Astrophysics
Physics and Astronomy
https://physics.rice.edu/
201 Brockman Hall
713-348-4938
Christopher M. Johns-Krull
Department Chair, Physics and Astronomy
cmj@rice.edu
Stanley A. Dodds
Associate Chair, Physics and Astronomy
dodds@rice.edu
Astrophysics (ASTR) is a major offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Astrophysics provides preparation for employment or further study in physics, astrophysics, and related technical and quantitative fields.
Graduate opportunities in Astronomy and in Astrophysics are included under Physics and Astronomy.
Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Christopher M. Johns-Krull
Professors
Darin Acosta
David Alexander
Matthew G. Baring
Stephen J. Bradshaw
Anthony A. Chan
Pengcheng Dai
F. Barry Dunning
Karl M. Ecklund
Franciscus Johannes Maria Geurts
Jason H. Hafner
Naomi J. Halas
Patrick M. Hartigan
Randall G. Hulet
Christopher M. Johns-Krull
Thomas C. Killian
Anatoly B. Kolomeisky
Junichiro Kono
Eugene H. Levy
Wei Li
Edison P. Liang
Frederick C. MacKintosh
Lane Martin
Emilia Morosan
Douglas Natelson
Andriy Nevidomskyy
Peter Nordlander
Jose Nelson Onuchic
B. Paul Padley
Han Pu
Ramamoorthy Ramesh
Patricia H. Reiff
Gustavo E. Scuseria
Qimiao Si
Frank R. Toffoletto
Peter C. Wolynes
Associate Professors
Mustafa Amin
Stanley A. Dodds
Matthew S. Foster
Kaden Hazzard
Andrea Isella
Ching-Hwa Kiang
Christopher Tunnell
Ming Yi
Assistant Professors
Songtao Chen
Andre Izidoro Ferreira da Costa
Andrew Long
Guido Pagano
Megan Reiter
Kevin Slagle
Evelyn Tang
Yonglong Xie
Hanyu Zhu
Professors Emeriti
Neal F. Lane
Richard A. Wolf
Associate Teaching Professors
Robert Beaird
Lam Yu
Assistant Teaching Professors
Michael Cone
Julie Hoeink
Jared Stenson
Research Professor
Pablo P. Yepes
Associate Research Professor
Petr Chaguine
Assistant Research Professor
Aaron Higuera Pichardo
Lecturer
Melia Bonomo
Adjunct Faculty
James L. Burch
Stefan Kirchner
Hui Li
Laura Redjimi
Carolyn Sumners
Jian Yang
Jian-Xin Zhu
For Rice University degree-granting programs:
To view the list of official course offerings, please see Rice’s Course Catalog.
To view the most recent semester’s course schedule, please see Rice's Course Schedule.
Astronomy (ASTR)
ASTR 100 - EXPLORING THE COSMOS
Short Title: EXPLORING THE COSMOS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: Introduction to concepts, methods and discoveries of astronomy and astrophysics, with a theme to be chosen from the frontier topics of modern astrophysics. Will emphasize student presentations. Designed for first year students interested in science or engineering, but other majors are welcome.
ASTR 101 - STARS, GALAXIES, AND THE UNIVERSE
Short Title: STARS, GALAXIES & THE UNIVERSE
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: An introductory course for students in academic programs. The formation, evolution, and death of stars; the composition and evolution of galaxies; the structure and evolution of the universe. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 101 if student has credit for ASTR 201.
ASTR 102 - EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Short Title: EXPLORATN OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: The physical processes governing the nature and behavior of the various Solar System bodies are discussed with a focus on the origins, evolution and fate of the Solar System and its parts. This broader context leads to a deeper understanding of the Earth as a life-supporting planet. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 102 if student has credit for ASTR 202.
ASTR 230 - ASTRONOMY LAB
Short Title: ASTRONOMY LAB
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Laboratory
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: A hands-on introduction to modern techniques of observational astronomy. Students use telescopes, CCDs, and computers to obtain and analyze their own images and spectra of solar system, galactic, and extragalactic objects. The course employs the campus observatory, dark sky observing sites, and state of the art data analysis software. Instructor Permission Required.
ASTR 238 - SPECIAL TOPICS
Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Laboratory, Lecture, Seminar, Independent Study
Credit Hours: 1-4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: Topics and credit hours vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.
ASTR 243 - LIVING WITH A STAR: THE PHYSICS OF THE SUN-EARTH CONNECTION
Short Title: LIVING WITH A STAR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Prerequisite(s): (MATH 102 or MATH 106) and (PHYS 102 or PHYS 126)
Description: Introduction to astrophysical processes, particularly the effect of the Sun on the Earth. Possible effects of solar variability will be considered, especially global warming. The observational and theoretical basis of our current understanding will be presented.
