Course description
Entrance Requirements (MSc):
Students who have completed a Bsc degree in physics with at least a B average will be considered for admission into the graduate program. Students who have completed only a major in the subject may be required to take additional courses at the Master's level. Students who have been admitted will be assigned a supervisor by the Chair of Physics. The student's research interests will be taken into consideration when a supervisor is assigned. Current areas of research in the department include astrophysics, condensed matter physics, gravity and cosmology, particle physics and theoretical physics.
Course Requirements (MSc):
The MSc degree requires the successful defense of a thesis (15 credits), participation in the seminar series (18 credits), and the completion of a minimum of 12 credits in course work. Course selection is determined in consultation with the thesis supervisor and departmental chair. All MSc students must make an oral presentation and defense of their thesis before graduating. The normal period for completion of the M.Sc. degree requirements is two academic years (four semesters). The minimum number of credits required to complete the program is 45.
Physics 561 Quantum Mechanics I 3-3-0
Foundation of quantum mechanics; Schrodinger equation, angular momentum, central potentials, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom.
Prerequisite: Physics 214b or permission of the instructor.
Students who have received credit for Physics 461a may not enrol in this course.
Physics 562 Quantum Mechanics II 3-3-0
Matrix mechanics and applications of quantum mechanics to various branches of physics. Perturbation theory, scattering, molecular applications, and Hartree-Fock Theory.
Prerequisite: Physics 461a
Students who have received credit for Physics 462b may not enrol in this course.
Physics 564 Condensed Matter Physics 3-3-0
Topics to be studied include the one-electron theory of solids, energy bands, lattice vibrations, transport theory, and thermodynamic properties.
Prerequisite: Physics 214, 220, or permission of the department.
Students who have received credit for Physics 464 may not enrol in this course.
Physics 565 Electromagnetic Theory 3-3-0
Static and dynamic electric and magnetic fields: Maxwell's equations and solutions involving plane waves. Covariant formulation of electromagnetic field theory.
Prerequisite: Physics 211b
Students who have received credit for Physics 475 may not enrol in this course.
Physics 566 Theoretical Topics 3-3-0
Topics to be studied will be selected from the areas of special and general relativity, particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. In particular, the covariant nature of physics and various physical symmetries will be investigated.
Prerequisites: Physics 214, 218, 220; or the permission of the instructor.
Physics 567 Statistical Mechanics 3-3-0
Derivation of the laws of thermodynamics from statistical principles. Quantum statistics, arbitrarily degenerate and relativistic perfect gases, transport theory, thermodynamic fluctuations, and low-temperature physics will also be studied.
Prerequisite: Physics 220b
Students who have received credit for Physics 467 may not enrol in this course.
Physics 571 Advanced Quantum Theory 3-3-0
Topics to be studied include: Path integral and second quantization approaches to nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Feynman rules and diagrams. Relativistic quantum field of spin-zero particles.
Physics 572 Particle Physics 3-3-0
Quantum field theory of spin ½ and spin 1 particles will be introduced. Topics include: renormalization and the renormalization group; quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics; the Standard Model of particle physics; overview of string theory.
Physics 573 Advanced General Relativity 3-3-0
Topics to be studied include: differential geometry, Einstein equations, the weak field limit, gravitational waves, black holes, and relativistic cosmology.
Physics 574 Relativistic Astrophysics 3-3-0
Topics to be studied include: Cosmology, inflation, dark energy, compact objects, relativistic fluid dynamics, gravitational lensing, and gravitational waves.
Physics 575 Numerical Methods & Simulations 3-3-0
This course will cover selected topics in High Performance Computing including cellular automata, finite element methods, molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo methods, and multigrid methods, with applications to classical fields, fluid dynamics, materials properties, nanostructures, and biomolecules.
Physics 576 Stellar Astrophysics I 3-3-0
An introduction to the properties of stellar atmospheres and interiors. The equations of stellar evolution, nuclear energy generation, radiative transport and stellar model building will be studied. Further topics include the formation of starts, and the physics associated with supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and pulsars.
Physics 577 Many-Body Quantum Theory in Condensed Matter Systems 3-3-0
The following topics will be studied: Green's functions at zero and finite temperature; the interacting electron gas; the Hubbard model and strongly correlated systems; electron- phonon interaction; superconductivity and superfluidity.
Physics 578 Selected Topics in Astronomy & Astrophysics 3-3-0
Topics to be determined in consultation with prospective students.
Physics 579 Selected Theoretical Topics 3-3-0
Topics to be determined in consultation with prospective students.
Physics 580f Graduate Seminar I 9-0-0
Students are expected to participate in the departmental seminar series and to make a presentation on either their own work or on a research-related topic. All M.Sc. Students are normally expected to enrol in this course at the beginning of their first year of studies.
Offered alternate years with Physics 581.
Physics 581f Graduate Seminar II 9-0-0
Students in the second year of their degree program are expected to participate in the departmental seminar series and to make a presentation on either their own work or on a research-related topic.
Course offered alternate years with Physics 580.
Physics 586 Stellar Astrophysics II 3-3-0
A detailed study of the physics that determines the evolution of stars during all of their possible phases. This includes radiative hydrodynamics and atmospheric modeling, specialized equations of state, and the nuclear physics needed to understand the various channels that lead to the creation of the heavy elements. The physics of neutrino production and detection will also be investigated. These topics will form the basis for a study of the evolution of supernovae and other high-energy phenomena in stellar astrophysics.
Physics 600f Thesis Research Dissertation 1 5-0-0
Each student is required to carry out independent, publishable research that is presented in the form of a thesis. The research is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. The thesis will be evaluated externally and must be successfully defended in a meeting that is open to all members of the department.
