Contents

1 What it means to be a Physics major

The Physics department tries its best to take care of its majors. We will advise you at every stage of your career, prepare you for the GRE and graduate school if that is your goal, involve you in research leading to publication, and make sure that you graduate in a timely fashion. You should never hesitate to contact any of the Physics faculty if you have a problem. We are David Bruning (david.bruning@uwp.edu), Pirooz Mohazzabi (pirooz.mohazzabi@uwp.edu), and Jeff Schmidt (jeff@rustam.uwp.edu, chair).

Physics majors have a nearly %100 graduation rate, it has been many years since a major has dropped from the program. The current departmental policy is to accept a major only after successful completion of physics 201 and 202. Completing both shows that you are serious and committed. This is important because we are a small department, and we will devote considerable time and resources to each major.

1.1 Declare your major

The first step to becoming a major is to declare. To do this, go to the advising center in 107 WYLL. You may wish to speak with an advisor, such as Curtis Bickham (595-2558), Theron Snell (2041) or Martha Villalobos (2042), or simply fill out a major declaration form at the desk. Pending acceptance from the department chair, contingent on completion of physics 201 and 202, you will be accepted into the program.
You must choose an advisor from the department staff and faculty.

1.2 Degree requirements

There are general degree requirements and major requirements. Let’s run through these.
To get the bachelor’s degree you need 120 credits of college work, and at least 36 must be from courses numbered 300 or above. At least 30 credits must be earned at Parkside, the rest may be transfer credits from other institutions. If you have 60 or more transfer credits, at least 15 of the last 30 credits taken must be taken at Parkside.

The university requires a minimum GPA of 2.00 for graduation. In order to graduate, you must file and pay for a degree summary or DARS report. To do this, in your senior year, You should see Trudy Biehn (2445) in the registrar’s office, D187 WYLL. When you do this, Trudy will compare your record with the requirements from the UW-Parkside catalog for the year in which you declared your major. You do have he option to use the latest available course catalog for this comparison, and you should do so, because curricula evolve.

1.2.1 Computational skills requirements

are automatically met by Physics majors. The university requires that students pass Math 102 or 111 with a C- or better, to be a Physics major you must take several calculus courses, and so this requirement will certainly be met.

1.2.2 General education requirements

or Gen-Ed. As you and your advisor map out your schedules before each semester’s registration period, be mindful of fulfilling these requirements.
Humanities. You must have 3 - 6 credits from Literature. At least one course.
The Arts. You must have 3 - 6 credits from the Arts. At least one course.
Students may fulfill some of the 12 credit requirement in this are with 0 - 6 credits in the Systems of Thought category.

1.2.3 Social and behavioral science

The requirement is 12 credits, at least 6 credits from Human Science, and 6 credits from Historical or Multi-cultural Analysis.

1.2.4 Natural science

requirements will be met by your major, since you will have the required 9 credits through the combination of Physics and its Math support courses.

1.2.5 Foreign language

The requirement is waived if you had two years of foreign language in high school with a C or better. Otherwise you must complete two semesters of foreign language instruction within your first 60 credits earned towards the degree.

1.2.6 Ethnic diversity

You must take one 3-credit course dealing with race and ethnicity within the United States.

1.2.7 The minor

We very strongly encourage all physics majors to minor in math, and to declare the minor as early as possible. Early declaration helps the Math department construct its schedules. We encourage those Physics majors who take a great deal of Math to consider filing a double major.

Bring this handbook to each advising session with your departmental advisor and fill in the checklist as you progress through your degree.

¹ Completion of 221∕222∕223, ² Completion of 301, 317, ³ Completion of 201∕202∕205∕290, ⁴ Completion of 301∕302∕303∕306, ⁵ Completion of 306∕307,

1.3 Course registration

We strongly encourage Physics majors to register for Physics courses as early as possible to prevent course cancelation. If fall courses with typically low enrollments (most upper division courses) are still empty or under-enrolled in mid-summer, they may be canceled. Don’t run the risk of postponing graduation by failing to enroll in a timely fashion.

