Physics (PHYS)

Introduction to the skills, tools, and habits-of-mind physicists use to approach and investigate physical phenomena. Exploration of possible careers for physics majors and issues of diversity and representation in physics. Includes community building activities. Designed for new physics majors. 1 activity. Credit/No credit grading only.

Elementary introduction to mechanics, gases, liquids and solids, heat, vibrations and waves, light, electricity and magnetism. Intended to provide non-science students with an understanding of basic physical concepts. Not open to students who have credit in a college physics course. 4 lectures. Fulfills GE Area B1 (GE Area B3 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Qualitative exploration of the key concepts of quantum mechanics and Einstein's special and general theories of relativity. Particle-wave duality, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Schrodinger's cat, warped spacetime, black holes. 4 lectures. Not open to students with credit in PHYS 211. Fulfills GE Area B1 (GE Area B3 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Introductory course in mechanics emphasizing motion, force, and energy. Not open to students having a grade of C- or better in PHYS 141. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures. Fulfills GE Area B1 (GE Area B3 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Continuation of PHYS 121. Topics include properties of materials, fluids, waves and vibrations, sound, heat, light and optics. Not open for credit to students having a grade of C- or better in PHYS 132. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Fulfills GE Areas B1 and B3 (GE Areas B3 and B4 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Continuation of PHYS 121 and 122. Electrostatics, electric current, magnetic fields and induction. Elements of modern physics. Not open for credit to students having a grade of C- or better in PHYS 133 or PHYS 143. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

Laboratory experiments to complement introductory course in mechanics, emphasizing experiments on motion, force, and energy. Not open to students with a grade of C- or better in PHYS 131 or PHYS 141. 1 laboratory.

Fundamental principles of mechanics. Vectors, particle kinematics. Equilibrium of a rigid body. Work and energy, linear momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics. Primarily for engineering and science students. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as HNRS 134/PHYS 141. Fulfills GE Area B1 (GE Area B3 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Oscillations, waves in elastic media, sound waves. Temperature, heat and the first law of thermodynamics. Kinetic theory of matter, second law of thermodynamics. Geometrical and physical optics. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Crosslisted as HNRS 132/PHYS 142. Fulfills GE Areas B1 and B3 (GE Areas B3 and B4 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs). Formerly PHYS 132.

Charge and matter, electric field, electric potential, dielectrics, capacitance, current and resistance, electromotive force and circuits, magnetic fields, magnetic field of a moving charge, induced emf. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Fulfills GE Areas B1 and B3 (GE Areas B3 and B4 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs). Formerly PHYS 133.

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter.

Introduction to using computers for solving problems in physics: differential equations, matrix manipulations, simulations and numerical techniques, nonlinear dynamics. 4 lectures.

L-R-C circuits and electronic circuit elements emphasizing the applications of analog and digital electronics to instrumentation in modern physics. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

Special relativity, fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, emphasizing the modern description of atomic phenomena. Wave-particle duality, Bohr theory, Schroedinger equation, elementary atomic structure. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures.

Applications of quantum physics to atoms, molecules, solid state systems, nuclei, and elementary particles including angular momentum and spin. Topics may include applications of statistical mechanics, principles of the laser, cooling and trapping of atoms, Bose-Einstein condensates, semiconductors, superconductors, heavy ion physics, and other topics of current interest. 4 lectures.

Introduction to the research programs of faculty in the department and opportunities for research. Survey of departmental facilities and procedures related to research. Overview of external research programs/internships. Credit/No Credit grading. 1 lecture.

Directed group study of selected topics. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures.

Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Entropy, temperature, ensembles, partition functions, chemical potential, free energy. Selected applications including paramagnetism, ideal gas, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions. 4 lectures.

Laws of motion, kinematics and dynamics of a particle. Oscillations. Work and energy. Linear and angular momentum. Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations and the calculus of variations. Newton's Law of gravity, Kepler's laws of orbital motion, and central force problems. Use of numerical methods for solving problems. Not open to students with credit in PHYS 302. 4 lectures. Fulfills GE Area Upper-Division B (GE Areas B5, B6, or B7 for students on the 2019-20 catalog).

Mechanics in non-inertial reference frames. Dynamics of a rigid bodies. Coupled oscillators and normal modes. Use of numerical methods for solving problems. 3 lectures. Formerly PHYS 303.

Physics and mathematics applied to broad energy topics. Efficient usage, transportation, solar energy, nuclear fission and fusion. Plasma, hydrogen economy, fuel cells, wind wave, tidal, and geothermal energy. Transmission, storage, fossils. National planning, and energy economics. 3 lectures.

Properties of the atmosphere, atmospheric motions, solar and terrestrial radiation. Emphasis on conservation laws of momentum, energy and mass applied to understanding the Earth's atmospheric motions. 3 lectures.

Physics governing ocean circulation and transport processes. Physical environment, dynamics of fluid motion in the presence of rotation and stratification, balanced flows, heat budgets, ocean waves, mixing/transport, and applications to climate processes and the biological environment. 3 lectures.

Interaction of light with matter, theory of laser action, characteristics and modification of laser output, types of lasers. Laser applications. Topics may include interferometry, fiber optics, holography. 3 lectures.