ASTR 350 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS-STARS
Short Title: INTRO ASTROPHYSICS-STARS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): MATH 211 and PHYS 202
Description: Introduction to celestial mechanics, radiative transfer, stellar structure, and stellar remnants (including black holes and neutron stars). Aspects of stellar atmospheres may also be explored. Together, ASTR 350 and ASTR 360 provide a comprehensive survey of modern astrophysics needed for senior research and graduate study in astronomy. Either ASTR 350 or 360 may be taken first. Recommended Prerequisite(s): MATH 212
ASTR 360 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS-GALAXY AND COSMO
Short Title: INTRO ASTROPHYSIC-GALAXY&COSMO
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): MATH 211 and PHYS 202 (may be taken concurrently)
Description: Morphology, kinematics, and dynamics of the Milky Way and external galaxies, including interstellar matter and evidence for dark matter. Peculiar and active galaxies, including interacting systems and evidence for super massive black holes in active galactic nuclei such as quasars. Large-scale structure and expansion of the universe, including various cosmologies ranging from the inflationary big bang theory to steady state and anthropic concepts. Either ASTR 350 or 360 may be taken first. PHYS 202 may be taken as a prereq or concurrently with ASTR 360.
ASTR 400 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Short Title: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Seminar on current research topics in astronomy, astrophysics, and space physics for juniors and seniors. Students will be expected to give one oral presentation each semester. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: ASTR 500. Repeatable for Credit.
ASTR 408 - STATISTICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
Short Title: STATISTICS IN PHYS AND ASTR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 101 or PHYS 111 or PHYS 125) and (PHYS 102 or PHYS 112 or PHYS 126)
Description: Statistical methods commonly used in the analysis of astronomical, laboratory, and survey data. Topics include curve fitting, parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, time-series data, and truncated data. Fundamentals of statistics, including probability distributions, means, variances, the Central Limit Theorem, hypothesis testing, error propagation, Bayesian analysis, jacknife, and bootstrap are covered. The class introduces students to the R programming language. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: ASTR 508. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 408 if student has credit for ASTR 508.
ASTR 451 - ASTROPHYSICS I: SUN AND STARS
Short Title: ASTROPHYSICS I: SUN AND STARS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): (ASTR 350 or ASTR 360) and (PHYS 301 and PHYS 302)
Description: Physics of stellar atmospheres, interiors and evolution. Polytropes, nucleosynthesis, radiative transfer, convection, oscillations, opacities, curves of growth, spectral line theory and observation.
ASTR 452 - ASTROPHYSICS II: GALAXIES AND COSMOLOGY
Short Title: ASTROPHYS II:GALAXY&COSMOLOGY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): (ASTR 350 or ASTR 360) and (PHYS 301 and PHYS 302)
Description: Study of physical cosmology models. Description of the evolution of the universe, including nucleosynthesis, cosmic background radiation, large-scale structure, galaxy formation and evolution, and high redshift phenomena.
ASTR 461 - INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY
Short Title: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Independent Study
Credit Hours: 1-6
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Mentored research under the supervision of a Physics and Astronomy faculty member. The topic of the research must relate to astrophysics or space science. The analogous course for physics topics is PHYS 461. To register, students must provide a research plan approved by the faculty mentor. Repeatable for Credit. Instructor Permission Required. Repeatable for Credit.
ASTR 470 - SOLAR SYSTEM PHYSICS
Short Title: SOLAR SYSTEM PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 301 and PHYS 302
Description: The Sun, solar-terrestrial relationships, solar wind; planetary atmospheres, ionospheres and magnetospheres. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: ASTR 570. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 470 if student has credit for ASTR 570.
ASTR 477 - SPECIAL TOPICS
Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Lecture, Seminar, Laboratory
Credit Hours: 1-4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Topics and credit hours may vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.
ASTR 500 - GRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Short Title: GRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: A presentation of current research programs in the department. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: ASTR 400. Repeatable for Credit.
ASTR 502 - TEACHING EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Short Title: TEACHNG EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Overview of the Earth and the solar system: structure, evolution, and dynamics. Includes non-calculus mathematics: algebra, logarithms and simple trigonometry, including Kepler's laws. Observing sessions at campus observatory and George Observatory TBD. Designed for inservice and preservice science teachers (grades 4-12), but open to undergraduates considering a teaching career. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 502 if student has credit for ASTR 402.
ASTR 503 - ASTRONOMY FOR TEACHERS
Short Title: ASTRONOMY FOR TEACHERS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Overview of the Sun, stars, galaxies, and the Universe at a non-calculus level. Methods to help students master content, including lab activities suitable for K-12. Observing sessions at Rice campus observatory and George Observatory TBD. Designed for inservice and preservice teachers (grades 5-12), but open to undergraduates considering a teaching career.
