DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Professors Emeriti: William T. Duffy Jr., Carl H. Hayn, S.J.
Professor: Richard P. Barber Jr. (Department Chair), Betty A. Young
Associate Professors: John T. Birmingham, Philip R. Kesten
Assistant Professors: Guy Ramon, Christopher Weber
The Department of Physics offers major programs of lecture and laboratory instruction leading to the Bachelor of Science in Physics and the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics. The department also provides an academic minor in physics and required and elective courses for students majoring in other fields.
The usual career goal of a physics major is professional scientific employment in industry or government, by a university, or in secondary schools teaching physical science. The undergraduate major program in physics is appropriate preparation for graduate study in physics, astronomy and astrophysics, biophysics, environmental science, geological science and geophysics, medical physics and medicine, patent law, physical science teaching, and oceanography.
The engineering physics major is particularly appropriate for the applied science student who intends to do research and development and/or attend graduate school in physics, applied physics, or various engineering disciplines. The engineering physics major covers a broad spectrum of courses in mathematics, engineering, and physics. This program emphasizes, to a greater extent than the traditional engineering major, the physics fundamentals that are applicable to new technologies as well as to the more established ones.
Research in the department currently is funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, Research Corporation, and the Department of Energy. Majors in physics, engineering, and engineering physics participate in faculty research projects through PHYS 198 (Undergraduate Physics Research) and PHYS 199 (Directed Readings in Physics). Advanced students also have opportunities for part-time employment assisting faculty in laboratory and related teaching activities.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
In addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, students majoring in physics or engineering physics must complete the following departmental requirements:
Major in Physics
- CHEM 11 and 12
- MATH 11, 12, 13, 14, 22
- CSCI 10
- PHYS 31, 32, 33, 34, and associated labs
- PHYS 70, 103, 104, 111, 112, 113, 116, 120, 121, 122, 141, 151, and associated labs
Major in Engineering Physics
- CHEM 11 and 12
- MATH 11, 12, 13, and 14
- AMTH 106 or MATH 22
- One course from CSCI 10, COEN 10, COEN 11, or COEN 44
- PHYS 31, 32, 33, 34 (and associated labs), 70, 103, 111, 112, 121
- One upper-division physics elective chosen from PHYS 104, 113, 116, 122, 141, or 151
- PHYS 120 or MECH 121
- At least four courses from these options: MECH 15, ELEN 110, ELEN 115, MECH 143, COEN 21, MECH 122 or 132 or 266
- A cluster of five technical courses in one of several special emphasis areas including computational, electronics, materials science, solid state, mechanical
Physics 116 is taught as a capstone and, although not required, is highly recommended for engineering physics majors.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
Students must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in physics:
- PHYS 31, 32, 33, and 34 (and associated laboratories)
- Four approved upper-division courses, excluding PHYS 190, 198 and 199
LOWER-DIVISION COURSES
1. Hands-On Physics!
How do scientists know what they “know?” Notions of scientific theory and experimentation are reviewed. Error analysis and instrumentation are emphasized. Includes student-designed, peer-reviewed group projects. (4 units)
2. Introduction to Astronomy: The Solar System
An introduction to astronomy with a particular focus on the origin and evolution of the solar system, and planets and their satellites. Topics include a brief history of the science of astronomy, telescopes and observational methods, gravitation, spectra and the sun, asteroids, comets, astrobiology, and searches for new planetary bodies and extraterrestrial life. Special emphasis is given to the Earth as a planet, with comparisons to Mars and Venus. Fall and spring quarters. Students should be familiar with arithmetic and basic algebra. Evening observational lab meets five times during the quarter. (4 units)
3. Introduction to Astronomy: The Universe
An introduction to astronomy with a particular focus on the origin and evolution of the universe, galaxies and stars. Topics include a brief history of the science of astronomy, telescopes and observational methods, gravitation, spectra and the sun, black holes, nebulae, the big bang, and the expansion and ultimate fate of the universe. Special emphasis is given to theories of the cosmos from Stonehenge to the present. Fall and spring quarters. Students should be familiar with arithmetic and basic algebra. Evening observational lab meets five times during the quarter. (4 units)
