PHYS - Physics

PHYS 1A Physics for Everyone

Explores some of the great topics in classical and modern physics, including relativity, and the connections to a broad range of inquiry, from daily life to cosmology. Math, mainly algebra, is used in a way that is completely accessible to everyone. No previous knowledge of physics is necessary.

Credits

5

Instructor

Steven Ritz

General Education Code

SI

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 1B Physics for Everyone

Explores some of the great topics in classical and modern physics, including thermal physics, quantum mechanics, and the constituents of matter, and their connections to a broad range of inquiry, from daily life to particle physics and cosmology. Probabilistic evidence, backgrounds, statistical fluctuations and systematic uncertainties, discovery significance, what we infer, and what can go wrong, are illustrated in some depth. Math is used in a way that is completely accessible to everyone. No previous knowledge of physics or statistics is necessary.

Credits

5

Instructor

Steven Ritz

General Education Code

SR

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 2 The Physicist's Toolbox

Prepares students for success in subsequent classes in physics and astrophysics. Course is designed for students majoring or considering majoring in physics, applied physics, or astrophysics. Includes overview of physics and astrophysics, and their major tools: experiment, theory, observation, and computation. Provides conceptual overview of the top-level theoretical approaches including classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. Also reviews problem-solving skills for work in subsequent classes, including the physicist's approach to calculus, working intuitively with graphs, solving simultaneous equations, and understanding equations conceptually. Examines the educational path to different physics careers, physics as a collaborative discipline, and effective methods for group work as well as individual study.

Credits

2

Instructor

Smith

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to first-year and second-year students.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 5A Introduction to Physics I

Elementary mechanics. Vectors, Newton's laws, inverse square force laws, work and energy, conservation of momentum and energy, and oscillations.

Credits

5

Instructor

Barun Dhar, Steven Ritz

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): MATH 19A or MATH 20A. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5L, and either MATH 19B or MATH 20B, is required.

General Education Code

MF

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter

PHYS 5B Introduction to Physics II

A continuation of PHYS 5A. Wave motion in matter, including sound waves. Geometrical optics, interference and polarization, statics and dynamics of fluids.

Credits

5

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L and MATH 19A or MATH 20A; concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5M is required. Corequisite: MATH 19B or MATH 20B.

General Education Code

SI

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 5C Introduction to Physics III

Introduction to electricity and magnetism. Electromagnetic radiation, Maxwell's equations.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sriram Shastry, Sergey Syzranov

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and MATH 19B or MATH 20B. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5N is required.

General Education Code

SI

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter

PHYS 5D Introduction to Physics IV

Introduces temperature, heat, thermal conductivity, diffusion, ideal gases, laws of thermodynamics, heat engines, and kinetic theory. Introduces the special theory of relativity and the equivalence principle. Includes the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, matter waves, atomic spectra, and the Bohr model.

Credits

5

Instructor

Stefano Profumo

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L, or PHYS 6A and PHYS 6L; and PHYS 5B or PHYS 6B; and MATH 19B or MATH 20B.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 5L Introduction to Physics I Laboratory

 

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 5A. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5A is required.

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter

PHYS 5M Introduction to Physics II Laboratory

 

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 5B. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5L; concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5B is required.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 5N Introduction to Physics Laboratory III

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 5C. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5C is required.

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter

PHYS 6A Introductory Physics I

Elementary mechanics. Vectors, Newton's laws, inverse square force laws, work and energy, conservation of momentum and energy, and oscillations.

Credits

5

Instructor

Amy Furniss, David Lederman, The Staff

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): MATH 11A or MATH 19A or MATH 20A or AM 15A. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 6L is required.

General Education Code

MF

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

PHYS 6B Introductory Physics II

A continuation of PHYS 6A. Geometric optics; statics and dynamics of fluids; introduction to thermodynamics, including temperature, heat, thermal conductivity, and molecular motion; wave motion in matter, including sound waves.

Credits

5

Instructor

Barun Dhar, Amy Furniss, The Staff

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L or PHYS 6A and PHYS 6L; and MATH 11B or MATH 19B or MATH 20B or AM 15B.

General Education Code

SI

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

PHYS 6C Introductory Physics III

Introduction to electricity and magnetism. Elementary circuits; Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic radiation; interference and polarization of light.

Credits

5

Instructor

Barun Dhar, Amy Furniss

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L or PHYS 6A and PHYS 6L, and MATH 11B or MATH 19B or MATH 20B or AM 15B.