An important note. Physics majors are very strongly advised to take the primary offering of physics 201 and 202. That means 201 in the fall, 202 in the spring. Students who fail to do so will have to “sit out” a semester, since all subsequent physics courses require 205, which is only offered in the fall. This course requires 202.

2 Required courses of the major

² Taken each semester of the senior year. The course is used in the departments retention and assessment initiatives as a home for the preparation for the GRE offered by the department.

2.1 Physics 205

Modern physics, physics of the twentieth century. The three-credit course covers quantum theory, relativity, and applications the concepts of these two fields to all areas of physics.
Applications include atomic and molecular structure, spectroscopy, simple nuclear physics, elements of condensed matter physics and the structure of neutron stars and white-dwarf stars.

This course is supported by its website http://rustam.uwp.edu/205. The website contains supplements such as programs and animation, course text material, homework assignments and solutions, and news.

Physics 205 is offered every Fall semester, typically at 10 : 00 AM or 11 : 00 AM MWF, or else 11 : 00 - 12 : 15 TR. It could be canceled if there is no enrollment by July of the summer prior to the course, so all majors who need this course are advised to register for it as early as possible.

2.2 Physics 241

Programming Languages is a three-credit course, often team-taught, in which students learn core C, C++, and Fortran95 programming. They are introduced to basic numerical algorithms as the set of examples used in the course. There is instruction into the use of third-part add-on libraries for high precision computing, graphics and simulation, and symbolic math computation.
Students are also given instruction in shell programming, Perl, HTML authoring, and Java-script.

The computing environment is UNIX or UNIX emulation via the cygwin or MinGW WIN32 tool-chains in Windows NT5.0. Students are given accounts on the department multi-processors and on its WIN32 workstations.

Projects and homework consist of constructing programs to solve particular problems in physics and applied mathematics, such as graphical animation of dynamical systems, symbolic series manipulation, extraction of matrix eigenvalues, numerical computations of integrals, and solutions of simultaneous linear equations and differential equations. These skills will all be utilized in numerical assignments given in virtually all courses numbered higher in the curriculum.
This course is supported by its websites http://rustam.uwp.edu/290, and http://shiva.uwp.edu archiving assignments and solutions, support software and news.

Physics 241 is offered alternating falls, (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, ...) and we very strongly recommend that students take the course early in their undergraduate careers. If great demand arises, it has been offered as 499 (independent study). If students take it as 499, they will need to petition the department chair to write an executive action to substitute 499 for 241 on their transcripts.

The course is supported with extensive handouts, essentially free textbooks written by the faculty and available to students on CDROM or from the websites.

2.3 Physics 301

Classical mechanics; a four credit course topics include Newton’s laws, oscillators, planetary motion, dynamics of collisions, rigid body motion (Euler equations), rotating coordinate systems, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms of mechanics, and small-amplitude vibrations.

This course is often part of the core of an Engineering degree as well as Physics.

Mathematical preparation includes Laplace and Fourier transformation, vector analysis and linear algebra, and elementary differential equations. Because of this it is recommended that students take 301∕302 after or concurrently with physic 307.

The course requires four hours of lecture per week, and is taught alternating Falls (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, ...).

2.4 Physics 302

Classical Electrodynamics. This is a math-intensive course covering boundary value problems in electro and magneto-statics, potential theory, solutions of Laplace, Poisson and Helmholtz partial differential equations, Faraday’s law, electromagnetic waves, radiation of accelerated particles, and antenna radiation.

If time allows, some diffraction theory and wave-optics is incorporated into the course. The department has no optics course, and so students interested in optics and related fields as careers should request the optics material.

Mathematical requirements are extensive; Laplace and Fourier transformation, partial differential equations, vector calculus, and complex variables. Because of this it is strongly recommended that students take 302 after or concurrently with physic 307.

This course is supported by its websites http://rustam.uwp.edu/302 from which students may download the free textbook (approximately 300 pages). The text is also available to students on CDROM by request.

