Physics of Contemporary Challenges

An introduction to thermal and quantum physics in the context of contemporary challenges faced by our society, such as power generation, energy efficiency, and global warming.

Techniques of Theoretical Mechanics

Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian classical mechanics. Special relativity with relativistic mechanics.

Paradigms in Physics: Quantum Fundamentals

Introduction to quantum mechanics through Stern-Gerlach spin measurements. Probability, eigenvalues, operators, measurement, state reduction, Dirac notation, matrix mechanics, time evolution. Quantum behavior of a one-dimensional well.

Paradigms in Physics: Energy and Entropy

Thermodynamics and canonical statistical mechanics.

Paradigms in Physics: Oscillations and Waves

Dynamics of mechanical and electrical oscillation using Fourier series and integrals; time and frequency representations for driven damped oscillators, resonance; one-dimensional waves in classical mechanics and electromagnetism; normal modes.

Paradigms in Physics: Periodic Systems

Quantum waves in position and momentum space; Bloch waves in one-dimensional periodic systems, and the reciprocal lattice; coupled harmonic oscillators; phonons.

Paradigms in Physics: Static Fields

Theory of static electric, magnetic, and gravitational potentials and fields using the techniques of vector calculus in three dimensions.

Paradigms in Physics: Central Forces

Gravitational and electrostatic forces; angular momentum and spherical harmonics, separation of variables in classical and quantum mechanics, hydrogen atom.

Computational Physics Lab

A project-driven laboratory experience in computational physics. Includes the use of basic mathematical and numerical techniques in computer calculations leading to solutions for typical physical problems. Topics to be covered will coordinate with the Paradigms in Physics course sequence.

Computational Physics Lab

A project-driven laboratory experience in computational physics. Includes the use of basic mathematical and numerical techniques in computer calculations leading to solutions for typical physical problems. Topics to be covered will coordinate with the Paradigms in Physics course sequence.

Computational Physics Lab

A project-driven laboratory experience in computational physics. Includes the use of basic mathematical and numerical techniques in computer calculations leading to solutions for typical physical problems. Topics to be covered will coordinate with the Paradigms in Physics course sequence.

The Geometry of Maxwell's Equations

Electromagnetism is beautifully described using vector calculus, yet most treatments of vector calculus emphasize algebraic manipulation, rather than the geometric reasoning that underpins Maxwell's equations. This course attempts to bridge that gap, providing a unified view of both electro- and magneto-statics and the underlying vector calculus.

AIMS: Problem Solving

Physicists and other physical scientists and engineers routinely use algebra and calculus, including vector calculus, in problem-solving. But the hard part of physics problem solving is often at the beginning and end of the problem, namely getting to an algebraic expression from a description of a physical situation in words or other representations, and interpreting an algebraic expression as a statement about what will happen in the real world. This course will use examples from electromagnetism involving scalar and vector fields in the three-dimensional world to explore a variety of problem-solving methods, including using information from experimental data, approximations, idealizations, and visualizations. The emphasis will be on how geometry can help.