Ph 1 abc
Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism
9 units (4-0-5)
|
first, second, third terms
The first year of a two-year course in introductory classical and modern physics. Topics: Newtonian mechanics in Ph 1 a; electricity and magnetism, and special relativity, in Ph 1 b, c. Emphasis on physical insight and problem solving. Ph 1 b, c is divided into two tracks: the Practical Track emphasizing practical electricity with take-home lab kits, and the Analytic Track, which has no lab component but teaches and uses methods of multivariable calculus. Students will be given information helping them to choose a track at the end of fall term.
Instructors:
Goodstein, McKeown, Lange, Politzer
Ph 2 ab
Waves, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Physics
9 units (4-0-5)
|
first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ma 1 abc, or equivalents.
The second year of a five-term introductory course in classical and modern physics. Topics to be covered include waves and introductory quantum mechanics first term, statistical physics second term.
Instructors:
Harrison, Martin, Filippone
Ph 3
Physics Laboratory
6 units
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 1 a or instructor's permission.
An introduction to experimental technique, commonly used in the physical sciences. A variety of topics is presented, including the Maxwell top, electrical and mechanical resonant systems, and radioactivity. Special emphasis is given to data analysis techniques based on modern statistical methods. The course consists of one three-hour laboratory session a week, conferences with the instructor, prelaboratory preparation, and analysis of experimental results. Graded pass/fail; seniors receive letter grades. Only one term may be taken for credit.
Instructors:
Sannibale, Zmuidzinas
Ph 5
Physics Laboratory
9 units
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ph 3, or equivalents.
A laboratory course dealing with "operational'' electronics with emphasis on analog electronics. The following topics are studied: RC circuits, electrical oscillations, operational amplifiers, diodes, and transistors. Combining diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers; computer data acquisitions. The course culminates in a two-week project of the student's choosing.
Instructors:
Rice, Sannibale, Zmuidzinas
Ph 6
Physics Laboratory
9 units
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ph 2 b or Ph 12 b (or taken concurrently), and Ph 3 or equivalent.
Experiments in electromagnetic phenomena such as electromagnetic induction, properties of magnetic materials, and high-frequency circuits. Mobility of ions in gases; precise measurement of the value of e/m of the electron.
Instructors:
Rice, Sannibale, Zmuidzinas
Ph 7
Physics Laboratory
9 units
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ph 6 or equivalent.
Experiments in atomic and nuclear physics, including studies of the Balmer series of hydrogen and deuterium, the decay of radioactive nuclei, absorption of X rays and gamma rays, ratios of abundances of isotopes, and the Stern-Gerlach experiment.
Instructors:
Rice, Sannibale, Zmuidzinas
Ph 10
Frontiers in Physics
3 units (2-0-1); first term
|
Open for credit to freshmen and sophomores
Weekly seminar by a member of the physics department or a visitor, to discuss his or her research at an introductory level; the other class meetings will be used to explore background material related to seminar topics and to answer questions that arise. The course will also help students find faculty sponsors for individual research projects. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor:
Soifer
Ph 11 abc
Research Tutorial
6 units (2-0-4)
|
second and third terms of freshman year and first term of sophomore year
A small number of students will be offered the opportunity to enroll in this tutorial, the purpose of which is to demonstrate how research ideas arise, and are evaluated and tested, and how those ideas that survive are developed. This is accomplished by doing individual, original projects. There will be weekly group meetings and individual tutorial meetings with the instructor. Support for summer research at Caltech between the freshman and sophomore years will be automatic for those students making satisfactory progress. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor:
Tombrello
Ph 12 abc
Waves, Quantum Physics, and Statistical Mechanics
9 units (4-0-5)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ma 1 abc, or equivalents.
A one-year course primarily for students intending further work in the physics option. Topics include classical waves; wave mechanics, interpretation of the quantum wave-function, one-dimensional bound states, scattering, and tunneling; thermodynamics, introductory kinetic theory, and quantum statistics.
