| Physics |
PHYS 805 - Experimental Physics
Credits:
4.00
Experiments in nuclear, solid-state, and surface physics.ÿÿÿÿ Experiments in nuclear, solid-state, and surface physics. I
Includes discussion of laboratory techniques, data
analysis, and data presentation. Special projects assigned
to individual students.
PHYS 806 - Introduction to Physics Research
Credits:
1.00
Introduction to research in physics including research¿
currently conducted at UNH, library resources, responsible
conduct in research, how research differs from coursework,
and how research results are presented in the research
community. Cr/F.
PHYS 808 - Optics
Credits:
4.00
Geometrical optics, electromagnetic theory of light,›ÿ¿
interference, diffraction, polarization, related phenomena
and nonlinear optics. (Alternate years only.)
PHYS 810 - Introduction to Astrophysics
Credits:
4.00
Review of the sun, stars, Milky Way, external galaxies,
and expansion of the universe. Recent discoveries of radio
galaxies, quasi-stellar objects, cosmic black-body
radiation, x rays, ad gamma rays precede a discussion of
Newtonian and general relativistic cosmological models,
steady-state/big-bang theories, and matter-antimatter
models. (Also offered as EOS 810.) (Alternate years only.)
PHYS 811 - Topics in Modern Physics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Discussions, lectures, and laboratory work on topics of
current interest in physics. An introductory course for
secondary school teachers and others with some science
background.
PHYS 812 - Introduction to Space Plasma Physics
Credits:
4.00
Introduction to the subject of space plasma physicsà›ÿ¿
including solar physics, heliospheric physics,
magnetospheric physics, and ionospheric physics. The course
provides an overview of the basic phenomena and processes
(e.g. particle acceleration and transport, shock formation,
magnetic structures and reconnection, wave propagation,
wave-particle interactions, instabilities), theoretical
techniques (e.g. single-particle orbits, kinetic and fluid
descriptions), and experimental techniques. (Also offered
as EOS 812.) (Alternate years only.)
PHYS 818 - Introduction to Solid-State Physics
Credits:
4.00
Crystal structure, diffraction, lattice vibrations,à›ÿ¿
electronic and optical properties of metals and
semiconductors; selected topics in modern condensed matter
physics. Prereq: introduction to quantum mechanics I,
electricity and magnetism I or equivalent. (Normally
offered every other year.)
PHYS 820 - Nuclear Physics
Credits:
4.00
Nuclear phenomenology, reactions, models, radiation,›ÿ¿
interaction of radiation with matter; accelerators;
properties and interactions of elementary particles;
symmetries and symmetry breaking standard model. Prereq:
introduction to quantum mechanics I and II; electricity and
magnetism I and II; or permission of instructor.
PHYS 864 - General Relativity and Cosmology
Credits:
4.00
Review of special relativity, and the motivation for›ÿ¿
considering gravity in terms of curvature of spacetime.
Introduction to Reimannian geometry, general relativity and
Einstein's equations. Application of general relativity in
the study of black holes, gravitational waves, cosmology,
as well as recent results on inflation and quantum gravity.
(Alternate years only.)
PHYS 895 - Independent Study
Credits:
1.00 to 8.00
Individual project under direction of a faculty adviser.
PHYS 899 - Master's Thesis
Credits:
1.00 to 6.00
May be repeated up to a maximum of 6 credits. Cr/F.
PHYS 900 - Introduction to Physics Research and Teaching I
Credits:
1.00
Introduction to teaching/research in physics includingÿ¿
responsibilities and methods for teaching assistants,
research currently conducted at UNH , library sources,
responsible sonduct in research, how research differs from
coursework, how research results are presented in the
research community, and readings from physics education
research literature. Cr/F.
PHYS 901 - Introduction to Physics Research and Teaching II
Credits:
1.00
Introduction to teaching/research in physics includingÿ¿
responsibilities and methods for teaching assistants,
research currently conducted at UNH , library sources,
responsible sonduct in research, how research differs from
coursework, how research results are presented in the
research community, and readings from physics education
research literature. Cr/F.
PHYS 902 - Issues in Teaching and Learning Physics
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Issues in teaching and learning physics including
cognitive models of learning; assessment tools;
meta-cognitive issues; role of mathematics; effectiveness
of labs; issues in problem solving; misconceptions studies.
Extensive reading, writing, discussion and reflection is
required. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits.
PHYS 931 - Mathematical Physics
Credits:
3.00
Complex variables, differential equations, asymptoticÿ¿
methods, integral transforms, special functions, linear
vector spaces and matrices, Green's functions, and
additional topics selected from integral equations,
variational methods, numerical methods, tensor analysis,
and group theory. (Also offered as MATH 931.)
