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About the University of Calgary
 Graduate Studies Calendar 2011-2012 Courses of Instruction Course Descriptions P Physics PHYS
Physics PHYS
PHYS 501 507 509 521 533 543 561 571 573 575 581 597 598 599 603 605 609 611 613 615 617 619 621 629 663 671 673 675 677 691 697 699 701
 

Instruction offered by members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.

Department Head - R.I. Thompson

Note: For listings of related courses, see Astronomy, Astrophysics, Medical Physics and Space Physics.

Students intending to register in any Physics course should read the relevant Faculty of Science Program section of this Calendar.

 
Physics 501       Special Relativity
Lorentz transformations in classical mechanics; relativistic kinematics; spacetime diagrams; relativistic energy and momentum conservation; Geometrical interpretation; applications of relativistic kinematics; four-vector formalism and tensors; applications, primarily to relativistic electrodynamics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 325 and 457 and Mathematics 353 or Applied Mathematics 309.
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Physics 507       Solid State Physics
Crystal structure. Classification of solids and their bonding. Fermi surface. Elastic, electric and magnetic properties of solids.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 443 or Chemistry 373 and Physics 449 and 455.
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Physics 509       Plasma Physics
Occurrence of plasmas in nature, single particle motion, plasmas as fluids, waves in plasmas, diffusion, resistivity, equilibrium and stability, kinetic theory of plasmas, non-linear effects.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 343 and 455.
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Physics 521       Nonlinear Dynamics
Topics: Introduction to nonlinear dynamical systems: Phase space representation, nonlinear oscillators, bifurcations, normal forms, pattern formation, amplitude equations, deterministic chaos, attractors, fractals, synchronization
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Applied Mathematics 433 and Physics 381 and 449 or consent of the Department
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Physics 533       Advanced Mathematical Methods of Physics
Hilbert space. Complete orthonormal sets of functions. Sturm-Liouville theory. Green functions. Integral equations.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 443 or Chemistry 373 and Physics 455.
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Physics 543       Quantum Mechanics II
Theory of angular momentum and applications, perturbation theory and applications. Identical particles. Introduction to relativistic wave equations.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 443 or Chemistry 373.
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Physics 561       Stable and Radioactive Isotope Studies, Fundamentals
A multidisciplinary course. Topics include nucleosynthesis, radioactive decay, isotope exchange phenomena, kinetic isotope effects, tracer techniques, molecular spectra and instrumentation.
Course Hours: H(2-1)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
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Physics 571       Laser Physics
Theoretical aspects of lasing and lasers. Principles of operation of solid-state, liquid, and gas lasers. Applications of laser systems to research, medical, and industrial projects.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 443 and 455.
Notes: Physics 449 is suggested but not required.
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Physics 573       Atmospheric and Environmental Physics
Quasi-static uniform atmosphere. Atmospheric optics. Scattering in the atmosphere. Atmospheric visibility and aerosols. Cloud physics. Atmospheric electricity. Radiative transfer. Atmospheric circulation. Hydrological cycling. Stable isotopic techniques. Pollutants. Energy transfer. Turbulence. Sky shortwave and visible radiation distribution. Near infrared sky radiation, cloud detection and estimation.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): One of Physics 449 or Chemistry 371 or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for both Physics 573 and Applied Physics 573 will not be allowed.
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Physics 575       Optics
Geometrical Optics: lenses, mirrors, and other basic optical components. Matrix Methods. Physical Optics: Interference, Diffraction, and Polarization. Fourier Optics. Modern Optics: Lasers and Fibre Optics.
Course Hours: H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 325 and 457 and Applied Mathematics 433.
Antirequisite(s): Credit will not be allowed for both Physics 575 and 471.
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Physics 581       Computational Physics III
Solution of problems associated with the analysis of physical systems, using digital computers, high level programming languages, and mathematical computation systems (e.g., Maple, Macsyma).
Course Hours: H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 443 or Chemistry 373 and Physics 381 and 455.
Notes: A knowledge of a high level programming language (C, C++, Fortran or Pascal) is highly recommended.
Also known as: (formerly Physics 535)
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Physics 597       Senior Physics Laboratory
Selected advanced experiments. Where possible, students may choose those experiments most suited to their interests. Development of technical and computer-based skills, technical writing and presentation skills.
Course Hours: H(1-6)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 497 or 325.
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Physics 598       Research in Physics
Research project in Physics.
Course Hours: F(0-6)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 443 and 449 and 455 and consent of the Department.
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Physics 599       Independent Study
Each student will be assigned a project in consultation with a tutor. A written report and oral presentation are required.
Course Hours: H(0-9)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
Notes: This course may be repeated once for credit.
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Graduate Courses

Only where appropriate to a student's program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599.
 