Instructors:
Kimble, Weinstein, Oguri
Ph 20
21, 22. Freshman/Sophomore Computational Physics Laboratory
A series of courses on the application of computational techniques to simulate or solve simple physical systems, with the intent of aiding both physics understanding and programming ability.
Instructors:
Mach, Prince, Libbrecht
Ph 70
Oral and Written Communication
6 units (2-0-4)
|
first, third terms
Provides practice and guidance in oral and written communication of material related to contemporary physics research. Students will choose a topic of interest, make presentations of this material in a variety of formats, and, through a guided process, draft and revise a technical or review article on the topic. The course is intended for senior physics majors. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement.
Instructor:
Hitlin
Ph 77 abc
Advanced Physics Laboratory
9 units (0-5-4)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 7 or instructor's permission.
A three-term laboratory course to familiarize students with equipment and procedures used in the research laboratory. Experiments illustrate fundamental physical phenomena in atomic, optical, condensed-matter, nuclear, and particle physics, including NMR, laser-based atomic spectroscopy, gamma and X-ray spectroscopy, muon decay, weak localization, superconductivity, positron annihilation, and others.
Instructors:
Black, Libbrecht
Ph 78 abc
Senior Thesis, Experimental
9 units
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: To register for this course the student must obtain approval of the chair of the Physics Undergraduate Committee (Ed Stone). Open only to senior physics majors.
This research must be supervised by a faculty member, the student's thesis adviser. Laboratory work is required for this course. Two 15-minute presentations to the Physics Undergraduate Committee are required, one at the end of the first term and the second at the midterm week of the third term. The written thesis must be completed and distributed to the committee one week before the second presentation. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. See Note, below.
Ph 79 abc
Senior Thesis, Theoretical
9 units
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: to register for this course the student must obtain approval of the chair of the Physics Undergraduate Committee (Ed Stone). Open only to senior physics majors.
This research must be supervised by a faculty member, your thesis adviser. Two 15-minute presentations to the Physics Undergraduate Committee are required, one at the end of the first term and the second at the midterm week of the third term. The written thesis must be completed and distributed to the committee one week before the second presentation. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. See Note, below.
Ph 101
Order-of-Magnitude Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Emphasis will be on using basic physics to understand complicated systems. Examples will be selected from properties of materials, geophysics, weather, planetary science, astrophysics, cosmology, biomechanics, etc. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 103 ab
Topics in Contemporary Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second terms
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.
A series of introductory one-term, independent courses. Students may register for any particular term or terms.
Ph 105
Analog Electronics for Physicists
9 units
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ph 3, or equivalents (the take-home lab of Ph 1 bc may be substituted for Ph 3).
A laboratory course dealing with "operational'' electronics with emphasis on analog electronics. The following topics are studied: RC circuits, electrical oscillations, operational amplifiers, diodes, and transistors. Combining diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers; computer data acquisition. The course culminates in a two-week project of the student's choosing.
Instructors:
Rice, Sannibale, Zmuidzinas
Ph 106 abc
Topics in Classical Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 2 ab or Ph 12 abc, Ma 2.
An intermediate course in the application of basic principles of classical physics to a wide variety of subjects. Roughly half of the year will be devoted to mechanics, and half to electromagnetism. Topics include Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics, small oscillations and normal modes, boundary-value problems, multipole expansions, and various applications of electromagnetic theory.
Instructors:
Preskill, Eisenstein
Ph/EE 118 ab
Low-Noise Electronic Measurement
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ph 105 or equivalent.
An introduction to ultralow-noise electrical measurements and sensor technology as applied to experimental research. Topics include physical noise processes, signal transduction, synchronous and lock-in detection, digital signal transforms, and other aspects of precision measurements. Specific sensor technologies will include SQUID sensors, single electron transistors, transition-edge sensors, tunnel junction detectors, micro- and nanomechanical detectors, and biosensors.
Instructor:
Roukes
Ph 125 abc
Quantum Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ma 2 ab, Ph 12 abc or Ph 2 ab, or equivalents.
