Graduate Level 500 Courses
Special Topics in Physics
Prerequisites: Variable, depending on topic
An advanced treatment of a special topic in physics with an emphasis on recent developments. The subject matter varies according tho the interests of the instructor and the students.
Physics of Ocean Boundary Layers
Prerequisites: PHY 315 and MNE 332 or equivalent; or exposure to PDEs or undergradaute fluid mechanics
Tools and the physical concepts needed to understand the physics of ocean boundary layers. This course considers tensor analysis, motion relative to a point, Bousinessq approximation, vorticity dynamics in geophysical fluid flows and the physical processes pertaining to oceanic boundary layers, surface gravity waves, and oceanic turbulence. Also discussed is surface energy exchange at the ocean-atmosphere interface.
Computational Physics
Prerequisites: CIS 115 and PHY 313 or equivalents
Application of computational techniques to computer simulations in physical science and engineering. The course covers physical concepts such as realistic projectile motion, planetary systems, nonlinear dynamics, chaos and fractals, and electromagnetic and quantum systems. The course exposes students to numerical algorithms and methods such as solutions to optimization, quadrature, fast Fourier transform, and boundry value problems, and gives hands-on experience in programming and computer simulations.
Intermediate Quantum Mechanics I
Fundamentals of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger equation, operator techniques, angular momentum, central force motion, spin, matrix representations, and elementary perturbation theory are studied.
Statistical Thermodynamics
The laws of thermodynamics and their interpretation based on the microscopic behavior. Entropy and probability, equilibrium, reversibility, thermodynamic functions, phase changes, quantum statistics are studied. Applications to problems in solid state physics are examined.
Fundamentals of Physical Oceanography
Prerequisite: Differential and integral calculus or permission of instructor
Fundamental physical oceanographical processes important to coastal and open ocean environments. Included in the course are lectures by current researchers in specialized topics such as satellite oceanography and numerical modeling.
Introduction to Nuclear Physics
Prerequisite: PHY 341 or equivalent
Introduction to properties of nuclei and nuclear forces, nuclear reactions, radioactive decay and discussion of nuclear structure including the nuclear shell model and collective model.
Physics of Fluids
Prerequisites: MTH 212 and PHY 234 or equivalents
Scientific basics of fluid physics. Applications with a bias towards geophysical and astrophysical fluid mechanics. This course also prepares students in applied mathematics topics, including the applications of ODEs and PDEs, by way of many examples from different areas of fluid physics.