Fundamental experiments and basic postulates of special relativity. Simultaneity, length and time measurements. Lorentz transformations. Four-Vectors. Space-time diagrams. Relativistic mechanics and electromagnetism. 3 lectures.

Introduction to the mathematical techniques of theoretical physics with applications from classical mechanics, optics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. Maxwell's equations and vector calculus. Waves, the wave equation and Fourier analysis. Green's functions. Physics applications of complex contour integration and series. Not open to students with credit in PHYS 322 or PHYS 424. 4 lectures.

Continuing study of the mathematical techniques of theoretical physics. Methods for solving differential equations in classical mechanics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. Problems involving the heat equation, the wave equation and the Schroedinger equation in one, two and three dimensions. 4 lectures.

Ray optics, lens systems, optical instruments, wave optics, and polarization of light. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

Inquiry approaches to teaching physics incorporating insights from physics education research and the use of computer technology. Emphasis on pedagogical approaches and assessment that engage learners in scientific discourse and the development of basic models of physics phenomena such as motion, forces, energy, and momentum through experimentation. 2 lectures, 2 activities.

Experimental studies of the quantum properties of atoms and nuclei. Measurements of fundamental constants. Statistics and data analysis. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory.

Experimental studies of quantum properties of atoms and nuclei. Interactions of radiation, particles and fields. 2 laboratories.

Advanced experimental studies of quantum properties of atoms and nuclei. Interactions of radiation, particles and fields emphasizing spectroscopic techniques. 1 laboratory.

Quantum mechanical wave functions. Principle of superposition and entanglement. States of one or more quantum bits. Quantum gates and circuits. Application of quantum gates on simulators and quantum computers. Quantum computer architectures. Quantum algorithms. Ethics of quantum computing. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Crosslisted as CPE/PHYS 345.

Advanced analog and digital electronics, computer interfacing to experiments, robotics. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory.

Individual investigations, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter.

Additional topics in thermodynamics and statistical physics, including chemical equilibrium, phase transitions, transport processes, and cryogenics. 3 lectures.

Elementary particles and their interactions, fundamental forces, the Standard Model of particle physics. Symmetries and conservation laws including parity, charge conjugation, and time reversal invariance, as well as charge-parity violation. Dirac equation, quantum electrodynamics, and Feynman diagrams. Advanced nuclear physics. Topics may include decays, symmetries of the quark model, neutrinos, nucleosynthesis, and the quark-gluon plasma. 3 lectures.

Individual investigations, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Credit/No Credit grading only. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter.

Wave nature of matter and the basic postulates of quantum mechanics. The wave function, operators, and their interpretation. Schroedinger's equation and its solutions in one and more dimensions. The hydrogen atom and the periodic table. 4 lectures.

Angular momentum operators and problems in three dimensions including the hydrogen atom. Elements of matrix mechanics and properties of spin state vectors. Time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory. Topics may include variational principle, WKB approximation. 3 lectures.

Electric and magnetic field theory using vector analysis. Electric fields, dielectric materials, magnetic fields, induced emf, magnetic materials, Maxwell's equations, wave equation. 4 lectures.

Wave equation, plane electromagnetic waves, guided waves. Dipole radiation, radiation from an accelerated charge. Special relativity. 3 lectures.

Gravity and the figure of the Earth. Body wave seismology, structure and composition of the Earth, heat flow and heat sources, Earth tides, rotational dynamics, the geomagnetic field and its source, paleomagnetism. 3 lectures.

Introduction to Einstein's theory of gravity: general relativity. Geometric description of special relativity as flat spacetime. Extension to curved spacetimes and description of gravity. Topics include solar system tests of relativity, black holes, gravitational waves, and applications to astronomy and cosmology. 3 lectures.

Experimental procedures in polymer electronics. Investigation of the characteristics of a polymer electronic device. 1 laboratory. Crosslisted as EE/PHYS 422.

Advanced topics of modern optics. May include: fiber optics, Fourier optics, quantum optics, lasers, holography, non-linear optics. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

Physics of solids including the structural, mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties, energy band theory and the properties of metals and semiconductors. 3 lectures.

Selected experiments on X-ray diffraction, Hall effect, optical absorption, thermo-electric effect, photovoltaic cells, diode characteristics, and superconductivity. 1 laboratory.

Semiconducting devices, including junction and field-effect transistors, LED's, and diode lasers. Magnetic properties of solids. Superconductivity, including discussion of high-temperature superconductors. Other topics of current interest in solid state physics. 3 lectures. Formerly PHYS 413.

Analysis of linear and nonlinear dynamical systems with emphasis on geometrical methods and visualization techniques. Fixed points, phase plane analysis, bifurcations and limit cycles. Laboratory component includes data acquisition and analysis using computers, numerical simulations of dynamical systems, and analysis of discrete systems. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

Selection and completion of a project under faculty supervision. Projects typical of problems which graduates must solve in their fields of employment. Project results are presented in a formal report. Minimum 60 hours total time.

Selection and completion of a project under faculty supervision. Projects typical of problems which graduates must solve in their fields of employment. Project results are presented in a formal report. Minimum 60 hours total time.

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures.

Directed group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 laboratories.

Part-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 12 units; major credit limited to 2 units. Credit/No Credit grading only.

Full-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 12 units; major credit limited to 2 units. Credit/No Credit grading only.