| 95.501 | Energy, Force and Motion | Credits: 3 |
| An introduction to the most fundamental area of physics: the nature of motion, what affects it, and how it is measured. We examine Newton's laws, including the law of gravity, and how forces produce acceleration The course also examines the nature of energy - potential and kinetic - and how it relates to motion and forces. We will concentrate on how to analyze physical situations and solve the basic equations of motion. This course is intended to help teachers develop their understanding of the physics of motion. |
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| 95.504 | Inquiry and the Teaching of Electricity and Magnetism | Credits: 3 |
| The course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism appropriate for teachers of grades 5-8 and consistent with the Massachusetts Frameworks for Science and Engineering/Technology. In addition to providing a foundation in physics content, students will work in an inquiry-based mode with hands-on investigations and lab activities being an integral part of the course. One of the significant outcomes of this course should be the participants' ability to recognize and utilize the skills of inquiry learning in the design and implementation of science curricula in their own classrooms. |
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| 95.510 | Quantum Physics | Credits: 4 |
| Schroedinger's equation, one dimensional wells, simple harmonic oscillator, three-dimensional wells, hydrogen atom, electronic configuration, perturbation, helium atom, molecular structure and laser action. |
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| 95.513 | Mechanics | Credits: 3 |
| Newtons laws of motion. Momentum and angular momentum. Energy. Oscillations. Variational principles. Central forces and planetary motion. Non-inertial systems of reference. Rotations of rigid bodies, tensors of inertia. Normal modes of oscillation. |
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| 95.521 | Statistical Thermodynamics | Credits: 3 |
| An integrated study of the thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, review of the experimental foundations and historical development of classical thermodynamics; probability and statistical methods of studying macroscopic systems; atomic basis of the laws of thermodynamics and microscopic definitions of thermodynamics quantities using the method of ensembles; entropy and related quantities; TdS equations, Maxwell relations, equation of state, and applications: canonical and grand canonical ensembles; phase transitions; quantum statistics; application to radiation, magnetism, specific heats. (offered as 95.521 for graduate credit) |
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| 95.535 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics I | Credits: 3 |
| De Broglie waves, the Schroedinger equation, wave functions, wave packets, Heisenberguncertainty principle, expectation values, particle in a box, the simple harmonic oscillator, free particles, step barrier, barrier penetration, square well potential, time independent perturbation theory. (offered as 95.535 for graduate credit) |
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| 95.536 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics II | Credits: 3 |
| The three dimensional Schroedinger equation, the deuteron nucleus, angular momentum, spin, the hydrogen atom, spin-orbit interaction, Zeeman effect, Pauli exclusion principle, atomic structure, multi-electron atoms, the Fermi gas, X-rays. |
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| 95.537 | Geometrical Optics | Credits: 3 |
| Properties of light, plane surfaces and prisms, thin and thick lenses, mirrors and stops, matrix methods applied to Gaussian (paraxial) optics, Lagrange-Helmholtz invariant, primary and chromatic aberrations, ray tracing and Abbe's sine condition, basic optical instruments including cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. |
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| 96.537 | Geometrical Optics Laboratory | Credits: 2 |
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| 95.538 | Physical Optics and Waves | Credits: 3 |
| Wave nature of light, mathematics of wave motion, electro-magnetic theory of light propagation, reflection and refraction, Fresnel coefficients, polarization, interference, Young's experiment, fringe visibility and coherence, various interferometers, Newton's rings and applications, Fraunhofer diffraction by single and multiple apertures and diffraction gratings, Fresnel diffraction. |
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| 95.539 | Electro-Optics | Credits: 3 |
| Optical properties of materials, including dispersion, absorption, reflection and refraction at the boundary of two media. Crystal optics and induced birefringence and optical activity. Polarization states and Jones matrices. Applications to electro-optic devices. Experiments and projects involving the study of optical sources and detectors , spectroscopy, polarization, birefringence, pockels' effect, optical fibers, and optical communication. (offered as 95.539 for graduate credit) |
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| 95.540 | Image Processing | Credits: 3 |
| Basic physics of television and other imaging systems: representation and manipulation of images in digital form; Fourier analysis and filtering of images: detection of image features such as edges and regions, pattern recognition, three-dimensional visual perception in man and machine, examples of image processing tasks from such areas as medicine, industrial inspection and robotics. Ability to program a computer is required. |
