Professors Townsend (Chair), Chen, Donnelly, Eckert, Edwards, Esin, Haskell, Lynn, Lyzenga, Saeta, Sahakian and Sparks.

The physics program at Harvey Mudd College provides depth and breadth in both classical and modern physics through lecture-discussion courses, laboratories and joint student-faculty research. The program is designed to serve as a strong foundation for graduate work or employment in physics and other technical fields.

A set of core courses is required of all physics majors; in addition, a variety of elective courses enables students to select a program to suit their interests and their educational and employment objectives. Laboratory courses in both introductory and advanced physics include experience with electronics, classical and modern optics, solid-state physics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Special courses and reading courses provide the opportunity for study in advanced areas normally offered only in graduate programs.

Each student is encouraged to do individual experimental or theoretical research in an area of his/her special interest, in conjunction with a faculty member. Current student-faculty research areas include observational astronomy, astrophysics, biophysics, computational physics, field theory, general relativity and cosmology, geophysics, laser and atomic spectroscopy, magnetism, particle physics, quantum optics, quantum theory and solid-state physics. In some of the optional programs, physics majors may elect to do research in biology or chemistry or participate in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Physics Clinic team projects.

A physics major must satisfactorily complete the following courses: Physics 52, 54, 111, 116, 133, 134, 151, 195 (taken twice), 196 (taken twice), Mathematics 115 or 180. In addition, a physics major must satisfactorily complete the courses in one of the sets listed below. The first set constitutes the standard program in physics, but majors with a particular interest in one of the physics-related fields may substitute that set of courses for the standard program. A final oral and written report of completed research, Clinic or independent project work is required for all physics majors. The Physics 195/196 Colloquium requirement is waived for any semester during which a student is away on a study abroad program.

STANDARD PROGRAM
Two half-courses; Physics 117, 181; and at least 3 units of Physics 191–192.

OPTIONAL PROGRAMS
Applied Physics: Physics 117; two physics half-courses; Physics 181; and 3 units of Physics 191-192 or an approved Clinic.

Astrophysics: Astronomy 62; Physics 117; Physics 181 or Astronomy 101; two astronomy or physics half-courses; and at least 3 units of Physics 191–192.

Biophysics: Physics 174; Physics 181 or an approved biology laboratory; three of the following—two approved biology courses, Physics 117, Chemistry 56; and at least 3 units of Physics 191-192 or Biology 161-162.

Chemical Physics: Chemistry 51; Physics 117; Physics 161; Chemistry 168; Physics 181 or an approved chemistry laboratory; and at least 3 units of Physics 191–192 or Chemistry 151–152.

Education: Education 170G at Claremont Graduate University, to be taken in the junior year or earlier; 3 units of Physics 183–184; and 9 units of approved technical electives to add breadth. Recommended courses include Astronomy 62; Physics 166; Physics 170 or Computer Science 60; Biology 108; and Chemistry 51 or 103.

Geophysics: Physics 154 or 117; 166; 181; and at least 3 units of Physics 191–192 and one approved geology course.

Mathematical Physics: One physics half-course; Physics 117 or Physics 154, two additional courses, to be chosen from Physics 117, Physics 154, and mathematics courses numbered 100 or higher that are not included in the physics major requirements; and at least 3 units of Physics 191–192 or Mathematics 197 or an approved Clinic. Note: Physics 170 can be substituted for Physics 133 in this option provided Physics 170 is not used to meet the physics half-course requirement.

Physics and Computers: Physics 117 or two physics half-courses; Physics 170; Computer Science 60; at least 3 units of Physics 191–192 or an approved Clinic; two electives chosen from Mathematics 165, Engineering 157, or any computer science course numbered 70 or higher. Students planning a career or graduate studies in computer applications to problems in physics or engineering would particularly benefit from Physics 117 and Mathematics 165. Students planning graduate studies in computer science should take Computer Science 105 and additional computer science courses as time permits.