ASTR 508 - STATISTICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
Short Title: STATISTICS IN PHYS AND ASTR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Statistical methods commonly used in the analysis of astronomical, laboratory, and survey data. Topics include curve fitting, parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, time-series data, and truncated data. Fundamentals of statistics, including probability distributions, means, variances, the Central Limit Theorem, hypothesis testing, error propagation, Bayesian analysis, jacknife, and bootstrap are covered. The class introduces students to the R programming language. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: ASTR 408. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 508 if student has credit for ASTR 408.
ASTR 530 - TEACHING ASTRONOMY LABORATORY
Short Title: TEACHING ASTRONOMY LABORATORY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Laboratory
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): ASTR 230 or ASTR 350 or ASTR 360 or ASTR 402 or ASTR 403 or ASTR 502 or ASTR 503
Description: Methods of observational astronomy for public education: telescopes, astronomical binoculars, portable planetariums, digital cameras, and photography (still, 3D, and time lapse). Students will train beginners in the use of telescopes and carry out a modest observational program. The course requires one public presentation. Topics vary with each offering. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 530 if student has credit for ASTR 430.
ASTR 542 - NEBULAR ASTROPHYSICS
Short Title: NEBULAR ASTROPHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): ASTR 451
Description: The physics of emission nebulae, including radiative transfer, photo ionization and thermal equilibria, and internal gaseous dynamics. Physical processes in the interstellar medium. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PHYS 541.
ASTR 554 - ASTROPHYSICS OF THE SUN
Short Title: ASTROPHYSICS OF THE SUN
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Analysis of physical processes at work in the sun, such as helioseismology, solar variability, solar activity, magnetic reconnection, heliosphere interactions and modern observational techniques.
ASTR 555 - PROTOSTARS AND PLANETS
Short Title: PROTOSTARS AND PLANETS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): ASTR 451
Description: Physics of star and planet information, including molecular cloud dynamics and chemistry, circumstellar accretion disks, jets, dust, debris disks, atmospheres rotation, and magnetic fields of young stars, binaries, brown dwarfs, comets, Kuiper belt objects, giant planet formation and discoveries of extra solar planets.
ASTR 565 - COMPACT OBJECTS
Short Title: COMPACT OBJECTS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: The physics and astrophysics of the structure and environments of white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. Addressing pulsars, X-ray binaries, accretion, jets and gravitational radiation.
ASTR 570 - SOLAR SYSTEM PHYSICS
Short Title: SOLAR SYSTEM PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: The Sun, solar-terrestrial relationships, solar wind; planetary atmospheres, ionospheres and magnetospheres. Includes a research paper and presentation on a physical process in the solar system. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: ASTR 470. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for ASTR 570 if student has credit for ASTR 470.
ASTR 600 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN ASTROPHYSICS
Short Title: ADV TOPICS IN ASTROPHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Lecture/seminars which treat topics of departmental interest. Not offered every year. Repeatable for Credit.
ASTR 677 - SPECIAL TOPICS
Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Laboratory, Lecture, Seminar, Independent Study
Credit Hours: 1-4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Visiting Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Topics and credit hours vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.
Physics (PHYS)
PHYS 100 - EXPLORING PHYSICS
Short Title: EXPLORING PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: Introduction to concepts, methods, debates, and discoveries of physics, with a theme to be chosen from one of many fields of modern physics research. Designed for students interested in understanding science. This includes both science and non-science majors.
PHYS 101 - MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
Short Title: MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 103
Description: A calculus-based introduction to mechanics. Includes classes and lab exercises on kinematics, Newton's Laws, work and energy, conservation laws and rotational motion. Primarily for physical science and engineering students. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 101, 111, 125, AP Physics 1 (Phys 141) and AP Physics-C MECH. Students must register for PHYS 103.
PHYS 102 - ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB)
Short Title: ELECTRICITY&MAGNETISM W/LAB
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 104
Description: A calculus-based introduction to electricity and magnetism. Includes classes and lab exercises on electric and magnetic fields, Maxwell's equations in integral form, and AC and DC circuits. Primarily for physical science and engineering students. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 102, 112, 126, AP Physics 2 (PHYS 142) and AP Physics-C E&M. Students must also register for PHYS 104.
PHYS 103 - MECHANICS DISCUSSION
Short Title: MECHANICS DISCUSSION
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hours: 0
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 101
Description: Small group discussion section to extend and reinforce concepts presented in PHYS 101. Students must also register for PHYS 101.
PHYS 104 - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM DISCUSSION
Short Title: E & M DISCUSSION
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hours: 0
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 102
Description: Small group discussion section to extend and reinforce concepts presented in PHYS 102. Students must also register for PHYS 102.
PHYS 111 - HONORS MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
Short Title: HONORS MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: A more intensive treatment of topics covered in PHYS 101, intended for physical science and engineering students with strong high school backgrounds in physics and particularly calculus. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 101, 111, 125, AP Physics 1 (Phys 141) and AP Physics-C MECH.
