2002-2003 Description of Courses: Physics (Graduate)

MSU Physics & Astronomy Course Info
Courses for Incoming Grads and Subject Exams

MSU Physics & Astronomy Home Page

Here follow the course descriptions:

PHY 800

Research Methods
Fall, Spring, Summer Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture or equivalent, 0 or more hr lab)
A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Astronomy and Astrophysics and in Physics.
Design and setup of experiments in various faculty research areas. Data collection and analysis. Study and practice of theoretical methods.

PHY 810

Methods of Theoretical Physics
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Theoretical methods used in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and statistical mechanics.

PHY 820

Classical Mechanics
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Two-body central force problem, Hamilton's principle, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian equations of motion, variational methods, small oscillations, classical fields.

PHY 831

Statistical Mechanics
Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Equilibrium statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Boltzmann transport equations and hydrodynamics. Brownian and Langevin motion.

PHY 832

Topics in Statistical Mechanics
A Multi-Titled Course (MTC)
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Prerequisites:
Advanced topics in statistical matter physics and nuclear physics.

PHY 832A

Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics in Statistical Mechanics
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831
Application of statistical mechanics principles to nonlinear dynamics and chaos.

PHY 832B

Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena in Statistical Mechanics
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831
Application to critical phenomena. Phase transitions, Landau theory, scaling.

PHY 832C

Linear Response Theory in Quantum Statistical Systems
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831
Linear response theory in quantum statistical systems. Applications to magnetism, electrical and optical response functions. Fluctuations.

PHY 832D

Superfluidity and Superconductivity in Statistical Mechanics
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831
Applications to superfluidity and superconductivity.

PHY 841

Classical Electrodynamics I
Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, time-varying fields and Maxwell's equations. Gauge transformations. Poynting's theorme and conservation laws.

PHY 842

Classical Electrodynamics II
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Plane electromagnetic waves, polarization states, reflection, refraction. Wave guides and resonant cavities. Radiating systems, dipole fields, radiated power. Special theory of relativity.

PHY 850

Electrodynamics of Plasmas
Spring Semester of odd-numbered years
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Interdepartmental with EE & AST. Administered by EE Dept.
Prerequisites:
Plasma kinetic and macroscopic plasma transport theory. Electromagnetic wave propagation and charged particle diffusion processes in plasma. Electromagnetic energy absorption via elastic and inelastic collisions. DC, RF, and microwave discharges.

PHY 851

Quantum Mechanics I
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in College of Engineering and College of Natural Science.
Axioms of quantum and wave mechanics, applications to spherically symmetric potentials. Hydrogen atom, harmonic oscillator, matrix mechanics, angular momentum theory, rotations.

PHY 852

Quantum Mechanics II
Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Approximation methods, perturbation theory, atomic physics applications, scattering theory, identical particles, Pauli principle, Bose and Einstein statistics, Hartree-Fock approximation, collisions of identical particles, radiation.

PHY 861

Beam Physics
Spring Semester of odd-numbered years
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Particle accelerator theory and design.

PHY 853

Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Quantum description of relativistic particles and fields. Dirac equation, interpretation of negative energy states, Lagrangian field theory, quantization of free fields, interactions, perturbation theory, S-matrix, and Feynman rules.

PHY 854

Quantum Electrodynamics
Spring Semester of odd-numbered years
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Application of quantum field theory to the interaction of electrons and photons: pair annihilation, Compton scattering. Bound states, renormalization theory.

PHY 881

Subatomic Physics
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Application of conservation laws and physical principles to basic quantum mechanical problems in MeV energy range and femtometer size range. Application to nuclear data.

PHY 891

Elementary Particle Physics
Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
Nonabelian gauge theory, spontaneously broken gauge theory, electroweak interaction, W and Z boson coupling to quarks and leptons; QCD, charm, top and bottom quarks, particle generations.

PHY 899

Master's Thesis Research
Fall, Spring, Summer Semester
1 to 6 credits.
A student may earn a maximum of 24 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Physics.

PHY 901

Frontiers in Physics and Astronomy
Spring Semester
1 credit.
Seminar and discussions in physics and astronomy. Attendance at weekly colloquium.

PHY 905

Special Problems
Fall & Spring Semesters
1 to 4 credits.
A student may earn a maximum of 9 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
In-depth study of a topic in physics or in astrophysics and astronomy.

PHY 962

Topics in Beam Physics
A Multi-Titled Course (MTC)
Fall, Spring, Summer Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Prerequisites:
Selected topics in accelerator physics.

