PHYSICS

Department website: http://physics.nmsu.edu/
(575) 646-3831
physics@nmsu.edu

T. M. Hearn, department head, Ph.D. (Cal Tech)-seismic tomography, seismology; V. Papavassiliou, graduate program coordinator, Ph.D. (Yale)-nuclear and particle physics; R. L. Armstrong, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins)-optics and laser physics; C. W. Bruce, Ph.D. (New Mexico State)-applied optics; M. Burkardt, Ph.D. (Erlangen)- theoretical nuclear and particle physics; G. R. Burleson, Ph.D. (Stanford)-nuclear and particle physics; Michael Engelhardt, Ph.D. (Erlangen) —- computational nuclear and particle physics; W. R. Gibbs, Ph.D. (Rice)-theoretical nuclear physics; G. H. Goedecke, Ph.D. (Rensselaer)-theoretical physics, optics; R. L. Ingraham, Ph.D. (Harvard)-theoretical astrophysics, nonlinear dynamics; R. J. Liefeld, Ph.D. (Ohio State)-x-ray physics; B. Kiefer, Ph.D. (Michigan) - computational geophysics, mineral physics; G. S. Kyle, Ph.D. (Minnesota)-nuclear and particle physics; H. Nakotte, Ph.D. (Amsterdam)-materials science, neutron scattering; J. Ni, Ph.D. (Cornell)- geophysics, seismology; V. E. Ostashev, Ph.D. (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology)-acoustics and wave propagation; S. F. Pate, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania)-nuclear and particle physics; J. Urquidi, Ph.D. (Texas Tech) - materials science, neutron and X-ray scattering; I. Vasiliev, Ph.D. (Minnesota)- computational materials science.

The Department of Physics offers programs in many areas of specialization leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Admission to these programs is based on undergraduate and/or previous graduate grade-point averages, performance on the Graduate Record Examination, and references.

All degree-seeking graduate students must satisfy the relevant Graduate School requirements, pass a qualifying examination based on undergraduate physics courses at the 400 level, successfully complete a 500-level laboratory, and demonstrate or develop knowledge of computer programming.

For the master's degree, students must also successfully complete or transfer at least 30 course credits; and pass a final oral examination or the doctoral comprehensive examination. Of these 30 credits, at least 21 must be in physics/geophysics, at most 3 may be for individual study or other informal courses, at most 6 may be for a thesis, and at most 9 may be numbered between 450 and 499. A master's thesis is optional.

For the Ph.D. degree, students must also pass the doctoral comprehensive examination, carry out original research, complete a dissertation, and pass a final oral examination. They must also pass or transfer at least 36 credits in formal courses numbered above 500 in physics/geophysics, including 24 credits of core graduate courses, and complete at least 6 credits of formal courses numbered above 600. The total number of credits, including formal and informal course credits and a minimum of 18 dissertation credits, must be at least 72. Financial support is available to graduate students in physics through teaching and research assistantships and fellowships. Inquiries about these opportunities should be directed to the head of the department.

Students may choose areas of specialization from a variety of experimental, theoretical, and computational research programs in the department. The current major research areas of the department include atmospheric physics, condensed matter physics/materials science, geophysics, optics, particle and nuclear physics, physics education, and others. These research projects are supported by multimillion-dollar funding by various federal agencies and two national laboratories within the state of New Mexico: Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. In addition to the in-house research, the department conducts collaborative research programs with the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Center for Integrated NanoTechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, the Thomas Jefferson Laboratory, Fermilab, and other national and international laboratories.

The department is housed in a 60,000-square-foot building, which includes a 35,000-square-foot graduate physics wing containing research laboratories and offices. The building also houses a computational laboratory containing numerous Linux workstations and PCs.

PHYSICS

PHYS 450. Selected Topics 1-3 cr.

Readings, lectures or laboratory studies in selected areas of physics. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.

PHYS 451. Intermediate Mechanics I 3 cr.

Vector calculus, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of Newtonian mechanics. Topics include central force motion, dynamics of rockets and space vehicles, rigid body motion, noninertial reference frames, oscillating systems, relativistic mechanics, classical scattering, and fluid mechanics. Prerequisite: PHYS 213 or PHYS 215, and MATH 291. Corequisite: MATH 392. Main campus only.

PHYS 452. Intermediate Mechanics II 3 cr.

Continuation of topics in PHYS 451. Prerequisites: PHYS 451. Main campus only.

PHYS 454. Intermediate Modern Physics I 3 cr.

