach atomic beam, Mossbauer scattering, velocity of light, Zeeman effect, and Compton scattering. Techniques for the statistical analysis of experimental data and keeping a proper research lab notebook are emphasized. Two (four) credit students will typically perform four (eight) experiments.

Requisites: PHYSICS 307

415 Thermal Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 415 in the Guide] [415 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, and statistical mechanics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235) and PHYSICS 311, or graduate/professional standing

448 Atomic and Quantum Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 448 in the Guide] [448 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Review of atomic and other quantum phenomena and special relativity; introduction to quantum mechanics treating the more advanced topics of atomic physics and applications to molecular, solid state, nuclear, and elementary particle physics and quantum statistics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235) and PHYSICS 311 and 322, or graduate/professional standing

449 Atomic and Quantum Physics

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 449 in the Guide] [449 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 448. Review of atomic and other quantum phenomena and special relativity; introduction to quantum mechanics treating the more advanced topics of atomic physics and applications to molecular, solid state, nuclear, and elementary particle physics and quantum statistics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 448 or graduate/professional standing

472 Sci Bckgrnd-Globl Envr Prob

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 472 in the Guide] [472 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Designed to provide those elements of physics, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, biology and geology which are essential to a scientific understanding of global environmental problems. Specific examples of such problems include global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain and environmental toxins.

Requisites: PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, CHEM 103, 108, 109, 115, 116, or graduate/professional standing

498 Directed Study

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 498 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Advanced-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

499 Directed Study

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 499 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Advanced-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

501 Radiation Physics & Dosimetry

Typically OfferedFall
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 501 in the Guide] [501 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interactions and energy deposition by ionizing radiation in matter; concepts, quantities and units in radiological physics; principles and methods of radiation dosimetry.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 323, 449 and MATH 320) or graduate/professional standing or declared in Medical Physics VISP

525 Introduction to Plasmas

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 525 in the Guide] [525 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Basic description of plasmas: collective phenomena and sheaths, collisional processes, single particle motions, fluid models, equilibria, waves, electromagnetic properties, instabilities, and introduction to kinetic theory and nonlinear processes. Examples from fusion, astrophysical and materials processing processing plasmas.

Requisites: (E C E 320 or PHYSICS 322), graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

527 Plasma Confinement&Heating

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 527 in the Guide] [527 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Principles of magnetic confinement and heating of plasmas for controlled thermonuclear fusion: magnetic field structures, single particle orbits, equilibrium, stability, collisions, transport, heating, modeling and diagnostics. Discussion of current leading confinement concepts: tokamaks, tandem mirrors, stellarators, reversed field pinches, etc.

Requisites: N E/PHYSICS/E C E 525, graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

531 Intro to Quantum Mechanics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 531 in the Guide] [531 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Historical background and experimental basis of quantum mechanics; de Broglie waves, correspondence principle, uncertainty principle, Schrodinger equation, hydrogen atom, electron spin, Pauli principle; applications of wave mechanics.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, or E C E/PHYSICS 235) and PHYSICS 311 and 322, or graduate/professional standing

535 Intro-Particle Physics

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 535 in the Guide] [535 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Review of quantum physics; introduction to particles, antiparticles and fundamental interactions; detectors and accelerators; symmetries and conservation laws; electroweak and color interactions of quarks and leptons; unification theories.

Requisites: PHYSICS 448 or concurrent enrollment, PHYSICS 531 or concurrent enrollment, or graduate/professional or special student standing

545 Intro to Atomic Structure

Typically OfferedFall
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 545 in the Guide] [545 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Nuclear atom; hydrogen atom; Bohr-Sommerfeld model, wave model, electron spin, description of quantum electron spin, description of quantum electrodynamic effects; external fields; many-electron atoms; central field, Pauli principle, multiplets, periodic table, x-ray spectra, vector coupling, systematics of ground states; nuclear effects in atomic spectra; interaction with coherent radiation, optical forces, laser cooling and trapping.

Requisites: PHYSICS 448 or concurrent enrollment, PHYSICS 531 or concurrent enrollment, or graduate/professional or special student standing

546 Lasers

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits2.00 - 3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 546 in the Guide] [546 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

General principles of laser operation; laser oscillation conditions; optical resonators; methods of pumping lasers, gas discharge lasers, e-beam pumped lasers, solid state lasers, chemical lasers, and dye lasers; gain measurements with lasers; applications of lasers.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 322 or E C E 420) and (PHYSICS 449, 531, or 545), graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

551 Solid State Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 551 in the Guide] [551 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mechanical, thermal, electric, and magnetic properties of solids; band theory; semiconductors; crystal imperfections.

