E. Uchimoto, Chair

Physics is considered to be the most fundamental of all the disciplines in the natural sciences. In physics we try to describe and understand a myriad of physical phenomena ranging from subatomic to cosmological scales by quantifying the relationships among different physical quantities. Not only does physics have its own merit as a challenging but exciting scientific endeavor, it provides the basis for understanding underlying processes in astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, computer science, engineering, and even in behavioral sciences. Applications of physics are virtually unlimited: computers, communications, energy production, medical technology, and space flight, to name just a few.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a range of physics courses from introductory to advanced undergraduate level in both experimental and theoretical physics with computational methods in mind. In addition, we offer introductory to advanced astronomy and astrophysics courses in which astronomical applications of physics are emphasized. These courses deal with the Universe, from the solar system to clusters of galaxies, both theoretically and observationally.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in physics. Graduates with this degree are prepared for further study in physics or related fields at the masters or Ph.D. level, as well as a wide variety of technical positions in industry. In addition, the department offers two other degree paths which combine a solid background in the study of physics with in-depth study in other fields. These options allow for specialization in related fields and provide appropriate background for certain employment opportunities and for continued graduate or professional study:

Astronomy: The astronomy option provides a thorough study of astronomy and astrophysics as well as a solid background in physics and mathematics. Graduates from this program have gone on to graduate programs in astronomy and astrophysics while others have found career opportunities at national astronomical observatories.

Computational Physics: The computational physics option provides a thorough study of computer science and computational physics as well as a solid background in physics and mathematics. Graduates from this program have gone on to graduate programs in physics and computer science while others have found career opportunities in technical fields.

Special Degree Requirements back to top

Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.
All majors must meet the Upper-division Writing Expectation by successfully completing an upper-division writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. See index.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics

Thirty eight credits in physics must be earned for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in physics. Required courses in Physics are: 221N 222N or 121N 122N (221N 222N strongly recommended), 301, 314 (315 strongly recommended), 322, 341, 371 (372 strongly recommended), 441 and 452. Mathematics 152, 153, and 251 also must be taken.

Physics majors must satisfy successfully the general education requirements including the following requirement in Foreign Language/Symbolic Systems: Completion of the second semester of a foreign language or demonstration of equivalent skill in a foreign language in testing administered by the Counseling Center and Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, and completion of at least one computer science language course (CS 131, 203, or 204).

Recommended courses in other departments include Mathematics 311, 312.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics: Astronomy Option

The entering freshman students interested in working toward this degree would normally have had the high school mathematics courses which would prepare them for enrollment in Mathematics 121 during the autumn semester of the freshman year. If they have four years of college preparatory mathematics, including high school trigonometry, or can pass an examination which will exempt them from Mathematics 121, they should initially enroll in Calculus I. During the first two years of college, the student in the astronomy option should take Calculus I, II, III and Applied Differential Equations. The student should also enroll in the introductory astronomy sequence, Astronomy 131N 132N. In addition, they should enroll in as many electives and non major courses satisfying departmental graduation requirements as course scheduling permits. Foreign language requirements must be met as set forth above under Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics. The prospective major in the astronomy option will normally not take any physics courses until the second year. During the sophomore year, students should enroll in Physics 221N 222N.

Thirty nine credits in astronomy and physics courses are required for the B.A. degree in physics with astronomy option, in addition to the general requirements for graduation. The thirty nine credits should include Physics 221N 222N plus at least two of the following course sequences: Physics 314 315, 322 323, 371 372, or 341 452 plus at least one additional upper-division physics course from this list. In addition, Astronomy 131N 132N, 353, and 363 364 are required ASTR 351 strongly recommended).

