Physics is the study of matter and energy, from the smallest scale, as in the study of elementary particles, to the largest, as in the study of the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. In this sense, physics is the science that underlies all of the other sciences. In principle, as well as in practice, physics is involved in virtually all scientific and technical endeavors (e.g., biophysics, geophysics, health physics, etc.).
Physicists tend to view themselves primarily as solvers of problems, especially problems that can be expressed in mathematical terms. Physics students are trained to solve complex problems by learning to analyze complex relations in mathematical terms, often with the help of today's fast computers. Because of this broadly based and flexible problem-solving background, physics graduates find employment in a variety of fields, many of which are not directly associated with physics.
The Department of Physics offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University. In addition, the department offers courses in physics and astronomy for non-majors. The department also offers graduate courses that lead to a Purdue Master of Science degree. Qualified students may be authorized to pursue the Ph.D. degree in physics at IUPUI in areas where a program has been arranged with Purdue, West Lafayette.
Members of the department conduct research in several disciplines of physics and participate in joint projects with a number of other research groups, such as the Indianapolis Center for Advanced Research and the IU School of Medicine. Student participation in these projects is welcomed and encouraged.
Students majoring in physics consolidate their undergraduate studies by putting what they have learned to use in a capstone experience in one of the department's research laboratories. Each student joins a member of the faculty in a project that provides experience in a professional setting. The student must obtain the approval of a faculty member and register for Physics 490.
Each student should consult an advisor in the department in which a degree is sought to determine which service course is appropriate. A general guide to the schools served by these courses is as follows:
Courses taken outside the Schools of Science and Liberal Arts must receive departmental approval. No more than 6 credit hours of clinical, athletic, or performing arts courses will be approved. See the departmental advisor for details.
The Department of Physics recommends the following sample program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science.
Correspondence courses may not be used to fulfill requirements for the minor.
The Department of Physics offers graduate programs leading to Purdue University Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. For master's degree students, both thesis and nonthesis options are available.
Students who seek to enroll in the physics graduate program should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have a background in the usual undergraduate courses in physics, mathematics, and other sciences. A grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better in physics courses is expected. Graduates from related fields of study in pure and applied science or engineering may be accepted on a probationary basis until they have completed any necessary undergraduate courses in physics. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is normally expected of all applicants. The GRE physics test is recommended, but not required.
The Department of Physics will normally accept, from approved institutions, a maximum of 6 transfer hours of graduate credit that are in excess of undergraduate degree requirements.
Application materials and information can be obtained by writing to the chairperson of the graduate committee; Department of Physics; Science Building; 402 N. Blackford Street; IUPUI; Indianapolis, IN 46202-3273; telephone (317) 274-6900. While the application is being processed, it is possible to enter IUPUI as a temporary graduate student. Generally only 12 hours of credit earned under this classification may be counted toward an advanced degree.
Most physics graduate students receive financial support. Types of support available include teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and tuition remission.
Courses in Physics (PHYS)
The courses in this section are not listed in strict numerical order; courses are grouped according to levels of difficulty.
Note: P-prerequisite; C-corequisite; Fall-offered fall semester; Spring-offered spring semester; Summer-offered in the summer session; Day-offered as a daytime section; Night-offered as an evening section; Equiv.-course is equivalent to the indicated course taught at Indiana University Bloomington, or the indicated course taught at Purdue University, West Lafayette.
Undergraduate Level
010 Pre-Physics (3 cr.) P: MATH 151, or MATH 153 and 154, or equivalent. Fall, spring. For students not ready to take the algebra- and trigonometry-based courses in physics (218 and P201). Basic concepts of physics. Methods of analyzing physics problems. Setting up equations for physics problems. Interpreting information in physics problems. Analyzing and presenting the results of laboratory measurements. Extensive drill in these topics.
100 Physics in the Modern World (5 cr.) P: Introductory high school mathematics. Spring, day. Ideas, language, methods, and impact of physics today.
140 Short Courses in Physics (1 cr.) Five-week short courses on a variety of topics related to the physical world. Examples of topics include: Waves and Particles are the Same Thing, Relativity, Quarks and Other Inhabitants of the Zoo, Why Things Work and Why They Don't, Lasers and Holography, Physics of Star Trek.