Physics 302 is four hours of lecture per week, and is offered alternating Falls (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, ...) in the afternoons, 1 : 00 - 2 : 40TR or 2 : 00 - 3 : 40TR.

2.5 Physics 303

Computer Simulation is a three credit course offered alternating Falls (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, ...) on simulating physical phenomena with the computer. Depending on instructor preferences the programming language could be Basic, C, or Fortran. It is recommended that students take 301 before 303.

2.6 Physics 306

Experimental Physics. The departments upper-division lab course.

Part I of 306 is a crash-course on probability, statistics, and data analysis. Probability distributions, the Central Limit Theorem, correlations, the Chi-squared test, and hypothesis testing are covered, in addition to standard error propagation theory and statistical curve fitting. There is a free 80 page text for this phase, download-able from the website http://rustam.uwp.edu/306. This text covers a significant fraction of a standard course in probability and statistics. Nevertheless we recommend that students take a course in statistics before graduation.

Part II is a self-contained course in modern analog and digital electronics, covering AC circuits and filters, power supplies, signals and signal analysis, op-amps, function generators, IC-circuits such as voltage regulators and timers, multiplexers and ADC devices, and analog to digital data acquisition. There is a free 200 page text for this phase, download-able from the website http://rustam.uwp.edu/306.

Part III consists of up to a dozen experiments in modern physics, covering the photoelectric effect, Franck-Hertz experiment, nuclear counting, gamma ray spectroscopy, the Compton effect, and a selection of other twentieth century physics experiments. Once again the lab manual is freely available from the website.

This course is offered alternating Springs (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, ...) and has one or two one-hour discussions per week, and substantial lab time in which students work in team on experiments. The schedule is quite open and flexible, but students should plan on spending at least 3 - 4 hours per week in lab.

2.7 Physics 307

Mathematical Methods of Physics. Topics covered include the theory of functions, infinite series and convergence issues, complex variables, techniques of integration, single variable and partial differential equations, integral transforms, special functions, and discrete analysis. Supplemental topics include linear algebra, and combinatorics (via MacMahon Master Theorem). There is a very strong emphasis on the techniques of complex variables.

This course is certainly not meant to be a replacement for the corresponding courses offered by the Math department, but rather a compact introduction to the subjects in sufficient detail and rigor that the student will be capable of applying the techniques covered in the course to the core physics course sequence. Students are still encouraged to take the full Math courses in these topics, if those courses are available. The Math Department is often unable to offer 300 and 400-level courses due to severe staffing shortages, and 307 is often the only timely introduction that physics majors can get to a crucial mathematical topic.

The course has a very detailed free textbook that can be downloaded from its website http://rustam.uwp.edu/306. There are numerous numerical problems among the assigned problems, and code may be obtained from the website.

The course consists of three hours of lecture, and an optional problem solving session per week. It is offered alternating Fall semesters (2004, 2006, 2008, ...) in the afternoons, 1 : 00 - 2 : 40TR or 2 : 00 - 3 : 40TR. It is strongly recommended that students take this course at the very earliest opportunity.

2.8 Physics 403

Statistical physics and Thermodynamics is likely to be declared by most of the physics majors as being the most challenging of the core courses. The content is divided into three modules.

Part I is classical thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is developed in terms of the potential functions and the relationships between them. Model systems such as ideal and non-ideal gases, and paramagnetic salts are used in examples, applications and problems. Phase transitions and equilibria are studied, and critical exponents are introduced. This portion of the course has a 120 page free text that is download-able from the website http://rustam.uwp.edu/403.
There is a strong emphasis on extracting thermodynamic quantities such as specific heats, compressibilities, expansion exponents, and related quantities from the potentials and equations of state.
Part II is classical statistical mechanics, the micro-canonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles. There is a strong emphasis on the role of statistics and probability distribution functions. All of the standard examples and model systems are covered in great detail, along with the Ising model, several varieties of lattice gases, and lattice DNA models. Critical theory ala’ Landau theory is introduced.

