Department of Physics
Graduate Physics Classes
The student should verify information in this section with the official university catalog.
1110 (PHYS 1105) Elementary Physics Laboratory. (0-2) This course explores and illustrates some of the basic principles covered in PHYS 1310 and 1320. This lab should be taken as you take the second semester of the sequence, PHYS 1310 and 1320.
5110 Seminar in Physics (1-0) A graduate student majoring in Physics is encouraged to take this course each semester that it is offered; however, credit for this course does not count toward the 30 or 36 standard requirement for the advanced degree. This course may be repeated for credit.
5311 Nuclear Physics (3-0) The study of radioactivity, nuclear structure, binding energies, and particle accelerators.
5312 Quantum Mechanics (3-0) A study of quantum mechanics including combination of two or more quantum mechanical systems, addition of angular momentum, time independent perturbation theory, and time dependent perturbation theory.
5313 Theoretical Physics (3-0) A survey of methods in theoretical physics as they apply to areas in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and nuclear physics.
5314 Statistical Mechanics (3-0) A study of statistical mechanics including a brief review of equilibrium thermodynamics, fundamentals of statistical mechanics, transport processes, fluctuations from equilibrium, phase transitions and critical phenomena, and quantum fluids.
5320 Solid State Physics (3-0) An introductory course in the theory of solids.
5322 Semiconductor Device Microfabrication (3-0) An in-depth overview of the physics and technology of VLSI and ULSI silicon semiconductor device microfabrication. Topics including electronic material preparation, thin film growth, silicon oxidation and etching, lithography processing, impurity diffusion, ion implantation and yield analysis will be covered.
5324 Thin Film Materials Laboratory (0-9) An intensive laboratory introduction to the physics and materials fabrication and characterization. At the discretion of the instructor, laboratory projects introducing techniques such as sputtering, furnace/oven preparation, scanning probe microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, four point probe transport methods, magnetometry and x-ray analysis may be offered. This course is preparatory for students seeking to apply for an experimental materials physics masters thesis project. This course may be repeated with permission from the instructor.
5326 Advanced Electronics (0-9) An advanced laboratory course covering analog/digital electronics and optoelectronics. Topics covered include traditional circuit prototyping, introduction to the use of PC methods for simulating semiconductor device behavior in circuits, and an introduction to common PC-interfacing techniques for the control of laboratory equipment. This course will be helpful for students seeking to apply for an experimental materials physics masters thesis project. Prerequisite: PHYS 3316 or instructor approval.
5328 Advanced Solid State Physics (3-0) Review of models of a solid and energy band theory. Additional topics may include interaction of electromagnetic waves with solids, lattice vibrations and phonons, many body effects in solids, device physics, quantum phenomena, carrier transport properties, current device configurations, and materials interface problems. Prerequisite: PHYS 5320.
5331 Electromagnetic Field Theory (3-0) Introduction to electrodynamics at the graduate level. Topics include applications of special functions to problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics, time varying fields, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic energy, Maxwell's stress tensor, radiation, special theory of relativity.
5336 Methods and Techniques of Physical Science (2-4) Methods of instruction and laboratory techniques of topics recommended by the Texas Education Agency to be included in a physical science course in public schools. See Chemistry 4336-5336.
5337 Methods and Techniques of Physical Science (2-4) Methods of instruction and laboratory techniques of topics recommended by the Texas Education Agency to be included in a physical science course in public schools. See Chemistry 4337-5337.
5340 Advanced Dynamics (3-0) Classical mechanics at an advanced level. Topics covered may include special relativity in classical mechanics, Hamilton equation of motion, canonical transformations, and Hamilton-Jacobi theory.
5370 Problems in Advanced Physics (3-0) Open to graduate students on an individual basis by arrangement with the Department of Physics. May be repeated with prior approval of the department.
5395 Fundamentals of Research (2-6) Course is available to graduate students only at the invitation of the department. May be repeated with prior approval of the department.
5399A Thesis This course represents a student's initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in Physics 5399B.
5399B Thesis This course represents a student's continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.