A one-year course in quantum mechanics and its applications, for students who have completed Ph 12 or Ph 2. Wave mechanics in 3-D, scattering theory, Hilbert spaces, matrix mechanics, angular momentum, symmetries, spin-1/2 systems, approximation methods, identical particles, and selected topics in atomic, solid-state, nuclear, and particle physics.
Instructors:
Golwala, Cross
Ph 127 abc
Statistical Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 12 c or equivalent, and a basic understanding of quantum and classical mechanics.
A course in the fundamental ideas and applications of classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Topics to be covered include the statistical basis of thermodynamics; ideal classical and quantum gases (Bose and Fermi); lattice vibrations and phonons; weak interaction expansions; phase transitions; and fluctuations and dynamics.
Instructor:
Refael
Ph 129 abc
Mathematical Methods of Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 106 abc and ACM 95/100 abc or Ma 108 abc, or equivalents.
Mathematical methods and their application in physics. First term includes analytic and numerical methods for solving differential equations, integral equations, and transforms, and other applications of real analysis. Second term focuses on probability and statistics in physics. Third term covers group theoretic methods in physics. The three terms can be taken independently.
Instructors:
Porter, Gottschalk
Ph 134
String Theory
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab, Ph 106 ab.
A basic course in string theory designed to be accessible to a broad audience. The main topics include the motion of relativistic point particles and strings, actions, world-sheet symmetries and currents, light-cone quantization, and the spectra of relativistic open and closed strings. The course will conclude with an exploration of D-branes, T-duality, or string thermodynamics, depending on student interest. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 135 abc
Applications of Quantum Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125 abc or equivalent.
Applications of quantum mechanics to topics in contemporary physics. Nuclear physics, quantum optics, and condensed-matter physics will be offered first, second, third terms, respectively. Terms may be taken independently.
Instructors:
McKeown, Kimble, Motrunich
Ph 136 abc
Applications of Classical Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 106 abc or equivalent.
Applications of classical physics to topics of interest in contemporary "macroscopic'' physics. Continuum physics and classical field theory; elasticity and hydrodynamics; plasma physics; magnetohydrodynamics; thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; gravitation theory, including general relativity and cosmology; modern optics. Content will vary from year to year, depending on the instructor. An attempt will be made to organize the material so that the terms may be taken independently. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 171
Reading and Independent Study
Units in accordance with work accomplished
Occasionally, advanced work involving reading, special problems, or independent study is carried out under the supervision of an instructor. Approval of the instructor and of the student's departmental adviser must be obtained before registering. Graded pass/fail.
Ph 172
Research in Experimental Physics
Units in accordance with work accomplished
Approval of the student's research supervisor and department adviser must be obtained before registering. Graded pass/fail.
Ph 173
Research in Theoretical Physics
Units in accordance with work accomplished
Approval of the student's research supervisor and departmental adviser must be obtained before registering. Graded pass/fail.
CNS/Bi/BE/Ph 178
Evolution and Biocomplexity
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first term
Prerequisites: Bi 2, preferably Bi 8, or instructor's permission; programming skills.
An introduction to Darwin's theory of evolution from a theoretical, experimental, and computational point of view, with special emphasis on the mechanisms responsible for the evolution of complexity from simplicity. Experiments conducted with digital organisms. Topics covered include the principal ideas of Darwinism, measures of complexity, information content of genomes, the "natural" Maxwell Demon, Eigen's theory of molecular evolution, evolution on neutral networks, "epistasis" and the evolution of recombination, and the evolution of mutation rate. Not offered 2007-08.
CNS/Bi/Ph/CS 187
Neural Computation
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first term
Prerequisites: familiarity with digital circuits, probability theory, linear algebra, and differential equations. Programming will be required.
This course investigates computation by neurons. Of primary concern are models of neural computation and their neurological substrate, as well as the physics of collective computation. Thus, neurobiology is used as a motivating factor to introduce the relevant algorithms. Topics include rate-code neural networks, their differential equations, and equivalent circuits; stochastic models and their energy functions; associative memory; supervised and unsupervised learning; development; spike-based computing; single-cell computation; error and noise tolerance.