Introduction to quantum mechanics, with applications to atoms, molecules, solids, and nuclei. Topics include atomic and molecular spectra and selection rules, X-rays, quantum statistics, lasers, superconductivity, electrical conductivity, magnetism, nuclear models and reactions, radioactivity, elementary particles. Prerequisites: MATH 392 and PHYS 315.

PHYS 455. Intermediate Modern Physics II 3 cr.

Continuation of topics in PHYS 454. Prerequisites: PHYS 454. Main campus only.

PHYS 461. Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I 3 cr.

Covers electro-and magneto-statics, dielectric and magnetic materials, DC and AC circuits, electromagnetic wave propagation, reflection, refraction, waveguides, radiating systems, interference and diffraction, Newtonian and relativistic electrodynamics, magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 214 or PHYS 216 or equivalent, and MATH 291.

PHYS 462. Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II 3 cr.

Continuation of topics in PHYS 461. Prerequisites: PHYS 461. Main campus only.

PHYS 470. Physical Optics 3 cr.

Interference and diffraction, spectroscopic instrumentation, coherence, laser and Gaussian laser beam, and elements of nonlinear optics and fiber optics. Prerequisites: PHYS 370; and PHYS 214, PHYS 216, or PHYS 217. Same as E E 470.

PHYS 471. Modern Experimental Optics 2 cr. (6P)

Advanced laboratory experiments in optics related to the material presented in PHYS 470. Prerequisite/corequisite: PHYS 470. Same as E E 481.

PHYS 472. Non-Linear Optical and Laser Physics 3 cr.

An introduction to the physics of non-linear optical processes primarily involving the interaction of intense laser radiation with matter. Topics include elements of laser physics, harmonic generation, stimulated Rayleigh, Raman, and Brillouin scattering, self-focusing and optical phase conjugation.

PHYS 475. Advanced Physics Laboratory 0-3 cr.

Advanced undergraduate laboratory involving experiments in atomic, molecular, nuclear, and condensed-matter physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 315 and 315L

PHYS 476. Computational Physics 3 cr.

An introduction to finite difference methods, Fourier expansions, Fourier integrals, solution of differential equations, Monte Carlo calculations, and application to advanced physics problems. Prerequisites: MATH 392.

PHYS 477. Fiber Optic Communication Systems 4 cr. (3+3P)

Same as E E 477.

PHYS 478. Optical Sources, Detectors, and Radiometry 4 cr. (3+3P)

Same as E E 478.

PHYS 479. Lasers and Applications 4 cr. (3+3P)

Same as E E 479.

PHYS 480. Thermodynamics 3 cr.

Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Basic concepts of temperature, heat, entropy, equilibrium, reversible and irreversible processes. Applications to solids, liquids, and gases. Prerequisites: PHYS 217, PHYS 315 and MATH 291.

PHYS 485. Independent Study 1-3 cr.

Individual analytical or laboratory studies directed by a faculty member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

PHYS 488. Condensed Matter Physics 3 cr.

Crystal structure, X-ray diffraction, energy band theory, phonons, cohesive energy, conductivities, specific heats, p-n junctions, defects, surfaces, and magnetic, optical, and low-temperature properties. Prerequisite: PHYS 454.

PHYS 489. Introduction to Modern Materials 3 cr.

Structure and mechanical, thermal, electric, and magnetic properties of materials. Modern experimental techniques for the study of material properties. Prerequisite: PHYS 315.

PHYS 490. Nuclei and Elementary Particles 3 cr.

Introduction to nuclei, nuclear reactions, and elementary particles, with applications to astronomy and astrophysics. May include nucleosynthesis, thermonuclear reactions, the major burning phases in stars, and the weak interaction in astrophysics. Prerequisites: PHYS 454.

PHYS 491. High Energy Physics I 3 cr.

Particle detectors, accelerators, and experimental techniques. Fundamental particles and interactions. Symmetries in particle physics. Quark model of hadrons. Electroweak theory. Strong interactions and QCD. Nuclear interactions at high energies. Grand unification. Super symmetry. Prerequisite: PHYS 454.

PHYS 492. High Energy Physics II 3 cr.

Continuation of topics in PHYS 491. Prerequisite: PHYS 491.

PHYS 493. Experimental Nuclear Physics 3 cr. (1+6P)

Selected experimental investigations in nuclear physics such as measurement of radioactivity, absorption of radiation, nuclear spectrometry. Prerequisite: PHYS 315.

PHYS 495. Mathematical Methods of Physics I 3 cr.

Applications of mathematics to experimental and theoretical physics. Topics selected from: complex variables; special functions; numerical analysis; Fourier series and transforms, Laplace transforms. Prerequisite: MATH 392.

