PHYS 598

Fall 2004 All Classes

All Classes

Special Topics in Physics

Credit: 1 TO 4 hours.

(PHYCS 498) Lecture course in topics of current interest. Several subjects are announced in each Class Schedule. Among them are semiconductor physics, magnetic resonance, surface physics, lattice dynamics, band theory of solids, crystal imperfections, nuclear structure, field theory, elementary particle physics, advanced statistical mechanics, plasma theory, astrophysics, atmospheric physics, group theory and applications.

Prerequisite: Determined for each offering; see Class Schedule.

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PHYS 598 class schedule data for fall 2004
CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
34935	Lecture	AST	3:30PM -4:50PM	MW	Loomis Laboratory	Lamb, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: ASTROPHYSICS. Satisfies the physics graduate program "cafeteria" requirement. PHYS 598AST will survey astrophysical phenomena and processes relevant to the evolution of the Universe and structures in it, from the formation of stars and galaxies at the earliest times to the final end states of matter as compact objects. The emphasis will be on developing an understanding based on the underlying physics. Exciting recent developments will be described. Specific topics will include big bang cosmology and the cosmic microwave background radiation; formation, interaction, and evolution of galaxies; formation, structure, and evolution of stars; dynamics of stellar systems; white dwarfs, supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes; physics of accretion disks; the fate of the universe. Topics of special current interest will include cosmological inflation, dark matter in the universe, powerful gamma-ray bursts, feeding of quasars, generation of radio and X-ray emission by supermassive black holes, gravitational lensing, sources of gravitational radiation, and the solar neutrino problem. Course work will consist of weekly homework problems, a mid-term exam, and a final exam. The course will be based on lecture notes and readings, and will be taught at the level of the Astrophysics I and II texts by Bowers and Deeming. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
34933	Lecture	B	10:30AM -11:50AM	F	Loomis Laboratory	Nathan, A	Part of Term: A Date Range: 08/25/04-10/15/04 Credit: 1 hours Section Info: GRADUATE PHYSICS ORIENTATION: RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT. PHYS 598B is required for all new physics graduate students. It includes advice on choosing a field of research and finding a research advisor. Current graduate students will relate their experiences and advice; faculty will present overviews on the major areas of research in the Department. Physics staff will explain our computing facilities, the physics and astronomy library, and other facilities. There will be general discussions on research and instructional topics as well as ethics in teaching and research.
40488	Lecture	BSM	1:00PM -2:20PM	TR	Loomis Laboratory	Stack, J	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: BEYOND THE STANDARD MODEL. The standard model of elementary particles explains a vast amount of data. Nevertheless it contains a large number of seemingly arbitrary parameters, and physicists have long sought a more unified framework. PHYS 598BSM will cover the main directions which have been followed in attempts to imbed the standard model in a larger unified theory. The ideas of grand unification and supersymmetry will be explored most thoroughly, and more briefly, attempts to unify the known particle interactions with gravity. This course is a modern version of PHYS 576 (PHYCS 476) "Particle Physics II".
42392	Lecture	CPA	1:00PM -2:20PM	MW	Loomis Laboratory	Gammie, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: TOPICS IN COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY. PHYCS 598CPA is a numerical laboratory course designed to familiarize students with the use of a computer to solve diverse problems in physics. Problems will be drawn from several different branches of physics and astrophysics. Hydrodynamics, including the physics of shock waves, will be emphasized as the main paradigm for nonlinear phenomena. For the hydrodynamics, the necessary analytic results will be derived in class. Examples drawn from classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, etc. will already be familiar to students from standard physics courses. Numerical methods discussed will include solving ordinary and partial differential equations, linear algebra and eigenvalue problems, Monte Carlo techniques, FFTs, etc. Students will work on assigned numerical exercises and simulations both individually and in small teams. The results of these simulations will be presented in class periodically and will constitute an integral part of the class development. The emphasis throughout the semester will be on building confidence and expertise at solving physical problems on the computer. Prerequisites: No formal requirements other than a working knowledge of some scientific programming language like Fortran, C, or C++. Graduate students and upper level undergraduates with solid backgrounds in basic physics are welcome. This course should only be taken by students who plan to participate actively.
34945	Lecture	ESM	9:00AM -10:20AM	MW	Loomis Laboratory	Goldenfeld, N	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: EMERGENT STATES OF MATTER. PHYS 598ESM is an introduction to the consequences of broken symmetry in condensed matter, the emergence of novel ground states, and the nature of the excitations that arise. Specific systems covered include superconductivity, superfluidity, Bose-Einstein condensates, the quantum hall states and liquid crystals. Prerequisites: PHYS 504 (PHYCS 462) and PHYS 580 (PHYCS 480), or consent of instructor.
34934	Lecture	MMA	10:30AM -11:50AM	MW	Loomis Laboratory	Stone, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS. Replaces PHYS 506/507 (PHYCS 411/412). PHYS 598MMA focuses on core techniques widely used in the physical sciences. Emphasis is on applications, and a broad range of illustrative examples will be explored. Primary topics include: calculus of variations and its applications; partial differential equations of mathematical physics (including classification and boundary conditions); separation of variables, series solutions of ordinary differential equations and Sturm-Liouville eigenproblems; Legendre polynomials, spherical harmonics, Bessel functions and their applications; normal mode eigenproblems (including the wave and diffusion equations); inhomogeneous ordinary differential equations (including variation of parameters and Green functions); inhomogeneous partial differential equations and Green functions; potential theory; and integral equations (including Fredholm theory). Will continue in spring semester PHYS 598MMB with complex variables, group theory, and other topics Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
