Graduate Courses

Physics

Brief review of quantum mechanics including operators, linear vector spaces and Dirac notation; General theory of angular momentum and rotation group, addition of angular momenta, Clebsch?Gordan techniques, scattering of spin 1 2 particles with spinless particles, tensor operators; a brief review of time dependent perturbation theory, interaction of radiation with matter, absorption of light, induced and spontaneous emission, electric and magnetic dipole transitions, selections rules and scattering of light. Prerequisite: PHYS 402

Quantization of radiation field; Emission and absorption of photons by atoms, Lamb shift; Relativistic spin zero particles, Klein-Gordon equation, Quantization of spin 0 field; Relativistic spin 1 2 particles; details of Dirac equation and its applications; Quantization of Dirac field; 2-component neutrino theory; Covariant perturbation theory; S-matrix; electron and photon propagators; Application to 2-photon annihilation, Compton scattering and Moller scattering; Introduction to mass and charge renormalization. Prerequisite: PHYS 501

Four experiments from the different areas of current research interest in the Physics Department, each is supervised by a faculty member from the respective research specialty. Emphasis on some of the techniques and instrumentation currently used in research; computer-assisted and advanced techniques of analysis of data. Prerequisite: PHYS 403 or Consent of the Instructor

Boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics; dielectrics and magnetic media; Maxwell's equations and conservation laws; wave guides and resonators; simple radiating systems. Prerequisite: PHYS 306

The electromagnetic potentials and the Hertz vectors; cylindrical waves, spherical waves, the Debye potentials; multipole radiation; classical relativistic electrodynamics; radiation from moving charges. Prerequisite: PHYS 505

Topics discussed include variational principles; Lagrange's equations; the rigid body equations of motion; Hamilton's equations; canonical transformations; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; small oscillations and normal coordinates and continuous systems and fields. Prerequisite: PHYS 302

Review of relevant topics from quantum mechanics, Photon number states and Photon statistics, Coherent states of the radiation field, Resonant light-atom interactions, The Rabbi Model, the Janes-Cummings Model, Quantum Mechanics of Beam Splitters, Interferometry with a Single Photon, Interferometry with Coherent States of Light, Selected Applications to Quantum Computing and Information

Partial coherence; photon statistics; stochastic processes; Markoffian processes; statistical states in quantum theory; equation of motion of the electromagnetic field; coherent state representation of the electromagnetic field; quantum theory of optical correlation; theoretical laser models; nonlinear optical phenomena. Prerequisites: PHYS 411, PHYS 501

Review of relevant Quantum Mechanics concepts including linear vector spaces, Entanglement, the EPR paradox, and Bell's inequality. Measurements in quantum system, functions and operators, density operators. Review of classical computing, quantum computation including the qubit, quantum gates and search algorithms. Quantum communication including cryptography and teleportation. Overview of some experimental implementations and idea of quantum hardware.

Basic concepts and operating principles of the quantum computer and quantum internet (e.g. the ket notation and the qubits), extensive discussion on some of the different ways qubits can be built. Photonic quantum computing, Superconducting qubits, NMR, Ion Trap quantum computing, Atomic quantum computing.

Radiative transfer and internal structure of normal stars; red giants; white dwarfs; neutron stars; pulsars; nova and super-nova explosions; nuclear theories of stellar evolution; binary systems and galactic x-ray sources; galaxies; quasars and cosmology.

Introduction to Magnetism and Magnetostatics; Classical and Quantum Phenomenology of Magnetism; Quantum Mechanics and Exchange Mechanisms in atoms, oxides, and metals; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic Domain Walls and Domains; Surface and Thin Film Magnetism; Spintronics; Application of magnetism in information technology; Magnetic recording. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

Topics of borderline between Nuclear and Particle Physics will be emphasized e.g., Isospin and charge dependent effects in nuclear forces; Meson exchange effects in nuclear physics; Structure of nucleon and nuclei by electron scattering; Quarks in nuclei. Corequisite: PHYS 501

Generalities; Nuclear sizes, forces, binding energies, moments; Nuclear models: Fermi-gas model, liquid drop model (fission), collective models (rotational/vibrational spectra), Electromagnetic transitions: multipole expansion, decay rates, selection rules; Simple theory of Beta decay. Prerequisites: PHYS 422, PHYS 501