Quarter offered

Fall, Spring

PHYS 6L Introductory Physics I Laboratory

 

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 6A. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): Previous or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 6A or PHYS 7A is required.

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 6M Introductory Physics II Laboratory

 

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 6B. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A, PHYS 6A, or PHYS 7A; and PHYS 5L, PHYS 6L or PHYS 7L; and previous or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 6B.

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

PHYS 6N Introductory Physics III Laboratory

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 6C. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 6A and PHYS 6L or PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L; previous or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 6C; PHYS 6B and PHYS 6M are recommended.

Quarter offered

Fall, Spring, Summer

PHYS 7A Elementary Physics I

Examines elementary mechanics, including vectors, kinematics, Newton's laws, work and energy, conservation of momentum and energy, fluid motion, and temperature and heat.

Credits

5

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): MATH 11A or MATH 19A or MATH 20A or AM 15A. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 6L or PHYS 7L is required.

General Education Code

MF

PHYS 7B Elementary Physics II

Examines elementary wave motion, light polarization, reflection and refraction; elementary electricity, including electric charge, Coulomb's Law,and electric field and potential; electrostatic energy, currents, conductors, resistance, and Ohm's Law; and magnetic fields, inductors, and circuits.

Credits

5

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 7A, and MATH 11B, or MATH 19B, or MATH 20B, or AM 15B.

General Education Code

SI

PHYS 7L Elementary Physics Laboratory

Laboratory sequence illustrating topics covered in PHYS 7A. One three-hour laboratory session per week.

Credits

1

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 7A is required.

PHYS 11 The Physicist in Industry

One two-hour meeting per week. Subjects include roles of the physicist in industry, the business environment in a technical company, economic considerations, job hunting, and discussions with physicists with industrial experience. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Priority given to applied physics upper-division students; other majors if space available.

Credits

2

Instructor

Sue Carter

PHYS 80A Elementary Physics of Energy

The physics of energy developed in a course accessible to non-science majors as well as science majors. Fundamental principles and elementary calculations, at the level of basic algebra, developed and applied to the understanding of the physics of energy. Topics include fossil fuels, renewable energy, solar cells and waste energy, waste-energy recovery, nuclear power, and global greenhouse effects. (Formerly offered as PHYS 2.)

Credits

5

General Education Code

PE-E

PHYS 80U Physics and Psychophysics of Music

Fundamental theory of vibration, sound waves, sound propagation, diffraction, and interference. Free, coupled, and driven oscillations. Resonance phenomena and modes of oscillation. Fourier's theorem. Anatomy and psychophysics of the ear. Musical scales and intervals. Nature of plucked and bowed strings; guitar, violin, piano. Woodwind and brass instruments. Architectural acoustics. High school algebra and basic knowledge of musical notation recommended.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

MUSC 80U

Instructor

C Martin Gaskell

General Education Code

MF

PHYS 99 Tutorial

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

5

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

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

Stefania Gori, Barun Dhar

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

Robert Johnson

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L; and PHYS 116A or MATH 21 plus MATH 24 or AM 10 plus AM 20; and ASTR 119 or CSE 20. 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

David Lederman

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

Aris Alexsandradinata

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

The Staff

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

Mike Hance

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

Fall

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. Ordinary differential equations and Laplace transforms.

Credits

5

Instructor

Onuttom Narayan, Matthew Gignac

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): MATH 23A.

Quarter offered

Fall, 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

Edgar Shaghoulian

Requirements

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

Quarter offered

Winter, Spring

PHYS 116D Mathematical Methods in Physics

Complex functions, complex analysis, asymptotic series and expansions, special functions defined by integrals, and probability and statistics. (Formerly offered as PHYS 116B.)

Credits

5

Requirements

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

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

Jason Nielsen

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 130 Multiwavelength Astronomical Techniques

Survey of observational astronomy across the electromagnetic spectrum and including multi-messenger probes. Covers the physics of light detection and instrumentation in different wavelength bands as well as astrophysical sources of emission and the relevant radiative processes associated to them. Aspects of statistics and statistical inference relevant for astronomical data analysis are also covered.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102; and PHYS 133; and either ASTR 19 or ASTR 119 or CSE 20.

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 114

Instructor

The Staff

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102; and PHYS 133; and either ASTR 19 or ASTR 119 or CSE 20.

