Beginning in the fall of 1997, the Physics Department at Oregon State University, with support from the National Science Foundation, began implementing a new upper-division Physics and Engineering Physics curriculum. Since the order of content material has been significantly altered from that of more traditional curricula, we are providing this short description of the new courses for our students to include in job and graduate school applications.
(SEE BELOW FOR DETAILED CATALOGUE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NEW COURSES.)
The courses in our junior-year curriculum of case studies are called Paradigms. Each is a 2-credit course that explores an important example of a concept in physics, bringing the student's understanding of that topic from the descriptive level of the introductory lower-division courses to the full level of sophistication typical of the senior year. Mathematical and conceptual tools are learned as needed. Instructional methods vary to fit the material and feature frequent use of computer visualizations, hands-on experiments, group problem-solving sessions, and demonstrations.
The 3-credit courses in the major subdisciplines of physics covered in the senior year are called Capstones. They revisit the the central Paradigms topics and also tackle more complex examples, now using the full power of expert, discipline-specific, problem-solving strategies.
Students round out their experience with electronics laboratories, a selection of advanced survey courses which cover the methodology and phenomena of modern research topics, and a research-based thesis.
In comparison with a more traditional curriculum, the content of the B.S. in Physics, using the Paradigms curriculum, emphasizes an earlier introduction to quantum ideas and a greater emphasis on modern topics important to today's technology. In addition, we offer a B.S. in Engineering Physics and a number of optional variations on the straight physics degree. Each of these options allows the appropriate substitution of upper-division courses in another discipline for some of the physics courses. The greater flexibility of the Paradigms program has allowed some students to choose powerful interdisciplinary combinations of courses in preparation for specific career goals.
For further information, contact Corinne Manogue or see our website.
PH 320 PARADIGM IN PHYSICS: SYMMETRIES AND IDEALIZATIONS (2
credits)
Symmetry and idealization in problem-solving. Gauss's and Ampere's
laws in orthonormal coordinates, power series as approximations, complex numbers. PREREQ: PH 213. COREQ: MTH 255.
PH 421/521 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: OSCILLATIONS (2 credits)
Dynamics of mechanical and electrical oscillations using Fourier series and
integrals, time and frequency representations for driven damped oscillators,
resonance, coupled oscillators, and vector spaces. PREREQ: PH 213.
PH 422/522 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: STATIC VECTOR FIELDS (2 credits)
Theory of static electric and magnetic fields, including sources
superposition, using the techniques of vector calculus, including Stokes and
divergence theorems, and computer visualizations. PREREQ: PH 213. COREQ: MTH 255.
PH 423/523 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: ENERGY AND ENTROPY (2 credits)
Basic thermodynamic methods of simple polymers, magnetic systems and stars. PREREQ: PH 212, PH 424/PH 524 or PH 425/PH 525.
PH 424/524 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: WAVES IN ONE DIMENSION (2 credits)
One-dimensional waves in classical and quantum mechanics, barriers and wells,
reflection and transmission, resonance and normal modes, wave packets with and
without dispersion. PREREQ: PH 314, PH 421/PH 521.
PH 425/525 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: QUANTUM MEASUREMENTS AND SPIN (2 credits)
Introduction to quantum mechanics through Stern-Gerlach spin measurements. Probability, eigenvalues, operators, measurement, state reduction, Dirac notation, matrix mechanics, time evolution, spin precession, Rabi oscillations. PREREQ: PH 314. COREQ: MTH 341.
PH 426/526 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: CENTRAL FORCES (2 credits)
Central forces: gravitational and electrostatic, angular momentum and spherical harmonics, separation of variables in classical and quantum mechanics, hydrogen atom. PREREQ: PH 314, PH 422/PH 522, PH 424/PH 524.
PH 427/527 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: PERIODIC SYSTEMS (2 credits)
Quantum waves in one-dimensional periodic systems; Bloch waves, band structure, phonons and electrons in solids, reciprocal lattice, x-ray diffraction. PREREQ: PH 424/524.