Instructors:
Perona, Winfree
Ph 199
Major Open Questions in Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ph 125 abc, Ph 106 abc.
This course will examine several open questions in modern physics. Topics will include the following: What is the expansion history of the universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? Where does mass come from? Why is the universe made of matter rather than antimatter? Is nature supersymmetric? Is there a quantum theory of gravity that can describe the universe? Why is there a spectrum of fermion masses? How heavy are neutrinos, and what was their role in the formation of the universe? Where do ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays come from? What can we learn from the detection of gravitational waves?
Instructor:
Weinstein
Ph 205 abc
Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125.
Topics: the Dirac equation, second quantization, quantum electrodynamics, scattering theory, Feynman diagrams, non-Abelian gauge theories, Higgs symmetry-breaking, the Weinberg-Salam model, and renormalization.
Instructor:
Kapustin
Ph 210
Theoretical Quantum Chromodynamics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ph 205 ab.
Applications of quantum field theory to quantum chromodynamics, including operator product expansion, twist expansion and applications to deep inelastic scattering and Drell-Yan; effective field theories, including chiral perturbation theory, heavy quark effective theory, and soft collinear effective theory; large Nc; introduction to lattice chromodynamics. Applications to strong interaction phenomenology and weak decays. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 217 abc
Introduction to the Standard Model
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 205 abc and Ph 236 abc, or equivalent.
This course deals with elementary particle physics and cosmology. Students should have at least some background in quantum field theory and general relativity. The standard model of weak and strong interactions is developed, along with predictions for Higgs physics and flavor physics. Some conjectures for physics beyond the standard model are introduced: for example, low-energy supersymmetry and warped extra dimensions. In the second half of the course, the standard picture for cosmology is discussed. The predictions of inflation for the primordial density perturbations are reviewed. The microwave background anisotropy is discussed.
Instructors:
Wise, Hirata
Ph/CS 219 abc
Quantum Computation
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 129 abc or equivalent.
The theory of quantum information and quantum computation. Overview of classical information theory, compression of quantum information, transmission of quantum information through noisy channels, quantum error-correcting codes, quantum cryptography and teleportation. Overview of classical complexity theory, quantum complexity, efficient quantum algorithms, fault-tolerant quantum computation, physical implementations of quantum computation. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph/APh 223 abc
Advanced Condensed-Matter Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125 or equivalent, or instructor's permission.
Advanced topics in condensed-matter physics, emphasizing the application of formal quantum field theory and group theory methods to many-body systems. Selected topics may include path integral and canonical formalisms, Green's function techniques and Feynman diagrams, Fermi liquid theory, Luttinger liquid theory, symmetry breaking and Landau-Ginzburg theory of phase transitions, group theory and its applications, field theory for interacting bosons and superfluidity, superconductivity, Kondo effect, Hubbard and t-J models, gauge theory, fractional quantum Hall effect, anyons, and topological field theory. In 2007-2008, the first term will focus on basic formalism and conceptual surveys, and the second and third terms will apply formal techniques to address aforementioned topics.
Instructors:
Kitaev, Yeh
Ph 225 abc
Advanced Quantum Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125 or equivalent.
Advanced theory of quantum mechanics, focusing on formal methods and applications in different fields of physics. Topics will include selections from atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, quantum information, condensed-matter physics, and nuclear and particle physics, with specific content depending on the instructors. Emphasis will be placed on subject matter directly relevant to research in condensed-matter physics, quantum optics, and atomic physics. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 229 abc
Advanced Mathematical Methods of Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 129 abc or equivalent.
Advanced topics in geometry and topology that are widely used in modern theoretical physics. Emphasis will be on understanding and applications more than on rigor and proofs. First term will cover basic concepts in topology and manifold theory. Second term will include Riemannian geometry, fiber bundles, characteristic classes, and index theorems. Third term will include anomalies in gauge-field theories and the theory of Riemann surfaces, with emphasis on applications to string theory. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 230 abc
Elementary Particle Theory
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 205 abc or equivalent.
