PHYS 598

Fall 2024 All Classes

All Classes

Special Topics in Physics

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Credit: 1 TO 4 hours.

Subject offerings of new and developing areas of knowledge in physics intended to augment the existing curriculum. See Class Schedule or departmental course information for topics and prerequisites.

May be repeated in the same or separate terms if topics vary.

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PHYS 598 class schedule data for fall 2024
CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
42392	Lecture	CPA	1:30PM -2:50PM	MW	222 Loomis Laboratory	Gammie, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/26/24-12/11/24 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: Topics in Comp Phys and Astr Section Info: TOPICS IN COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS. 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. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
78576	Online Lecture	GTC	3:30PM -4:50PM	TR	1020 Lincoln Hall	Bradlyn, B	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/26/24-12/11/24 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: MODERN ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE THEORY Introduction to the role of crystal symmetries and Berry phases in modern condensed matter physics. Topics include group theory and representation theory, space groups and their representations, electric polarization, Wannier functions, topological insulators, the quantum Hall effect, and the theory of band representations.Modern Electronic Structure Theory Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
77332	Lecture	NST	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	222 Loomis Laboratory	Noronha-Hostler, J Yunes, N	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/26/24-12/11/24 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: This course will cover the advanced topic of neutron stars, focusing on the their interior composition and astrophysical observables. Emphasis will be put on (i) calculations of the equation of state of nuclear matter at high densities and low temperatures, and (ii) the modeling of the gravitational field and gravitational waves emitted by neutron stars in a binary. The topics discussed will include a subset of the following: Tolman-Oppenheimer-Snyder equation, mass-radius curves, Hartle-Thorne approximation, moment of inertia, quadrupole moment and tidal deformability, universal relations and gravitational waves, basics of thermodynamics, white dwarfs/crust, empiricalmass formula, N-body interactions, liquid gas phase transition/van der Waals, chiral effective field theory, chiralmean field model, NJL, (non)linear sigma model, MIT bag model, conserved charges, symmetry energy expansion. This class is advanced because it will assume the student is well-versed in classical and quantum mechanics (at the level of Goldstein’s and Baym’s textbooks), and familiar with the basics of statistical mechanics (at the level of Reif’s textbook) and general relativity (at the level of Carrol’s textbook). The latter two are not pre-requisites for this class, but concepts drawn from these subjects will be employed. Some familiarity with basic particle or nuclear physics (at the level of Griffiths’ textbook) would be useful. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 515 Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
60312	Lecture	TPH	2:00PM -3:20PM	TR	276 Loomis Laboratory	Fradkin, E	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/26/24-12/11/24 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: Topological Quantum CM Section Info: Topological Quantum CM. This course will cover current developments on topological phases in condensed matter physics, including: the theory of the fractional quantum Hall states, spin liquids, topological insulators and superconductors, effective field theories of topological phases, quasiparticles, fractional statistics (Abelian and non-Abelian), experimental detection of quasiparticles, quantum interferometers and the manipulation of quasiparticles, topological phases and topological quantum computing, quantum entanglement at quantum criticality and in topological phases. The course material will consist primarily of a review of recent literature in leading journals. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.