Requisites: PHYSICS 205, 241, 244, 249, 448, 531, E C E/PHYSICS 235, or graduate/professional standing

588 Radiation Production Detection

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits4.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 588 in the Guide] [588 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Fundamental physics of ionizing radiation production and detection applied to medical science. Topics: scintillator/semiconductor detectors, ionizing radiation detectors, charged and neutral particles for external beam radiotherapy, production of radionuclides with cyclotron and linear accelerators for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, radiochemistry, and X-ray tube physics.

Requisites: B M E/H ONCOL/MED PHYS/PHYSICS 501

601 Scientific Presentation

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelAdvanced
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits2.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Has Honors SectionYes

[Physics 601 in the Guide] [601 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Oral and written reports to give practice in the presentation of scientific papers.

Requisites: Senior standing and declared in an Honors program or graduate/professional standing

603 Wkshp-College Physics Tchg

Typically OfferedOccasional
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 2.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 603 in the Guide] [603 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Discussion, practice, and occasional lectures on various aspects of the teaching of physics. Course planning; course materials; lecture, demonstration, and discussion techniques; laboratory; problem solving; examinations, grading, and evaluation. Problems arising in the teaching of physics; levels of difficulty, differences in talents and backgrounds; methods of presentation of various specific topics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 311 and 322

619 Microscopy of Life

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
LevelIntermediate
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 619 in the Guide] [619 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Survey of state of the art microscopic, cellular and molecular imaging techniques, beginning with subcellular microscopy and finishing with whole animal imaging.

Requisites: PHYSICS 104, 202, 208, or 248 or MED PHYS/PHYSICS 265

623 Electronic Aids to Measmnt

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 623 in the Guide] [623 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Fundamentals of electronics, electronic elements, basic circuits; combinations of these into measuring instruments.

Requisites: (PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and (MATH 234 or 376), or graduate/professional standing

625 Applied Optics

Typically OfferedFall
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits4.00
BreadthPhysical Science
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 625 in the Guide] [625 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Optical methods in research and technology. Reflection, refraction, absorption, scattering. Imaging. Sources and sensors. Schlieren methods. Interferometry. Instrumental spectroscopy. Fourier optics, image processing, holography. Laser technology, Gaussian beams, nonlinear optics.

Requisites: PHYSICS 322 or graduate/professional standing

681 Senior Honors Thesis

Typically OfferedFall
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Has Honors SectionYes

[Physics 681 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing Physics Honors in the Major.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

682 Senior Honors Thesis

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree
Has Honors SectionYes

[Physics 682 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing Physics Honors in the Major.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

691 Senior Thesis

Typically OfferedFall
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits2.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 691 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

692 Senior Thesis

Typically OfferedSpring
LevelAdvanced
StudentsUndergraduate, advanced
Credits2.00 - 3.00
L&S CreditCounts for L&S degree

[Physics 692 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Mentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

Courses in the 700+ range are not normally open to undergraduate students. Advanced undergrads can take them if they have a 3.5 GPA in all physics and math courses and can obtain permission from the instructor.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

701 Introductory Seminars

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits1.00

[Physics 701 in the Guide] [701 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Designed to give new students an introduction to the broad range of modern research going on at UW Physics, and to help students find research opportunities in the department. Each week, faculty from each major research area will present their research in a seminar setting. The research areas will include selected topics both in theory and experiment from biophysics; atomic, molecular, and optical physics; plasma; condensed matter; quantum information and computation; high energy and nuclear physics; particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

707 Quantum Computing Laboratory

Typically OfferedSU
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits4.00

[Physics 707 in the Guide] [707 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Provides an intensive introduction to the experimental techniques of quantum computing. Students will do 8 experiments chosen from: Bell violation with entangled photons, Stern-Gerlach, Pulsed NMR, Optical pumping of Rb, Nanofabrication, Fiber optics communication, Diode pumped YAG laser, and Acousto-optic modulator.

Requisites: PHYSICS 709 and (PHYSICS 531 or 731)

709 Intro to Quantum Computing

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 709 in the Guide] [709 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

A detailed introduction to quantum computation and quantum information processing. Basic topics of quantum mechanics that are most relevant to quantum computing, particularly measurement theory. Specialized topics such as entanglement, other measures of quantum correlation and the Bell inequalities. Classical and quantum information theory, classical and quantum complexity theory. Qubits, quantum gates, quantum circuits. Teleportation, quantum dense coding, quantum cryptography. Quantum algorithms: Deustch, Simon, Shor, Grover, and adiabatic algorithms. Basic quantum error correction: 5-qubit, Steane and Shor codes. Completion of one undergraduate course in quantum mechanics recommended, such as PHYSICS 448 or 531.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