PHY 962A

Nonlinear Beam Dynamics
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 861
The dynamics of particle beams.

PHY 962B

Particle Accelerators
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 861
Theory of particle accelerator design.

PHY 962C

U. S. Particle Accelerator School
3 credits
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 861
Participation in suitable courses offered by the U.S. Particle Accelerator School.

PHY 962D

Seminar in Beam Physics Research
3 credits
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 861
Presentation of current research projects.

PHY 971

(formerly PHY 871, Condensed Matter Physics)

Atomic and Electronic Structure
Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Recommended Background:
Atomic structure, bravais lattices, x-ray scattering. Vibrations, phonons, neutron scattering. Electron in solids, electron gas. Bloch's theorem. Metals, semiconductors and insulators. Introduction to cooperative phenomena.

PHY 972

Topics in Condensed Matter Physics
A Multi-Titled Course (MTC)
Fall, Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Prerequisites:
Advanced topics in many-body problems, disordered solids, superfluidity superconductivity magnetism, or macroscopic systems.

PHY 972A

Condensed Matter: Many-Body Problems
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831, PHY 852, PHY 871
Advanced topics in many-body problems: interacting fermion systems, boson systems. Electron-phonon interactions.

PHY 972B

Condensed Matter: Disordered Solids
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831, PHY 852, PHY 871
Advanced topics in disordered solids: single-defect and many-defect problems, effective medium theories.

PHY 972C

Condensed Matter: Superfluidity and Superconductivity
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831, PHY 852, PHY 871
Advanced topics in superfluidity and superconductivity: superfluidity in helium-3 and helium-4, superconductivity in metals.

PHY 972D

Condensed Matter: Magnetism
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831, PHY 852, PHY 871
Advanced topics in magnetism: localized and itinerant magnetic systems, ground state properties, excitations, finite temperature properties.

PHY 972E

Condensed Matter: Macroscopic Systems
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831, PHY 852, PHY 871
Advanced topics in macroscopic systems: structure, dynamics, and fluctuations.

PHY 980

Advanced Reading in Physics
Fall, Spring, Summer Semester
1 to 3 credits.
A student may earn a maximum of 4 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Approval of department required.

PHY 981

Nuclear Structure
Fall, Spring Semesters
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Recommended Background:
Nuclear forces, nuclear matter, nuclear-structure models, few-nucleon systems, electromagnetic and weak transitions.

PHY 982

Topics in Nuclear Physics
A Multi-Titled Course (MTC)
Fall, Spring Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Prerequisites:
Heavy ion reactions or nuclear structure.

PHY 982A

Nuclear Physics: Heavy Ion Reactions
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 831, PHY 852, PHY 881
Scattering, particle transfer, resonance reactions, fission. Time-dependent Hartree-Fock, Vlasov equation. Nuclear transport equations, particle production, nuclear liquid-gas phase transition, quark-gluon plasma.

PHY 982B

Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Structure (superseded by PHY 981)
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 852, PHY 881
Nuclear forces, nuclear matter, nuclear-structure models, and few-nucleon systems.

PHY 983

Nuclear Astrophysics
Fall & Spring Semesters
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Recommended Background: Low energy reaction theory, survey of astrophysics, physics of nuclei and reaction relevant to astrophysics, nuclear reaction rates in stellar environments, stellar evolution, solar neutrinos, big bang nucleosynthesis, dark matter, supernova explosions, r-process, hot CNO and rp-process, cosmochronology.

PHY 992

Quantum Chromodynamics
A Multi-Titled Course (MTC)
Fall Semester
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Prerequisites:
Hadron-hadron interactions, interaction of hadrons with leptons.

PHY 992A

Quantum Chromodynamics: Hadron Interactions
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 891
Current topics in hadron-hadron interactions.

PHY 992B

Quantum Chromodynamics: Lepton-Hadron Interactions
3 credits ( 3 hr lecture, 0 hr lab)
Prerequisites:
  • PHY 891
Current topics in interaction of hadrons with leptons.

PHY 999

Doctoral Dissertation Research
Fall, Spring, Summer Semester
1 to 24 credits.
A student may earn a maximum of 99 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Physics.
This WWW page was created and is maintained by George J. Perkins, based on information in MSU's AIS database, accessible on-campus via http://www.reg.msu.edu/Courses/Search.asp.
- updated: 2003.01.03 (Friday) 12:23:34 EST -