PHYS 496. Mathematical Methods of Physics II 3 cr.

Applications of mathematics to experimental and theoretical physics. Topics selected from: vector spaces; group theory in quantum mechanics; probability and error analysis; partial differential equations. Prerequisite: PHYS 495.

PHYS 500. Special Topics Seminar 1-2 cr.

Treatment of topics not covered by regular courses. Graded S/U. May be repeated.

PHYS 508. Physics for Educators 3 cr.

Assists K-12 teachers in developing pedagogy in physics. Addresses New Mexico benchmarks and standards.

PHYS 510. Research Orientation Seminar 1 cr.

Survey of departmental research programs. In-depth study of one area. Graded S/U.

PHYS 511. Mathematical Methods of Physics I 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 495. Additional work required at a more advanced level.

PHYS 512. Mathematical Methods of Physics II 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 496. Additional work required at a more advanced level.

PHYS 520. Selected Topics 1-3 cr.

Formal treatment of graduate-level topics not covered in regular courses. Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of instructor, and selection of a specific topic prior to registration. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits.

PHYS 521. Individual Study 1-3 cr.

Individual analytical or laboratory studies directed by a faculty member. Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of instructor, and selection of a specific topic prior to registration. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

PHYS 527. Fiber Optic Communication Systems 4 cr. (3+3P)

Same as E E 527.

PHYS 528. Optical Sources, Detectors, and Radiometry 4 cr. (3+3P)

Same as E E 528.

PHYS 529. Lasers and Applications 4 cr. (3+3P)

Same as E E 529.

PHYS 551. Classical Mechanics 3 cr.

Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of dynamics. Advanced treatments of most topics listed under PHYS 451, 452, plus canonical transformations and Hamilton-Jacobi theory. PHYS 451 and PHYS 452 strongly recommended.

PHYS 554. Quantum Mechanics I 3 cr.

Wave function, indeterminacy, classical limit. Schrodinger equation. Atomic and nuclear systems. Angular momentum, intrinsic spin, identical particles. Scattering theory. Mathematical formalism, symmetry and conserved quantities. Perturbation theory. Dirac theory, introduction to quantized fields. PHYS 452, PHYS 454, and PHYS 456 strongly recommended.

PHYS 555. Quantum Mechanics II 3 cr.

Continuation of topics in PHYS 554. Prerequisites: PHYS 554 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 561. Electromagnetic Theory I 3 cr.

Detailed advanced treatments of most topics listed under PHYS 461, PHYS 462, plus multipole radiation, collisions of charged particles and bremsstrahlung, scattering, and radiation reaction. PHYS 461 and PHYS 462 strongly recommended.

PHYS 562. Electromagnetic Theory II 3 cr.

Continuation of topics in PHYS 561. Prerequisites: PHYS 561 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 570. Advanced Physical Optics 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 470 with additional work required.

PHYS 571. Advanced Experimental Optics 2 cr.

Same as PHYS 471 with additional work required. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Corequisite: PHYS 570. Same as E E 591.

PHYS 572. Advanced Nonlinear Optical and Laser Physics 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 472 with differentiated assignments for graduate students.

PHYS 573. Optics of Advanced Materials 3 cr.

Optical properties of modern nanostructured materials, such as composites, thin films, polymers, and quantum wells. Applications in optoelectronics, telecommunication, and other fields of high technology. Prerequisites: PHYS 570 or consent of instructor. Same as E E 593.

PHYS 574. Laser Spectroscopy 3 cr.

An introduction to modern techniques and instrumentation in laser and nonlinear spectroscopy. Includes Dynamic Stark effect, probe-field spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution Doppler-free spectroscopy, the ultimate limit of spectral resolution, and light-induced drift of of atoms and molecules. Prerequisite: PHYS 554 or consent of instructor. Same as E E 574.

PHYS 575. Advanced Physics Laboratory 0-3 cr.

Selected experiments in atomic, molecular, nuclear and condensed-matter physics.

PHYS 576. Advanced Computational Physics I 3 cr.

Advanced treatment of topics listed under PHYS 476, plus additional required work. Applications of numerical methods to complex physical systems. Recommended knowledge of Fortran or C, and MATH 377 or MATH 392. Same as PHYS 476, but additional work required.

PHYS 577. Fourier Methods in Electro-Optics 3 cr.

Same as E E 577.

PHYS 578. Electro-Optical Systems 3 cr.

Same as E E 578.

PHYS 584. Statistical Mechanics 3 cr.

