Applied Physics

Ch/APh 2. Introduction to Energy Sciences. 9 units (4-0-5). For course description, see Chemistry.

APh/EE 9 ab. Solid-State Electronics for Integrated Circuits. 6 units (2-2-2); first, second terms; six units credit for the freshman laboratory requirement. Prerequisite: successful completion of APh/EE 9 a is a prerequisite for enrollment in APh/EE 9 b. Introduction to solid-state electronics, including physical modeling and device fabrication. Topics: semiconductor crystal growth and device fabrication technology, carrier modeling, doping, generation and recombination, pn junction diodes, MOS capacitor and MOS transistor operation, and deviations from ideal behavior. Laboratory includes computer-aided layout, and fabrication and testing of light-emitting diodes, transistors, and inverters. Students learn photolithography, and use of vacuum systems, furnaces, and device-testing equipment. Instructor: Scherer.

APh 17 abc. Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc. Introduction to the use of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in physics and engineering. Entropy, temperature, and the principal laws of thermodynamics. Canonical equations of state. Applications to cycles, engines, phase and chemical equilibria. Probability and stochastic processes. Kinetic theory of perfect gases. Statistical mechanics. Applications to gases, gas degeneration, equilibrium radiation, and simple solids. Instructor: Vahala.

APh 23. Demonstration Lectures in Optics. 6 units (2-0-4); second term. Prerequisite: Ph 1 abc. Nine lectures cover fundamentals of optics with emphasis on modern optical applications, intended to exhibit basic optical phenomena including interference, dispersion, birefringence, diffraction, and laser oscillation, and the applications of these phenomena in optical systems employing two-beam and multiple- beam interferometry, Fourier-transform image processing, holography, electro-optic modulation, and optical detection and heterodyning. System examples to be selected from optical communications, radar, and adaptive optical systems. Instructor: Painter.

APh 24. Introductory Modern Optics Laboratory. 6 units (0-4-2); third term. Prerequisite: APh 23. Laboratory experiments to acquaint students with the contemporary aspects of modern optical research and technology. Experiments encompass many of the topics and concepts covered in APh 23. Instructor: Painter.

APh 77 bc. Laboratory in Applied Physics. 9 units (0-9-0); second, third terms. Selected experiments chosen to familiarize students with laboratory equipment, procedures, and characteristic phenomena in plasmas, fluid turbulence, fiber optics, X-ray diffraction, microwaves, high-temperature superconductivity, black-body radiation, holography, and computer interfacing of experiments. Instructor: Scherer.

APh 78 abc. Senior Thesis, Experimental. 9 units (0-9-0); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Supervised experimental research experience, open only to senior-class applied physics majors. Requirements will be set by individual faculty members, but will include a written report based upon actual laboratory experience. The selection of topic and the final report must be approved by the Applied Physics Undergraduate Committee. Students desiring additional units should register in APh 100. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructors: Atwater and applied physics faculty.

APh 79 abc. Senior Thesis, Theoretical. 9 units (0-9-0); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Supervised theoretical research experience, open only to senior-class applied physics majors. Requirements will be set by individual faculty members, but will include a written report based upon actual laboratory experience. The selection of topic and the final report must be approved by the Applied Physics Undergraduate Committee. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. This course cannot be used to satisfy the laboratory requirement in APh. Instructors: Atwater and applied physics faculty.

APh 100. Advanced Work in Applied Physics. Units in accordance with work accomplished. Special problems relating to applied physics, arranged to meet the needs of students wishing to do advanced work. Primarily for undergraduates. Students should consult with their advisers before registering. Graded pass/fail.

Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc. Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aeronautics.

Ae/APh 104 abc. Experimental Methods. 9 units (3-0-6 first term; 1-3-5 second, third terms). For course description, see Aeronautics.

APh 105 abc. States of Matter. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: APh 17 abc or equivalent. A survey emphasizing unifying concepts, such as order parameters, scaling laws, quasi-particle excitations, and correlation functions. Topics: long-range ordered states such as crystals, superfluids, and ferromagnets; phase transitions; critical phenomena; ideal classical and degenerate gases; theory of liquids; band theory of solids; fluctuations; noise. Instructors: Johnson, Phillips.

APh 109. Introduction to the Micro/Nanofabrication Lab. 9 units (0-6-3); first, second, third terms. Introduction to techniques of micro- and nanofabrication, including solid-state, optical, and microfluidic devices. Students will be trained to use fabrication and characterization equipment available in the applied physics micro- and nanofabrication lab. Topics include Schottky diodes, MOS capacitors, light-emitting diodes, microlenses, microfluidic valves and pumps, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron-beam writing. Instructor: Ghaffari.

APh 110. Topics in Applied Physics. 2 units (2-0-0); first, second terms. A seminar course designed to acquaint juniors and first-year graduate students with the various research areas represented in the option. Lecture each week given by a different faculty member of the option, reviewing, in general terms, his or her field of research. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Bellan.

APh 114 abc. Solid-State Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: APh 125 ab or Ph 125 abc or equivalent. Introductory lecture and problem course dealing with experimental and theoretical problems in solid-state physics. Topics include crystal structure, symmetries in solids, lattice vibrations, electronic states in solids, transport phenomena, semiconductors, superconductivity, magnetism, ferroelectricity, defects, and optical phenomena in solids. Instructors: Bockrath, Atwater.

APh 125 abc. Quantum Mechanics of Matter. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Quantum mechanics and applications to problems in solids, liquids, and gases. Topics: central force problems; hydrogen atom; multielectron atoms; approximation methods: time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, variational method, WKB approximation; eigenstates of molecules; theories for chemical bonding; optical transitions in matter; scattering: Born approximation, partial wave expansions, electron and photon scattering in matter; the electromagnetic field; quantum theory of crystalline solids. Not offered 2005–06.