Advanced methods in quantum field theory. First term: introduction to supersymmetry, including the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model, supersymmetric grand unified theories, extended supersymmetry, supergravity, and supersymmetric theories in higher dimensions. Second and third terms: nonperturbative phenomena in non-Abelian gauge field theories, including quark confinement, chiral symmetry breaking, anomalies, instantons, the 1/N expansion, lattice gauge theories, and topological solitons. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 231 abc
Elementary Particle Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125 or equivalent.
An introduction to elementary particle physics, stressing experimental phenomena and their theoretical interpretations. The standard model and its confrontation with experiment will be covered. Current notions for particle physics beyond the standard model will be explored, along with possible experimental signatures. Experimental techniques will also be discussed, including an introduction to accelerator physics. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 232
Introduction to Topological Field Theory
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ph 205.
. Topological field theories are the simplest examples of quantum field theories which, in a sense, are exactly solvable and generally covariant. During the past twenty years they have been the main source of interaction between physics and mathematics. Thus, ideas from gauge theory led to the discovery of new topological invariants for 3-manifolds and 4-manifolds. By now, topological quantum field theory (TQFT) has evolved into a vast subject, and the main goal of this course is to give an accessible introduction to this elegant subject. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 235 abc
Introduction to Supersymmetry and String Theory
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 205.
First term: introduction to supersymmetry. After explaining the basic concepts of supersymmetry, the emphasis will be on formulating and analyzing the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model and supersymmetric grand unified theories. There will also be brief introductions to supersymmetric theories in higher dimensions, theories with extended supersymmetry, and supergravity. Second term: introduction to superstring theory. Topics to be discussed include relativistic strings and their quantization, perturbative string theory, low energy effective supergravity theories, p-brane solutions and p-brane world volume theories, compactification of extra dimensions, M theory and F theory, dualities relating various superstring and M theory configurations, problems and prospects. Not offered 2007-08.
Ph 236 abc
Relativity
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: a mastery of special relativity at the level of Goldstein's of Jackson's.
Classical Mechanics, or Classical Electrodynamics. A systematic exposition of Einstein's general theory of relativity and its applications to gravitational waves, black holes, relativistic stars, causal structure of spacetime, cosmology, and brane worlds. Ph 236 b is the same as Ph 237 a. Graded pass/fail.
Instructors:
Thorne, Adhikari, Chen
Ph 237 ab
Gravitational Waves
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 236 a.
The theory and astrophysical phenomenology of gravitational-wave sources (black holes, neutron stars, compact binaries, early-universe phenomena, etc.). Gravitational-wave detectors (LIGO, LISA, and others) and data analysis. Ph 237 a is the same as Ph 236 b. Graded pass/fail.
Instructors:
Adhikari, Chen
Ph 242 ab
Physics Seminar
3 units (2-0-1)
|
first, second terms
Topics in physics emphasizing current research at Caltech. One two-hour meeting per week. Speakers will be chosen from both faculty and students. Registration restricted to first-year graduate students in physics; exceptions only with permission of instructor. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor:
Stone
Ph 250 abc
Introduction to String Theory
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 205 or equivalent.
The first two terms will focus largely on the bosonic string. Topics covered will include conformal invariance and construction of string scattering amplitudes, the origins of gauge interactions and gravity from string theory, T-duality, and D-branes. The third term will cover perturbative aspects of superstrings, supergravity, various BPS branes, and string dualities.
Instructors:
Schwarz, Oguri
Ph 300
Thesis Research
Units in accordance with work accomplished
Ph 300 is elected in place of Ph 172 or Ph 173 when the student has progressed to the point where research leads directly toward the thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Approval of the student's research supervisor and department adviser or registration representative must be obtained before registering. Graded pass/fail.
Published Date:
July 28, 2022