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| 96.545 | Characterization of Materials | Credits: 2 |
| A one-semester course designed to teach the student several of the important techniques for characterizing the structural, optical, and electronic properties of materials. Experiments will include x-ray diffractometry, hardness measurements, elipsometry, visible and near infrared spectroscopy, far infrared spectroscopy, and raman spectroscopy. |
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| 95.547 | Laser Physics and Applications | Credits: 3 |
| Spontaneous and stimulated emission line broadening processing, rate equations, laser oscillation condition, spectral output of lasers. Gaussian beam propagation and resonator design parameters. Key features of ultraviolet through far infrared laser systems. Application to spectroscopy, radar, welding. (offered as 95.547 for graduate credit) |
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| 96.551 | Fiber Optics | Credits: 4 |
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| 95.553 | Electromagnetism I | Credits: 3 |
| The theory of electromagnetic fields using vector analysis: electrostatic fields and potentials in vacuum, conductors, and dielectric media, magnetic effects of steady currents in nonmagnetic media, magnetic induction and time varying currents and fields. (offered as 95.553 for graduate credit) |
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| 95.554 | Electromagnetism II | Credits: 3 |
| Magnetic materials, electric multipoles, solutions to Laplace's equation, boundary conditions, image charge problems, Maxwell's equations; propagation of electromagnetic waves in vacuum, conductors and dielectrics; reflection and refraction of electromagnetic waves; radiation from dipoles and antennas. (offered as 95.554 for graduate credit). |
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| 95.555 | Introduction to Space Physics | Credits: 3 |
| The course introduces the present knowlege of space phenomena and the physical understanding of the plasma environment from the sun to the earth's ionosphere and in the heliosphere. Regions in space to be discussed include the solar surface, solar wind, bow shock, magnetosheath, magnetosphere, magnetotail, radiation belts, ring currents, and the ionosphere. Among space plasma physic theories, single particle theory, kinetic theory, and magnetohydrodynamics, which describe charged particle motion in electromagnetic fields and its consequences, are introduced and applied to the space environment. |
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| 95.561 | Nuclear Physics I | Credits: 3 |
| Nuclear properties including size, mass, binding energy, electromagnetic moments, parity and statistics; nuclear shell model, collective structure, deformed shell model, radioactive decay law and the Bateman equations, radioactive dating, counting statistics, energy resolution, coincidence measurements and time resolution, lifetime measurements; nuclear barrier pentetration; angular momentum, Coulomb barrier, alpha decay and systematics, fission. (offered as 95.561 for graduate credit). |
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| 96.567 | Automation Techniques | Credits: 3 |
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| 95.572 | Solid State Physics | Credits: 3 |
| Crystal structures, x-ray diffraction, crystal binding, lattice vibrations, free electron and band models of metals. (offered as 95.572 for graduate credit). |
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| 95.577 | Solid State Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices | Credits: 3 |
| This course is an introduction to solid state electronic and optoelectronic devices for undergraduate science students (i.e. biology, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, etc.) graduate students just entering a scientific endeavor which utilizes solid state devices, and practical engineers and scientists whose understanding of modern electronics and optoelectronics needs updating. The course is organized to bring students with a background in sophomore physics to a level of understanding which will allow them to read much of the current literature on new devices and applications. The course will cover fundamental crystal properties, atoms and electrons, energy bands and charge carriers, excess carriers, junctions and p-n junction diodes (includes photodiodes and light-emitting diodes). Three or four practical demonstrations will also be performed with the analysis of the generated data assigned as homework. (offered as 95.577 for graduate credit) |
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| 95.578 | Intergrated Optics: Wave Guides and Lasers | Credits: 3 |
| This course is a continuation of 95.477 and serves as an introduction to solid state electronic and optoelectronic devices. The course will cover bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors, integrated circuits, lasers, switching devices, and negative conductance microwave devices. Three or four practical demonstrations will also be performed with the analysis of the generated data assigned as homework. (offered as 95.548 for graduate credit) |
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| 95.585 | Relativity and Cosmology | Credits: 3 |
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| 96.593 | Graduate Physics Laboratory | Credits: 2 |
| "Experiments in various branches of physics including optics, atomic physics, solid state physics and nuclear physics.
