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Physics Department Graduate700-level Core Courses
Three professors are selected on a rotating basis to teach graduate core courses
in Classical Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Quantum Mechanics. Below,
the most recent descriptions of the courses as they were taught.
PY 783 Advanced Classical Mechanics
Course description:
Modern physics represents an extension of the search for the range of applicability
of classical mechanics. Most current physical intuition is ultimately based
on the concepts from the classical mechanics. Our department’s course
in advanced classical mechanics, PY 783, is an upper level classical mechanics
course aimed at developing a deep understanding of important concepts that
can be applied in most branches of physics. Thus, this course is not only an
indispensable part of the physicist's education but also an essential preparation
for advanced work and research in physics. Formal aspects of Lagrange's Equations,
Hamilton's Principle, Canonical Transformations, Poisson Brackets and Hamilton-Jacobi
Theory are presented. Application to the specific problems such as the central
force problem and rigid body motion are practiced extensively. Extensions to
the theory of relativity, covariant formulation, symmetry properties, and group
structure are also emphasized. Because the lectures do not simply recapitulate
the textbook but make the class interactive, it is essential to attend every
full-lecture and to participate in class discussions. Students are expected
to come prepared, not just to transcribe, but to think and respond.
Text: To Be Announced
PY 785 & 786 Advanced Electricity and Magnetism
Course description:
Electrodynamics, as summarized by Maxwell's Equations, is arguably the most
successful theory that has ever been formulated, incorporating not only mechanics
but also special relativity and describing nonrelativistic and relativistic
phenomena on length scales ranging from at least the subnuclear to the size
of the universe. Maxwell's Equations provide an excellent framework for developing
a thorough understanding of Gauss', Stokes' and Green's Theorems, which are
basic vector-calculus relations that are used in essentially all branches of
physics. Finally, practical applications often involve spatial and temporal
averaging, which connects microscopic behavior where the physics actually occurs
to the macroscopic phenomena that we usually observe, and thus provide important
examples of this often-neglected topic.
Starting with the Lorentz force law and a statement of Maxwell's Equations,
in PY785 we address the statics limit, developing an understanding of electro-
and magnetostatic phenomena; the use of the Gauss' and Stokes' theorems to
establish continuity conditions at both real and virtual boundaries; Green's
Theorem to provide general solutions of Laplace's and Poisson's equations for
both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions; and averaging to connect microscopic
and macroscopic properties and thus provide the physical basis for the macroscopic
form of Maxwell's Equations. Approaches to solving the Laplace and Poisson
equations are thoroughly treated, including the method of images, Green functions,
and the use of series expansions and associated orthogonal functions in Cartesian,
cylindrical, and spherical co-ordinates.
In PY786 we treat the time-dependent case, covering in addition some aspects
of physical optics. Topics discussed include conservation laws, the Poynting
vector with particular emphasis on implications for coherent and incoherent
systems; plane-wave propagation in anisotropic as well as isotropic media;
waveguides and resonant cavities, including optical fibers and lasers; radiation,
scattering, and diffraction; and special relativity. To simplify what can easily
become a confusing and difficult topic, we return regularly to the 10 fundamental
relations: the four Maxwell equations, the three mathematical theorems listed
above, the two constitutive relations, and averaging. Emphasis is placed on
fundamentals and on setting up problems, noting that during their careers most
students who take this course will be addressing problems that have not been
solved previously and hence problems for which answers cannot be found in textbooks.
Text: Classical Electrodynamics by Jackson
PY 781 & 782 Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Course description:
PY 781 Intermediate Quantum Mechanics I
The development of quantum mechanics during the first thirty years of the
20th century has completely revolutionized Physics and our understanding of
the laws of nature. While the results of quantum mechanics often seem counterintuitive
(as compared to the more familiar classical mechanics), the predictive power
of quantum mechanics in understanding the world at atomic length scales (and
lower) has never failed. This course aims to develop a solid and thorough grounding
in the basics of quantum mechanics beginning with a treatment of operator algebra,
measurements, observables and the uncertainty relations. This will be followed
by the development of nonrelativistic quantum theory which finds its expression
in the form of Schroedinger's equation, propagators and Feynmann Path Integrals.
A discussion of the quantum theory of angular momentum, including the development
of Clebsch-Gordon coefficients, Bell's inequality and Tensor operators completes
this basic treatment.
PY 782 Intermediate Quantum Mechanics II
In its simplest form, nonrelativistic quantum mechanics finds its expression
in terms of the Schroedinger's equation which, in most cases, cannot be solved
exactly. The initial focus is therefore on a thorough treatment of approximate
methods to solving quantum mechanical problems including the variational approach,
time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory. These methods will
be illustrated with a number of classic problems in atomic physics including
the Stark and Zeeman effects, and a semiclassical treatment of the radiation
field. Other important topics to be covered include the treatment of many identical
quantum particles, the subsequent development of the Hartree-Fock theory, bonding,
and quantum scattering theory.
Text: Modern Quantum Mechanics by Sakurai
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