(PHYS)
Professors T.W.AdairIII,
G.Agnolet, R.E.Allen, R.L.Arnowitt, W.H.Bassichis, R.A.Bryan,
S.Chin, D.A.Church, N.M.Duller, A.L.Ford, E.S.Fry (Head), S.
A. Fulling, C.A.Gagliardi, J. C. Hardy, C.R.Hu, T.Kamon, G.W.Kattawar,
R.A.Kenefick, C.M.Ko, O. Kocharovskaya, P.M.McIntyre, D. V. Nanopoulos,
D.G.Naugle, V. L. Pokrovsky, C.N.Pope, J.F.Reading, W.M.Saslow,
H.A.Schuessler, M.O.Scully, E.Sezgin, R.E.Tribble, R.C.Webb,Sr.,
M.B.Weimer, J.T.White, D.H.Youngblood; Associate
Professors V. Kocharovsky, J.H.Ross,Jr., G.R.Welch, M. S.
Zubairy; Assistant Professors A.
V. Sokolov, W. Teizer, D. Toback, T. Walther
101. Topics in Contemporary Physics. (1-0).
Credit 1. I
Modern developments in the frontier areas of
experimental and theoretical physics. Research specialities
in the Department of Physics will be represented, including
equipment demonstrations and visiting speakers. For physics
majors. Registration by non-majors requires approval of physics
department head.
201. College Physics. (3-3). Credit 4.
I, II, S
Fundamentals of classical mechanics, heat, and
sound. Primarily for architecture, education, premedical, predental,
and preveterinary medical students. Prerequisite: MATH 103
or equivalent.
202. College Physics. (3-3). Credit 4.
I, II, S
Continuation of PHYS 201. Fundamentals of classical
electricity and light; introduction to contemporary physics.
Prerequisite: PHYS 201.
205. Concepts of Physics. (3-3). Credit
4.
General survey physics course for K-8 preservice
teachers integrating physics content and laboratory activities
relevant to physics-related subject matter included in the
current Texas and national standards for elementary school
science; includes aspects of mechanics, waves, electricity,
magnetism and modern physics. Prerequisite: Major in interdisciplinary
studies or interdisciplinary technology or approval of instructor.
208. Electricity and Optics. (3-3). Credit
4. I, II, S
Continuation of PHYS 218. Electricity, magnetism
and optics. Primarily for engineering students. Prerequisites:
PHYS 218; MATH 152 or 172 or registration therein.
218. Mechanics. (3-3). Credit 4. I, II,
S
Mechanics for students in science and engineering.
Prerequisite: MATH 151 or 171 or registration therein.
219. Electricity. (3-3). Credit 4. I, II
Continuation of PHYS 218; electricity, magnetism
and introduction to optics; PHYS 219 is the second semester
of a three-semester sequence in general physics: the first
course of the sequence is PHYS 218 and the third course is
PHYS 221. Prerequisites: PHYS 218; MATH 152 or 172 or registration
therein.
221. Optics and Thermal Physics. (3-0).
Credit 3. I, II
Wave motion and sound,
geometrical and physical optics, kinetic theory of gases,
laws of thermodynamics. Prerequisites: PHYS 208 or 219; MATH
152 or 172.
222. Modern Physics for Engineers. (3-0).
Credit 3. I, II, S
Atomic, quantum, relativity and solid state
physics. Prerequisites: PHYS 208 or 219; MATH 308 or registration
therein.
225. Electronic Circuits and Applications.
(3-3). Credit 4.
Linear circuit theory and applications of solid-state
diodes, bipolar and field-effect transistors, operational amplifiers
and digital systems. Prerequisites: PHYS 208 or 219; MATH 308.
285. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4.
Special work in laboratory or theory to meet
individual requirements in cases not covered by regular curriculum;
intended for use as lower-level credit. Prerequisite: Approval
of department head.
289. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified area of physics.