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| 95.605 | Mathematical Methods of Physics I | Credits: 3 |
| Vector analysis; matrices and determinants; theory of analytical functions; differential equations, Fourier series, Laplace transforms, distributions, Fourier transforms. |
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| 95.606 | Mathematical Methods of Physics II | Credits: 3 |
| Partial differential equations, boundary value problems, and special functions; linear vector spaces; Green's functions; selected additional topics; numerical analysis. |
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| 95.611 | Classical Mechanics | Credits: 3 |
| Knowledge of Lagrangian mechanics assumed. Central force problem, scattering, rigid-body mechanics, normal modes and special relativity. Hamiltonian dynamics, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory and action-angle variables. Continuous systems and fields. Simplectic formulation, stochastic processes, and chaos theory. |
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| 95.615 | Quantum Mechanics I | Credits: 3 |
| The representation of quantum states as abstract vectors. Superposition of states. Quantum operators and their matrix representations. Angular momentum operator as the generator of rotations. Eigenvalues and eigenstates of angular momentum. The uncertainty principle. Spin one-half and spin one as examples. Addition of angular momentum. The Hamiltonian operator and the Schrodinger equation. One dimensional examples. The momentum operator, eigenstates of position. Operator solution of the harmonic oscillator. I(3,0) Quantum Mechanics I The representation of quantum states as abstract vectors. Superposition of states. Quantum operators and their matrix representations. Angular momentum operator as the generator of rotations. Eigenvalues and eigenstates of angular momentum. The uncertainty principle. Spin one-half and spin one as examples. Addition of angular momentum. The Hamiltonian operator and the Schrodinger equation. One dimensional examples. The momentum operator, eigenstates of position. Operator solution of the harmonic oscillator. |
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| 95.616 | Quantum Mechanics II | Credits: 3 |
| Quantum mechanics in three dimensions. translational and rotational invariance and conservation of linear and angular momentum, center-of-mass coordinates. Position-space representation ofthe angular momentum operator, orbital angular momentum eigenfunctions. Bound states of central potentials, including the Coulomb potential and the hydrogen atom. Approximation methods: time-independent perturbations, applications to the Stark effect, the Zeeman effect, spin-orbit coupling in hydrogen. The variational method. Time dependent perturbations. Indistinguishable particles: multielectron atoms, covalent bonding. Scattering. Electromagnetic interactions: emission and absorption of radiation. |
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| 95.617 | Advanced Quantum Mechanics I | Credits: 3 |
| Dirac equation as a single particle wave equation, free particle spinors and plane waves, matrices and relativistic covariance, nonrelativistic approximation and the fine-structure of the H atom. Quantization of the e.m. field in the coulomb gauge; interaction of an atom with the quantized radiation field; radiative transitions in atoms; Thomson scattering; classical and quantized Lagrangian field theory; symmetries and conservation laws: quantization of the real and complex Klein-Gordon field; Dirac Field and the covariant quantization of the e.m. field; Feynman propagators; the interaction picture and the S-matrix expansion in perturbation theory and the Wick's Rule. Feynman diagrams and rules for calculating S-matrix elements in QED; formulas for cross-section and spin and photon polarization sums; calculation of cross-sections for (1) e++e- l++ l - (2) e++e- e++e- (3) Compton scattering and (4) scattering of electrons by an external e.m. field. |
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| 95.631 | Nonlinear Optics | Credits: 3 |
| Wave propagation in a linear anisotropic medium; Wave propagation in a nonlinear optical medium. Classical model for the origin of nonlinear optical effects; Second order nonlinear optical effects - second harmonic generation, sum and difference frequency generation, linear electro-optical effect; Third order nonlinear optical effects, Kerr effect and intensity dependent nonlinear index of refraction, stimulated Raman and Billouin scattering; Photorefraction; Nonlinear optical devices. |
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| 95.657 | Electromagnetic Theory I | Credits: 3 |
| Electrostatics and magnetostatics with special attention to boundary value problems. Quasistatic fields and displacement currents. Maxwell's equations, special relativity, wave-guides, scattering, radiation from accelerated charges, propagation in material media and plasmas, Kramers-Kronig relations. |
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| 95.658 | Electromagnetic Theory II | Credits: 3 |