PHYS 112 - HONORS ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB)
Short Title: HONORS E&M (WITH LAB)
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: A more intensive treatment of topics covered in PHYS 102, intended for physical science and engineering students with strong high school backgrounds in physics and particularly calculus. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 102, 112, 126, AP Physics 2 (PHYS 142), and AP Physics-C, E&M.
PHYS 116 - SEMINAR IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY AT RICE AND BEYOND
Short Title: SEMINAR IN PHYS & ASTRO @ RICE
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: This half-semester seminar course will meet in the first half of the Spring semester to introduce prospective and current science and engineering majors to the exciting research in physics and astronomy at Rice and beyond. The course will provide students with the context to think about how the facts presented in physics and astronomy textbooks are applied to real-world research. Undergraduate students in a small group will meet weekly with a graduate student to explore a published research article by a local lab, learning about what was done and why it was important. Toward the end of the course, the group will tour the lab that produced the featured article. All students are eligible to enroll in PHYS 116 regardless of the intended area of study.
PHYS 125 - GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB)
Short Title: GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB)
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 127
Description: A calculus-based survey of mechanics primarily intended for bioscience and premedical students. Includes classes and lab exercises on kinematics, Newton's Laws, work and energy, rotational motion, fluids, oscillations and waves. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 101, 111, 125, AP Physics 1 (Phys 141), and AP Physics-C, MECH.
PHYS 126 - GENERAL PHYSICS II (WITH LAB)
Short Title: GENERAL PHYSICS II (WITH LAB)
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 125 or PHYS 101 or PHYS 111 or PHYS 141
Corequisite: PHYS 128
Description: A calculus-based survey of E&M and optics primarily intended for bioscience and premedical students. Includes classes and lab exercises on wave and ray optics, electric field and potential, magnetic fields and induction, and DC circuits. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 102, 112, 126, AP Physics 2 (PHYS 142), and AP Physics-C, E&M.
PHYS 127 - GENERAL PHYSICS DISCUSSION
Short Title: GENERAL PHYSICS DISCUSSION
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hours: 0
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 125
Description: Small group discussion section to extend and reinforce concepts presented in PHYS 125. Students must also register for PHYS 125.
PHYS 128 - GENERAL PHYSICS II DISCUSSION
Short Title: GEN PHYSICS II DISCUSSION
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hours: 0
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Corequisite: PHYS 126
Description: Small group discussion section to extend and reinforce concepts presented in PHYS 126. Students must also register for PHYS 126.
PHYS 141 - CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I
Short Title: CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: For AP or pre-matriculation transfer credit only. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 101, PHYS 111, PHYS 125, AP Physics 1, and AP Physics-C (Mech).
PHYS 142 - CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS II
Short Title: CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS II
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: For AP or pre-matriculation transfer credit only. May receive credit for only one of PHYS 102, PHYS 112, PHYS 126, AP Physics 2, and AP Physics-C (E&M).
PHYS 143 - PHYSICS FOR CITIZENSHIP
Short Title: PHYSICS FOR CITIZENSHIP
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: Physics is critical to our understanding of nuclear weapons, radiation, electronics, energy and global warming. The most interesting and important topics in physics, with applications to current events will be presented. Topics covered may include energy and conservation, radioactivity, nuclear physics, the Theory of Relativity, lasers, explosions and quantum physics.
PHYS 144 - THE PHYSICS OF MUSIC AND SOUND
Short Title: THE PHYSICS OF MUSIC AND SOUND
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: This course explores our scientific understanding of sound and music by studying the properties of sound and its production by a variety of musical instruments. Additional topics include an analysis of musical scales, the physiology of hearing, and the technology of sound reproduction. For non-science and non-engineering majors.
PHYS 145 - TRACES OF LIFE
Short Title: TRACES OF LIFE
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Distribution Group: Distribution Group III
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: The basic physics behind the scientific instruments used to detect life, whether in a medical clinic, a laboratory, or the natural world.
PHYS 201 - WAVES, LIGHT, AND HEAT
Short Title: WAVES, LIGHT, AND HEAT
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 101 or PHYS 111 or PHYS 125 or PHYS 141) and (PHYS 102 or PHYS 112 or PHYS 126 or PHYS 142)
Description: Mathematical descriptions of fundamental topics of classical physics: oscillations, mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves, physical optics and thermodynamics.
PHYS 202 - MODERN PHYSICS
Short Title: MODERN PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 101 or PHYS 111 or PHYS 125 or PHYS 141) and (PHYS 102 or PHYS 112 or PHYS 126 or PHYS 142)
Description: An introductory course in modern physics. Topics include special relativity, early quantum theory, quantum mechanics, atomic physics, statistical physics, nuclear and particle physics. The course is descriptive in nature with emphasis on phenomena rather than on calculations.