200 Our Physical Environment (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, night; Spring, night. A nonmathematical introduction to physical concepts and methods by means of examples from daily life and current technological applications.
218 General Physics (4 cr.) P: MATH 151 or equivalent. Fall, night; Spring, night; Summer, day. Mechanics, conservation laws, gravitation; simple harmonic motion and waves; kinetic theory, heat, and thermodynamics for students in technology fields.
219 General Physics (4 cr.) P: 218. Fall, night; Spring, night; Summer, day. Electricity, light, and modern physics.
P201 General Physics I (5 cr.) P: MATH 151 or equivalent. Fall, day; Spring, night; Summer, day. Newtonian mechanics, wave motion, heat, and thermodynamics. Application of physical principles to related scientific disciplines, especially life sciences. Intended for students preparing for careers in the life sciences and the health professions. Three lectures, one discussion section, and one two-hour laboratory period each week.
P202 General Physics II (5 cr.) P: P201. Fall, night; Spring, day; Summer, day. Electricity and magnetism; geometrical and physical optics; introduction to concepts of relativity, quantum theory, atomic and nuclear physics. Three lectures, one discussion section, and one two-hour laboratory period each week.
152 Mechanics (4 cr.) P or C: MATH 164. Equiv. IU PHYS P221. Fall, day; Spring, day, night; Summer, day. Statics, uniform and accelerated motion; Newton's laws; circular motion; energy, momentum, and conservation principles; dynamics of rotation; gravitation and planetary motion; properties of matter; simple harmonic and wave motion. For more information, visit our World Wide Web page at webphysics.iupui.edu/introphysics.
251 Heat, Electricity, and Optics (5 cr.) P: either P201 or 152. P or C MATH 261. Equiv. IU PHYS P222. Fall, day, night; spring, day; summer, day. Heat, kinetic theory, elementary thermodynamics, heat transfer. Electrostatics, electrical currents and devices. Magnetism and electromagnetic radiation. Optics. For more information, visit our Web page at webphysics.iupui.edu/introphysics.
299 Introduction to Computational Physics (2 cr.) P: 152.Fall. Application of computational techniques to physical concepts. Topics include Mechanics, Oscillations, Chaos, Random processes, etc.
300 Introduction to Elementary Mathematical Physics (3 cr.) P: either P202 or 251 and MATH 261 Spring. Brief but practical introduction to various mathematical methods used in intermediate-level physics courses. Vector analysis, orthogonal coordinate systems, matrices, Fourier methods, complex numbers, special functions, and computational methods. Emphasis will be on worked examples and the application of these methods to physics problems.
310 Intermediate Mechanics (4 cr.) P: either P202 or 251 and either 300 or MATH 262. Fall. For students familiar with calculus. Elements of vector algebra; statics of particles and rigid bodies; theory of couples; principle of virtual work; kinematics; dynamics of particles and rigid bodies; work, power, and energy; elements of hydromechanics and elasticity.
330 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.) P: either P202 or 251 and either 300 or MATH 262. Spring. Electrostatics; electric currents; magnetostatics; electromagnetic induction; Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves.
342 Modern Physics (3 cr.) P: either P202 or 251 and MATH 261. Equiv. IU PHYS P301. Spring. A survey of basic concepts and phenomena in atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics.
342L Modern Physics Laboratory (1 cr.) Laboratory experiments to accompany 342.
353 Electronics Laboratory (2 cr.) P: 251. Spring. Introduction to electronic circuits and test equipment for scientists. Circuits including LRC networks, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, and digital components will be constructed and measured using oscilloscopes, function generators, and digital multimeters. Results will be analyzed in terms of basic circuit properties such as impedance and frequency response.
400 Physical Optics (3 cr.) P: 330. Fall. Electromagnetic waves; wave theory of reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference. Spatial and temporal coherence. Fourier optics, coherent imaging, and holography. Polarization phenomena; Jones vectors and matrices.