Thermodynamics review. Probability, entropy, equilibrium. Canonical and grand canonical ensembles. Classical and quantum statistics. Degenerate and classical gases. Application to the equilibrium properties of solids, liquids, and gases. Kinetic theory and transport processes. PHYS 452, PHYS 454, and PHYS 455 strongly recommended.

PHYS 586. Nonlinear Dynamics I 3 cr.

Introduction to nonlinear dynamics and deterministic chaos. Typical topics include stability and bifurcations; chaos in one dimensional maps; universality and renormalization group; symbolic dynamics; fractals; sensitive dependence on initial conditions; self-organization and complexity; time series analysis; cellular automata and computer experiments. Knowledge of differential equations and linear algebra is desired. Prerequisite: familiarity with ordinary differential equations and linear algebra. Same as MATH 586.

PHYS 588. Advanced Condensed Matter Physics 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 488, but additional work required. Prerequisite: PHYS 554 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 589. Modern Materials 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 489 with differentiated assignments for graduate students. Prerequisite: PHYS 554 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 591. Advanced High-Energy Physics I 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 491 with additional work for graduate students. Prerequisite: PHYS 554 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 592. Advanced High-Energy Physics II 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 492 with additional work for graduate students.

PHYS 593. Advanced Experimental Nuclear Physics 3 cr. (1+6P)

Advanced experimental investigation of topics such as measurement of radioactivity, absorption of radiation, nuclear spectrometry. PHYS 454 and PHYS 455 strongly recommended.

PHYS 596. Plasma Physics 3 cr.

Debye length and plasma parameter, Boltzmann transport equation, Vlasov equation, plasma fluid dynamics, magnetic and kinetic pressure, orbit theory, collisions and radiation, optical properties, plasma oscillations, conductivities, hydromagnetic waves, fusion, confinement, and plasma instabilities. Prerequisites: PHYS 551, PHYS 561, PHYS 562, PHYS 584 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 599. Master's Thesis 0-88 cr.

Thesis.

PHYS 600. Research 1-88 cr.

Doctoral research. May be repeated.

PHYS 620. Advanced Topics in Physics 1-3 cr.

Advanced formal treatment of topics not covered in regular courses. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits.

PHYS 649. Application of Tensor Analysis 3 cr.

Introduction to tensor analysis, Gaussian differential geometry, and Reimannian geometry. Working knowledge of vector methods is assumed and numerous physical applications in electrodynamics and special relativity are included. Course is intended to cover the tensor-theoretic preliminaries for PHYS 650. Prerequisite: PHYS 651. Same as MATH 649.

PHYS 650. General Relativity I 3 cr.

Basic foundations and principles of general relativity, derivation of the Einstein field equations and their consequences, the linearized theory, the Bel-Petrov classification of the curvature tensor, derivation of the Schwarzschild solution and the four basic tests of general relativity. Prerequisite: PHYS 649.

PHYS 651. General Relativity II 3 cr.

Elementary theory of degenerate stars; physics of gravitational collapse; derivations of the axially symmetric solutions of Weyl, Kerr, and Vaidya; Penrose process and Hawking s area theorem; no hair therem; Penrose's evidence for black holes. Prerequisite: PHYS 650.

PHYS 652. General Relativity III 3 cr.

Basic properties of the standard model of Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker; the Einstein, DeSitter, Einstein-DeSitter models; group-theoretic method in relativistic cosmology including derivations of the standard model , and the Godel model; the inflation paradigm; the problem of dark matter; and observational cosmology. Prerequisite: PHYS 651.

PHYS 661. Advanced Classical Electrodynamics 3 cr.

Advanced treatments of topics in time-dependent electrodynamics, such as Maxwell s equations and wave propagation in media, relativity, radiation, interference and diffraction, bremsstrahlung, and scattering. Prerequisites: PHYS 562 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 673. Advanced Optics of Materials 3 cr.

Same as PHYS 573 but with additional work required.

PHYS 676. Advanced computational Physics II 3 cr.

Continuation of the advanced computational techniques presented in PHYS 576 with special emphasis on numerical descriptions of quantum systems. Topics include two-body scattering, bound states, time-dependent systems, and scattering of a projectile from a many-body system. Methods for the solution of several-body problems include Monte Carlo Green s function techniques. Prerequisites: PHYS 555, PHYS 576, or consent of instructor.

PHYS 680. Independent Study 1-3 cr.

Individual analytical or laboratory studies directed by a faculty member. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

PHYS 686. Nonlinear Dynamics II 3 cr.

In-depth study of nonlinear dynamics. Possible topics include bifurcation theory; symbolic dynamics; hyperbolic sets and strange attractors; center manifolds; normal forms; averaging and perturbations; Hamiltonian chaos; applications to partial differential equations; ergodic theory; nonlinear waves and solitons; quantum chaos. Prerequisite: PHYS 586 or MATH 586 or consent of instructor. Same as MATH 686.