Quarter offered

Spring

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, The Staff

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, Spring, Summer

PHYS 134 Physics Advanced Laboratory

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

Credits

5

Instructor

Art Ramirez

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

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

Fall, 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

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 138 Quantum Information Science Laboratory

Application of advanced laboratory techniques to the emerging field of quantum information science. Techniques include laser physics, quantum entanglement, quantum correlations, electron spin resonance, ion trapping; Josephson junctions, and more.

Credits

5

Instructor

Alexander Sher

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102 and PHYS 133, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment is restricted to physics B.S. majors.

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

Aris Alexandradinata

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

Sriram Shastry

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

Review of linear algebra. Includes basic concepts in quantum mechanics including quantum states, measurements, operators, entanglement, entanglement entropy, "no cloning" theorem, and density matrices; classical gates, reversible computing, and quantum gates; several quantum algorithms including Deutsch's algorithm, Simon's algorithm, Shor's algorithm, and the Grover algorithm; quantum error correction; and quantum key distribution and teleportation.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

CSE 109

Instructor

Peter Young

Requirements

PHYS 116A or MATH 21 or AM 10. Enrollment is restricted to juniors and seniors.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 152 Physics and Machine Learning

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. (Formerly offered as Neural Networks, Statistical Physics and Computing.)

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

Winter

PHYS 156 Applications of Quantum Materials

Quantum mechanics in solid-state materials plays a fundamental role in the development of quantum computation and sustainable technologies, as well as the search for fundamental physics beyond the Standard Model. This course introduces the quantum physics of semiconductors and low-dimensional materials (such as graphene), with emphasis on applications to transistors for logic operations, p-n junctions for photovoltaic cells and particle detection, as well as quantum dots for qubits. (Formerly Applications of Solid State Physics.)

Credits

5

Instructor

Aris Alexandradinata

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 102 or CHEM 163A.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 157 Frontier of Quantum Materials

The fundamentals of quantum materials are revamped by incorporating the geometric Berry phase and the topology of quantum wave functions. The traditional solid-state phenomena of superconductivity and magnetism are taught from a cutting-edge topological perspective, to understand phenomena such as the quantum Hall effect and emergent Majorana fermions. Applications of topological quantum materials range from spintronics to quantum information and computation. (Formerly offered as PHYS 155, Solid State Physics.)

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 160 Practical Electronics

Provides a practical knowledge of analog electronics that experimentalists generally need in research, including basic circuits with bipolar and field-effect transistors, op-amps, comparators, oscillators, and voltage regulators. It assumes no previous knowledge of electronics but includes twice-weekly lectures with some homework assignments, including small circuit simulations done using PSpice. However, with the aid of the instructor and teaching assistant, the students are expected to learn mainly through the construction, debugging, and analysis of small electronics projects.

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 Altmannshofer

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

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

Matthew Gignac, Stefano Profumo, David Smith

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

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 202 Introduction to Teaching in Physics

A practical introduction to working as a teaching assistant for undergraduate classes in physics, including both teaching laboratories and running discussion sections. The training includes topics in classroom climate and inclusivity, active learning, motivating students, office hours, information technology, grading, communication with the instructor, and handling difficult situations. Students engaged in teaching in the same quarter are encouraged to apply the lessons in their classes and return with feedback to be discussed. Required course for first year graduate students.

Credits

1

Instructor

Pierce Giffin

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 205 Introduction to Research in Physics

Introduction to current research opportunities at UCSC for graduate students. Topics include: elementary particle physics, condensed matter and solid state physics, high energy astrophysics, biophysics, and cosmology. Selected topics related to career development may also be included.

Credits

2

Instructor

David Smith

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students or by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 210 Classical Mechanics and Thermal Physics

Generalized coordinates, Lagrange and Hamiltonian mechanics, Poisson Brackets, Classical field theory, other advanced topics in classical dynamics. Introduction to thermodynamics, thermodynamic potentials and Legendre transforms, entropy, distribution functions. (Formerly Classical Mechanics.)

Credits

5

Instructor

Sergey Syzranov

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 212 Electromagnetism I

Examines electrostatics and magnetostatics, boundary value problems, multipole expansion, dielectric and magnetic materials, time-varying electromagnetic fields, Maxwell's equations, conservation laws, and plane electromagnetic waves and wave propagation.

Credits

5

Instructor

Wolfgang Altmannshofer

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 214 Electromagnetism II

Electromagnetic waves; waves in dispersive media; waveguides and cavities; complete development of special relativity with applications; Lorentz covariant formulation of Maxwell's equations; radiating systems; scattering and diffraction; advanced topics in radiation theory and optics.