May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
302. Advanced Mechanics. (4-0). Credit
4. I
Motion of a particle in various force fields,
systems of particles; rigid body motion, coupled oscillators
and accelerated frames of reference. Prerequisites: PHYS 221;
MATH 308; registration in MATH 311.
304. Advanced Electricity and Magnetism
I. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Electrostatics; dielectrics; electrical current
and circuits; magnetic fields and materials; induction; Maxwell's
equations. Prerequisites: PHYS 221; MATH 311 or registration
therein.
305. Advanced Electricity and Magnetism
II. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Radiation and optics. Electromagnetic waves;
radiation; reflection and refraction; interference; diffraction;
special relativity applied to electrodynamics. Prerequisite:
PHYS 304.
306. Basic Astronomy. (3-0). Credit 3.
I, II, S
Qualitative approach to planets, stars, galaxies
and cosmology; aspects of the sky, determining the properties
of celestial bodies; birth, life and death of stars: nebulae,
pulsars, supernovas, black holes; origin and fate of the universe;
active galactic nuclei and other super-energetic phenomena;
modern knowledge of the Solar System and its origin, life in
our and other systems.
307. Observational Astronomy. (0-3). Credit
1. I, II, S
Observational and laboratory course which may
be taken in conjunction with PHYS 306 or 314. Use of techniques
and instruments of classical and modern astronomy. Prerequisite:
PHYS 306 or 314, or registration therein.
309. Modern Physics. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Special relativity; concepts of waves and particles;
introductory quantum mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 221; MATH
308 or registration therein.
314. Survey of Astronomy. (3-0). Credit
3. I
Primarily for majors in science and engineering.
Kepler's laws, law of gravitation, solar system, stars, stellar
evolution, nucleosynthesis, cosmology, clusters, nebulae, pulsars,
quasars, black holes. Prerequisite: PHYS 208 or 219.
327. Experimental Physics. (2-3). Credit
3.
Laboratory experiments in modern physics and
physical optics with an introduction to current, state-of-the-art
recording techniques. Prerequisites: PHYS 225; PHYS 309 or
NUEN 201.
401. Computational Physics. (3-0). Credit
3. I
Computational techniques in physics applications
and research; including numerical interpolation, differentiation
and integration, symbolic computation, Monte Carlo methods,
vector and matrix operations, graphics, differential equations,
variational methods and fast Fourier transforms. Prerequisite:
MATH 311 or 409, or registration therein. Ability to program
in a high level language, such as FORTRAN. CPSC 203 can be
used to satisfy this requirement.
408. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics.
(4-0). Credit 4. I
Statistical method, macroscopic thermodynamics,
kinetic theory, black body radiation, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein,
and Fermi-Dirac Statistics. Prerequisites: PHYS 221 and 412;
MATH 311 or equivalent.
412. Quantum Mechanics I. (3-0). Credit
3. II
Postulates of wave mechanics; wave packets;
harmonic oscillator; central field problem; hydrogen atom;
approximation methods. Prerequisites: PHYS 302 and 309; MATH
308.
414. Quantum Mechanics II. (3-0). Credit
3. I
Continuation of PHYS 412. Electron spin; addition
of angular momenta; atomic structure; time dependent perturbations;
collision theory; application of quantum mechanics to atomic,
solid state, nuclear or high energy physics. Prerequisite:
PHYS 412.
425. Physics Laboratory. (0-6). Credit
2. I
Experiments in nuclear, atomic, and molecular
physics using modern instrumentation and equipment of current
research. Prerequisite: PHYS 327 or equivalent.
426. Physics Laboratory. (0-6). Credit
2. II
Experiments in solid state and nuclear physics.
Modern instrumentation and current research equipment are employed.
Prerequisite: PHYS 327 or equivalent.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 or more.
I, II, S
Special work in laboratory or theory to meet
individual requirements in cases not covered by regular curriculum.
Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
489. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.
I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified field of physics.
May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