4. The Physics of Dance
An exploration of the connection between the art of dance and the science of motion with both lecture/discussion sessions and movement laboratories. Topics include: mass, force, equilibrium, acceleration, energy, momentum, torque, rotation, and angular momentum. Movement laboratory combines personal experience of movement with scientific measurements and analysis, in other words: “dance it” and “measure it.” This is a lab science, not a dance technique course. Also listed as DANC 4. (4 units)
8. Introduction to Space Sciences
An introduction to space exploration and how observations from space have influenced our knowledge of Earth and of the other planets in our solar system. This is synthesized within the context of the field of astrobiology, an interdisciplinary study of the origin of the Universe and the evolution and future of life on Earth. (4 units)
9. Introduction to Earth Science
Overview of geology and its significance to man. Earthquakes, volcanism, plate tectonics and continental drift, rocks and minerals, geologic hazards, mineral resources. Emphasis on basic geologic principles and the role of geology in today’s world. (4 units)
11. General Physics I
Vectors. Newtonian law of motion. Law of gravitation. Work. Kinetic and potential energy. Momentum and impulse. Rotational energy and momentum. Kepler’s Laws. Torque. Equilibrium. Elastic deformation of solids. Density and pressure of fluids. Bernoulli’s principle. Buoyant forces. Surface tension. Prerequisite: MATH 11 or permission of the instructor. The PHYS 31/32/33 sequence and the PHYS 11/12/13 sequence cannot both be taken for credit. (4 units) NCX
12. General Physics II
Temperature scales. Thermal expansion of solids and liquids. Thermal energy. Heat transfer. Specific heat. Mechanical equivalent of heat. Work and heat. Laws of thermodynamics. Kinetic theory of gases. Ideal gas law. Entropy. Vibration and wave motion. Hooke’s law. Electric fields and potential. Ohm’s law. Potential difference. Electric potential. Energy stored in capacitors. Electric current. Resistance and resistivity. Electric energy and power. Kirchhoff ’s Rules. RC circuits. Lab. Prerequisite: PHYS 11. The PHYS 31/32/33 sequence and the PHYS 11/12/13 sequence cannot both be taken for credit. (5 units) NCX
13. General Physics III
Magnetism. Magnetic force on a current carrying conductor. Torque on a current loop. Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field. Ampere’s Law. Magnetic field of a solenoid. Induced EMF. Faraday’s Law of Induction. Lenz’s Law. Self inductance. RCL series circuit. Power in an AC circuit. Resonance. Transformers. Optics: reflection, refraction, mirrors, and lenses. Total internal reflection. Diffraction. Young’s double slit interference. Polarization. Optical Instruments. Relativity. Wave-particle duality. Photoelectric effect. X-rays. Pair production and annihilation. Bohr Atom. Spectra. Uncertainty principle. Quantum numbers. Radioactivity. Nuclear particles and reactions. Lab. Prerequisite: PHYS 12. The PHYS 31/32/33 sequence and the PHYS 11/12/13 sequence cannot both be taken for credit. (5 units) NCX
19. General Physics for Teachers
A general physics course designed for future teachers. Topics covered include mechanics, properties of matter, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, light, atomic and nuclear physics, and astronomy. (4 units)
31. Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
Measurement. Vectors. Straight-line kinematics. Kinematics in two dimensions. Laws of inertia, mass conservation, and momentum conservation. Center-of-mass andreference frames. Force. Newtonian mechanics and its applications. Work and kinetic energy. Potential energy and energy conservation. Rotational dynamics. Statics. Prerequisite: MATH 11. (MATH 11 may be taken concurrently.) The PHYS 31/32/33 sequence and the PHYS 11/12/13 sequence cannot both be taken for credit. (4 units) NCX
32. Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
Simple harmonic motion. Gravitation. Kepler’s Laws. Fluids. Waves, sound. Interference, diffraction, and polarization. Thermodynamics. Includes weekly laboratory. Prerequisites: MATH 12 and PHYS 31. (MATH 12 may be taken concurrently.) The PHYS 31/32/33 sequence and the PHYS 11/12/13 sequence cannot both be taken for credit. (5 units) NCX
33. Physics for Scientists and Engineers III
Electrostatics. Gauss’s Law. Potential. Capacitance. Electric current. Resistance. Kirchhoff’s rules. DC circuits. AC circuits. Magnetic force. Electromagnetic induction. Includes weekly laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 32. The PHYS 31/32/33 sequence and the PHYS 11/12/13 sequence cannot both be taken for credit. (5 units) NCX
34. Physics for Scientists and Engineers IV