401 Physical Optics Laboratory (2 cr.) P: 330. C: 400 (majors). Experiments to accompany PHYS 400 in reflection, refraction, and interference using lasers. Interferometry. Diffraction patterns with emphasis on Fourier analysis and Fourier transformations. Polarization, Brewster's angle. Coherence length of lasers.
416 Thermal Physics (3 cr.) P: 342 and either 310 or 330. Spring. Temperature, equations of state, first and second laws of thermodynamics, entropy and applications, kinetic theory, transport processes, statistical mechanics.
442 Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.) P: 342 and either 310 or 330. Fall. Inadequacies of classical physics; wave packets and Schrödinger equation, one-dimensional problems; operator formulation of quantum mechanics; linear harmonic oscillator; angular momentum; hydrogen atom; Pauli principle and application to helium atom.
470 Reading in Special Topics (1-3 cr.)
480 Solar Energy Usage (3 cr.) P: MATH 164 or equivalent, and two terms of general physics. Theoretical and practical aspects including collector design, modeling of solar systems, economic evaluation of solar alternatives, and photovoltaics.
490 Undergraduate Reading and Research (1-3 cr.) Independent study for undergraduates.
Undergraduate and Graduate Level
501 Physical Science (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, spring. Survey of the physical sciences with emphasis on methods of presentation appropriate to the elementary school. Graduate credit is extended only for elementary school teacher programs.
510 Physical Mechanics (3 cr.) P: 310 or equivalent, and courses in calculus and differential equations. Mechanics of particles, rigid bodies, and vibrating systems.
515 Thermodynamics (3 cr.) P: 310 and 330 and a course in differential equations or advanced calculus. Equilibrium states, the concept of heat, and the laws of thermodynamics; the existence and properties of the entropy; different thermodynamic potentials and their uses; phase diagrams; introduction of statistical mechanics and its relation to thermodynamics; treatment of ideal gases.
517 Statistical Physics (3 cr.) P: 342, 510, and 515 or equivalent. Laws of thermodynamics; Boltzmann and quantum statistical distributions, with applications to properties of gases, specific heats of solids, paramagnetism, black-body radiation, and Bose-Einstein condensation; Boltzmann transport equation and transport properties of gases; Brownian motion and fluctuation phenomena.
520 Mathematical Physics (3 cr.) P: 310, 322, 330, or consent of instructor. Vectors and vector operators, tensors, infinite series, analytic functions and the calculus of residues, partial differential equations, special functions of mathematical physics. When interests and preparation of students permit, calculus of variations and/or group theory are covered.
522 Coherent Optics and Quantum Electronics (3 cr.) P: 330, 442, and 550, or ME 587. Recent experimental and theoretical developments in optics emphasizing concepts of coherence. Fourier optics and the quantum theory of radiation. Applications to lasers and masers, nonlinear optics, holography, and quantum electronics.
530 Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.) P: 330 or equivalent. Electrostatic problems; theory of dielectrics; theory of electric conduction; electromagnetic effects due to steady and changing currents; magnetic properties of matter; Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic radiation.
533 Principles of Magnetic Resonance (3 cr.) P: 550 or equivalent. Magnetic resonance in bulk matter; classical and quantum descriptions, relaxation, CW and pulse experiments, interactions and Hamiltonians. Magnetic interactions between electrons and nuclei; nuclear quadrupole interaction, crystal field interactions, effect of molecular motion. High resolution NMR spectra; EPR of free-radical solutions; powder patterns.
545 Solid-State Physics (3 cr.) P: Any undergraduate course in modern physics. Crystal structure; lattice vibrations; free electron theory of solids; band theory of solids; semiconductors; superconductivity; magnetism; magnetic resonance.
550 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.) P: 342 and at least one other junior-level course in each of mathematics and physics or equivalent. Brief historical survey; waves in classical physics; wavepackets; uncertainty principle; operators and wave functions; Schrödinger equation and application to one-dimensional problems; the hydrogen atom; electron spin; multielectron atoms; periodic table; molecules; periodic potentials; Bloch wave functions.
556 Introductory Nuclear Physics (3 cr.) P: 550 or equivalent. Theory of relativity; brief survey of systematics of nuclei and elementary particles; structure of stable nuclei; radioactivity; interaction of nuclear radiation with matter; nuclear reactions; particle accelerators; nuclear instruments; fission; nuclear reactors.