This portion also has a free text download-able from the website. The texts are fully indexed and contain dozens of examples, over 100 problems and solutions. The text is under constant revision in order to keep up with the explosive growth of this field of study.

Part III is quantum statistical mechanics. The formalism of states and density matrices leads into detailed discussions of Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics. The free text for this phase of the course contains over fifty examples from astrophysics, and the physics of super-fluidity and super-conductivity.

Mathematical requirements of this course are considerable. Students must have a good grasp of all aspects of multi-variable calculus, statistics and probability, linear algebra, and complex variables.

This is a four credit, four hour weekly lecture course offered alternating Springs (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, ...) in the afternoons, 1 : 00 - 2 : 40TR or 2 : 00 - 3 : 40TR.

2.9 Physics 441

Quantum physics. The subject material is presented in a 480+ page free text download-able from the course website, containing several hundred problems and examples. Quantum formalism is covered, and the standard one, two and three dimensional bound state/scattering state problems and phenomenology; tunneling, resonance, capture, discrete bound state spectra, scattering and inverse scattering/potential reconstruction make up the bulk of the course.

There are modules for particle physics, second quantization/field theory, molecular physics and spectroscopy, NMR/spin physics, Dirac theory and relativistic wave mechanics, that are often covered at student request if time allows.

The course website http://rustam.uwp.edu/441 has links to the free text, homework assignments and solutions, and copious numbers of computer animations of quantum systems such as one and two-dimensional collisions between wave-packets and potentials, wave-function probability densities for bound states, and simulated experiments.

Quantum mechanics is four crdits, alternating Springs (2004, 2006, 2008,...) in the afternoons, 1 : 00 - 2 : 40TR or 2 : 00 - 3 : 40TR.

2.10 Physics 495

The precise structure of the senior seminar is at the discretion of the instructor, usually the chair. This year (2003/2004) the structure is as follows.
Students are advised to take this class both semesters of the senior year. This is the capstone course for the Physics major, and it culminates in the oral presentation (accompanied by a written report) of a student research project.

2.10.1 Part I. First semester

During the first semester of the two-semester sequence, students will conduct a simple library research project. This project involves the study of a single topic not covered in a core course. The topic is to be researched using library resources.

Project requirements
The list of available topics is given below. Each student should select one, have it authorized by the course instructor, and locate at least four references to cite in a short 20-30 minute oral presentation. These sources must include at least one journal article, and one reference obtained through inter-library loan, or the web-site of a recognized research institute/project.
The oral presentation must utilize transparencies, or slides, or use computerized presentation program (Powerpoint, Pointless, LaTeX,...). It must be accompanied by a four page written report (including cover page and bibliography/references).
The oral and written report should be written at the level of a Scientific American level; semi-technical, largely non-mathematical, with the goal of popularizing the topic for a scientifically literate audience. In fact, a Scientific American article on the chosen topic is a good starting point for the research.

2.10.2 Topics

Cosmic inflation, neutrino oscillations, the solar neutrino problem, dark matter, dark energy, the Higgs particle, magnetic monopoles, Gamma Ray Burst objects, small system entropy and Zeroth Law violations, the quark model, extra-solar planet searches, supersymmetry, neutrino detection, the Hubble “constant”, extra dimensions and where they are now, the experimental “slowing” of light, CP violation, quantum computation, evidence for strings from lattice QCD, knots in statistical physics.

All presentations will be given during the eighth week of the semester, and all physics majors should be encouraged to attend.

2.10.3 Part II; first semester

The second project is the completion of a single problem, again not directly covered in a core course, by the student or team of students , culminating in a short 15-20 minute oral presentation. This project will be require that the student or team solve the problem as if it were independent research, and present the findings as if reporting back to a peer-group or research and development division.
The problem may involve the taking of experimental data and its analysis, mathematical calculations or proofs, and numerical computation or simulation.

The oral report should use slides, transparencies, or a presentation program. It must focus on what the student actually did, not on some published solution to the problem.