Credits

5

Instructor

Onuttom Narayan

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 212. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 215 Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Mathematic introduction; fundamental postulates; time evolution operator, including the Heisenberg and Schrodinger pictures; simple harmonic oscillator and coherent states; one-dimensional scattering theory, including S-matrix resonant phenomena; two-state systems, including magnetic resonance; symmetries, including rotation group, spin, and the Wigner-Eckart theorem; rotationally invariant problems, including the hydrogen atom; gauge invariance, including Landau levels; introduction to path integral.

Credits

5

Instructor

Stefania Gori

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 216 Advanced Topics in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Approximate methods: time-independent perturbation theory, variational principle, time-dependent perturbation theory; three-dimensional scattering theory; identical particles; permutation symmetry and exchange degeneracy, anti-symmetric and symmetric states; many-body systems and self-consistent fields: variational calculations; second quantized formalism, including Fock spaces/number representation, field operators and Green functions; applications: electron gas; quantization of the electromagnetic field and interaction of radiation with matter: absorption, emission, scattering, photoelectric effect, and lifetimes.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sriram Shastry

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 215. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 217 Quantum Field Theory I

Lorentz invariance in quantum theory, Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations, the relativistic hydrogen atom, Green functions and canonical approach to field theory, quantum electrodynamics, Feynman diagrams for scattering processes, symmetries and Ward identities. Students learn to perform calculations of scattering and decay of particles in field theory.

Credits

5

Instructor

Edgar Shaghoulian

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 216 or exception by permission of the instructor. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students or by permission of the instructor.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 218 Quantum Field Theory II

Path integral approach to quantum field theory. Theory of renormalization and the renormalization group, introduction to gauge theories and spontaneously broken field theories. Applications to the standard model of strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions.

Credits

5

Instructor

Wolfgang Altmannshofer

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 217. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 219 Statistical Physics

The basic laws of thermodynamics, entropy, thermodynamic potentials, kinetic theory of gases, quantum and classical statistical mechanics, virial expansion, linear response theory. Applications in condensed matter physics.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sergey Syzranov

Requirements

Prerequisites: PHYS 210. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 220 Theory of Many-Body Physics

Finite temperature Green functions, Feynman diagrams, Dyson equation, linked cluster theorem, Kubo formula for electrical conductivity, electron gas, random phase approximation, Fermi surfaces, Landau fermi liquid theory, electron phonon coupling, Migdal's theorem, superconductivity.

Credits

5

Instructor

Shastry Sriram

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 216 and PHYS 219. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 221A Introduction to Particle Physics I

First quarter of a two-quarter graduate level introduction to particle physics, including the following topics: discrete symmetries, quark model, particle classification, masses and magnetic moments, passage of radiation through matter, detector technology, accelerator physics, Feynman calculus, and electron-positron annihilation.

Credits

5

Instructor

Bruce Shumm

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 217 or concurrent enrollment. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 221B Introduction to Particle Physics II

Second quarter of a two-quarter graduate level introduction to particle physics, including the following topics: nucleon structure, weak interactions and the Standard Model, neutrino oscillation, quantum chromodynamics, CP violation, and a tour of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

Credits

5

Instructor

Wolfgang Altmannschofer

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 221A; PHYS 217 or concurrent enrollment. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 222 Quantum Field Theory III

Focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of the standard model, including the spontaneous symmetry breaking, the renormalization group, the operator product expansion, and precision tests of the Standard Model.

Credits

5

Instructor

Stefania Gori

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 218 and PHYS 221B. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Spring

PHYS 224 Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology

Particle physics and cosmology of the very early universe: thermodynamics and thermal history; out-of-equilibrium phenomena (e.g., WIMPs freeze-out, neutrino cosmology, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, recombination); baryogenesis; inflation; topological defects. High-energy astrophysical processes: overview of cosmic ray and gamma ray astrophysics; radiative and inelastic processes; astroparticle acceleration mechanisms; magnetic fields and cosmic ray transport; radiation-energy density of the universe; ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays; dark-matter models; and detection techniques.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 224

Instructor

Anthony Aguirre

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 226 General Relativity

Develops the formalism of Einstein's general relativity, including solar system tests, gravitational waves, cosmology, and black holes.

Credits

5

Cross Listed Courses

ASTR 226

Instructor

Anthony Aguirre

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 231 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics

Crystal structures, reciprocal lattice, crystal bonding, phonons (including specific heat), band theory of electrons, free electron model, electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions, transport theory.