Changes in any of the above programs may be made by petition to the Department of Physics.

Most physics majors go on to graduate work in physics; allied fields such as astronomy, biophysics, geophysics, oceanography and optics; or applied areas such as computer science, electronics or engineering. Others undertake advanced study in medicine or law, or seek immediate employment in a variety of technical fields. Students who intend to go on to graduate study are advised to include Physics 154 and either Physics 161 or 168 in their program.

PHYSICS COURSES (Credit hours follow course title)

23. Special Relativity and an Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (2)
Townsend, staff. Time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, spacetime, relativistic momentum and energy; the wave and particle nature of light, the principles of quantum mechanics as seen in the sum-over-paths approach to the subject. (Fall)

24. Mechanics and Wave Motion (3)
Staff. Kinematics, dynamics, linear and angular momentum, work and energy, harmonic
motion, waves and sound. (Spring)

28. Physics Laboratory (1)
Staff. Experiments in mechanics using digital electronic measuring devices. Corequisite with Physics 24. (Spring)

51. Electromagnetic Theory and Optics (3)
Donnelly, Esin, Sparks, staff. An introduction to electricity and magnetism leading to Maxwell’s electromagnetic equations in differential and integral form. Selected topics in physical optics. Prerequisites: Physics 23–24 and Mathematics 14. (Fall)

52. Quantum Physics (3)
Staff. The development and formulation of quantum mechanics, and the application of quantum mechanics to topics in atomic, solid state, nuclear and particle physics. Prerequisites: Physics 51; Mathematics 63 and 64 or concurrently. (Spring)

53. Electricity and Optics Laboratory (1)
Lynn, staff. Electrical and magnetic techniques in such measurements as an absolute determination of electric current and the earth’s magnetic field; RC and RLC circuits; experiments in physical optics, including image formation, Fraunhofer diffraction and spectroscopy. Prerequisite: Physics 51 or concurrently. (Fall)

54. Modern Physics Laboratory (1)
Staff. Classical experiments of modern physics, including thermal radiation and Rutherford scattering. Nuclear physics experiments, including alpha, beta and gamma absorption, and gamma spectra by pulse height analysis. Analysis of the buildup and decay of radioactive nuclei. Prerequisites: Physics 53, Physics 52 or concurrently. (Spring)

80. Topics in Physics (3)
Saeta, staff. An area of physics is studied, together with its applications and social impact. Possible areas include energy and the environment, and global warming and climate change. Active participation and group activities are stressed. Prerequisite: Physics 51. (Spring)

111. Theoretical Mechanics (3)
Saeta. The application of mathematical methods to the study of particles and of systems of particles; Newton, Lagrange and Hamilton equations of motion; conservation theorems; central force motion, collisions, damped oscillators, rigid body dynamics, systems with constraints, variational methods. Prerequisites: Physics 23–24 and Mathematics 12, 13 and 14. (Fall)

116. Quantum Mechanics (3)
Townsend. The elements of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Topics include the general
formalism, one-dimensional and three-dimensional problems, angular momentum states, perturbation theory and identical particles. Applications to atomic and nuclear systems. Prerequisites: Physics 52. (Spring)

117. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics (3)
Lyzenga. Classical and quantum statistical mechanics, including their connection with thermodynamics. Kinetic theory of gases. Applications of these concepts to various physical systems. Prerequisites: Physics 52 and Mathematics 62. (Fall)

133. Electronics Laboratory (1)
Chen, Sparks. An intermediate laboratory in electronics involving the construction and analysis of rectifiers, filters, transistor and operational amplifier circuits. Prerequisite: Physics 53. (Fall)

134. Optics Laboratory (2)
Haskell, staff. A laboratory-lecture course on the techniques and theory of classical and modern optics. Topics of study include diffraction, interferometry, Fourier transform spectroscopy, grating spectroscopy, lasers, coherence of waves and least-squares fitting of data. Prerequisites: Physics 51, 53. (Spring)