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics: Computational Physics Option:

The purpose of the computational physics option is to provide a thorough background in both physics and computer science and to inculcate a deeper understanding of their goals and methods. A student earns the computational physics option by completing at least 50 credits in the two disciplines, 30 of these credits in physics courses and 20 of these in computer science courses. The following courses are required: Physics 221N 222N, 301, 314, 341 and 371 (PHYS 315, 372, and 441 recommended); Computer Science 131 132, 331, 332, and six credits of CS electives selected from courses numbered 200 and above (CS 231 and 335 recommended); Mathematics 152 153, 225, 251, 311 and 325 (MATH 305, 341, and 471 recommended). Also required is one course from Chemistry 334 or Forestry 220. Foreign language requirements must be met as set forth above under Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics.

Students expecting to enroll in the program must meet the admission requirements of the computer science major. See computer science.

Teacher Preparation in Physics

Major Teaching Field of Physics: For an endorsement in the major teaching field of Physics, a student must complete the following course requirements: 34 credits in Physics including Physics 121N 122N or 221N 222N, 301, 314, 322 323, 328, 341, 371 and 452. Also required are Astronomy 131N 132N; Mathematics 152 153, 158, 241 or 341, and 251; Computer Science 131 or 201 or 203; Curriculum & Instruction 426, Chemistry 151N and 485; Biology 101N or 103N or 120N or 121N; and Geology 100N and 301. Students also must gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see the School of Education section of this catalog).

Minor Teaching Field of Physics: For an endorsement in the minor teaching field of Physics, a student must complete Physics 121N 122N or 221N 222N, 322 323, 328, 341 and 371. Also required are Astronomy 131N or 132N; Biology 101N or 103N or 120N or 121N; Chemistry 151N, 485; Mathematics 152 153, 158, 241or 344, 251; and Computer Science 131 or 201 or 203. Students also must gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see the School of Education section of this catalog).

Suggested Course of Study back to top

Requirements for a Minor back to top

To earn a minor in physics the student must complete PHYS 121N-122N or 221N-222N; PHYS 371-372; and six credits from PHYS 301, 314-315, 322-323, 341, 446, or 452-453.

Courses back to top

Astronomy

U=for undergraduate credit only, UG=for undergraduate or graduate credit, G=for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

U 131N Elementary Astronomy I 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., high school algebra and geometry. Solar system astronomy.

U 132N Elementary Astronomy II 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., high school algebra and geometry. A survey of normal and variable stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, quasars, pulsars, neutron stars, black holes, and other topics.

U 134N Elementary Astronomy Laboratory I 1 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., ASTR 131N Laboratory exercises in solar system astronomy.

U 135N Elementary Astronomy Laboratory II 1 cr. Offered spring. Prereq. or coreq., ASTR 132N. Laboratory exercises in stellar and galactic astronomy.

U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-10) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.

UG 351 Planetary Science 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., PHYS 221N or 121N and MATH 150 or 152. Same as GEOL 309. Physical and geological characteristics of planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, with an emphasis on comparative planetology.

UG 353 Galaxies and The Universe 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., ASTR 132N, PHYS 222N, MATH 251. The nature of the Milky Way galaxy and other galaxies, galactic evolution, the large scale structure of the universe, active galaxies and quasars, and cosmology, including the early universe.

UG 362 Observational Astronomy 3 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., ASTR 132N, PHYS 222N. Telescopes and instrumentation for the determination of the positions, brightness, colors and other properties of stars; particular attention to photoelectric photometry. Includes observational and computational problems.

UG 363 Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics I 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., ASTR 132N, MATH 251, and PHYS 222N; PHYS 341 recommended. Detailed application of physical laws to determine the nature of the stars; analysis of stellar spectra and atmospheres; solar astrophysics; structure of stars and their evolution.

UG 364 Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics II 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., ASTR 363. Continuation of ASTR 363.

U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.

Physics

U 105N Physics of Music and Hi-Fidelity 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Study of waves, sound and electricity as applied to music and hi-fidelity. Not appropriate toward general physics requirement in any major.

U 121N General Physics I 5 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., working knowledge of high school algebra and trigonometry. Mechanics, sound, and heat. For non-physical science majors. Satisfies medical school requirements. Credit not allowed for both PHYS 121N-122N and 221N-222N.