Credits

5

Instructor

Stefano Profumo

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 216 or equivalent course or by permission of the instructor. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, or by permission of instructor.

Quarter offered

Winter

PHYS 232 Condensed Matter Physics

Magnetism (para, ferro, anti-ferro, ferri), spin waves, superconductivity, introduction to semiconductors.

Credits

5

Instructor

Art Ramirez

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 231. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 233 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

A special topics course which includes areas of current interest in condensed matter physics. Possible topics include superconductivity, phase transitions, renormalization group, disordered systems, surface phenomena, magnetic resonance, and spectroscopy.

Credits

5

Instructor

Sriram Shastry

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 231. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 234 Soft Condensed Matter Physics

A selection of topics from: liquid crystals, biological systems, renormalization group and critical phenomena, stochastic processes, Langevin and Fokker Planck equations, hydrodynamic theories, granular materials, glasses, quasicrystals.

Credits

5

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 219 and PHYS 232. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

PHYS 240 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 demonstrating much of the above. Students cannot receive credit for this course and PHYS 120.

Credits

5

Instructor

Joshua Deutsch

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 242 Computational Physics

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

Credits

5

Instructor

Jason Nielsen

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): basic programming experience in C or Fortran. No previous experience with Mathematica is required. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 251 Group Theory and Modern Physics

Finite and continuous groups, group representation theory, the symmetric group and Young tableaux, Lie groups and Lie algebras, irreducible representations of Lie algebras by tensor methods, unitary groups in particle physics, Dynkin diagrams, Lorentz and Poincaré groups.

Credits

5

Instructor

Howard Haber

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

PHYS 290 Special Topics

A series of lectures on various topics of current interest in physics at UC Santa Cruz.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 291A Cosmology

Intensive research seminar on cosmology and related topics in astrophysics: nature of dark matter; origin of cosmological inhomogeneities and other initial conditions of the big bang; origin and evolution of galaxies and large scale structure in the universe.

Credits

2

Instructor

Joel Primack

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 291B X-rays and Magnetism

Research seminar on x-ray studies of the properties and behavior of magnetic materials. Topics include: the underlying physical interactions, experimental techniques, and selected examples from current research. This course includes a visit to the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley.

Credits

2

Instructor

Peter Fischer

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 291C Developments in Theoretical Particle Physics

Seminar on the current literature of elementary particle physics, ranging from strong and weak interaction phenomenology to Higgs physics, supersymmetry, and superstring theory. Students may present their own research results.

Credits

2

Instructor

Howard Haber, Michael Dine, Stefania Gori, Wolfgang Altmannshofer

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 218. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 291D Experimental High-Energy Collider Physics

Seminar on current results in experimental high-energy particle physics. Topics follow recently published results, including design of experiments, development of particle detector technology, and experimental results from new particle searches, quantum chromodynamics, and properties of heavy flavor quarks.

Credits

2

Instructor

Jason Nielsen

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 291E Applied Physics

Intensive research seminar on applied physics and related topics in materials science, including semiconductor devices, optoelectronics, molecular electronics, magnetic materials, nanotechnology, biosensors, and medical physics. Students may present their own research results.

Credits

2

Instructor

Sue Carter

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall

PHYS 291F Experimental High-Energy and Particle Astrophysics Seminar

Survey of current research in experimental high-energy and particle astrophysics. Recent observations and development in instrumentation for x-rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos, and evidence for dark matter and other new particles. Students lead discussion of recent papers.

Credits

2

Instructor

David Smith, David Williams

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 291G Condensed Matter Physics Research Seminar

Weekly seminar series covering topics of current interest in condensed matter physics. Local and external speakers discuss their work.

Credits

2

Instructor

David Lederman

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 292 Seminar

Weekly seminar attended by faculty and graduate students. Directed at all physics graduate students who have not taken and passed the qualifying examination for the Ph.D. program.

Credits

0

Instructor

Bruce Schumm

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Repeatable for credit

Yes

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 292F Seminar

Seminar

Credits

2

PHYS 297A Independent Study

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

5

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 297B Independent Study

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

10

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 297C Independent Study

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

15

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 298 Theoretical and Experimental Research Project

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

5

Quarter offered

Fall, Winter, Spring

PHYS 299A Thesis Research

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

5

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 299B Thesis Research

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

10

Repeatable for credit

Yes

PHYS 299C Thesis Research

Enrollment restricted to graduate students only, except by permission of instructor.

Credits

15

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

Requirements

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

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