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Instruction offered by members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.
Note: For listings of related courses, see Astronomy, Astrophysics, Medical Physics and Space Physics.
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Graduate Courses
Only where appropriate to a student's program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599.
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Physics
603
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Experimental Methods of Physics
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Instrumentation for physical experiments. General philosophy of experimentation; signal processes; signal processing methods; instrument design and control; data acquisition and storage; specific detection methods.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
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Physics
605
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Advanced Data Analysis
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Methods of extraction of significant information from experimental data degraded by noise. Parametric and non-parametric statistical methods; curve fitting; spectral analysis; filtering, sampling, convolution and deconvolution techniques.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
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Physics
609
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Advanced Classical Mechanics
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Variational principles, Lagrange's equations, Noether's theorem. Hamilton's equations and canonical transformations. Hamilton-Jacobi theory, action-angle variables. Perturbation theory.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 343 or equivalent.
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Physics
611
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Statistical Physics
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Classical and quantum ensemble theory applied to interacting systems: real gases, spin lattices, phase transitions. Kinetic theory: Boltzmann equation, transport processes, irreversible processes and fluctuations.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 449 or equivalent.
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Physics
613
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Electrodynamics
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Interaction between charged particles and the electromagnetic field in relativistic formulation. Scattering and energy losses of charged particles. Radiation by charged particles.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 457 and 501 or equivalents.
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Physics
615
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Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
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Formalism of quantum mechanics. Entangled systems and their applications. Quantum nonlocality, Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, Bell theorem. Interpretations of quantum mechanics. Second quantization. Quantum theory of the electromagnetic field. Addition of angular momenta, Clebsch-Gordan coefficients, Wigner-Eckart theorem.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 543 or equivalent.
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Physics
617
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Advanced Quantum Mechanics II
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Relativistic quantum mechanics. Topics may include Feynman path integrals. Scattering theory. Charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. Approximation methods. Quantum field theory.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 543 or equivalent.
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Physics
619
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Statistical Physics II
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Topics Theories of equilibrium and non-equilibrium critical phenomena and methods to study fluctuating systems selected from the following list of topics: Percolation, scaling theory, phase transitions, Landau-Ginzburg theory, lattice models, Monte Carlo methods, renormalization group, self-organized criticality, theory of random graphs; Brownian motion, random walks and diffusion, Fokker-Planck-Equation, Markov processes, stochastic differential equations, first passage times.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Physics 611.Ìý
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 481 or its equivalent.
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Physics
621
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Non-linear Dynamics and Pattern Formation
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Topics: Introduction to pattern formation and self-organization in nature: Reaction-diffusion systems, hydrodynamical systems, bistable media, excitable and oscillatory media, stability analysis, bifurcations, pattern selection, amplitude equations and normal forms, fronts, traveling waves, topological defects, spiral waves, spatiotemporal chaos, defect-mediated turbulence, spatiotemporal point processes
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 451, 481 and 521 or equivalents.
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An introduction to Einstein's theory of gravitation. Applications to the solar system, black holes, and cosmology.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Notes:
It is expected that a student's background will include Physics 501 or equivalent.
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Physics
663
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Applications of Stable Isotopes
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Application of stable isotope techniques with special focus on Hydrogeology, Geology and Environmental Sciences. The use of isotopes to understand the water, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles is demonstrated. Topics include hydrology, paleoclimates, geothermometry, fossil fuels exploration and recovery, pollutant tracing, food webs, forensic investigations, among others.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(2-1)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
Also known as:
(Geology 663)
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Physics
671
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Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy
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Atomic structure and spectra. Rotational, vibrational and electronic spectra of diatomic molecules, including microwave, infrared, Raman and visible/ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques. Hund's coupling cases. Polyatomic molecular spectroscopy. Examples from astronomy and upper atmosphere/space physics.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
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Physics
673
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Quantum and Non-linear Optics
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Theory of dispersion. Fast and slow light. Basics of nonlinear optics. Nonlinear optical crystals, phase matching. Coherence theory. Preparation, manipulation and measurement of quantum optical states and single-photon qubits. Elements of atomic physics, optical Bloch equation, rotating-wave approximation. Two-and three-level systems. Cavity quantum electrodynamics.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
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Physics
675
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Special Topics in Laser and Optical Sciences
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Lectures by Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Engineering, and/or Medicine staff on current research topics in laser science and modern optical techniques.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Physics
677
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Implementations of Quantum Information
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Proposals and realizations of quantum information tasks including quantum computation, quantum communication, and quantum cryptography in optical, atomic, molecular, and solid state systems.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
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Physics
691
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Scientific Communication Skills
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Required, multi-component, program of courses for all graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy designed to assist students in improving their scientific oral and written communication skills. Each student must complete a minimum of three terms of Physics 691 during each graduate course, although the normal load is four terms, and additional terms may be required of students on an as-need basis. The components of Physics 691 are:
691.11. Effective Scientific Speaking for MSc Students
691.12. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students I
691.13. Effective Scientific Writing for MSc Students
691.14. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students II
691.16. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students III
691.18. Graduate Seminar for MSc Students IV
691.21. Effective Scientific Speaking for PhD Students
691.22. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students I
691.23. Effective Scientific Writing for PhD Students
691.24. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students II
691.26. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students III
691.28. Graduate Seminar for PhD Students IV
Effective Scientific Speaking courses provide instruction on preparing and presenting quality scientific oral presentations, including discussions of the aspects of quality presentations and exercises aimed at improving student speaking skills, and will be taken by graduate students in their first fall terms in program. Effective Scientific Writing courses provide students with instruction on preparing quality scientific papers, as well as exercises aimed at improving students' writing skills, and will be taken during students' second fall term in program. The Graduate Seminar courses will be run each winter, and provide all students enrolled in each course the opportunity to present one or two scientific talks, as well as to provide peer feedback to other students in the course. At the end of each Graduate Seminar term, the course instructor(s) will identify those students who have reached an acceptable level of scientific speaking competency and exempt these students from any further Physics 691 Graduate Seminar courses for their current degrees.
Course Hours:
1.5 units; Q(2S-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
NOT INCLUDED IN GPA
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Physics
697
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Topics in Contemporary Physics
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Topics will be from the research areas of staff members.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0) or H(0-6)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Physics
699
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Project in Physics
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Each student will select a project in consultation with a staff member. The project may be experimental or theoretical in nature. A written report and an oral presentation are required.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-9)
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Physics
701
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Independent Study
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Each student will select a topic of study in consultation with a staff member. The topic will be in the research area of the staff member. This course may not be used to meet the regular course requirements in the MSc and PhD programs.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-9)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Courses of Instruction