New Mexico Tech Physics
Home Prospective Students People News and Events Student Resources Student Clubs Course Schedule Drop-In Tutoring Sample Curricula Course Catalog 100 Level 200 Level 300 Level 400 Level 500 Level Catalog (PDF) Research Contact & Directions Site Map	500 Level Physics Courses Physics 500: Directed Research Credits to be arranged Description (This course may not be used to fulfill graduate degree requirements.) Research under the guidance of a faculty member. Physics 501: Graduate Laboratory Credits 1 Hours 3 lab Description Emphasis is placed on independent effort in the design and assembly of equipment, in experimental technique and procedures, and in the analysis of data. Physics 502: Graduate Laboratory Credits 1 Hours 3 lab Description Emphasis is placed on independent effort in the design and assembly of equipment, in experimental technique and procedures, and in the analysis of data. Physics 505: Advanced Dynamics Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered Fall 2005 and alternate years Physics 508: Statistical Mechanics Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered Spring 2006 and alternate years Description Entropy, randomness, the Boltzmann distribution, and the chemical potential. Translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic contributions to the partition function. Calculation of mean energies, heat capacities, and equilibrium constants. Stability. The influence of wave function symmetry: Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. The quantum statistical operator. Coherence and the Pauli principle. (Same as CHEM 524) Physics 513: Electromagnetics I Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered 2005-2006 and alternate years Description The electromagnetic field equations; boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics; plane, cylindrical, and spherical waves, wave guides; the Hertz vectors, retarded potentials and simple radiating systems; relativistic electrodynamics; radiation from moving charges. Physics 514: Electromagnetics II Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered 2005-2006 and alternate years Description The electromagnetic field equations; boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics; plane, cylindrical, and spherical waves, wave guides; the Hertz vectors, retarded potentials and simple radiating systems; relativistic electrodynamics; radiation from moving charges. Physics 515: Quantum Mechanics I Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered 2004-2005 and alternate years Description Review of experiments leading to quantum theory: Schroedinger's Equation, operators and eigenvalues, perturbation theory, and applications to simple physical systems. The second semester includes introduction to scattering theory, the theory of angular momentum, and Dirac Theory. Physics 516: Quantum Mechanics II Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered 2004-2005 and alternate years Description Review of experiments leading to quantum theory: Schroedinger's Equation, operators and eigenvalues, perturbation theory, and applications to simple physical systems. The second semester includes introduction to scattering theory, the theory of angular momentum, and Dirac Theory. Physics 526: Fluid Dynamics Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered Spring 2005 and alternate years Description Basic equations, potential flow, effects of viscosity, scaling. Compressible flow including characteristics and shock waves. Magnetohydrodynamics, including MHD waves, shocks, and confinement. Fluid and MHD instabilities. Turbulence. Physics 533: Advanced Topics is Atmospheric Physics Credits 1 - 3 Hours 1 - 3 class Description Specialized coursework in the student's areas of interest is presented via the course. Advanced topics in the area of atmospheric physics are covered. The selection of topics changes from semester to semester. Current faculty interests can be found at the department web site. This course may be taken multiple times for credit if the material covered in each instance is different. Physics 562: Stellar Astrophysics Credits 3 Hours 3 class Prerequisite PHYS 425, 426 or equivalent or consent of instructor Offered Spring 2005 and alternate years Description Stellar populations and stellar evolution. Color-magnitude diagrams of open and globular clusters. The effects of metallicity on photometric properties. Star formation. The endpoints of stellar evolution: planetary nebulae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. Pulsating variable stars and other short-lived phases of stellar evolution. Applications to galaxies. Physics 563: Extragalactic Astrophysics Credits 3 Hours 3 class Prerequisite PHYS 425, 426 or equivalent or consent of instructor Description The structure and dynamics of galaxies. Distribution of galaxy types. Potential and orbit theory. Spheroidal galaxies as self-gravitating systems. Instabilities in disk galaxies. Constraints on dark matter and on galaxy formation. Physics 564: Relativity and Cosmology Credits 3 Hours 3 class Prerequisite PHYS 425, 426 or equivalent or consent of instructor Description General relativity with application to cosmology. Basic principles of relativity. Applications to orbits, gravitational radiation, and black holes. Relativistic cosmography and cosmology. The early universe, galaxy formation, and active galaxies. Physics 565: Astronomical Techniques Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered Fall 2004 and alternate years Description Optical, IR, X-ray, and gamma-ray astronomical telescopes and detectors. Throughput, detector quantum efficiency, the modulation transfer function, noise and estimation error. Photometers and photometric systems, CCD imaging, slit and objective grating spectrometry, Fourier spectroscopy. Astrometry, orbit determination. Computer analysis and astronomical databases. Class work will be augmented by extensive optical observing using local facilities. Physics 566: Advanced Radio Astronomy Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered Spring 2006 and alternate years Description The design and operational characteristics of radio telescopes and interferometers. Properties of antennas, telescope optics, feeds, waveguides, receivers, and amplifiers. Spectrometers and spectroscopy. Sensitivity and noise. Amplitude and phase calibration, faint signal detection, astrometry, and mapping. Factors that affect radio data, including instrumental characteristics, atmospheric limitations, and propagation phenomena. The VLA and VLBA and the techniques of radio imaging by aperture synthesis. Hands-on astrophysical exercises to be solved by imaging. Physics 567: Advanced Topics in Astrophysics Credits 2 - 3 Hours 2 - 3 class Offered on demand Description A one-semester tutorial may be selected from any one of the following: our solar system, comets, solar and stellar activity, galactic structure and kinematics, active galaxies and quasars, astrophysical plasmas, accretion disks, black holes, stellar spectroscopy, stellar photometry, and astrometry. Physics 571: Advanced Topics in Physics Credits 3 Hours 3 class Offered on demand Description Study of a special topics not otherwise treated, normally one related to a field of research interest at Tech. Physics 579: Graduate-Faculty Seminar Credits 1 Hours 1 class Offered every semester Description A seminar in which department research and topics of current interest are discussed. Participation by both students and staff is encouraged. Satisfactory performance consists of regular attendance and one talk per year. Graded on a S/U basis. Physics 581: Directed Study Credits to be arranged Description Study under the guidance of a member of the graduate faculty. In general, subject matter will supplement that available in other graduate course offerings. Physics 590: Independent Study Credits TBA Physics 591: Thesis (master's program) Credits TBA Physics 595: Dissertation (doctoral degree program) Credits TBA
Maintained by Gina Chavez (e-mail: rchavez@kestrel.nmt.edu). Modified: July 12, 2005

