Physics

This course examines the principles and applications of quantum mechanics, wave mechanics, the Schroedinger equation, expectation values, Hermitian operators, commuting observables, one-dimensional systems, harmonic oscillators, angular momentum, three-dimensional systems.

The course covers topics of current interest in astrophysics and cosmology. Students independently search for relevant publications, learn to give comprehendible lectures, write a clear and comprehensive essay, and gain a deep understanding of a subject of their own choice within astrophysics.

This course explores abstract physical concepts through lectures, experiments, and problem solving with the aid of mathematical tools. Topics include: electric charges and electric forces; the electric field; electric flux and Gauss' law; electrostatic potential energy; capacitance and dielectrics; current and resistance; magnetic fields; sources of magnetic fields; electromagnetic induction; electromagnetic waves; properties of light. Pre-requisites: Physics I; Calculus I and II; Linear Algebra.

This introductory astronomy course discusses the following topics: motion of celestial bodies; celestial vault; history of astronomy; telescopes and CCD cameras; astronomy from space; the solar system; stars; cosmological models; nearby universe.

The principles of classical dynamics, in the Newtonian formulation, are expressed in terms of (vectorial) equations of motion. These principles are recapitulated and extended to cover systems of many particles. The laws of dynamics are then reformulated in the Lagrangian framework, in which a scalar quantity (the Lagrangian) takes center stage. The equations of motion then follow by differentiation, and can be obtained directly in terms of whatever generalized coordinates suit the problem at hand. These ideas are encapsulated in Hamilton's principle, a statement that the motion of any classical system is such as to extremise the value of a certain integral. The laws of mechanics are then obtained by a method known as the calculus of variations. As a problem-solving tool, the Lagrangian approach is especially useful in dealing with constrained systems, including (for example) rotating rigid bodies, and one aim of the course is to gain proficiency in such methods. At the same time, students examine the conceptual content of the theory, which reveals the deep connection between symmetries and conservation laws in physics. Hamilton's formulation of classical dynamics (Hamiltonian Dynamics) is introduced, and some of its consequences and applications are explored.

This course will provide students with an overview of astronomical research covering a wide range of topics, including the history of astronomy, the planets in our solar system, the birth, life and death of stars, black holes, galaxies, the Big Bang theory, cosmology, the search for extraterrestrial life, and space exploration. 

This course examines general relativity. Topics include: The principle of equivalence; inertial observers in a curved space-time; vectors and tensors; parallel transport and covariant differentiation; the Riemann tensor; the stress-energy tensor; the Einstein gravitational field equations; the Schwarzschild solution; black holes; gravitational waves detected by LIGO, and Freidmann equation.

This is a two-semester course on the classical interactions of light and matter (electromagnetism), and the relationship between space and time (special relativity). The focus of the course is similarly twofold; there is emphasis on developing skills to solve physical problems, and on the close interplay between mathematical results and physical laws.

This course covers the theoretical foundations of the standard model of particle physics and its possible extensions. Among topics covered are the building blocks of the standard model, strong and electroweak interactions, CP violation, neutrino oscillations, and grand unification and supersymmetry.

This course provides an introduction and overview of the physics of strong and electroweak interactions and their experimental foundation. These fundamental forces underlie the rich phenomenology of nature's smallest components: elementary particles and atomic nuclei. The course outlines the theoretical and experimental advances which have led to the current understanding of physics at the subatomic scale. These topics are covered at a mathematical level appropriate for undergraduates students of physics. The focus is more on the understanding of phenomena rather than their rigorous mathematical description. The course touches upon selected topics of current interest, including: symmetries and conservation laws in nuclear and particle physics; relativistic kinematics and applications in high-energy reactions; the Standard Model theory: fundamental matter particles and their interactions by strong and electroweak forces; the Higgs mechanism and the origin of mass; neutrino oscillations and masses; effective nucleon-nucleon interactions and models of nuclear physics; alpha, beta, and gamma decay and fission; form factors and structure functions; and selected applications of nuclear and particle physics.