Applied Physics Courses
Applied Physics Courses
AP 514. Applied Physics Seminar
Prerequisite: graduate studies. I, II (1 or 2 credits)
Graduate seminars are required each term to familiarize students with current research and problems. Given by a mix of faculty, external lecturers, and the students themselves to acquaint students with the scope of research activity and opportunities, the goal of the seminar structure is to promote a strong interaction among the interdisciplinary work being done in applied physics.
AP 518. (Elective) Microcomputers in Experimental Research
I (3 credits)
A graduate-level laboratory course in the application of computers to experimental research, this course is designed to give students hands-on experience of modern techniques of data acquisition, data handling and analysis, and graphical presentation of results, using microcomputers. A number of experiments will be carried out which illustrate how to interface modern research instrumentation in a variety of commonly encountered experimental situations.
AP 530 (EECS 530). Electromagnetic Theory I
Prerequisite: EECS 330 or Physics 438. I (3 credits)
Maxwell's equations, constitutive relations and boundary conditions. Potentials and the representation of electromagnetic fields. Uniqueness, duality, equivalence, reciprocity and Babinet's theorems. Plane, cylindrical, and spherical waves. Waveguides and elementary antennas. The limiting case of electro- and magneto-statics.
AP 537 (EECS 537). Classical Optics
Prerequisite: EECS 330 and EECS 334. I (3 credits)
Theory of electromagnetic, physical, and geometrical optics. Classical theory of dispersion. Linear response, Kramers-Kronig relations, and pulse propagation. Light scattering. Geometrical optics and propagation in inhomogeneous media. Dielectric waveguides. Interferometry and theory of coherence. Diffraction, Fresnel and Fraunhofer. Gaussian beams and ABCD law.
AP 540 (EECS 540). Applied Quantum Mechanics I
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. I (3 credits)
Introduction to nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Summary of classical mechanics, postulates of quantum mechanics and operator formalism, stationary state problems (including quantum wells, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum theory and spin, atoms and molecules, band theory in solids), time evolution, approximation methods for time independent and time dependent interactions including electromagnetic interactions, scattering.
AP 541 (EECS 541). Applied Quantum Mechanics II
Prerequisite: AP 540 or EECS 540. I (3 credits)
Continuation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Advanced angular momentum theory, second quantization, non-relativistic quantum electrodynamics, advanced scattering theory, density matrix formalism, reservoir theory.
AP 546 (EECS 546). Ultrafast Optics
Prerequisite: EECS 537. II (3 credits)
Propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in linear and nonlinear media, and through dispersive optical elements. Laser mode-locking and ultrashort pulse generation. Chirped-pulse amplification. Experimental techniques for high time resolution. Ultrafast Optoelectronics. Survey of ultrafast high field interactions.
AP 550 (EECS 538) (Physics 650). Optical Waves in Crystals
Prerequisite: EECS 434. I (3 credits)
Propagation of laser beam: Gaussian wave optics and the ABCD law. Crystal properties and the dielectric tensor; electro-optic effects and devices; acousto-optic diffraction and devices. Introduction to nonlinear optics: coupled mode theory and second harmonic generation; phase matching.
AP 551 (EECS 539) (Physics 651). Lasers
Prerequisite: EECS 537 and EECS 538. II (3 credits)
Complete study of laser operation: the atom-field interaction; homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening mechanisms; atomic rate equations; gain, amplification and saturation; laser oscillation; laser resonators, modes, and cavity equations; cavity modes; laser dynamics, Q-switching and modelocking. Special topics such as femto-second lasers and ultrahigh power lasers.
AP 552 (EECS 552). Fiber Optical Communications
Prerequisite: EECS 434 or EECS 538 or permission of instructor. II odd years (3 credits)
Principles of fiber optical communications and networks. Point-to-point systems and shared medium networks. Fiber propagation including attenuation, dispersion and nonlinearities. Topics covered include erbium-doped amplifiers, Bragg and long period gratings, fiber transmission based on solitons and non-return-to-zero, and time- and wavelength-division-multiplexed networks.
