PHYSICS

Professors: Ralph Baierlein, Richard W. Lindquist, Thomas J. Morgan (Chair), Robert J. Rollefson

Associate Professors: Fred M. Ellis, Lutz Hüwel, Roderick V. Jensen

Assistant Professor: Brian Stewart

Research Professor: John Larese

Research Fellow: Wen Lin

Participation in research and mastery of the main subject areas of physics are the twin goals of the physics program.The major program is designed to develop proficiency in quantum theory, electromagnetism and optics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, classical mechanics, classical dynamics, and solid state physics. Preparation in mathematics and mathematical methods is an integral part of the program.

Interested and qualified students may pursue several opportunities for advanced work, including graduate courses and participation with graduate students and faculty in research. The department encourages its students to "do physics" at the earliest opportunity by making arrangements to work with one of the research groups or by arranging an independent research tutorial. Research may be experimental or theoretical and may, but need not, result in a senior honors thesis. Most majors who intend to write a thesis begin research no later than the junior year and continue it through the summer into the senior year. Current research interests include astrophysics and chaos theory, excited material surfaces, third sound in super fluid films, laser plasmas and photo dissociation, highly excited atom collisions, physics in two dimensions, and molecular collisions.

The Science Machine Shop, located on the ground floor of the Science Tower, maintains a well-equipped student shop. It is open to all students who have satisfied the shop foreman of their competence in handling machine tools. Many students also take advantage of Wesleyan's computing facilities in their research or course work. The department has a number of Macintosh computers that are available for student use. Note that physics courses above the 100-level assume the ability to obtain numerical solutions to physical problems and to generate graphs using either a programming language or a spreadsheet. The use of spreadsheets for such problems is part of the content of Physics 123; there are also notes available for students to use for self-study.

Opportunities are available each semester to serve as a teaching apprentice or assistant in one of the introductory or intermediate-level courses. Many physics majors have found that this is both a stimulating and a satisfying way to learn more about the fundamentals of the discipline. The Undergraduate Lounge in the department serves as a focus for the major, by providing a place where students can study and talk physics. There is also a study room where students in the introductory courses can come to get help and to work together. Students are encouraged to attend the weekly colloquium series and to participate in the weekly research seminars in atomic and molecular physics, chemical physics, and condensed matter physics.

Major program. One of two beginning courses, Physics 113 or Physics 115, is appropriate for most students considering a major in physics. Both deal largely with mechanics.

* Physics 113 has a prerequisite of one semester of calculus, taken either in secondary school or in college, at about the level of Math 121. It is desirable, but not required, that you also have some familiarity with Newton's laws of motion. If you have had no calculus, you may still pursue a major in physics by taking calculus during your first year, then Physics 113 in the first semester of your sophomore year.

* Physics 115 is intended for students who have a strong preparation in calculus, both differential and integral, at about the level of Math 121-122, and who have had a rigorous course in mechanics, preferably one that uses calculus. This is a fast-paced, half-credit, half-semester course covering approximately the same material as Physics 113, but in half the time and at a somewhat higher mathematical level. It is intended as a review, to bring up to speed in a short time students who feel that Physics 113 would be too similar in level to their high school course. (Most students then take Physics 215, Special Relativity, also half-credit, half-semester for the second half of the semester.)

The students from both Physics 113 and 115 merge for the second semester in a course in electricity and magnetism, Physics 116. Exceptionally well-prepared students, who have had a course on Maxwell's equations using calculus, may take Physics 224 instead of 116.

To major in physics, you must complete Physics 116 by the end of your sophomore year; if you can complete it by the end of your first year, it will give you more flexibility to construct your major. You should also have completed Math 121, 122, and 221 by the end of the sophomore year. It is desirable for those who are considering graduate work in physics, or who wish to pursue an intensive major, also to complete Physics 213, 214, 215, and 224 by the end of the sophomore year. You should note that a few of the advanced courses are not offered every year and should plan your program of study accordingly.

To fulfill the major in physics, a student must complete the following:

1. a) Eight lecture courses: the four core physics courses, PHYS 213, 214, 215, and 224; b) at least four other courses at the 200, 300, or 500 level, not including the laboratory courses or Math 221 or 222. For most majors, the department strongly recommends Physis 315, followed in importance by 316, 325, 313, and 356.

2) Two laboratory courses: Physics 342 and 345 or 347. An experimental research or thesis tutorial may be substituted for one of these.

Students planning graduate study in physics should take a minimum of 14 credits, at the 200 level or higher, in physics, mathematics, and computer science. Physics 315, 316, and 325 are essential, and Physics 313 and 356 are very important. In addition, the department strongly recommends Math 222, Math 226 or Physics 561, and Math 229. Graduate physics courses may be elected with permission, and experience in computer programming is also extremely valuable.

Students not planning graduate study in physics, and who are interested in applying their knowledge of physics to other areas of the curriculum, may choose up to four courses from other departments to satisfy requirement 1b. This must be done in consultation with the physics major adviser, and the selections must constitute a coherent, coordinated program of study.

Honors in physics. To be a candidate for departmental honors in physics, a major must submit a thesis describing the investigation of a special problem carried out by the candidate under the direction of a member of the department. In addition, the candidate must have attained a minimum average in the eight lecture courses applied to the major, except those taken in the final semester of the senior year, of B (85.0) for honors and B+ (88.3) for high honors.

Combined 3-2 programs in science and engineering. For students considering a career in engineering, the physics major is a good route into the 3-2 programs with Caltech and Columbia. Consult the 3-2 program adviser for details on planning an appropriate program of study.

Program for non-majors. The Physics Department offers two two-semester survey courses covering many of the main subject areas of physics (mechanics, electromagnetism and optics, thermodynamics and kinetic theory), Physics 111-112 (no calculus) and Physics 113-116 (calculus), with associated laboratory courses Physics 121-122 or Physics 123-124. (Unusually well-prepared students may take Physics 115 and 215 in place of 113.) Either of these two-semester courses will satisfy the physics requirement for admission to schools of medicine, dentistry, or architecture. There are also one-semester courses, designed for the non-specialist, that investigate a more restricted area of physics in greater detail. For help in deciding which of these course options is best suited to your needs and ability, consult the deparmental adviser or the professors in charge of these various offerings.

In the course listings below, no instructors are indicated, as the physics faculty vary their assignments frequently. Instructors for each course are identified in the Course Book for each semester, and this information may also be obtained in the department office.