Department of Physics & Energy Science
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Master
of Sciences; Physics Option
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Thesis Option Non-Thesis Option
24 hours - coursework 30 hours coursework6 hours - thesis work
The Master of Sciences degree has two additional requirements:
1. Because this is a multidisciplinary program, at least two courses (6 credit hours) must be outside of physics. These courses can be in mathematics, chemistry or engineering, for example.2. Students are required to prepare a 15-20 page paper on some topic in physics. This may represent original work or a report on current physics research being done by others. Students wil present a summary of the paper in a 30-45 minute oral presenation.
CORE COURSES - recommended for students wishing a traditional Physics degree:
- Math Methods in Physics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Theoretical Mechanics
- Quantum Mechanics I
- Electromagnetic Theory I
- Electromagnetic Theory II
OTHER COURSES INCLUDE:
- Computational Physics
- Introduction to Solid State Physics
- Thin Film Physics
- Stellar Structure and Evolution
- Quantum Mechanics II
- Solid State Physics I and II
- Topics in Advanced Physics:
- Magnetism
- Nonlinear Physics
- Surface Science
- Astrophysics
- General Theory of Relativity
- Advanced Optics: Lasers and Polarization Techniques
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
The primary research of the department is in solid state physics and surface science. This is supported by several ultrahigh vacuum systems for deposition (molecular beam epitaxy) and characterization of thin films (LEED and Auger spectroscopy), a scanning tunneling microscope, a scanning electron microscope, Brillouin light scattering, and good computing facilities for theoretical work. An additional research area is in soft condensed matter with a specialization in liquid crystal physics and applications. The department also has an active program and sophisticated equipment for radon studies. In addition, the department has a variety of research grade telescopes which can be used for precision astrophotography, solar research, and in the determination of the chemical composition and periods of variable stars.
FACULTY RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- James Burkhart:
- Applied Physics:
- Correlation of measured radon levels and geological formations
- the physics of radon measurement.
- Applied Physics:
- Robert Camley:
- Theoretical Solid State Physics:
- Magnetic and electronic properties of artificially layered structures (superlattices)
- surface excitations,
- optical and magneto-optical signal processing.
- Theoretical Solid State Physics:
- Zbigniew Celinski:
- Experimental Solid State Physics:
- Growth and characterization of ultra-thin metallic films and multilayers
- magnetic materials
- Brillouin light scattering
- ferromagnetic resonance
- exchange coupling in magnetic thin films.
- Experimental Solid State Physics:
- Thomas Christensen:
- Experimental Solid State Physics:
- Surface physics of metals, polymers and semiconductors
- oxidation, tribology, optical properties
- optical scattering from rough surfaces, paper surfaces
- Experimental Solid State Physics:
- Anatoliy Glushchenko:
- Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Physics:
- Physical properties of liquid crystals
- Liquid crystal based devices
- New liquid crystal materials and emerging applications
- Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Physics:
- Marek Grabowski:
- Theoretical Solid State Physics:
- Chaos,
- Exotic mechanisms for high temperature superconductivity,
- Complexity theory, nonlinear physics,
- solitons, one and two dimensional systems, polymers
- Theoretical Solid State Physics:
Courses |
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| For current Masters of Science program course information, please current course bulletin |  |