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500 Level Physics Courses

Physics 500: Directed Research

Credits: to be arranged
Description: (This course may not be used to fulfill graduate degree requirements.) Research under the guidance of a faculty member.

Physics 501: Graduate Laboratory

Credits: 1
Hours: 3 lab
Description: Emphasis is placed on independent effort in the design and assembly of equipment, in experimental technique and procedures, and in the analysis of data.

Physics 502: Graduate Laboratory

Credits: 1
Hours: 3 lab
Description: Emphasis is placed on independent effort in the design and assembly of equipment, in experimental technique and procedures, and in the analysis of data.

Physics 505: Advanced Dynamics

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: Fall 2005 and alternate years

Physics 508: Statistical Mechanics

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: Spring 2006 and alternate years
Description: Entropy, randomness, the Boltzmann distribution, and the chemical potential. Translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic contributions to the partition function. Calculation of mean energies, heat capacities, and equilibrium constants. Stability. The influence of wave function symmetry: Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. The quantum statistical operator. Coherence and the Pauli principle. (Same as CHEM 524)

Physics 513: Electromagnetics I

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: 2005-2006 and alternate years
Description: The electromagnetic field equations; boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics; plane, cylindrical, and spherical waves, wave guides; the Hertz vectors, retarded potentials and simple radiating systems; relativistic electrodynamics; radiation from moving charges.

Physics 514: Electromagnetics II

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: 2005-2006 and alternate years
Description: The electromagnetic field equations; boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics; plane, cylindrical, and spherical waves, wave guides; the Hertz vectors, retarded potentials and simple radiating systems; relativistic electrodynamics; radiation from moving charges.

Physics 515: Quantum Mechanics I

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: 2004-2005 and alternate years
Description: Review of experiments leading to quantum theory: Schroedinger's Equation, operators and eigenvalues, perturbation theory, and applications to simple physical systems. The second semester includes introduction to scattering theory, the theory of angular momentum, and Dirac Theory.

Physics 516: Quantum Mechanics II

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: 2004-2005 and alternate years
Description: Review of experiments leading to quantum theory: Schroedinger's Equation, operators and eigenvalues, perturbation theory, and applications to simple physical systems. The second semester includes introduction to scattering theory, the theory of angular momentum, and Dirac Theory.