2.10.4 Topics

The meaning of the Brillouin zone, formation of electronic energy bands in one-dimensional solids, simulation of NMR/ESR spectra of space molecules, Monte Carlo simulation of particle scattering, Monte Carlo simulation of electron diffraction, computation of the dichromatic polynomial for a radio transmission lattice, determination of the critical behavior in an Ising model, simple stellar interior models (polytropes), simple lattice gauge computation, computing particle mass spectra in a compactified, simple 5-dimensional Kaluza-Klein model, solving the neutrino wave equation and describing the solutions, measuring magnetic fields with IC-hall probes, measuring a Fresnel-zone diffraction pattern with a photocell/phototransistor, simulation of KDV soliton collisions, solving non-linear wave equations with Backlund transformations, simulating gases with cell automata, designing/building/testing an OP-AMP circuit that correctly differentiates signals in the 1000 - 10000 Hz range, finding the dispersion relation of acoustic/optical phonons in a one-dimensional solid, Thomas precession.

The time-line for completion of this project requires that the student work on it for two hours per week, and all presentations will be made in the last week of instruction for the semester.

2.10.5 Part III; first semester

This phase is designed to prepare the student for GRE or other professional examinations, and to determine where the gaps or deficiencies are in the student’s knowledge. The student will take a GRE-style, computer-administered, multiple-choice exam that poses 60 questions from the courses 201, 202, 205, 301, 302, 306, 403, 441, the courses 290, 303 and 307 do not lend themselves well to multiple-choice testing). The questions are selected from the assessment exam question banks furnished to the student in advance.

After the exam is taken, the student will meet with the instructor to discuss its outcome, and to develop a strategy for filling any gaps that the the exam reveals. This is an experience-only project for the student, it is required, but no grade is attached to it. The student is expected to take measures to correct any deficiencies uncovered by the battery of exams.

2.10.6 Part IV; second semester capstone

The student is given a research topic in the area of greatest interest to the particular student. That topic is carefully researched, and a final oral presentation is made, accompanied by a detailed written report in journal-article format, complete with references. Students are expected to conduct a complex numerical simulation or calculation; design, build and employ apparatus for an experiment; solve an equation beyond the difficulty expected for Semester I; or perform a rigorous experiment of a level beyond that in Physics 306; and then present their findings as if reporting to a peer-group or research group. The topic can be assigned by any member of the Physics department. We will accept joint Math-Physics, or Chem-Physics projects.

2.11 Physics 499

Independent study. Each department member runs a section of this course on a topic of choice. A long-standing topic is advanced computation, and the details are cached on the website http://rustam.uwp.edu/499.
Advanced computation is computation in the UNIX environment, and is divided into high performance vector graphics/real-time animation, high precision, and parallel or concurrent programming. Students may opt for any one or all of these topics. Parallel or concurrent programming is PVM, UNIX IPC, pthreads and UNIX sockets programming.
The course is a unique experience at Parkside. Several graduates have noted in emails that some of the jobs that they have applied for have specifically listed PVM programming experience as a job requirement.
The course has a free text nearly four hundred pages in length, and the website is packed with sample codes.

Independent study can be taken for 1 - 3 credits, is always coupled with student/faculty research activity, and would be offered as needed with no fixed time or schedule.

3 The commons room

The department has a commons room 231 Greenquist (that doubles as a computational laboratory) to be used as a gathering place or study hall for Physics majors. It is equipped with desks and tables, a sofa, coffee makers, a radio with tape-player, a refrigerator and microwave oven. There are six computer workstations in the room, a small library, and a whiteboard. Students use the room to study, relax, have lunch, and to gather for group problem solving sessions. The room is often used to conduct tutoring sessions or independent study classes with small groups. Majors are strongly encouraged to study there and to make use of its facilities. The room across the hall, 230 Greenquist, may also be used as a study hall for larger groups.

4 Lockers

Physics majors can get a locker in room 230 Greenquist to store books, coats, backpacks and any other supplies. See David Bruning david.bruning@uwp.edu for a locker assignment and combination lock. Students are advised against leaving personal possessions and valuables left unguarded in the library. Use your locker!