34936	Lecture	NSM	8:30AM -9:50AM	MW	Loomis Laboratory	Schulten, K	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: NON-EQUILIBRIUM STATISTICAL MECHANICS. PHYS 598NSM will provide an introduction to the mathematical description of classical and quantum stochastic systems with examples from biophysics and condensed matter physics. Some of the major topics discussed in the course include: Classical Dynamics under the Influence of Stochastic Forces, Einstein and Smoluchowski Diffusion Equation, Noise-induced Limit Cycles, Diffusion-Controlled Reactions, Observables Connected with Brownian Transport, Generalized Moment Expansion of Correlation Functions, Time Series Analysis, Echoes and Hysteresis, Spin-Boson Model. Some basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and equilibrium statistical physics will be useful, but there are no formal prerequisites. Lecture notes will be available in electronic form on the web site of the course. There will be homework assignments and a term project.
34946	Laboratory-Discussion Laboratory-Discussion	OS OS	10:30AM -11:50AM 12:00PM -2:50PM	TR F	Loomis Laboratory Engineering Sciences Building	Gratton, E Clegg, R Gratton, E Clegg, R	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY. PHYS 598OS is a course for students who want to acquire a more detailed molecular description of the interaction of radiation with molecular matter and molecular fluorescence. Both quantitative theory and experiments will be covered. The description of the experimental situations and data analysis for obtaining molecular information will be based on a solid theoretical setting that forms the framework for the course. The emphasis will be on biophysical experimental situations, using fluorescence and absorption measurements, stressing optical spectroscopic transitions involving molecular electronic and vibrational transitions. The basic interaction of the E&M field with the molecules will be covered mainly from a semi-classical point of view. The course will contain a laboratory section. Practical spectroscopy examples will demonstrate how to measure and interpret molecular properties from optical spectroscopy experiments. The course should be of interest to students with a broad range of backgrounds. Prerequisites: undergraduate courses in quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, or consent of instructor. Register for this section OS (34946) or for section OS2 (42387) or for section OS3 (42571).
42387	Laboratory-Discussion Laboratory-Discussion	OS2 OS2	10:30AM -11:50AM 1:00PM -3:50PM	TR R	Loomis Laboratory Engineering Sciences Building	Gratton, E Clegg, R Gratton, E Clegg, R	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY. See (PHYS 598) section OS for description. Register for section OS (34946) or for this section OS2 (42387) or for section OS3 (42571).
42571	Laboratory-Discussion Laboratory-Discussion	OS3 OS3	10:30AM -11:50AM 5:00PM -7:50PM	TR R	Loomis Laboratory Engineering Sciences Building	Gratton, E Clegg, R Gratton, E Clegg, R	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY. See (PHYS 598) section OS for description. Register for section OS (34946) or for section OS2 (42387) or for this section OS3 (42571).
34940	Lecture	SCM	1:00PM -2:20PM	TR	Loomis Laboratory	Martin, R	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF CONDENSED MATTER. The study of the electronic structure of materials is at a momentous stage, with new algorithms and computational methods, and rapid advances in basic theory. Many properties of materials can now be determined directly from the fundamental equations for the electrons, providing new insights into critical problems in physics, chemistry, and materials science. PHYS 598SCM will provide a unified exposition of the basic theory and methods of electronic structure, together with instructive examples of practical computational methods and real-world applications. The course will include density functional theory - with emphasis upon understanding the ideas, practical methods, and limitations - and practical calculations with open source codes. There will be a focus upon important developments such as "Car-Parrinello simulations" and the theory of localization in terms of Berry's phases. The primary resource will be the book, "Electronic Structure Basic Theory and Practical Methods" by R. M. Martin, Cambridge University Press, 2004, (http://books.cambridge.org/0521782856.htm), with additional material on important many-body methods such as quantum Monte Carlo and dynamical mean field theory. An integral part of the course will be a project done by each student individually or as part of a team; the topic can be on an aspect of electronic structure theory or on an application of an existing method to a problem in physics, chemistry, or materials science. Links to related resources can be found at ElectronicStructure.org and at the Materials Computation Center.
38745	Lecture	VDG	10:30AM -11:50AM	MW	Loomis Laboratory	Leggett, A	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/04-12/10/04 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: VERY DEGENERATE ATOMIC GASES. With the aid of laser cooling and other techniques it has become possible in the last few years not only to stabilize dilute gases of alkali atoms (and some others) but to cool them into the temperature range where the effects of quantum degeneracy become dominant; in particular, both Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) and Fermi degeneracy have been realized in these systems. PHYS 498VDG will cover trapping, cooling and diagnostic techniques, the general theory of BEC and the principal physical properties of trapped BEC gases, special effects associated with the presence of multiple hyperfine species, Bose gases in optical lattices and questions concerning the possible onset of Cooper pairing in degenerate Fermi alkali gases. Other topics may be included on request. Prerequisites: basic graduate quantum mechanics, basic graduate statistical mechanics and an undergraduate course in atomic physics.