Fall 2014

Fundamental laws and principles of physics emphasizing areas related to life sciences. Prerequisite for Biological Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy. Lecture, 4 hrs.; Lab, 3 hrs. (Duplicates credit in 105abLg and 125L).

Laboratory component for PHYS 151Lg for transfer students with equivalent lecture credit from another institution. For transfer students immediately after matriculation. Graded CR/NC.

Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electrical circuits, wave motion, sound waves, electromagnetic waves. Lecture, 4 hours; laboratory, 3 hours.

Geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, special relativity, quantum mechanics, atomic physics, solid state physics. Lecture: 3 hours; Laboratory: 3 hours.

Introduction to current research activities of the faculty of the Department; topics of current and popular interest among the wider community of physicists. Graded CR/NC.

Dynamics of particles, kinematics of rotations, rigid body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism, theory of small vibrations.

a: Electrostatics; thermal, chemical, magnetic effects of steady currents; DC circuits.

Relativity, atomic spectra, quantum statistics, nuclear models, nuclear reactions, elementary particles.

Length, time, and energy scales of life; statistical mechanics of biomolecules and cellular processes; physics of cell shape; biological fluid dynamics; electron transfer and metabolism. Recommended preparation: BISC 220. Prerequisites: PHYS 152 or PHYS 162.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

Projects will include experiements in mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism. Emphasis on laboratory work with discussion of theoretical background. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours.

An original project will be constructed applying computer technology (in either hardware or software) to produce a result useful in the physics classroom or laboratory.

Topics of current research interest in physics and astronomy. Lectures directed to physics graduate students by faculty of the department and by outside speakers. Graded CR/NC.

Newtonian formulation of dynamics; Hamilton's principle; Lagrangian formulation; rigid body motion; Hamiltonian formulation; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; vibrations.

a: Electrostatics, boundary value problems, multiple expansions, microscopic models of matter, magnetostatics. b: Maxwell's equations, potentials and gauge transformations; electromagnetic waves; wave guides; electromagnetic radiation; special relativity.

Vector analysis; infinite, asymptotic Fourier series; complete sets; Dirac delta function; Fourier, Laplace transforms; Legendre functions; spherical harmonics; Sturm-Liouville theory; orthogonal polynomials; gamma-factorial function; complex variables.

Principles of, and relations between, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics; ensembles, partition function formalism; quantum statistics; fluctuations.

b: Approximation schemes and application to atomic and molecular physics and scattering theory; identical particles; electromagnetic properties of atoms.

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of thesis.

Credit on acceptance of thesis.

Course content will vary each year. It will include topics of current interest in research conducted in academica and industry.

Field application of physics in a business or industry setting; part-time employment. Project to be jointly defined by student, employer and professor. Open to M.S., Physics for Business Applications degree candidates only.

Course content will vary yearly with current interest. Topics covered may include theory of superconductivity, high temperature superconductivity, Green's functions in condensed matter physics, magnetism and transport in disordered metals.

Coursework taken on campus at Caltech as part of the Caltech-USC cross-registration program. Graded CR/NC.

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.