PHYS 231 - ELEMENTARY PHYSICS LAB
Short Title: ELEMENTARY PHYSICS LAB
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Laboratory
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: Laboratory on waves, optics and modern physics.
PHYS 238 - SPECIAL TOPICS
Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory, Internship/Practicum, Independent Study, Laboratory, Lecture, Seminar
Credit Hours: 1-4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Lower-Level
Description: Topics and credit hours may vary each semester. Contact department for current semester’s topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 301 - INTERMEDIATE MECHANICS
Short Title: INTERMEDIATE MECHANICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 201
Description: Classical mechanics and appropriate mathematical methods. Emphasis on problem solving.
PHYS 302 - INTERMEDIATE ELECTRODYNAMICS
Short Title: INTERMEDIATE ELECTRODYNAMICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 201
Description: Classical electrodynamics and appropriate mathematical methods. Emphasis on problem solving.
PHYS 311 - INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS I
Short Title: INTRO TO QUANTUM PHYSICS I
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 202
Description: Fundamentals of quantum mechanics and applications to atomic and molecular structure.
PHYS 312 - INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS II
Short Title: INTRO TO QUANTUM PHYSICS II
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Continuation of PHYS 311.
PHYS 331 - JUNIOR PHYSICS LAB I
Short Title: JUNIOR PHYSICS LAB I
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Laboratory
Credit Hours: 2
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Lab exercises in electronics, noise reduction, statistics and particle counting.
PHYS 332 - JUNIOR PHYSICS LAB II
Short Title: JUNIOR PHYSICS LAB II
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Laboratory
Credit Hours: 2
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Lab exercises illustrating topics in the upper-division physics curriculum.
PHYS 355 - INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS
Short Title: INTRO TO BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Tools for physical reasoning and mathematical modeling as appropriate for biological systems. Topics include: dimensional analysis and conversion between different forms of energy, virus dynamics, microswimmers, randomness and diffusion, cooperativity in macromolecules, and nerve impulses.
PHYS 411 - INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS
Short Title: INTRO NUCLEAR&PARTIC PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 311
Description: Survey of history and current state of nuclear and particle physics. The emphasis is on experimental results and how they led to our current understanding of the strong and electroweak interactions. Some recent advances are discussed in detail. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 542. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 411 if student has credit for PHYS 542.
PHYS 412 - SOLID STATE PHYSICS
Short Title: SOLID STATE PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 311 and PHYS 425) or ELEC 361
Description: Introduction to topics in solid state physics, including crystal structure, lattice vibrations, electronic band structure and transport.
PHYS 413 - INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL RELATIVITY
Short Title: INTRO TO GENERAL RELATIVITY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 301 (may be taken concurrently)
Description: The material in this course will focus on understanding gravity as a manifestation of curved spacetime, and explore its implications. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 513. Recommended Prerequisite(s): MATH 211, MATH 212 Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 413 if student has credit for PHYS 513.
PHYS 416 - COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS
Short Title: COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Use of computational techniques to solve selected physics problems. Examine benefits and pitfalls of doing physics by computation. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 517. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 416 if student has credit for PHYS 517.
PHYS 425 - STATISTICAL & THERMAL PHYSICS
Short Title: STATISTICAL & THERMAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 301 and PHYS 311
Description: Includes classical thermodynamics; classical & quantum statistical mechanics; Fermi, Bose, and classical gases; magnetic systems; and phase equilibria.
PHYS 449 - PROJECTS IN DATA-ENABLED PHYSICS THROUGH DATA SCIENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING
Short Title: DATA-ENABLED PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 202
Description: Project-based course where teams of students explore physics through the lens of data. Students will learn about data analysis and best practices. Students without prior programming experience should contact the instructor. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 549. Recommended Prerequisite(s): COMP 130 or COMP 140 or CAAM 210 Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 449 if student has credit for PHYS 549.
PHYS 461 - INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
Short Title: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Research
Credit Hours: 1-6
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Mentored research under the supervision of a Physics and Astronomy faculty member. To register, students must provide a research plan approved by the faculty mentor. Instructor Permission Required. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 465 - REU RESEARCH IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
Short Title: REU RESEARCH IN PHYS & ASTR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Research
Credit Hours: 1-3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 477 - SPECIAL TOPICS
Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Laboratory, Lecture, Seminar, Independent Study, Lecture/Laboratory
Credit Hours: 1-4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Description: Topics and credit hours may vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 480 - INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS
Short Title: INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 302
Description: Fundamental processes in cosmic and laboratory plasmas. Basic plasma characteristics, charged particle motion, waves in plasmas, magnetohydrodynamics, kinetic theory. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 580. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 480 if student has credit for PHYS 580.