Two body system and nuclear forces; nuclear reactions; scattering matrix, resonance optical model; compound nucleus; direct reactions; fission, heavy ion nuclear reactions; photo-nuclear reactions. Prerequisites: PHYS 422, PHYS 501

Nuclear radiation detectors; basic pulse circuits, pulse shaping methods for nuclear spectroscopy, resolution in nuclear spectroscopy systems, amplifiers; pulse height and shape discriminators; timing circuits; multi-channel pulse height analyzers; multi-parameter and computer analysis. Prerequisites: PHYS 403, PHYS 422

Production and detection of neutrons; introduction to polarization; production of polarized neutrons; polarized targets; neutron-induced reactions; applications in other fields. Prerequisites: PHYS 422, PHYS 501

Pre-Requisites: PHYS501

Fundamentals of nuclear structure and radiation physics. Neutron interactions with matter. Diffusion theory, and moderation. Time-dependent reactors. Radiation Shielding. Reactor Core Simulations. Physics of nuclear fusion.

The statistical basis of thermodynamics; elements of ensemble theory, the canonical and grand canonical ensembles; quantum statistics; application to simple gases; Bose and Fermi systems; Imperfect gas; Phase transitions and Ising model.

Review of pertinent topics in classical and quantum physics. Gibb’s statistical ensembles, MB, BE, and FD statistics with simple applications to solids. Theoretical foundations of Monte Carlo simulation, Markov chains, random walks. Study of phase transitions in the 2D and 3D Ising models as well as in the Landau Ginsburg Model using Monte Carlo simulations. Brownian Dynamics as an example of simulation for the study of stochastic systems.

Review of free electron gas. Bravais lattice and crystal structure, reciprocal lattice and Brillouin zones, crystal binding, electron states in periodic potential, energy band structure and application to metals, semiconductors and insulators, Fermi surface, surface effects, lattice dynamics and lattice specific heat, electron-photon and effective electron-electron interactions, and dielectric properties and applications. Prerequisites: PHYS 306, PHYS 432

Transport phenomena, impurity effects and impurity structure, various spectroscopies using photons and charged particles as excitation source and application to bulk and surface properties, many-body effects, magnetism and related topics, superconductivity and related theories, and resonance phenomena and applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 532

Production of low temperatures; the cryogenic fluids; superfluidity; helium I and II; He 3; type I and II super-conductivity; BCS theory; applications of superconductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 401

Characterization of particle: Mass, spin and magnetic moment; classification of particles; internal quantum numbers; baryon and lepton charges and hypercharge; Isospin and SU(2) group; Discrete space-time transformations; Determination of parity and spin of particles; K0 - K0 complex; CP violation; CPT theorem; Quark model of hadrons; 3 quark flavors and SU(3) classification of particles; Mass spectrum of hadrons and their magnetic moments in quark model; Discovery of additional quark flavors; Color charge and gluon; Non-relativistic treatment of one gluon exchange potential and its application to mass spectrum of hadrons. Prerequisite: PHYS 501

Introduction to weak interactions, V-A theory; Vector and axial vector currents; Intermediate vector bosons, Non-abelian gauge transformations; Spontaneous symmetry breaking; Unification of weak and electromagnetic interactions; Introduction to quantum chromodynamics; Introduction to grand unification. Prerequisites: PHYS 502, PHYS 541

Energy levels and wave functions of atoms and molecules; microwave, infrared, visible and UV spectroscopies; lasers and masers; LS and j j coupling; Thomas- Fermi and Hartree-Fock approximations; relativistic effects; group theoretical considerations; collisions. Prerequisite: PHYS 501

Review introduction to the basics of plasma physics; thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of equilibrium plasma; macroscopic properties and waves in the fluid plasma; stability of the fluid plasma; transport phenomena. Prerequisites: PHYS 461, PHYS 530

Kinetic equations; Vlasov theory of plasma waves; Vlasov theory of plasma stability; the nonlinear Vlasov theory of plasma waves and instabilities; fluctuation correlation and radiation; particle motion; selected advanced topics. Prerequisite: PHYS 561

Partial differential equations, Separation of variables; Eigenfunctions and Eigenvalues; Linear vector spaces and linear operators; Green functions; Integral equations; Integral transforms. Prerequisite: PHYS 371 or Consent of the Instructor

The course provides an introduction to materials informatics, which is an intersection between materials science, computational methods, and big-data sciences. The emphasis will be toward foundational backgrounds including an introduction to machine and statistical learning, ML-based materials science modeling, and implementations. As the fielding is expanding, a short overview of the contemporary trends in the field will be provided.