PH 428/528 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: RIGID BODIES (2 credits)
Rigid body dynamics, invariance, angular momentum, rotational motion, tensors
and eigenvalues. PREREQ: PH 426/526.
PH 429/529 PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS: REFERENCE FRAMES (2 credits)
Inertial and non-inertial frames of reference, rotations, Galilean and Lorentz
transformation, collisions, equivalence principle, special relativity, symmetries and conservation laws, invariants, and electromagnetism. PREREQ: PH 314.
PH 431/531 CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: ELECTROMAGNETISM (3 credits)
Static electric and magnetic fields in matter, electrodynamics, Maxwell equations, electromagnetic waves, wave guides, dipole radiation. PREREQ: PH 424/524, PH 426/PH 526.
PH 435/535 CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: CLASSICAL MECHANICS (3 credits)
Newtonian, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics: single-particle motion, collisions, variational methods, and normal coordinate description of coupled oscillators. PREREQ: PH 424/PH 524, PH 426/PH 526.
PH 441/541 CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: THERMAL AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS (3 credits)
Entropy and quantum mechanics; canonical Gibbs probability; ideal gas; thermal radiation; Einstein and Debye lattices; grand canonical Gibbs probability; ideal Fermi and Bose gases; chemical reactions and phase transformations. PREREQ: PH 423/PH 523, PH 451/PH 551.
PH 451/551 CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: QUANTUM MECHANICS (3 credits)
Wave mechanics, Schroedinger equation, operators, harmonic oscillator, identical particles, atomic fine structure, approximation methods and applications. PREREQ: PH 424/PH 524, PH 425/PH 525, PH 426/PH 526.
PH 461/561 CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: MATHEMATICAL METHODS (3 credits)
Complex algebra, special functions, partial differential equations, series solutions, complex integration, calculus of residues. PREREQ: PH 424/PH 524, PH 426/PH 526, MTH 256.
PH 465/565 and 466/566 COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS (3 credits each)
The use of basic mathematical and numerical techniques in computer calculations leading to solutions for typical physical problems. Topics to be covered include models and applications ranging from classical mechanics and electromagnetism to modern solid state and particle physics. PREREQ: Mathematical physics, such as PH 461/PH 561 or MTH 481/MTH 581, MTH 482/MTH 582, MTH 483/MTH 583, plus knowledge of a compiled language such as Pascal, C, or Fortran. A physics background including PH 431/PH 531, PH 435/PH 535, and PH 451/PH 551 is assumed.
PH 475/575 INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS (3 credits)
Introduction to condensed matter physics for majors in physics, chemistry, and
engineering. Topics include band structure, free electron behavior, optical properties, magnetism, and lattice excitations. PREREQ: PH 451/PH 551 or equivalent; COREQ: PH 427/PH 527.
PH 481/581 PHYSICAL OPTICS (4 credits)
Wave propagation, polarization, interference, diffraction, and selected topics
in modern optics. PREREQ: PH 431/PH 531 or equivalent.
PH 485/585 ATOMIC, MOLECULAR, AND OPTICAL PHYSICS (3 credits)
Atomic and molecular structure, interaction with electromagnetic fields, atomic and molecular spectra, spectroscopic techniques, laser theory, nonlinear optics. PREREQ: PH 431/PH 531, PH 451/PH 551.
PH 495/595 INTRODUCTION TO PARTICLE AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS (3 credits)
Elementary particles and forces, nuclear structure and reactions. PREREQ: PH 429/PH 529, PH 441/PH 541, PH 451/PH 551.
This material is a part of the other paradigm classes during this term. It is not a separate course and hence does not have a catalogue description.
This material is a part of the other paradigm classes during this term. It is not a separate course and hence does not have a catalogue description.
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Last Update 8/29/03, webpage created by Corinne Manogue,
© Department of Physics, 2003