APh/EE 130. Optical System Design. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course reviews EM theory and introduces optical system design principles. EM theory: tensor matrix, kDB space, Poynting theorem. Polarization: Jones matrix and Stokes vectors. Ray tracing: ABCD matrix, optical aberrations, Zemax optical system design program. Microscopy: system design, conventional and confocal. Interferometry: system design, homodyne, heterodyne, shot noise, spectral domain analysis, optical gyroscope, and optical coherence tomography. Instructors: Yang, Psaltis.

APh/EE 131. Optical Wave Propagation. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course focuses on optical wave propagation and related applications. Topics to be covered include Huygens’ principle, Fourier optics, Gaussian waves, imaging, gratings, spectroscopy, interferometry, Fabry-Perot cavities, coherence, holography, femtosecond optics, dispersion, Kramers-Kronig relation, Mie scattering theory, photonic band gaps, and near-field imaging. Instructors: Psaltis, Yang.

APh/EE 132. Optoelectronic Materials and Devices. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Interaction of light and matter, spontaneous and stimulated emission, laser rate equations, mode-locking, Q-switching, semiconductor lasers. Optical detectors and amplifiers; noise characterization of optoelectronic devices. Propagation of light in crystals, electro-optic effects and their use in modulation of light; introduction to nonlinear optics. Optical properties of nanostructures. Instructor: Atwater.

APh 133. Optical Computing. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: APh/EE 132 or equivalent exposure to optics. An introductory course in devices and techniques used for the optical implementation of information processing systems. Subjects to be covered include optical linear transformations, nonlinear optical switching devices, holographic interconnections, optical memories, photorefractive crystals, and optical realizations of neural computers. Not offered 2005–06.

APh 150. Topics in Applied Physics. Units to be arranged; first, second terms. Content will vary from year to year, but at a level suitable for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. Topics are chosen according to the interests of students and staff. Visiting faculty may present portions of this course. Instructor: Vahala.

APh 156 abc. Plasma Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: Ph 106 abc or equivalent. An introduction to the principles of plasma physics. A multi-tiered theoretical infrastructure will be developed consisting of the Hamilton-Lagrangian theory of charged particle motion in combined electric and magnetic fields, the Vlasov kinetic theory of plasma as a gas of interacting charged particles, the two-fluid model of plasma as interacting electron and ion fluids, and the magnetohydrodynamic model of plasma as an electrically conducting fluid subject to combined magnetic and hydrodynamic forces. This infrastructure will be used to examine waves, transport processes, equilibrium, stability, and topological self-organization. Examples relevant to plasmas in both laboratory (fusion, industrial) and space (magneto-sphere, solar) will be discussed. Instructor: Bellan.

APh/BE 161. Physical Biology of the Cell. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Physical models applied to the analysis of biological structures ranging from individual proteins and DNA to entire cells. Topics include the force response of proteins and DNA, models of molecular motors, DNA packing in viruses and eukaryotes, mechanics of membranes, and membrane proteins and cell motility. Instructor: Phillips.

APh/BE 162. Physical Biology Laboratory. 9 units (0-6-3); second term. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in APh/BE 161. This laboratory course accompanies APh/BE 161 and is built around experiments that amplify material covered in that course. Particular topics include background on techniques from molecular biology, mechanics of lipid bilayer vesicles, DNA packing in viruses, fluorescence microscopy of cells, experiments on cell motility, and the construction of genetic networks. Instructor: Phillips.

APh/BE 165. Advanced Bioengineering Laboratory. 9 units (0-6-3); third term. Prerequisite: BE 201 or equivalent. Laboratory experiments at the interface of molecular biology and biophysics. Topics will vary from year to year and will be selected from the following list: use of atomic force microscopy to image and to manipulate proteins and DNA, use of fluorescent probes for single-molecule observation, physics of fluids in small devices, use of microfluidic devices for cell sorting and for stretching DNA, and application of optical tweezers to measure forces on single molecules. Not offered 2005–06.

EE/APh 180. Solid-State Devices. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

APh/EE 183 abc. Fundamentals of Electronic Devices. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Introduction to the fundamentals of modern electronic and optoelectronic devices. Topics include pn junctions, bipolar transistors, field-effect transistors, magnetic devices, light-emitting diodes, lasers, detectors, solar cells, chemical sensors, and MEMS. Emphasis will be placed on nanostructures and nanofabrication techniques. Where appropriate, integration and systems-level issues will be included. Instructor: McGill.

APh 190 abc. Quantum Electronics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: Ph 125 or equivalent. Generation, manipulations, propagation, and applications of coherent radiation. The basic theory of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with resonant atomic transitions. Laser oscillation, important laser media, Gaussian beam modes, the electro-optic effect, nonlinear-optics theory, second harmonic generation, parametric oscillation, stimulated Brillouin and Raman scattering. Other topics include light modulation, diffraction of light by sound, integrated optics, phase conjugate optics, and quantum noise theory. Instructor: Yariv.

APh 200. Applied Physics Research. Units in accordance with work accomplished. Offered to graduate students in applied physics for research or reading. Students should consult their advisers before registering. Graded pass/fail.

Ph/APh 223 abc. Advanced Condensed-Matter Physics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Physics.

APh 250. Advanced Topics in Applied Physics. Units and term to be arranged. Content will vary from year to year; topics are chosen according to interests of students and staff. Visiting faculty may present portions of this course. Instructor: Staff.

APh 300. Thesis Research in Applied Physics. Units in accordance with work accomplished. APh 300 is elected in place of APh 200 when the student has progressed to the point where his or her research leads directly toward a 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.