AP 601 (Physics 540). Advanced Condensed Matter
(3 credits)
A unified description of equilibrium condensed matter theory (using Green's functions); critical phenomena, Anderson localization and correlated electron theory.
AP 609 (EECS 638) (Physics 542). Quantum Theory of Light
Prerequisite: quantum mechanics electrodynamics and atom physics. I even years. (3 credits)
The atom-field interaction; density matrix; quantum theory of radiation including spontaneous emission; optical Bloch equations and theory of resonance fluorescence; coherent pulse propagation; dressed atoms and squeezed states; special topics in nonlinear optics.
AP 611 (EECS 634) (Physics 611). Nonlinear Optics
Prerequisite: EECS 537 or EECS 538 or EECS 530. I (3 credits)
Formalism of wave propagation in nonlinear media; susceptibility tensor; second harmonic generation and three-wave mixing; phase matching; third order nonlinearities and four-wave mixing processes; stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering. Special topics: nonlinear optics in fibers, including solitons and self-phase modulation.
AP 619 (Physics 619). Advanced Solid State Physics
Prerequisite: 520 (or 463), Physics 511, Physics 510 or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Photon, neutron, and electron scattering in condensed matter: elastic and inelastic scattering in condensed matter. The theory of neutron, electron, and photon (Rayleigh, Brillouin, Raman, and x-ray) scattering will be presented with an overview of the corresponding experimental techniques; linear response theory, fluctuation-dissipation theorem, elementary excitations in condensed matter, hydrodynamics and symmetry analysis using group theory. AP 633 (Physics 633). Fluid Dynamics
AP 633 (Physics 633). Fluid Dynamics
(3 credits)
The course begins with a derivation of the hydrodynamical equations as prototypical phenomenological equations, based on general conservation laws and the second law of thermodynamics; two dimensional ideal fluid flow, the Joukowsky theory of the airfoil, gravity waves and the theory of tides, solitary waves, incompressible viscous flow and the Stokes formula, Sommerfeld's theory of lubrication, the turbulent wake, Prandtl's theory of the boundary layer, shock waves, relativistic hydrodynamics, fluctuations in hydrodynamics, etc.
AP 644 (Physics 644). Advanced Atomic Physics
(3 credits)
Laser atom interactions: Absorption, emission, and saturation, theory of line width, multiphoton absorption, stimulated and spontaneous Raman scattering; single photon, multiphoton and above-threshold ionization; Rydberg physics; AC stark shifts and ponderomotive effects; multichannel quantum defect theory; Floquet theory; Mechanical effects of light on atoms (atom traps, molasses), atom interferometry.
AP 669 (Chem 669). Physics of Extended Surfaces
Prerequisite: quantum mechanics or solid state physics, or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Chemical physics of extended surfaces: basic surface phenomena which control the physical and chemical properties of extended surfaces. A wide range of surface methods and issues regarding metal, semiconductor and insulator surfaces will be discussed. Fundamental principles regarding the geometric and electronic structure of surfaces, adsorption-desorption processes, surface reactions, and ion-surface interactions will be discussed.
AP 672 (NERS 572). Intermediate Plasma Physics II
Prerequisite: NERS 571. II (3 credits)
Waves in non-uniform plasmas, magnetic shear; absorption, reflection, and tunneling gradient-driven microinstabilities; BGK mode and nonlinear Landau damping; macroscopic instabilities and their stabilization; non-ideal MHD effects.
AP 674 (NERS 674). High-Intensity Laser Plasma Interactions
Prerequisite: NERS 471, NERS 571 or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
Coupling of intense electromagnetic radiation to electrons and collective modes in time-dependent and equilibrium plasmas, ranging from underdense to solid-density. Theory, numerical modes and experiments in laser fusion, x-ray lasers, novel electron accelerators and nonlinear optics.
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Last edited on 05/02/2006