570 Selected Topics in Physics (3 cr.) Specialized topics in physics selected from time to time.
590 Reading and Research (1-3 cr.)
593 Advanced Physics Laboratory (3 cr.)
Graduate Level
600 Methods of Theoretical Physics (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing in physics or consent of instructor. 600 is designed to provide first-year physics graduate students with the mathematical background for subsequent studies of advanced mechanics, electrodynamics, and quantum theory. Topics include functions of a complex variable, ordinary and partial differential equations, eigenvalue problems, and orthogonal functions. Green's functions, matrix theory, and tensor analysis in three and four dimensions.
601 Methods of Theoretical Physics II (3 cr.) P: 600 or equivalent. A continuation of 600.
610 Advanced Theoretical Mechanics (3 cr.) P: 510 or equivalent. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics; variational principles; canonical transformations; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; theory of small oscillations; Lagrangian formulation for continuous systems and field.
617 Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.) P: 660 or equivalent. Classical and quantum statistical mechanics.
630 Advanced Theory of Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.) P: 530 and 600, or equivalent. The experimental origins of Maxwell's equations. Electrostatics and magnetostatics; solution of boundary value problems. Quasi-static currents. Electromagnetic energy and momentum and the Maxwell stress tensor. Foundations of optics. Radiation from antennas, multipole expansion; waveguides.
631 Advanced Theory of Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.) P: 630 or equivalent. Covariant formulation of electrodynamics; Lienard-Wiechert potentials; radiation from accelerated particles; Cerenkov radiation; dynamics of relativistic particles; radiation damping; introduction to magnetohydrodynamics.
633 Advanced Topics in Magnetic Resonance (3 cr.) P: 533 or consent of instructor. Rotation operators, coupling of angular momenta, Wigner-Eckhart theorem, density matrix; theory of magnetic resonance, relaxation in liquids, chemical exchange, double resonance, cross-polarization, magic angle spinning; two-dimensional NMR, correlation spectroscopy, exchange and NOE spectroscopies; application to biological macromolecules; time domain EPR; lineshape under slow motion.
660 Quantum Mechanics I (3 cr.) P: 530, 550, 600, and 610, or equivalent. Origins of the quantum theory, the uncertainty and complementarity principles. The Schrödinger equation and its solutions for simple physical systems. Mathematical formulation of the quantum theory. Applications: simple harmonic oscillator, theory of angular momentum, hydrogen atom. Time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory. The Pauli exclusion principle. Spin of the electron. Elementary theory of scattering.
661 Quantum Mechanics II (3 cr.) P: 601, 630, and 660, or equivalent. Symmetry and conservation laws. The Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations. Interaction of radiation with matter. Applications of quantum mechanics to atomic structure. Scattering theory.
670 Selected Topics in Physics (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Specialized topics in physics, varied from time to time.
685 Physics Seminar (0-1 cr.) Offered on Pass/Fail basis only. May be repeated for credit. Weekly physics seminar presented by faculty and invited speakers from outside the department.
698 Research M.S. Thesis (cr. arr.)
699 Research. (cr. arr.) Ph.D. thesis.
Courses in Astronomy (AST)
The Department of Physics has academic, advising, and administrative responsibility for the courses in astronomy offered at IUPUI.
AST A100 The Solar System (3 cr.) P: None. Fall. Survey of the solar system, including the Earth, sun, moon, eclipses, planets and their satellites, comets, laws of planetary motion, etc. Discussion of the origin of the solar system, life on earth, and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. Also astronomical instruments and celestial coordinates.
AST A105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr.) P: None. Spring. Survey of the universe beyond the solar system, including stars, pulsars, black holes, principles of spectroscopy and the H-R diagram, nebulae, the Milky Way, other galaxies, quasars, expanding universe, cosmology, and extraterrestrial life.
A130 Short Courses in Astronomy (1 cr.) Five-week short courses on a variety of topics in astronomy. Examples of topics include: The Big Bang, Black Holes, Astronomy From Your Back Yard, How to See Stars, The Birth and Death of Our Sun.