U 122N General Physics II 5 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PHYS 121N. Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics. Credit not allowed for both PHYS 121N-122N and 221N-222N.

U 141N Relativity: From Galileo to Einstein and Beyond 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., working knowledge of high school physics and high school calculus, or consent of instr. Modern theoretical study of space, time, the principle of relativity, and its implications. Analysis of apparent paradoxes, and applications to particle physics.

U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.

U 221N General Physics I 5 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., calculus. This course satisfies medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Mechanics, sound, and heat. Credit not allowed for both PHYS 221N-222N and 121N-122N.

U 222N General Physics II 5 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PHYS 221N. Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics. Credit not allowed for both PHYS 221N-222N and 121N-122N.

U 251 Laboratory Arts 1 cr. (R-2) Offered intermittently. Prereq., PHYS 222N and upper-division standing in physics. Elements of glass blowing, machine shop practice and electronic construction techniques.

UG 301 Vector Analysis 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq. or coreq., PHYS 222N and MATH 251. Selected topics in vector algebra and vector calculus, with examples from applications in physics.

UG 314 Electromagnetism I 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq, PHYS 301. Electricity and magnetism at the intermediate level.

UG 315 Electromagnetism II 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PHYS 314. Continuation of PHYS 314. Electricity and magnetism at the intermediate level.

UG 322 Optics I 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., PHYS 222N. And coreq., MATH 251. Topics in light and optics at the intermediate level, with laboratory.

UG 323 Optics II 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PHYS 322. Continuation of PHYS 322. Topics in light and optics at the intermediate level, with laboratory.

UG 328 Methods of Teaching Physics 2 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., PHYS 222N or 122N. Lectures topics, demonstrations and laboratory experiments used in contemporary approaches to the teaching of high school and introductory college physics.

UG 341 Fundamentals of Modern Physics 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., one year of general physics. Includes historical background for development of modern physics and an introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics. Credit not allowed for graduate degree in physics.

UG 371 Mechanics I 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., PHYS 301 and MATH 158 and 251. Topics in classical mechanics at the intermediate level.

UG 372 Mechanics II 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PHYS 371. Continuation of PHYS 371. Topics in classical mechanics at the intermediate level.

U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 396 Honors Physics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Independent research in topics of current interest in physics.

U 441 Modern Experimental Physics Laboratory 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PHYS 222. Advanced experiments in digital electronics, modern physics, spectroscopy and laser science. Emphasis on individual initiative in the laboratory and advanced measurement techniques. This course is recommended for students entering graduate school in experimental science.

UG 446 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., PHYS 222N and MATH 158 and 251. Topics in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.

UG 452 Quantum Physics of the Atom 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., PHYS 341 and MATH 251. Introduction to quantum mechanics. Topics include Schroedinger equation, piecewise constant potential, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, angular momentum theory, electron spin.

UG 453 Selected Topics in Modern Physics 3 cr. (R-6) Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., PHYS 452 or consent of instr.. Studies of a topic in advanced modern physics including nuclear physics, solid state physics, and quantum optics. The topic chosen will vary according to instructor.

UG 473 Quantum Mechanics 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., PHYS 452 or consent of instr. Advanced topics in quantum mechanics including linear vector spaces and Dirac notation, quantum dynamics, time-dependent perturbation theory, and scattering theory.

U 493 Omnibus Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. University omnibus option for independent work. See index.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 597 Research 1-6 cr. ( R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Research in selected physics topics.

G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.

G 599 Thesis Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Thesis preparation and execution.

Faculty back to top

Professors

Richard J. Hayden, Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1948 (Emeritus)
Mark J. Jakobson, Ph.D., University of California, (Emeritus)
Randolph H. Jeppesen, Ph.D., New Mexico State University, 1980 (Emeritus)
Eijiro Uchimoto, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1988 (Chair)

Associate Professors

David B. Friend, Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1982
James P. Jacobs, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1991
Andrew S. Ware, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1992

Assistant Professor

Carla M. Riedel, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1996