711 Theoreticl Physics-Dynamics

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 711 in the Guide] [711 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Lagrange's equations, Principle of Least Action, orbits and scattering, kinematics of rotation, rigid body dynamics, small oscillations, special relativistic dynamics, Hamiltonian formulation, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, canonical perturbation theory, chaos, continuum mechanics, introduction to general relativity.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

715 Statistical Mechanics

Typically OfferedSpring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 715 in the Guide] [715 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Statistical foundations, Liouville's theorem, ensembles, classical and quantum distribution functions, entropy and temperature, connection with thermodynamics, partition functions, quantum gases, non-ideal gases, phase transitions and critical phenomena, non-equilibrium problems, Boltzmann equation and the H-theorem, transport properties, connections with quantum field theory, applications of statistical mechanics to selected problems.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

716 Statistical Mechanics

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 716 in the Guide] [716 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Symmetries and symmetry breaking, phase transitions, mean field theory, critical exponents, scaling hypothesis, renormalization group, diagrammatic expansion, epsilon-expansion, exact solution of the 2d Ising model. Boltzman kinetic equation, H-theorem, Fokker-Planck and Langevin equations, Born-Markov master equation, Lindblad superoperators, classical and quantum noise, theory of amplifiers.

Requisites: PHYSICS 715 and 731

717 Relativity

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 717 in the Guide] [717 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special and general theories of relativity, relativistic electrodynamics, cosmology, unified field theories.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

721 Theor Physics-Electrodynmcs

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 721 in the Guide] [721 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Green functions, boundary value problems, macroscopic media, Maxwell's equations, the stress tensor and conservation laws, electromagnetic waves, wave propagation, dispersion, waveguides, radiation, multipole expansions, diffraction and scattering, special relativity, covariance of Maxwell's equations, Lienard-Wiechert potentials, radiation by accelerated charges. Knowledge of electrodynamics (such as PHYSICS 322) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

724 Waves&Instabilities-Plasmas

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 724 in the Guide] [724 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Waves in a cold plasma, wave-plasma interactions, waves in a hot plasma, Landau damping, cyclotron damping, magneto-hydrodynamic equilibria and instabilities, microinstabilities, introduction to nonlinear processes, and experimental applications. Basic knowledge of plasmas [such as N E/E C E/PHYSICS 525] and advanced electromagnetics [such as PHYSICS 721 or E C E 740] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

725 Plasma Kinetic&Radiatn Proc

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 725 in the Guide] [725 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Coulomb Collisions, Boltzmann equation, Fokker-Planck methods, dynamical friction, neoclassical diffusion, collision operators radiation processes and experimental applications. Basic knowledge of plasmas [such as N E/E C E/PHYSICS 525] and advanced electromagnetics [such as PHYSICS 721 or E C E 740] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

726 Plasma Magnetohydrodynamics

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 726 in the Guide] [726 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

MHD equations and validity in hot plasmas; magnetic structure and magnetic flux coordinates; equilibrium in various configurations; stability formulation, energy principle, classification of instabilities; ideal and resistive instability in various configurations, evolution of nonlinear tearing modes; force-free equilibria, helicity, MHD dynamo; experimental applications. Basic knowledge of plasmas [such as N E/E C E/PHYSICS 525] and advanced electromagnetics [such as PHYSICS 721 or E C E 740] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

731 Quantum Mechanics

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 731 in the Guide] [731 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Schrodinger equation, operator theory, matrix mechanics, transformation theory, Heisenberg representation, orbital angular momentum, bound-state problems, scattering theory, stationary perturbation theory, degenerate systems, time-dependent perturbation theory, Born approximation, other approximation methods. Knowledge of quantum mechanics and atomic physics (such as PHYSICS 449 or 531) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

732 Quantum Mechanics

Typically OfferedSpring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 732 in the Guide] [732 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter, quantization of the electromagnetic field, spontaneous transitions, identical particles and spin, addition of angular momenta, tensor operators, complex atoms, Hartree approximation, molecules, Dirac equation, relativistic effects in atoms.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

735 Particle Physics

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 735 in the Guide] [735 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Structure of elementary particles, quarks and gluons, introduction to calculational techniques of particle interactions (Feynman diagrams), constituent models of electroweak and strong interactions and associated phenomenological techniques. Knowledge of introductory particle physics and quantum mechanics (such as PHYSICS 535) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

736 Nuclear, Particle&Astrophysics

Typically OfferedSpring
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 736 in the Guide] [736 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interaction of particles with matter; detector techniques at colliding beam machines, in nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology; experimental strategies in detector design; principles of simulation and Monte Carlo methods, error analysis and statistical techniques in data analysis. Knowledge of introductory particle physics (such as PHYSICS 535) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