| Electrostatics and magnetostatics with special attention to boundary value problems. Quasistatic fields and displacement currents. Maxwell's equations, special relativity, waveguides, scattering, radiation from accelerated charges; propagation in material media and plasmas, Kramers-Kronig relations. |
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| 95.662 | Nuclear Physics II | Credits: 3 |
| The nucleon-nucleon force; nuclear models; nuclear reaction theory and partial wave analysis of scattering; fast neutron physics. |
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| 95.701 | Physics Colloquium | Credits: 0 |
| A series of invited lectures on current research topics in Physics. |
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| 95.702 | Physics Colloquium | Credits: 0 |
| A series of invited lectures on current research topics in Physics. |
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| 95.703 | Seminar in Nuclear Physics | Credits: 0 |
| involve presentations by students, faculty members, and visiting scientists of advanced topics, original research or journal articles. |
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| 95.704 | Seminar in Nuclear Physics | Credits: 0 |
| involve presentations by students, faculty members, and visiting scientists of advanced topics, original research or journal articles. |
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| 95.705 | Seminar in Solid State/Optics | Credits: 0 |
| involve presentations by students, faculty members, and visiting scientists of advanced topics, original research or journal articles. |
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| 96.705 | Supervised Teaching - Physics | Credits: 0 |
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| 95.706 | Seminar in Solid State/Optics | Credits: 0 |
| involve presentations by students, faculty members, and visiting scientists of advanced topics, original research or journal articles. |
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| 95.709 | Seminar in Accelerator Physics | Credits: 0 |
| A weekly series of presentations and discussions by students and faculty concerning research in progress and planned research at the 5.5 MV Van de Graaff Accelerator. Enrollment in the course is limited to students whose research projects involve the Van de Graaff accelerator. |
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| 95.710 | Seminar in Experimental Optics | Credits: 0 |
| A weekly series of presentations and discussions concerning experimental optics research in the University of Massachusetts Lowell Department of Physics and Applied Physics. |
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| 95.711 | Graduate Seminar in Physics | Credits: 0 |
| Presentations by students of progress in their research projects. |
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| 95.712 | Graduate Seminar in Physics | Credits: 0 |
| Presentations by students of progress in their research projects. |
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| 95.713 | Seminar in Theoretical Research | Credits: 0 |
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| 95.714 | Seminar in Experimental Research | Credits: 0 |
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| 95.715 | Seminar in Terahertz Technology | Credits: 0 |
| Course involves presentations by students , faculty members, and visiting scientists of advanced topics, original research for journal articales relevant to technologies at terahertz frequencies. |
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| 96.716 | Special Problems In Physics | Credits: 1 |
| Reading in preparation for research, or research not for thesis. If results of the research are to be subsequently incorporated into a thesis, credits earned in this course may be used to satisfy thesis credit requirements in M.S. or Ph.D. Thesis Research with the written permission of the thesis supervisor, provided such permission is granted at the time of registration for this course. If the results are incorporated in an M.S. project, not more than 3 credits are allowed. |
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| 95.717 | Seminar in Heavy Ion Physics | Credits: 0 |
| Involves presentations by students, faculty memers, and research scientists on advanced topics in heavy-ion spectroscopy, including both original research and journal articles. |
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| 95.719 | Seminar in Nanoscale Physics and Technology | Credits: 0 |
| Students will study the scientific literature on topics and concepts in nanoscale physics and technology, including nanoscale thermal properties, micro-and nano-fluidity, nano-optics, quantum confinement to electronic states, and other phenomena. Students will make presentations and lead discussions on these studies at the frontiers of the field. The presentations will help them to generate new ideas for their own graduate research. Every student will have the opportunity to lead more than one discussion session. |
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| 96.719 | Special Problems In Physics | Credits: 9 |