PHYS 491 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Short Title: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Research
Credit Hours: 2
Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Physics or Physics. Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 301 and PHYS 302 and PHYS 311
Description: Research projects conducted under supervision of departmentally approved faculty. Open to juniors and seniors majoring in physics and astronomy. May be repeated for credit. PHYS 493/494 must be taken concurrently with PHYS 491/492 when used in partial fulfillment of B.S. degree requirements. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 492 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Short Title: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Research
Credit Hours: 2
Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Physics or Physics. Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 491
Description: Research projects conducted under supervision of departmentally approved faculty culminating in a thesis. Open to juniors and seniors majoring in physics and astronomy. May be repeated for credit. PHYS 493/494 must be taken concurrently with PHYS 491/492 when used in partial fulfillment of B.S. degree requirements. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 493 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Short Title: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Physics or Physics. Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 301 and PHYS 302 and PHYS 311
Description: Weekly seminar for juniors and seniors in which presentations on research topics and/or topics in the scientific literature will be given. Open to juniors and seniors majoring in physics and astronomy. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 494 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Short Title: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Physics or Physics. Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional or Visiting Undergraduate level students.
Course Level: Undergraduate Upper-Level
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 493
Description: Weekly seminar for juniors and seniors in which presentations on research topics and/or topics in the scientific literature will be given. Open to juniors and seniors majoring in physics and astronomy department. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 501 - PHYSICS OF HAM RADIO FOR TEACHERS
Short Title: PHYSICS OF HAM RADIO TEACHERS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Fundamentals of electromagnetic waves and propagation, the ionosphere and space weather. Basic electronics, antenna design and safety, magnetism. Provides information necessary to pass the "Technician" level of ham radio license. Non-calculus mathematics. Other topics include: use of GPS, geocaching. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 501 if student has credit for PHYS 401.
PHYS 510 - MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS
Short Title: MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Plasma physics of the earth's magnetosphere, including interactions of the magnetosphere with the solar wind and the ionosphere. The emphasis is on large-scale phenomena, but small scale (kinetic) physics is discussed in cases where it affects the large-scale phenomena.
PHYS 512 - QUANTUM MATERIALS ENGINEERING
Short Title: QUANTUM MATERIALS ENGINEERING
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Introduction to the basic concepts of useful quantum (non-classical) properties of materials, as well as experimental techniques to engineer materials, with an emphasis on various optical spectroscopy. Students are encouraged to have prior exposure to quantum mechanics and electronic properties of solids (or equivalent) before enrollment, although the principles will be refreshed at the beginning of the course. Cross-list: MSNE 512. Recommended Prerequisite(s): Quantum Mechanics; Physical Properties of Solids or Solid State Physics.
PHYS 513 - INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL RELATIVITY
Short Title: INTRO TO GENERAL RELATIVITY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: The material in this course will focus on understanding gravity as a manifestation of curved spacetime, and explore its implications. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 413. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 513 if student has credit for PHYS 413.
PHYS 515 - CLASSICAL DYNAMICS
Short Title: CLASSICAL DYNAMICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics. Continuum Mechanics. Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.
PHYS 516 - MATHEMATICAL METHODS
Short Title: MATHEMATICAL METHODS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Survey of analytical methods used by research physicists and astronomers. Includes complex variables, ordinary differential equations, infinite series, evaluation of integrals, integral transforms, normal-mode analysis, special functions, partial differential equations, eigenfunctions, Green's functions, and variational calculus.
PHYS 517 - COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS
Short Title: COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Use of computational techniques to solve selected physics problems. Examine benefits and pitfalls of doing physics by computation. Requires completion of project using a low-level programming language. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 416. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 517 if student has credit for PHYS 416.
PHYS 519 - PLASMA KINETIC THEORY
Short Title: PLASMA KINETIC THEORY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Plasma kinetic equations (Klimontovich, Liouville, BBGKY, Balescu-Lenard, Fokker-Planck, Vlasov), Vlasov theory of waves and instabilities, connections to fluid plasma models.
PHYS 521 - QUANTUM MECHANICS I
Short Title: QUANTUM MECHANICS I
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Graduate level course on non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Topics include early quantum theory, one-dimensional systems, matrix formulation, quantum dynamics, symmetries and conservation laws, bound states, scattering, spin, and identical particles, perturbation theory.
PHYS 522 - QUANTUM MECHANICS II
Short Title: QUANTUM MECHANICS II
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Continuation of PHYS 521.
PHYS 526 - STATISTICAL PHYSICS
Short Title: STATISTICAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Selected topics in statistical mechanics, including phase transitions and transport phenomena.
PHYS 532 - CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS
Short Title: CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Maxwell's equations, wave propagation, special relativity and covariant formulation, charged-particle dynamics, and radiation.
PHYS 533 - NANOSTRUCTURE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY I
Short Title: NANOSTRUCTURE/NANOTECHNOLOG
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Physics of structures and devices at the nanometer scale. After a review of solid state physics, topics include nanostructured materials, nanoelectronics, and nanomagnetism. Emphasis on relevance of nanophysics to current and future technologies.