Special relativity. Historical development of modern physics: black body radiation, photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, X-rays, Bohr atom, DeBroglie wavelength, Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Quantum waves and particles. Schrödinger equation. Nuclear structure and decay. Particle physics. Semiconductors. Includes weekly laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 33. (5 units) NCX
70. Electronic Circuits for Scientists
Linear electric circuits. DC analysis, network theorems, phasor AC analysis. Diode circuits. Physics of p-n junction. Junction diodes, field-effect devices, bipolar junction transistors. Elementary amplifiers. Small-signal device models. Logic gates, digital integrated circuits, Boolean algebra, registers, counters, memories. Operational amplifier circuits. Linear amplifier bias circuits. Includes weekly laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 33. (5 units)
UPPER-DIVISION COURSES
103. Analytical and Numerical Methods in Physics
Review of linear algebra and matrix theory. Basic elements of programming in MATLAB. Linear systems of equations: coupled harmonic oscillators. Special functions. Numerical integration. Ordinary and partial differential equations. Spectral analysis (discrete Fourier transform). Selected applications. Prerequisite: MATH 22 or AMTH 106. (5 units)
104. Analytical Mechanics
Selected topics in classical dynamics such as central force motion, coupled oscillations, dynamics of rigid bodies. Prerequisite: PHYS 103. (5 units)
111. Electromagnetic Theory I
Review of vector calculus. Dirac delta function. Electrostatic fields. Work and energy. Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations. Separation of variables. Fourier’s trick. Legendre equation. Multipole expansion. Computational problems. Prerequisites: PHYS 33 and MATH 22 or AMTH 106. Co-requisite: PHYS 103. (5 units)
112. Electromagnetic Theory II
Magnetostatics. Induced electromotive forces. Maxwell’s equations. Energy and momentum in electrodynamics. Electromagnetic stress tensor. Electromagnetic waves. Potential formulation. Computational problems. Dipole radiation. Prerequisite: PHYS 111. (5 units)
113. Advanced Electromagnetism and Optics
Advanced topics in electromagnetic theory, classical optics, photonics, and introductory quantum optics. Prerequisites: PHYS 112 and PHYS 122. (5 units)
116. Physics of Solids
Crystal structure. Phonons. Free electron theory of metals. Band theory of solids. Semiconductors. Electrical and thermal transport properties of materials. Magnetism. Superconductivity. Topics from current research literature. Physics 116 is taught as a capstone course. Prerequisites: PHYS 120, PHYS 121, and senior standing. (5 units)
120. Thermal Physics
Laws of thermodynamics with applications to ideal and non-ideal systems. Elementary kinetic theory of gases. Entropy. Classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Selected topics from magnetism and low-temperature physics. Prerequisites: PHYS 34 and PHYS 103. Recommended: PHYS 121. (5 units)
121. Quantum Mechanics I
The Schrödinger equation. The wave-function and its interpretation. Hilbert space, observables, operators and Dirac notation. Square potentials. Harmonic oscillator. The Hydrogen atom. Angular momentum and spin. Prerequisites: PHYS 34 and PHYS 104. (5 units)
122. Quantum Mechanics II
Selected topics in quantum mechanics such as identical particles, time-independent perturbation theory, variational principles, WKB approximation, time-dependent perturbation theory, scattering theory, and quantum information and computation. Physics 122 is taught as a capstone course. Prerequisite: PHYS 121. (5 units)
141. Modern Topics in Physics
A selection of current topics in physics research. (5 units)
151. Advanced Laboratory
Laboratory-based experiments in the areas of atomic, nuclear, and quantum physics. Emphasis on in-depth understanding of underlying physics, laboratory techniques, data analysis, and dissemination of results. Design and implementation of independent table-top project. Introduction to LabVIEW™. Written and oral presentations. Prerequisite: Senior standing. (6 units)
190. Senior Seminar
Advanced topics in selected areas of physics. Enrollment by permission of instructor. (2 units)
198. Undergraduate Physics Research
Departmental work under close professorial direction on research in progress. Permission of the professor directing the research must be secured before registering for this course. Restricted to physics majors, engineering physics majors, and honors students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average. (1–5 units)
199. Directed Reading in Physics
Detailed investigation of some area or topic in physics not covered in the regular courses; supervised by a faculty member. Permission of the professor directing the study must be secured before registering for this course. Restricted to students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average. (1–5 units)