| Reading in preparation for research, or research not for thesis. If results of the research are to be subsequently incorporated into a thesis, credits earned in this course may be used to satisfy thesis credit requirements in M.S. or Ph.D. Thesis Research with the written permission of the thesis supervisor, provided such permission is granted at the time of registration for this course. If the results are incorporated in an M.S. project, not more than 3 credits are allowed. |
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| 95.721 | Selected Topics in Physics | Credits: 3 |
| Selected topics courses cover recent advances and more advanced topics, not covered in the regular courses in these areas. Subject matter varies, depending on the interests of the instructor and the needs of the students. Subject matter varies sufficiently that these courses may be taken more than once for credit without repeating topics. |
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| 95.722 | Selected Topics in Physics | Credits: 3 |
| Selected topics courses cover recent advances and more advanced topics, not covered in the regular courses in these areas. Subject matter varies, depending on the interests of the instructor and the needs of the students. Subject matter varies sufficiently that these courses may be taken more than once for credit without repeating topics. |
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| 95.723 | Selected Topics in Nuclear Physics | Credits: 3 |
| Selected topics courses cover recent advances and more advanced topics, not covered in the regular courses in these areas. Subject matter varies, depending on the interests of the instructor and the needs of the students. Subject matter varies sufficiently that these courses may be taken more than once for credit without repeating topics. |
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| 95.725 | Selected Topics in Solid State | Credits: 3 |
| Selected topics courses cover recent advances and more advanced topics, not covered in the regular courses in these areas. Subject matter varies, depending on the interests of the instructor and the needs of the students. Subject matter varies sufficiently that these courses may be taken more than once for credit without repeating topics. |
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| 95.726 | Selected Topics in Solid State | Credits: 3 |
| Selected topics courses cover recent advances and more advanced topics, not covered in the regular courses in these areas. Subject matter varies, depending on the interests of the instructor and the needs of the students. Subject matter varies sufficiently that these courses may be taken more than once for credit without repeating topics. |
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| 95.727 | Selected Topics in Theoretical Physics | Credits: 3 |
| Selected topics courses cover recent advances and more advanced topics, not covered in the regular courses in these areas. Subject matter varies, depending on the interests of the instructor and the needs of the students. Subject matter varies sufficiently that these courses may be taken more than once for credit without repeating topics. |
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| 96.731 | Advanced Projects In Physics I | Credits: 3 |
| Research project leading to the Graduate Research Admission Examination (for Ph.D. candidates only.) |
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| 96.732 | Advanced Projects In Physics II | Credits: 3 |
| Research project leading to the Graduate Research Admission Examination (for Ph.D. candidates only.) |
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| 96.733 | Graduate Project - Physics | Credits: 3 |
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| 95.733 | Graduate Project in Physics | Credits: 3 |
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| 95.736 | Graduate Project in Physics | Credits: 6 |
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| 96.736 | Graduate Project - Physics | Credits: 6 |
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| 96.739 | Graduate Project - Physics | Credits: 9 |
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| 95.739 | Graduate Project in Physics | Credits: 9 |
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| 96.746 | Master's Thesis Research Physics | Credits: 1 |
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| 96.756 | Doctoral Dissertation/Physics | Credits: 1 |
| Note: Courses with 98 prefix are described in the Radiological Sciences and Protection section of this catalog. |
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| 96.759 | Doctoral Dissertation/Physics | Credits: 9 |
| Note: Courses with 98 prefix are described in the Radiological Sciences and Protection section of this catalog. |
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| 95.771 | Physics Systems Analysis I | Credits: 3 |
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| 95.772 | Physics Systems Analysis II | Credits: 3 |
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| 95.773 | Physics Systems Analysis III | Credits: 3 |
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| 96.800 | Cooperative Education in Physics | Credits: 0 |
| Cooperative Education in Physics |
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