PHYS 534 - NANOSTRUCTURE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY II
Short Title: NANOSTRUCTURE&NANOTECHNOLGY II
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Physics of structures and devices at the nanometer scale. Topics include nanomechanics, bionanotechnology, advanced sensors and photonics. Continuation of PHYS 533.
PHYS 535 - CRYSTALLOGRAPHY & DIFFRACTION
Short Title: CRYSTALLOGRAPHY & DIFFRACTION
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Study of crystals by diffraction techniques, focusing on x-ray, with an overview of electron and neutron diffraction as well as complementary techniques. Provides mathematical foundations and nomenclature for diffraction and related phenomena. Includes basics of crystallographic analysis and surface/point/space group symmetry, experiment design (sources, geometry, detectors), lab demos, and data analysis and interpretation. Required for undergraduate MSNE major. Meets with MSNE 435 (additional work for the graduate version). Cross-list: MSNE 535.
PHYS 541 - RADIATIVE PROCESSES
Short Title: RADIATIVE PROCESSES
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Radiation processes and their applications to astrophysical phenomena and space science. The course treats radiative transfer, radiation from moving charges, relativistic covariance and kinematics, bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, Compton scattering, some plasma effects, and radiative transitions in atoms and molecules.
PHYS 542 - INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS
Short Title: INTRO NUCLEAR&PARTIC PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 311
Description: Survey of history and current state of nuclear and particle physics with the emphasis on experimental results and how they led to our current understanding of the strong and electroweak interactions. Some recent advances are discussed in detail. Requires completion of a Monte Carlo simulation project. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 411. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 542 if student has credit for PHYS 411.
PHYS 543 - PHYSICS OF QUARKS AND LEPTONS
Short Title: PHYSICS OF QUARKS AND LEPTONS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: A continuation of PHYS 542.
PHYS 549 - PROJECTS IN DATA-ENABLED PHYSICS THROUGH DATA SCIENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING
Short Title: DATA-ENABLED PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Project-based course where teams of students explore physics through the lens of data. Students will learn about data analysis and best practices. Students without prior programming experience should contact the instructor. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 449. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 549 if student has credit for PHYS 449.
PHYS 551 - BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS
Short Title: BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Introduction to biological physics. Review of basic physical concepts. Cells and their components. Diffusion and random walks. Entropy and energy concepts and their roles in biological systems. Modern experimental methods. Applications to biological macromolecules.
PHYS 552 - TOPICS IN BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS
Short Title: TOPICS IN BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Topics will be selected based on special or current research interests.
PHYS 561 - GENERAL RELATIVITY
Short Title: GENERAL RELATIVITY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 532
Description: Study of Einstein's theory of gravitation, including cosmological models.
PHYS 563 - INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS I
Short Title: INTRO TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS I
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Fundamental concepts of crystalline solids, including crystal structure, band theory of electrons, and lattice vibration theory. Cross-list: ELEC 563.
PHYS 564 - INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS II
Short Title: INTRO SOLID STATE PHYSICS II
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Continuation of PHYS 563, including scattering of waves by crystals, transport theory, and magnetic phenomena. Cross-list: ELEC 564.
PHYS 567 - QUANTUM MATERIALS
Short Title: QUANTUM MATERIALS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 425 or PHYS 526) and (PHYS 311 or PHYS 521)
Description: This course uses real data on archetypal materials to illustrate the thermodynamic and transport properties of solids, and principles of materials synthesis. The goal is building a phenomenological understanding of topics including the origin of magnetism; interactions and long range order; phase transitions (magnetism; superconductivity); quantum oscillations and Landau levels.
PHYS 568 - QUANTUM PHASE TRANSITIONS
Short Title: QUANTUM PHASE TRANSITIONS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Introductory course for graduate students. Topics include the concepts of classical and quantum phase transitions, mean field theory, renormalization group and quantum phase transitions in magnetic, fermionic, and bosonic systems.
PHYS 569 - ULTRAFAST OPTICAL PHENOMENA
Short Title: ULTRAFAST OPTICAL PHENOMENA
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: This course covers the generation, propagation, and measurement of short laser pulses, of duration less than one picosecond. Concepts include mode locking, the effects of dispersion, optical pulse amplification, and time-domain non-linear optical phenomena. Intended as an introduction to ultrafast phenomena for graduate students or advanced undergraduates; a basic understanding of electromagnetic waves and of quantum mechanics is assumed. Cross-list: ELEC 569.
PHYS 571 - MODERN ATOMIC PHYSICS
Short Title: MODERN ATOMIC PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: This is an introductory course at the graduate level. Topics to be discussed include: atomic structure, principles of lasers, fundamental interactions of atoms with electro-magnetic radiation, including coherent effects, laser spectroscopy, quantum optics, and laser cooling and trapping of atoms, and Bose-Einstein condensation.