746 Quantum Electronics

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 746 in the Guide] [746 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Elementary aspects of Lagrange theory of fields and field quantization; Bose, Fermi and Pauli operators; interaction of fields; quantum theory of damping and fluctuations; applications to lasers, nonlinear optics, and quantum optics. Knowledge of lasers [such as E C E/PHYSICS 546] and graduate-level electromagnetics [such as E C E 740 or PHYSICS 721] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

748 Linear Waves

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 748 in the Guide] [748 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

General considerations of linear wave phenomena; one dimensional waves; two and three dimensional waves; wave equations with constant coefficients; inhomogenous media; random media. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations; asymptotic methods. Knowledge of electromagnetics [such as E C E 320 or PHYSICS 321], mechanics [such as M E 340], or vibrations [such as M E 440] strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

749 Coher Generatn&Particl Beam

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 749 in the Guide] [749 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Fundamental theory and recent advances in coherent radiation charged particle beam sources (microwave to X-ray wavelengths) including free electron lasers, wiggler/wave-particle dynamics, Cerenkov masers, gyrotrons, coherent gain and efficiency, spontaneous emission, beam sources and quality, related accelerator concepts experimental results and applications.

Requisites: E C E 740

751 Adv Solid State Physics

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 751 in the Guide] [751 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Lattice dynamics; band theory; Fermi surfaces; electrodynamics of metals; optical properties; transport properties. Knowledge of introductory solid state physics (such as PHYSICS 551) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

772 High Energy Astrophysics

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits3.00

[Physics 772 in the Guide] [772 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Interactions among the particles, fields, and radiation of interstellar and intergalactic space. Gamma-ray, x-ray, and cosmic ray production, propagation, and detection. Knowledge of electrodynamics (such as PHYSICS 322) strongly encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

779 Advanced Quantum Computing

Typically OfferedSpring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 779 in the Guide] [779 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Explores applications of quantum theory to both the hardware and the software that underpin modern quantum information technology. Advanced quantum circuit theory: Clifford group and Gottesman-Knill theorem, Mathematica code. Decoherence: density matrices, probability distributions, T1 and T2. Advanced error correction: master equation, Kraus operators, fault tolerance, quantum tomography. Hardware: Trapped ions, Paul traps, sideband cooling, CZ and MS gates, neutral atoms, superconductors, quantum dots.

Requisites: PHYSICS 531 or 731

799 Independent Study

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
StudentsGraduate, basic
Credits1.00 - 3.00

[Physics 799 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Graduate-level mentored research project in physics.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

801 Topics-Theoretical Physics

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 3.00

[Physics 801 in the Guide] [801 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Selected topics in theoretical physics.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

805 Special Topics in Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 3.00

[Physics 805 in the Guide] [805 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Special topics in physics at the graduate level.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

831 Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Typically OfferedFall
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 831 in the Guide] [831 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Quantum theory of free and interacting fields, formal scattering theory, dispersion theory.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

832 Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Typically OfferedSpring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 832 in the Guide] [832 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Continuation of PHYSICS 831. Quantum theory of free and interacting fields, formal scattering theory, dispersion theory.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

835 Collider Phys Phenomenology

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits2.00 - 3.00

[Physics 835 in the Guide] [835 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Standard model. Application to e+e-, proton-antiproton, pp, and ep colliders. Jets. Weak boson, heavy-quark, and Higgs boson production and decay. Quarkonia. Neutral B meson mixing. Grand unification. Supersymmetry.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

848 Nonlinear Waves

Typically OfferedOccasional
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits3.00

[Physics 848 in the Guide] [848 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

General considerations of nonlinear wave phenomena; nonlinear hyperbolic waves; nonlinear dispersion; nonlinear geometrical optics; Whitham's variational theory; nonlinear and parametric instabilities; solitary waves; inverse scattering method. Knowledge of electromagnetics [such as E C E 320 or PHYSICS 321] or mechanics [such as M E 340] encouraged.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

900 Colloquium

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits0.00 - 1.00

[Physics 900 in the Guide] [900 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Lectures by staff and visitors.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

910 Seminar in Astrophysics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits0.00 - 1.00

[Physics 910 in the Guide] [910 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Current topics in astrophysics.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

922 Seminar in Plasma Physics

Typically OfferedFall; Spring
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits0.00 - 1.00

[Physics 922 in the Guide] [922 Instructors by Semester]

Course Description (from the guide)

Current topics in plasma physics.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

990 Research

Typically OfferedFall; Spring; Summer
StudentsGraduate, advanced
Credits1.00 - 12.00

[Physics 990 in the Guide]

Course Description (from the guide)

Research supervised by individual faculty members.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing