http://www.utdallas.edu/dept/physics/
Professors: Roy C. Chaney, Jr., Austin J. Cunningham, Gregory D. Earle, Ervin
J. Fenyves, Robert Glosser, Roderick A. Heelis, John H. Hoffman, Joseph M.
Izen, Xinchou Lou , Wolfgang A. Rindler, Myron Salamon, Brian A. Tinsley,
Robert M. Wallace, B. Hobson Wildenthal, Anvar A. Zakhidov
Associate Professors: Phillip Anderson, Kyeongjae Cho, Yuri Gartstein
Assistant Professors: Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, Anton Malko
Senior Lecturers:� Paul MacAlevey, Beatrice Rasmussen
Affiliated Faculty: Cyrus D. Cantrell (Engineering), John P. Ferraris
(Chemistry), Wenchuang Hu (Engineering), Stephen Levene (Biology), Dean Sherry
(Chemistry), Duck-Joo Yang (Chemistry), Mary Urquhart (Science/Mathematics
Education)
Objectives
The goal of the Graduate Program in Physics is to develop individual
creativity and expertise in the fields of physics. In pursuit of this
objective, study in the program is strongly focused on research. Students are
encouraged to begin participating in ongoing research activities from the
beginning of their graduate studies. The research experience culminates with
the doctoral dissertation, the essential element of the Ph.D. program that
prepares the student for careers in academia, government laboratories, or
industry.
A Master of Science degree is offered to those seeking to acquire or
maintain technical mastery of both fundamentals and current applications.
A Master of Science degree in Applied Physics is offered for students
wishing to emphasize applications encountered in most industrial and high
technology environments.
The University’s general admission requirements are discussed here.
The Physics Program seeks students who have a B.S. degree in Physics or
closely related subjects from an accredited university or college, and who have
superior skills in quantitative and deductive analysis. Decisions on admission
are made on an individual basis. However, as a guide, a combined score on the
verbal and quantitative parts of the GRE of 1100, with at least 700 on the
quantitative part, is advisable based on our experience with student success in
the program.
For graduate work it is assumed that the student has an undergraduate
background that includes the following courses at the level indicated by texts
referred to: mechanics at the level of Symon, Mechanics; electromagnetism at
the level of Reitz and Milford, Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory;
thermodynamics at the level of Kittel, Thermal Physics; quantum mechanics at
the level of Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (chapters 1-4), and
some upper-division course(s) in modern physics,� and atomic physics. Students who lack this
foundation may be required to take one or more undergraduate courses to
complete their preparation for graduate work.
The University’s general degree requirements are discussed here.
The candidate for either the M.S., MS in Applied Physics, or Ph.D. must
satisfy general University degree requirements.
Well prepared students may demonstrate by examination adequate knowledge of
the core and basic course material.
A limited number of assistantships are awarded to those students displaying
the most promise in teaching or research. Specific decisions are made on an
individual basis. Awardees are required to complete 8 graduate physics courses
(not including research courses) during the first 24 months in residence.
Continuation of support requires achievement of a minimum GPA of 3.3, and a
satisfactory record in teaching or research assignments.
The central principle in the structure of the graduate program is that a
student’s progress and ultimate success is best served by early and
varied research experiences coupled with individually tailored course
sequences.
Current areas of research specialization in the Physics program are:
Atmospheric and Space Physics;� Atomic
and Molecular Physics; Quantum Electronics and Applications; Optics;
Astrophysics/Cosmology/Relativity; Solid State/Condensed Matter
Physics/Materials Science; High Energy Physics and Elementary Particles;
Chemical Physics, and Computational Materials Science.
The Theoretical Cosmology and Relativity Group studies
fundamental problems in astrophysics, contemporary cosmology, and relativity.
These involve analytical, numerical, and cosmological-data related projects.
The group is instrumental in organizing the biennial Texas Symposia on
Relativistic Astrophysics, beginning in Dallas in 1963 and recurring regularly
all over the world since then. Current areas of research include: gravitational
lensing (lenses) and its applications to cosmology; the acceleration of the
expansion of the universe (cosmological constant, dark energy); fitting
cosmological models to observational data (e.g. CMB, Lensing, supernovae); dark
matter; the structure of the big bang; the role of inflation; computer algebra
systems applied to general relativity and cosmology; space-time junction
conditions and wormholes; cosmological models of wider generality than the
classical homogeneous models and their possible observational signatures. More
information is available at: http://www.utdallas.edu/~mishak/relativitycosmology.html.
Research in Atmospheric and Space Physics encompasses both theory and
experiment, with emphasis on aeronomy, ionospheric physics, planetary
atmospheres, atmospheric electricity and its effects on weather and climate,
and space instrumentation. Much of the research occurs in the William
Experimental research in atomic and molecular physics is directed toward a
more complete understanding of such processes as the dynamics of excitation and
energy transfer, the thermal economy and transport properties that occur in a
variety of plasma and discharge configurations.
Sophisticated diagnostic instrumentation used in these studies include
ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectrometers and detectors, tunable pulsed
and C. W. lasers, a shock tube facility and mass spectrometers. Several
minicomputer systems are used for data acquisition and analysis.
Research in chemical physics centers on electrical and magnetic properties
of conducting organic molecular crystals and polymers. A variety of laser-based
diagnostic techniques for flame and combustion systems are under development.
Examples include the detection of light atoms in flames, soot sizing and
droplet/vapor evaporation processes. Intramolecular vibrational energy transfer
and chemical reaction dynamics are studied via quantal and classical dynamics
in computer simulations.
The UTD High Energy Physics Group collaborates on the Atlas experiment at
CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and, the BaBar experiment, at the PEP-II
asymmetric b factory located at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC).
Atlas will search for the Higgs boson, believed to be responsible for
electroweak symmetry breaking, and for new physics beyond the standard model
such as supersymmetric partners to known particles. Atlas data-taking will
begin in 2008. BaBar measures CP violation in the decays of bottom mesons and
is exploring whether the origin of this CP violation lies within the Standard
Model. BaBar data is fertile ground for precision and rare decays of bottom and
charm particles, and tau lepton. The group explores both charmonia and a class
of unexpected particles with charm-anticharm quark content with properties that
are quite different from conventional charmonium. BaBar will collect data
through 2008. The group's research is funded by the
Materials Science is at the interface of many disciplines and involves a
collaborative approach with colleagues in Chemistry, and Electrical
Engineering. Our research facilities are distributed over the Physics
Laboratories, NanoTech Institute and Electrical Engineering CleanRoom.Research in
Materials Science involves both experiment and theory with emphasis on the
physical aspects of Materials Science. A synopsis of our activities is given
below: Measurements of optical properties of solids with emphasis on modulated
reflectance and Raman scattering of semi-conductors are routinely carried out.
Various nanoscale and synthetic materials are being studied for their
optical, electronic and transport properties, as well as applications in
photonics and (opto)electronics. The materials of interest include
nanostructures (quantum dots and wires, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes) and
low-dimensional systems, photonic band gap crystals and
“left-handed” electromagnetic meta-materials, organic and polymeric
materials.
The interaction of nanoscale materials, such as carbon nanotubes, with
biological entities are being investigated for prospective biomedical and
electronic applications. For example, chemically functionalized carbon
nanotubes are being studied as building blocks in transistor and sensor applications.
A minimum of 32 graduate credit hours are required. In order to receive the
MSAP degree, students must successfully complete at least 16 semester credit
hours of core courses. In addition to the core courses 16 additional credit
hours may be chosen from the Physics elective courses listed below or from
electrical engineering, computer science, biology, geosciences, chemistry and
management courses. The complete list of these courses may be obtained from the
MSAP Graduate Advisor, or from the Physics Department’s website.
1. MSAP Core Courses (16 credit hours minimum)
Required:
PHYS 5401 Mathematical Methods of Physics I, or
PHYS 5406 Mathematical Methods of Applied Physics
A minimum of 12 additional credit hours must be taken from
the core list below. Elective courses totaling 16 additional credit hours may
be chosen from the Physics elective courses listed below:
PHYS 5305 Monte Carlo Simulation Method and its Applications
PHYS 5411 Classical Mechanics
PHYS 5317 Atoms, Molecules and Solids
PHYS 5318 Atoms, Molecules and Solids II
PHYS 5321 Experimental Operation and Data Collection Using Personal Computers
PHYS 5371 Solid State Physics
PHYS 5302 Mathematical Methods of Physics II
PHYS 5416 Applied Numerical Methods
PHYS 5425 Applied Electromagnetism I or PHYS 5421 Electromagnetism I
PHYS 5326 Applied Electromagnetism II
PHYS 6383 Plasma Science
PHYS 5283 Plasma Technology Laboratory
PHYS 5304 Proposal and Report Preparation
PHYS 5323 Virtual Instrumentation with Biomedical Clinical and Healthcare
Applications
PHYS 5369 Special Topics in Applied Physics
PHYS 5372 Solid State Devices
PHYS 5367 Photonic Devices
PHYS 5375 Electronic Devices Based on Organic Solids
PHYS 5382 Space Science Instrumentation
PHYS 5383 Plasma Technology
PHYS 5385 Natural and Anthropogenic Effects On The Atmosphere
PHYS 6283 Plasma Science Laboratory
PHYS 5351 Basic Aspects and Practical Applications of Spectroscopy.
PHYS 6353 Atomic and Molecular Processes
PHYS 6374 Optical Properties of Solids
PHYS 6383 Plasma Science
Up to 6 hours of an industrial internship or supervised research may be substituted
for up to two of the elective courses. The following research courses will
satisfy this requirement:
PHYS 7V10 Internal Research
PHYS 7V20 Industrial Research
A minimum total of 32 graduate hours is required, including the core courses
listed below.