This course is to present the theories and methods in multiscale modeling and simulations of materials, both in multi-length and multi-time scales. It covers the algorithmic basis for atomic scale, mesoscale and continuum scale modeling approaches, emphasizing the atomic-to-continuum connection and homogenization problems in continuum modeling of materials. Concrete examples will be used to explain the basic knowledge about the principles, concepts, methods, tools, and packages in multiscale modeling and design. Students will have hands-on experience on the applications of multiscale modeling and design on solid materials, fluids, and soft materials.

The Equivalence principle; Field equations and the gravitational potential; solutions of Einstein's equations; the classical tests for general relativity; cosmology; star phenomenology including stellar equilibrium; Neutron star and gravitational collapse. Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor

Advanced topics selected for their current interest. Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor

Graduate students are required to attend the seminars given by faculty, visiting scholars, and fellow graduate students. Additionally, each student must present at least one seminar on a timely research topic. Among other things, this course is designed to give the student an overview of research in the Department, and a familiarity with the research methodology, journals, and professional societies in his discipline. Graded on a Pass or Fail basis. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

A graduate course dealing with molecular symmetry and its importance in Molecular Spectroscopy: It will involve symmetry operation, molecular spectra and assignments, etc.

Conventional spectroscopic techniques; resonant and multi photon laser absorption processes; fluorescence and phosphorescence; ionization, dissociation, ejected electron spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy; time-of-flight spectroscopy; photo-acoustic spectroscopy ; analysis and interpretation of spectra from gases, liquids, and solids; collisions and other perturbations; configuration interaction; multichannel quantum defect theory and analysis; supersonic jet molecular spectroscopy; polarization spectroscopy; stimulated Raman scattering, coherent effects, laser cooling and Bose-Einstein condensation.

None

Nonlinear optical susceptibility; wave equation description of nonlinear optical interactions; quantum mechanical description; harmonic generation; intensity- dependent refractive index; optical Bloch equations; nonlinear wave mixing; optical phase conjugation, self focusing, optical bistability; pulse propagation and optical solutions; acoustic-optic and electro-optic effects; simulated scattering processes; photorefractive effect.

Radiative and non-radiative transittons; line broadening; optical wave-guides and resonators; resonator modes; oscillation and amplification; gain coefficient; rate equation analysis; semi-classical laser theory; density matrix formalism; lasing without population inversion; Q-switching, mode-locking and pulse compression; spectral narrowing.

Pre-Requisites: PHYS501 Or PHYS501

Quantum mechanical equations of the light field and the atom; quantum mechanical Langevin equations; generalized Fokker-Planck equations; quantum coherence; single-mode operation on homogeneously and in homogeneously broadened transitions; phase-locking; multi-mode action; duke superradiance; photon counting; fluctuations; quantum chaos; squeezed light.

Pre-Requisites: PHYS612 Or PHYS612

Design considerations; specific laser systems; gas lasers, atomic vapor lasers, solid state lasers, dye lasers, semiconductors lasers, color center lasers, spin-flip Raman lasers, free-electron lasers, optical parametric oscillators; superradiance and amplified spontaneous emission; wave-guides; tunability; laser optics; laser parameter measurements; pulse widths and line widths controls; nonlinear processes including harmonic generation and frequency mixing; laser applications; recent developments.

A graduate student will arrange with a faculty member to conduct an industrial research project related to the QIC, the field of the study. Subsequently the students shall acquire skills and gain experiences in developing and running actual industry-based project. This project culminates in the writing of a technical report, and an oral technical presentation in front of a board of professors and industry experts.