Physics 603       Experimental Methods of Physics
Instrumentation for physical experiments. General philosophy of experimentation; signal processes; signal processing methods; instrument design and control; data acquisition and storage; specific detection methods.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Physics 605       Advanced Data Analysis
Methods of extraction of significant information from experimental data degraded by noise. Parametric and non-parametric statistical methods; curve fitting; spectral analysis; filtering, sampling, convolution and deconvolution techniques.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Physics 609       Advanced Classical Mechanics
Variational principles, Lagrange's equations, Noether's theorem. Hamilton's equations and canonical transformations. Hamilton-Jacobi theory, action-angle variables. Perturbation theory.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 343 or equivalent.
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Physics 611       Statistical Physics
Classical and quantum ensemble theory applied to interacting systems: real gases, spin lattices, phase transitions. Kinetic theory: Boltzmann equation, transport processes, irreversible processes and fluctuations.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 449 or equivalent.
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Physics 613       Electrodynamics
Interaction between charged particles and the electromagnetic field in relativistic formulation. Scattering and energy losses of charged particles. Radiation by charged particles.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 457 and 501 or equivalents.
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Physics 615       Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
Basic formalism of the theory and its interpretation, symmetry generators. Scattering theory. Bound states. Charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. Approximation methods.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 543 or equivalent.
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Physics 617       Advanced Quantum Mechanics II
Second quantized description of N-particle systems. Quantum theory of the electromagnetic field, coherent states. Relativistic quantum mechanics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 543 or equivalent.
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Physics 619       Statistical Physics II
Topics Theories of equilibrium and nonequilibrium critical phenomena and methods to study fluctuating systems selected from the following list of topics: Percolation, scaling theory, phase transitions, Landau-Ginzburg theory, lattice models, Monte Carlo methods, renormalization group, self-organized criticality, theory of random graphs; Brownian motion, random walks and diffusion, Fokker-Planck-Equation, Markov processes, stochastic differential equations, first passage times.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Physics 611. 
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 481 or its equivalent.
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Physics 621       Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation
Topics: Introduction to pattern formation and self-organization in nature: Reaction-diffusion systems, hydrodynamical systems, bistable media, excitable and oscillatory media, stability analysis, bifurcations, pattern selection, amplitude equations and normal forms, fronts, traveling waves, topological defects, spiral waves, spatiotemporal chaos, defect-mediated turbulence, spatiotemporal point processes
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 451, 481 and 521 or equivalents.
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Physics 629       Gravitation
An introduction to Einstein's theory of gravitation. Applications to the solar system, black holes, and cosmology.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Notes: It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 501 or equivalent.
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Physics 663       Applications of Stable Isotopes
Applications in archaeology, biology, chemistry, engineering, geography, geology, medicine, meteorology, paleontology, physics and space sciences. Topics include hydrology, paleoclimates, ore deposits, geothermometry, fossil fuels exploration and recovery, pollutant tracing, food webs and forensic investigations.
Course Hours: H(2-1)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
Also known as: (Geology 663)
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Physics 671       Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy
Atomic structure and spectra. Rotational, vibrational and electronic spectra of diatomic molecules, including microwave, infrared, Raman and visible/ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques. Hund's coupling cases. Polyatomic molecular spectroscopy. Examples from astronomy and upper atmosphere/space physics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Physics 673       Quantum and Nonlinear Optics
Fundamentals of quantum and nonlinear optics including atom-photon interactions, coherence, electromagnetically induced transparency, open systems and decoherence, and applications to quantum information technology.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Physics 675       Special Topics in Laser and Optical Sciences
Lectures by Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Engineering, and/or Medicine staff on current research topics in laser science and modern optical techniques.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Physics 677       Implementations of Quantum Information
Proposals and realizations of quantum information tasks including quantum computation, quantum communication, and quantum cryptography in optical, atomic, molecular, and solid state systems.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
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Physics 691       Scientific Communication Skills (formerly Graduate Seminar)

Required, multi-component, program of courses for all graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy designed to assist students in improving their scientific oral and written communication skills. Each student must complete a minimum of 3 terms of Physics 691 during each graduate course, although the normal load is 4 terms, and additional terms may be required of students on an as need basis. The components of Physics 691 are:

691.11. Effective Scientific Speaking for MSc Students

691.12. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students I

691.13. Effective Scientific Writing for MSc Students

691.14. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students II

691.16. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students III

691.18. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students IV

691.21. Effective Scientific Speaking for PhD Students

691.22. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students I

691.23. Effective Scientific Writing for PhD Students

691.24. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students II

691.26. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students III

691.28. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students IV

Effective Scientific Speaking courses provide instruction on preparing and presenting quality scientific oral presentations, including discussions of the aspects of quality presentations and exercises aimed at improving student speaking skills, and will be taken by graduate students in their first fall terms in program. Effective Scientific Writing courses provide students with instruction on preparing quality scientific papers, as well as exercises aimed at improving students' writing skills, and will be taken during students' send fall term in program. The Graduate Seminar courses will be run each winter, and provide all students enrolled in each course the opportunity to present one or two scientific talks, as well as to provide peer feedback to other students in the course. At the end of each Graduate Seminar term, the course instructor(s) will identify those students who have reached an acceptable level of scientific speaking competency and exempt these students from any further Physics 691 Graduate Seminar courses for their current degrees.
Course Hours: Q(2S-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT NOT INCLUDED IN GPA
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Physics 697       Topics in Contemporary Physics
Topics will be from the research areas of staff members.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Physics 699       Project in Physics
Each student will select a project in consultation with a staff member. The project may be experimental or theoretical in nature. A written report and an oral presentation are required.
Course Hours: H(0-9)
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Physics 701       Independent Study
Each student will select a topic of study in consultation with a staff member. The topic will be in the research area of the staff member. This course may not be used to meet the regular course requirements in the MSc and PhD programs.
Course Hours: H(0-9)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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