The course will examine basic principles of simple theories for metals, the basics of crystallography and crystal structures, the reciprocal space, lattice vibrations, elastic properties of solids, electronic band structure, impurities and defects, dielectric properties, magnetism and superconductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 2620.

Continuation of PHYS 3650. Intermediate quantum mechanics including perturbation theory; application to systems of current interest. Prerequisite: PHYS 3650.

Individual study of topics in physics not normally covered in formal classes. Study is carried out under the tutelage of a faculty member with whom the requirements are agreed upon prior to enrollment. (S-SS) Prerequisite: Instructor permission

A research project on a topic in physics carried out under the supervision of a faculty member culminating in a written report. May be taken more than once. (S-SS) Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

First and second year students enrolled in the Physics PhD program are required to take Physics Colloquium in their first and second years of study.

Lectures on topics of current interest in physics research and pedagogy. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

This course introduces a modern topic in theoretical high energy physics to an advanced undergraduate / beginner graduate student audience. Among the directions which are being explored are the physics of extra dimensions, and a unified treatment of gravity and electromagnetism in the context of string theory. Prerequisite: Physics 3210 (Classical Mechanics), 3430 (Electricity & Magnetism II) and 3660 (Quantum Mechanics II), or permission of the instructor.

Group theory is an elegant method based on symmetry to understand complex phenomena in nature. This course is to learn the basic principles of Discrete Group Theory and its application to Condensed Matter Physics. Representation theory, characters and basis functions of a group, and group theory in quantum mechanics will be discussed to learn the basic principles, and a few applications will be discussed. Prerequisite: PHYS 3650 or CHEM 3410.

Advanced topics in computational physics including numerical methods for partial differential equations, Monte Carlo modeling, advanced methods for linear systems, and special topics in computational physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 5630, or instructor permission.

Discusses thermodynamics and kinetic theory, and the development of the microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles. Includes Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions, techniques for handling interacting many-particle systems, and extensive applications to physical problems.