Course Descriptions

PHYS 413 Advanced Mechanics

Advanced Mechanics

PHYS 413

Central forces, rigid body motion, small oscillations. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics. Prerequisite: PHYS 384 or permission of the department. Non-physics majors may enter with MATH 252; MATH 260 or MATH 310; PHYS 211. All prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 415 Quantum Mechanics II

Quantum III

PHYS 415

Wave mechanics in three dimensions; orbital angular momentum and spherical harmonics; central potentials, hydrogen atom; time-independent perturbation theory, Stark effect, Zeeman effect; identical particles, helium atom; scattering, Born approximation; time-dependent perturbation theory, interaction picture. Prerequisite: PHYS 385; either PHYS 384 or MATH 314. All prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 421 Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic Waves

PHYS 421

A continuation of PHYS 321: properties of electromagnetic waves and their interaction with matter. Transmission lines and waveguides; antennas, radiation and scattering; propagation of electromagnetic waves in free space and in matter; reflection and refraction at boundaries; polarization, interference and diffraction. Prerequisite: PHYS 321 (no substitution); PHYS 255 or ENSC 380; both with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 431 Advanced Physics Lab

Advanced Physics Laboratory II

PHYS 431

Advanced experiments in Physics. May include special projects. Prerequisite: PHYS 385 and PHYS 332W, both with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 432 Undergraduate Honours Thesis

Undergraduate Honours Thesis

PHYS 432

Undergraduate research and preparation of an honours thesis over the fall and the subsequent spring semesters. The research project may be in experimental or theoretical physics. Prospective students must obtain agreement of a faculty member willing to supervise the project. Prerequisite: All students interested in taking this course must consult with their faculty supervisor regarding prerequisites.

PHYS 433 Biological Physics Laboratory

Biological Physics Laboratory

PHYS 433

Experiments in biological and soft condensed matter physics including investigation of Brownian motion, molecular order and biophysical forces using techniques such as optical trapping, NMR, spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. Attention will also be given to more general skills, including experimental design, operating and troubleshooting experimental equipment, data analysis, and the presentation of experimental results. Students with credit for PHYS 433W may not take this course for credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 231 or MBB 309W; PHYS 344 or PHYS 347 or MBB 323 or CHEM 360; both with a minimum grade of C- or permission of the department. Quantitative.

PHYS 445 Statistical Physics

Statistical Physics

PHYS 445

Postulates of statistical mechanics, partition functions, applications to gases, paramagnetism and equilibrium. Quantum statistics and applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 344 or CHEM 360, with a minimum grade of C-. Recommended: PHYS 385. Quantitative.

PHYS 455 Modern Optics

Modern Optics

PHYS 455

Optical physics, including geometrical and physical optics, waves in anisotropic media, coherence, image formation and Fourier optics, guided wave optics and selected advanced topics such as lasers, nonlinear optics, photonics and quantum optics. Prerequisite: PHYS 321 with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: PHYS 385. Quantitative.

PHYS 465 Solid State Physics

Solid State Physics

PHYS 465

Crystal structure, lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids, free electron model, band theory, and applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 385 or CHEM 364, with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 485 Particle Physics

Particle Physics

PHYS 485

Physics of elementary particles. Symmetries, strong interactions, electromagnetic interactions, weak interaction. Prerequisite: PHYS 385 or CHEM 364; PHYS 313 or permission from instructor for non-physics students; all with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 490 General Relativity and Gravitation

General Relativity and Gravitation

PHYS 490

Gravity and space-time, Einstein's equations and their solution, tests of relativity, black holes, stellar equilibrium and collapse, and cosmological models. Prerequisite: PHYS 313 and PHYS 384, both with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

PHYS 49x Soft Matter and Biophysics

PHYS 49x Special Topics

Department of Physics