PHYS 689. Advanced Modern Materials 3 cr.

Advanced topics in the physics of modern materials, such as crystalline, amorphous, polymeric, nanocrystalline, layered, and composite materials and their surfaces and interfaces. Prerequisites: PHYS 555, PHYS 588, or consent of instructor.

PHYS 691. Quantum Field Theory I 3 cr.

Path integrals, gauge invariance, relativistic quantum mechanics, canonical quantization, relativistic quantum field theory, introduction to QED. Prerequisites: PHYS 555 and PHYS 562, or consent of instructor.

PHYS 692. Quantum Field Theory II 3 cr.

QED, running coupling constant, QCD, electroweak theory, asymptotic freedom, deep inelastic scattering, basic QCD phenomenology, path integrals in quantum field theory, lattice QCD. Prerequisite: PHYS 691 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 700. Doctoral Dissertation 0-88 cr.

Dissertation.

GEOPHYSICS

GPHY 450. Selected Topics 1-3 cr.

Readings, discussions, lectures or laboratory studies of selected areas of geophysics. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.

GPHY 451. Principles of Geophysics 3 cr. (2+3P)

Elementary treatment of solid-earth structure and exploration geo-physics, with emphasis on seismic rays and potential fields (gravitational, magnetic, electrical, and heat flow). Prerequisite: PHYS 212 or PHYS 216.

GPHY 452. Exploration Geophysics 3 cr. (2+3P)

Elementary treatment of solid-earth and exploration geophysics, with emphasis on exploration seismology and seismic stratigraphy. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. HIST History HIST 101G. Roots of Modern Europe 3 cr. Economic, social, political, and cultural development from earliest times to about 1700.

GPHY 500. Special Topics Seminar 1-2 cr.

Supervised study of selected topics not covered by regular courses.

GPHY 510. Geophysical Field Methods 1-3 cr. (3+9P)

Field collection, reduction, and interpretation of geophysical data; equipment operation. Prerequisite: GPHY 452 or equivalent.

GPHY 520. Selected Topics 1-3 cr.

Formal treatment of graduate topics not covered in regular courses. Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of instructor, and selection of a specific topic prior to registration. May be repeated for unlimited credit.

GPHY 530. Seismology 3 cr.

Seismic wave propagation in a layered earth, ray theory, exploration techniques, earth structure, and seismicity. Prerequisites: PHYS 511, MATH 472, or equivalent.

GPHY 534. Earthquake Seismology 3 cr.

Location, source mechanisms, magnitude, moment, seismicity, and prediction; seismometers and seismograph systems, microseisms, and noise. Prerequisite: GPHY 530. Offered alternate years.

GPHY 540. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 3 cr.

Formation and evolution of the Earth and planets. Internal physical and chemical structure. Pressure and temperature effects on rocks. Equations of state. Physical mechanisms of plate tectonics. Physics of the Earth's core, planetary magnetism, geodynamo. Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

GPHY 550. Geodynamics 3 cr.

Basics of fluid dynamics, elasticity and heat transfer. Mechanisms of rock deformation. Applications to mantle convection and plate tectonics, diapirism, folding, continental collision and rifting. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

GPHY 552. Exploration Geophysics 3 cr.

Same as GPHY 452, with additional work required at a more advanced level. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

GPHY 560. Applied Inverse Theory 3 cr.

Inversion of data with an emphasis on geophysical problems. Curve fitting, tomography, earthquake location, overdetermined and underdetermined problems, linear and nonlinear problems. Prerequisite: either MATH 280, equivalent, or consent of instructor. Computing experience desirable. Same as PHYS 560.

GPHY 598. Special Research Problems 1-3 cr.

Individual investigations, either analytical or experimental. May be repeated for unlimited credit.

GPHY 599. Master's Thesis 0-88 cr.

Thesis.

GPHY 620. Advanced Topics in Geophysics 3 cr.

Advanced formal treatment of a topic or topics not covered in regular courses. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for unlimited credit.

GPHY 621. Special Topics Seminar 1-3 cr.

Seminar treatments of advanced special topics in geophysics. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for unlimited credit.

GPHY 630. Theoretical Seismology I 3 cr.

Advanced treatment of wave propagation, ray theory, inversion methods, extension to heterogeneous media, and free oscillations. Prerequisites: GPHY 530 and PHYS 512.

GPHY 700. Doctoral Dissertation 0-88 cr.

Dissertation.