Results for APPPHYS

Applied Physics Core course appropriate for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students with prior knowledge of elementary quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and ordinary differential equations. Structure of single- and multi-electron atoms and molecules, and cold collisions. Phenomenology and quantitative modeling of atoms in strong fields, with modern applications. Introduction to quantum optical theory of atom-photon interactions, including quantum trajectory theory, mechanical effects of light on atoms, and fundamentals of laser spectroscopy and coherent control.

Lecture/lab emphasizing analog and digital electronics for lab research. Continuation of APPPHYS 207 with emphasis on applications of digital techniques. Combinatorial and synchronous digital circuits. Design using programmable logic. Analog/digital conversion. Microprocessors and real time programming, concepts and methods of digital signal processing techniques. Current lab interface protocols. Techniques commonly used for lab measurements. Development of student lab projects during the last three weeks. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: undergraduate device and circuit exposure. Recommended: previous enrollment in APPPHYS 207.

Fundamentals of numerical methods applied to physical systems. Derivatives and integrals; interpolation; quadrature; FFT; singular value decomposition; optimization; linear and nonlinear least squares fitting; error estimation; deterministic and stochastic differential equations; Monte Carlo methods. Lectures will be accompanied by guided project work enabling each student to make rapid progress on a project of relevance to their interests.

Structure of quantum theory emphasizing states, measurements, and probabilistic modeling. Generalized quantum measurement theory; parallels between classical and quantum probability; conditional expectation in the Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures; covariance with respect to symmetry groups; reference frames and super-selection rules. Classical versus quantum correlations; nonlocal aspects of quantum probability; axiomatic approaches to interpretation. Prerequisites: undergraduate quantum mechanics, linear algebra, and basic probability and statistics.

Laboratory and lectures. Advanced microscopy and imaging, emphasizing hands-on experience with state-of-the-art techniques. Students construct and operate working apparatus. Topics include microscope optics, Koehler illumination, contrast-generating mechanisms (bright/dark field, fluorescence, phase contrast, differential interference contrast), and resolution limits. Laboratory topics vary by year, but include single-molecule fluorescence, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, and optical trapping. Limited enrollment. Recommended: basic physics, Biology core or equivalent, and consent of instructor.

Introduction to the properties of solids. Crystal structures and bonding in materials. Momentum-space analysis and diffraction probes. Lattice dynamics, phonon theory and measurements, thermal properties. Electronic structure theory, classical and quantum; free, nearly-free, and tight-binding limits. Electron dynamics and basic transport properties; quantum oscillations. Properties and applications of semiconductors. Reduced-dimensional systems. (Graduate student enrollees will be required to complete additional assignments in a format determined by the instructor.) Undergraduates should register for PHYSICS 172 and graduate students for APPPHYS 272. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 170 and PHYSICS 171, or equivalents. Same as APPPHYS 272.

Special studies under the direction of a faculty member for which academic credit may properly be allowed. May include lab work or directed reading.

Introduction to fundamental theoretical ideas that provide conceptual insights into how networks of neurons cooperatively mediate important brain functions. Topics include basic mathematical models of single neurons, neuronal computation through feedforward and recurrent network dynamics, principles of associative memory, applications of information theory to early sensory systems, correlations and neural population coding, network plasticity and the self-organization of stimulus selectivity, and supervised and unsupervised learning through multiple mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Emphasis on developing mathematical and computational skills to analyze complex neural systems. Prerequisites: calculus, linear algebra, and basic probability theory, or consent of instructor.

Physical biology of dynamical and mechanical processes in cells. Emphasis is on qualitative understanding of biological functions through quantitative analysis and simple mathematical models. Sensory transduction, signaling, adaptation, switches, molecular motors, actin and microtubules, motility, and circadian clocks. Prerequisites: differential equations and introductory statistical mechanics.

Synchrotron radiation sources for scientific exploration. X-ray FELs for studies of ultrafast processes at the atomic scale. Fundamental concepts in electron and photon beams, bending magnet and undulator radiation, one-dimensional and three-dimensional FEL theory and simulations, self-amplified spontaneous emission, seeding and other improvement schemes, x-ray methodology, techniques and instrumentation for the study of ultrafast phenomena. Course may be repeated when a different course is offered as a Special Topics..

Current research and literature; offered by faculty, students, and outside specialists. May be repeated for credit.

Current research topics in lasers, quantum electronics, optics, and photonics by faculty, students, and invited outside speakers. May be repeated for credit.