Physics 526: Fluid Dynamics

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: Spring 2005 and alternate years
Description: Basic equations, potential flow, effects of viscosity, scaling. Compressible flow including characteristics and shock waves. Magnetohydrodynamics, including MHD waves, shocks, and confinement. Fluid and MHD instabilities. Turbulence.

Physics 533: Advanced Topics is Atmospheric Physics

Credits: 1 - 3
Hours: 1 - 3 class
Description: Specialized coursework in the student's areas of interest is presented via the course. Advanced topics in the area of atmospheric physics are covered. The selection of topics changes from semester to semester. Current faculty interests can be found at the department web site. This course may be taken multiple times for credit if the material covered in each instance is different.

Physics 562: Stellar Astrophysics

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Prerequisite: PHYS 425, 426 or equivalent or consent of instructor
Offered: Spring 2005 and alternate years
Description: Stellar populations and stellar evolution. Color-magnitude diagrams of open and globular clusters. The effects of metallicity on photometric properties. Star formation. The endpoints of stellar evolution: planetary nebulae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. Pulsating variable stars and other short-lived phases of stellar evolution. Applications to galaxies.

Physics 563: Extragalactic Astrophysics

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Prerequisite: PHYS 425, 426 or equivalent or consent of instructor
Description: The structure and dynamics of galaxies. Distribution of galaxy types. Potential and orbit theory. Spheroidal galaxies as self-gravitating systems. Instabilities in disk galaxies. Constraints on dark matter and on galaxy formation.

Physics 564: Relativity and Cosmology

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Prerequisite: PHYS 425, 426 or equivalent or consent of instructor
Description: General relativity with application to cosmology. Basic principles of relativity. Applications to orbits, gravitational radiation, and black holes. Relativistic cosmography and cosmology. The early universe, galaxy formation, and active galaxies.

Physics 565: Astronomical Techniques

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: Fall 2004 and alternate years
Description: Optical, IR, X-ray, and gamma-ray astronomical telescopes and detectors. Throughput, detector quantum efficiency, the modulation transfer function, noise and estimation error. Photometers and photometric systems, CCD imaging, slit and objective grating spectrometry, Fourier spectroscopy. Astrometry, orbit determination. Computer analysis and astronomical databases. Class work will be augmented by extensive optical observing using local facilities.

Physics 566: Advanced Radio Astronomy

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: Spring 2006 and alternate years
Description: The design and operational characteristics of radio telescopes and interferometers. Properties of antennas, telescope optics, feeds, waveguides, receivers, and amplifiers. Spectrometers and spectroscopy. Sensitivity and noise. Amplitude and phase calibration, faint signal detection, astrometry, and mapping. Factors that affect radio data, including instrumental characteristics, atmospheric limitations, and propagation phenomena. The VLA and VLBA and the techniques of radio imaging by aperture synthesis. Hands-on astrophysical exercises to be solved by imaging.

Physics 567: Advanced Topics in Astrophysics

Credits: 2 - 3
Hours: 2 - 3 class
Offered: on demand
Description: A one-semester tutorial may be selected from any one of the following: our solar system, comets, solar and stellar activity, galactic structure and kinematics, active galaxies and quasars, astrophysical plasmas, accretion disks, black holes, stellar spectroscopy, stellar photometry, and astrometry.

Physics 571: Advanced Topics in Physics

Credits: 3
Hours: 3 class
Offered: on demand
Description: Study of a special topics not otherwise treated, normally one related to a field of research interest at Tech.

Physics 579: Graduate-Faculty Seminar

Credits: 1
Hours: 1 class
Offered: every semester
Description: A seminar in which department research and topics of current interest are discussed. Participation by both students and staff is encouraged. Satisfactory performance consists of regular attendance and one talk per year. Graded on a S/U basis.

Physics 581: Directed Study

Credits: to be arranged
Description: Study under the guidance of a member of the graduate faculty. In general, subject matter will supplement that available in other graduate course offerings.

Physics 590: Independent Study

Credits: TBA

Physics 591: Thesis (master's program)

Credits: TBA

Physics 595: Dissertation (doctoral degree program)

Credits: TBA

Maintained by Gina Chavez (e-mail: rchavez@kestrel.nmt.edu).
Modified: July 12, 2005