PHYS 572 - FUNDAMENTALS OF QUANTUM OPTICS
Short Title: FUNDAMENTALS OF QUANTUM OPTICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Discussion of quantization and statistical properties of light fields; interaction between atoms and light; non-classical states; basic laser theory; quantum effects of nonlinear optics; introduction to atom optics.
PHYS 580 - INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS
Short Title: INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Fundamental processes in cosmic and laboratory plasmas. Basic plasma characteristics, charged particle motion, waves in plasmas, magnetohydrodynamics, kinetic theory. Includes a substantial computational project related to plasma physics. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: PHYS 480. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHYS 580 if student has credit for PHYS 480.
PHYS 600 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN PHYSICS
Short Title: ADVANCED TOPICS IN PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Lecture/seminars which treat topics of departmental interest. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 601 - FRONTIERS IN CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
Short Title: FRONTIERS IN CONDENSED MATTER
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: This seminar will serve as an introduction to current research topics in modern condensed matter physics. Lectures will be given by experts in condensed matter physics at Rice, Columbia University, and other international locations. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 605 - COMPUTATIONAL ELECTRODYNAMICS AND NANOPHOTONICS
Short Title: ELECTRODYNAMICS & NANOPHOTONIC
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: This course covers computational and numerical methods for calculating electromagnetic fields and propagation in complex geometries on the nano and microscale. Methods include the finite difference time domain method, boundary element methods, Greens functions methods, finite element methods, the discrete dipole approximation and relaxation methods. Cross-list: ELEC 605. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 622 - QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
Short Title: QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: An introduction to relativistic quantum field theory. Topics include: quantization of scalar, spinor, and vector fields; Feynman diagrams; gauge theories, including QED and QCD; renormalization; and functional-integral methods.
PHYS 663 - CONDENSED MATTER THEORY: APPLICATIONS
Short Title: CONDENSED MATTER THRY:APLICATN
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Applications of techniques developed in PHYS 664.
PHYS 664 - CONDENSED MATTER THEORY: MANY-BODY FORMALISM
Short Title: COND MATTR THRY:MANY BODY FORM
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Formal structure of many-body theory as used in condensed matter physics.
PHYS 665 - TOPOLOGY IN MODERN QUANTUM PHYSICS AND FIELD THEORY
Short Title: TOPOLOGY IN QUANTUM PHYSICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 521
Description: Topology plays an increasingly important role in modern quantum physics, and its applications to a variety of topics range from the theory of liquid crystals to topological defects in quantum field theory. This course will introduce some key notions from topology, such as homotopy and homology, and differential geomery and discuss their applications in quantum physics, from the theory of vortices in superconductors, to monopoles in non-Abelian gauge theories, to instantons in Yang—Mills theory. The course also covers the concepts of topological insulators and superconductors that have become an important part of the vocabulary of modern condensed matter physics. The course may be useful for students pursuing research in condensed matter and AMO physics, as well as high-energy physicists interested in topological defects in quantum field theory.
PHYS 677 - SPECIAL TOPICS
Short Title: SPECIAL TOPICS
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Internship/Practicum, Laboratory, Lecture, Seminar, Lecture/Laboratory, Independent Study
Credit Hours: 1-4
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Visiting Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Topics and credit hours vary each semester. Contact department for current semester's topic(s). Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 700 - TEACHING PRACTICUM
Short Title: TEACHING PRACTICUM
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Internship/Practicum
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Supervised teaching for graduate students. Repeatable for Credit.
PHYS 710 - GRADUATE SEMINAR IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
Short Title: GRAD SEMINAR IN PHYS & ASTR
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hour: 1
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Participation in department colloquia and additional sessions on topics of interest to entering graduate students. Required of all Physics and Astronomy graduate students during their first Fall semester at Rice.
PHYS 800 - GRADUATE RESEARCH
Short Title: GRADUATE RESEARCH
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Research
Credit Hours: 1-15
Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Course Level: Graduate
Description: Thesis research under the supervision of department faculty. Repeatable for Credit.
Description and Code Legend
Note: Internally, the university uses the following descriptions, codes, and abbreviations for this academic program. The following is a quick reference:
Course Catalog/Schedule:
- Course offerings/subject code for Astronomy: ASTR
- Course offerings/subject code for Physics: PHYS
Department Description and Code
- Physics and Astronomy: PHYS
Undergraduate Degree Description and Code
- Bachelor of Science degree: BS
Undergraduate Major Description and Code
- Major in Astrophysics (attached to the BS degree): ASTR
CIP Code and Description1
- ASTR Major/Program: CIP Code/Title: 40.0202 - Astrophysics
| 1 | Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020 Codes and Descriptions from the National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/. |