Functional integral formulation of gauge theories. Divergences, regularization and renormalization. Higher order processes in electrodynamics. Non abblian guage theories. Renormalization group

The topics covered: Racah algebra, 6-j, 9-j symbols, second quantization, graphology, evaluation of two-and many-body nuclear matrix elements, Moshinsky transformation, collective models, microscopic models, Nilssen levels, interplay of collective and microscopic models, large-amplitude collective motion, super-heavy elements, high-spin states.

The topics covered: second quantization, systems of identical particles, occupation nuclear representation, many-body operators coherent states for bosons and fermions, mean-field approximations, variational principles, HF approximation for boson and fermion systems, time-dependent mean field approximation, time-dependent Hartree-Fock, perturbation theory, functional integral formulation, Feynman path-integral formulation, Partition function for Many-particle systems; Perturbation theory, Wick's theorem, Feynman diagrams and diagrammatic expansions, Green's functions:Analytic properties, equations of motion, approximations.

Graduate course in methods and techniques of experimental nuclear physics providing a general background in advanced techniques of experimental nuclear physics. Topics to be covered are: Nuclear particle accelerators and important components of beam transportation system, duoplasmatron and polarized ion sources, polarized beams and targets, techniques of single and double scattering polarization experiments involving spin 0, 1/2 and spin 1 particles, techniques of spin-spin correlation experiments.

Theoretical study of phase transitions and critical phenomena: Topics covered include: Introduction to the main characteristics of phase transition phenomena; Simple models (Ising, Gaussian and spherical models); real space renormalization; mean field theory, Landau-Ginzburg model; diagrammatic perturbation theory and Feynman rules in wave vector space; renormalization group theory; applications.

Second quantization; elementary excitations, phonons, magnons, plasmons; Fermion fields and the Hartree-Fock approximation; dielectric response; many- body techniques, electron-phonon interaction, superconductivity.

Quantum mechanical foundation for modem semiconductor devices: band structure, carrier concentration at thermal equilibrium and non-equilibrium, optical, thermal and high electric field properties, band-gap engineering, metal- semiconductor contacts, semiconductor hetrojunction; Schottky and ohmic contacts; MESFET, MOSFET and MOS capacitors; photovoltaic.

Band structure; statistical mechanics of electrons and holes; transport properties; optical properties; principle of junctions and heterojunctions; electron confinement; nanostructures; quantum well structures.

Pre-Requisites: PHYS537 Or PHYS537

Growth thermodynamics and nucleation; surfaces and interfaces; growth modes, structural properties and defects, textured films, amorphous films; chemical properties, mechanical properties, stresses in thin films; electrical properties ; optical properties; deposition techniques; characterization techniques; special topics and applications : Photovoltaic, gas sensing, smart coatings, information storage.

Radiative and non-radiative transitions; line broadening; optical wave-guides and resonators; resonator modes; oscillation and amplification; gain coefficient; rate equation analysis; semiclassical laser theory; density matrix formalism; lasing without population inversion; Q-switching, mode-locking and pulse compression; spectral narrowing.

Advanced topics selected for their current research interest.

Advanced topics selected for their current research interest.

Advanced topics selected for their current research interest.

Advanced topics selected for their current research interest.

PhD students are required to attend Departmental seminars delivered by faculty, visiting scholars and graduate students. Additionally, each PhD student should present at least one seminar on a timely research topic. PhD students should pass the comprehensive examination as part of this course. This course is a pre- requisite to registering the PhD Dissertation PHYS 710. The course is graded as pass or fail.

This course is intended to allow the student to conduct research in advanced problems in his PhD research area. The faculty offering the course should submit a research plan to be approved by the graduate program committee at the academic department. The student is expected to deliver a public seminar and report on his research outcomes at the end of the course.

This course is intended to allow the student to conduct research in advanced problems in his PhD research area. The faculty offering the course should submit a research plan to be approved by the graduate program committee at the academic department. The student is expected to deliver a public seminar and report on his research outcomes at the end of the course.

None

This course enables the students to submit his PhD Dissertation proposal and defend it in public. The student passes the course if the PhD Dissertation committee accepts the submitted dissertation report and upon successfully passing the Dissertation proposal public defense. The course grade can be NP, NF.

Pre-Requisites: PHYS699*

Co-Requisites: PHYS 699

None

Pre-Requisites: PHYS711