PHYS 5401 Mathematical Methods of Physics I
PHYS 5421 Electromagnetism I
PHYS 6400 Quantum Mechanics I
20 hours of graduate level physics courses to be selected by the student
with the approval of the Graduate Adviser. Six hours of research including an
M. S. thesis may be substituted for two of the elective courses.
A candidate for the Ph.D. must take the following courses: PHYS 5411, 5313,
5322, 5401, 5302, 5421, 6400, and PHYS 6301. Students whose research will be
carried out in Space Science should substitute PHYS 6383 for PHYS 6301. A
candidate must also take a minimum of 3 elective courses, 1 from within his/her
area of specialization and 2 selected from outside the student’s
specialty area. Additional courses may be required to satisfy the particular
degree requirements and/or to ensure sufficient grounding in physical
principles. The graduate advisor and the student’s supervisory committee
must approve course selections. A minimum of one year residency after admission
to the doctoral program is required.
Near the end of the first year in residence all Ph.D. track student must
take a qualifier examination. Continuation of teaching assistantships and GSS
awards are contingent upon satisfactory performance on the qualifier.
When a student has completed the required course work with the minimum GPA
of 3.3 and has decided upon his/her field of specialization, a committee is
formed to guide the student’s dissertation work. Once a dissertation
topic has been identified, the student must submit a proposal that outlines the
present state of knowledge of the field and presents the research program the
student expects to accomplish for the dissertation. This proposal must be
approved by the committee and the Department Head.
A seminar on the dissertation proposal must be presented, followed by an
oral examination conducted by the faculty on the proposed area of research and
related topics. The Supervising Committee shall determine by means of the exam
and any ancillary information whether the student is adequately prepared and
has the ability to conduct independent research. The approved dissertation
proposal is then filed with the Dean of Graduate Studies. A manuscript
embodying a substantial portion of the dissertation research accomplished by
the student must be submitted to a suitable professional refereed journal prior
to the public seminar and dissertation defense. A public seminar, successful
defense of the dissertation, and its acceptance by the Supervising Committee
conclude the requirements for the Ph.D. In lieu of the traditional dissertation,
and at the discretion of the supervising professor, a manuscript dissertation
following the guidelines published by the Graduate Dean’s Office may be
substituted.
PHYS 5411 Classical Mechanics
PHYS 5313 Statistical Physics
PHYS 5322 Electromagnetism II
PHYS 5401 Mathematical Methods of Physics I
PHYS 5302 Mathematical Methods of Physics II
PHYS 5421 Electromagnetism I
PHYS 6400 Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 6301 Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 6383 Plasma Science (Space Science students only; in lieu of PHYS 6401)
PHYS 5V49 Special Topics in Physics
PHYS 5304 Proposal and Report Preparation
PHYS 5305 Monte Carlo Simulation Method and its Applications
PHYS 5416 Applied Numerical Methods
PHYS 5321 Experimental Operation and Data Collection Using Personal Computers
PHYS 6303 Applications of Group Theory in Physics
PHYS 6309 Special Topics in Mathematical Methods of Physics
PHYS 8V20 Research in Astrophysics and Cosmology
PHYS 5302 Mathematical Methods of Physics II
PHYS 5391 Relativity I
PHYS 5392 Relativity II
PHYS 5395 Cosmology
PHYS 6399 Special Topics in Relativity
PHYS 8V20 Research in Astrophysics and Cosmology
PHYS 8V90 Research in Relativity
Atomic and Molecular Physics
PHYS 5351 Basic Aspects and Practical Applications of Spectroscopy.
PHYS 6353 Atomic and Molecular Processes I
PHYS 6V59 Special Topics in Atomic Physics
PHYS 8V50 Research in Atomic and Molecular Physics
PHYS 6314 High Energy Physics
PHYS 5302 Mathematical Methods of Physics II
PHYS 5391 Relativity I
PHYS 5416 Applied Numerical Methods
PHYS 5305 Monte Carlo Simulation Method and its Applications
PHYS 8V10 Research in High Energy Physics
PHYS 5371 Solid State Physics
PHYS 5372 Solid State Devices
PHYS 6371 Advanced Solid State Physics
PHYS 6374 Optical Properties of Solids
PHYS 5351 Basic Aspects and Practical
Applications of Spectroscopy
PHYS 5367 Photonic Devices
PHYS 5302 Mathematical Methods of Physics II
PHYS 5305 Monte Carlo Simulation Method and its Applications
PHYS 8V70 Research in Materials Science
PHYS 5283 Plasma Technology Lab
PHYS 5381 Space Science
PHYS 5382 Space Science Instrumentation
PHYS 5383 Plasma Technology
PHYS 5385 Natural And Anthropogenic Effects On The Atmosphere
PHYS 6283 Plasma Science Lab
PHYS 6383 Plasma Science
PHYS 6388 Ionospheric Electrodynamics
PHYS 5416 Applied Numerical Methods
PHYS 5305 Monte Carlo Simulation Method and its Applications
PHYS 8V80 Research in Atmospheric And Space Physics
PHYS 8398 Thesis
PHYS 8399 Dissertation