PHYS 935 - Statistical Physics
Credits:
3.00
Review of thermodynamics and kinetic theory, followed by
an introduction to classical and quantum statistical
mechanics. Microcanonical, canonical, and grande canonical
ensembles; ideal Fermi and Bose gases and applications of
statistical mechanics to selected physical problems.
Prereq: PHYS 931; 939; 943.
PHYS 939 - Classical Mechanics
Credits:
3.00
Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian formulation of the
classical mechanics of particles and rigid bodies. Topics
that serve as background for the study of modern physical
theories are emphasized.
PHYS 940 - Physics of Fluids
Credits:
3.00
Basic principles of fluid dynamics including a review of
thermodynamics, hydrostatic equilibrium and convective
stability, continuity/momentum/energy equations, viscosity,
vorticity, and magnetohydrodynamics. Selected applications
of these principles to topics including the dynamics of
Earth's atmosphere, discontinuities and shocks, surface
water waves, the solar wind, turbulence, acoustic-gravity
waves, magnetic structuring of the Sun's atmosphere, and/or
the solar magnetic dynamo. (Also offered as EOS 940.)
(Alternate years only.)
PHYS 941 - Electromagnetic Theory I
Credits:
3.00
The formulation and detailed application ofÿÿÿÿ
electromagnetic theory to physical problems. The material
covered is at the level of the text by J.D. Jackson,
"Classical Electrodynamics".
PHYS 942 - Electromagnetic Theory II
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 941.
PHYS 943 - Quantum Mechanics I
Credits:
3.00
Introduces nonrelativistic quantum theory, covering wave
mechanics, Dirac notation, angular momentum, the use of
perturbation theory to calculate atomic energy levels, the
interaction of atoms with radiation, and various approaches
to calculating the differential scattering cross-section.
PHYS 944 - Quantum Mechanics II
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 943.
PHYS 951 - Plasma Physics
Credits:
3.00
Kinetic theory of plasmas; plasma waves, instabilities,
turbulence, diffusion, adiabatic motion of charged
particles, nonlinear plasma phenomena. Prereq: PHYS 935;
941; 941. (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS 954 - Heliospheric Physics
Credits:
3.00
The solar wind and its effects on cosmic rays. The basic
equations of the solar wind: mass, momentum, angular
momentum, and energy balance. Transport processes. Waves,
shocks, and instabilities in the solar wind. The basic
equations of energetic particle transport. Solar modulation
of solar and glacatic cosmic rays. Interaction of energetic
particles with shock waves. Salient data are reviewed.
(Normally offered every other year.) Also offered as EOS 954
PHYS 961 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
Credits:
3.00
Relativistic wave equations, propagator theory and Feynman
diagrams, quantum theory of radiation, second
quantization, introduction to quantum field theory and
related topics. Prereq: PHYS 939; 944. (Normally offered
every other year.)
PHYS 962 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics II
Credits:
3.00
See description for PHYS 961.
PHYS 965 - Advanced Solid-State Physics
Credits:
3.00
Theory of crystalline metals, semiconductors, and
insulators. Selected topics from the following: surfaces,
films, quantum dots, clusters, solid-state devices. Prereq:
PHYS 935; 941; 943. (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS 987 - Magnetospheres
Credits:
3.00
Introduces plasma of physics of the interaction of solar
and stellar winds with planets having internal magnetic
fields, most predominately, the Earth. Both MHD and kinetic
descriptions of internal and boundary processes of
magnetospheres as well as treatment of the interaction with
collisional ionospheres. Flow of mass, momentum, and
energy, through such systems. Prereq: PHYS 951; 952;/or
permission. (Also offered as EOS 987.) (Normally offered
every other year.)
PHYS 988 - High Energy Astrophysics
Credits:
3.00
One-semester course on the physical principlesÿ
underpinning the field of high energy astrophysics.
Subjects covered include production, detection, and
transport processes of neutral and charged high energy
particles and photons. Emphasizes the applications of these
processes to the detection and measurement problem and
theory of telescope design. Uses astrophysical examples to
illustrate the subject matter. First part serves as a basis
for discussing the astrophysics of the heliosphere,
including solar flares, galactic and solar cosmic rays, and
the influence of the Earth's magnetic field on the cosmic
rays. Prereq: PHYS 941; 942; 944. (Also offered as EOS
988.) (Normally offered every other year.)
PHYS 995 - Special Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 3.00
Any special fields of study not covered by the above›ÿ¿
courses may be included. Topic choices in previous years:
astrophysics; elementary particles; lasers/masers;
many-body theory; general relativity and cosmology; group
theory; atomic physics; quantum theory of light; nonlinear
equations, and chaos. May be taken more than once. (Not
offered every year.)
PHYS 999 - Doctoral Research
Credits:
Cr/F.