Computational
Physics Concentration
Phys
254, Fundamentals of Scientific Computing [ 3 credit
hours]
Prerequisite: One semester of calculus and one semester of introductory physics (PHYS 151, 231, 142E, or 201) or permission of instructor.
Applications of computers to solving basic problems in physical science. Introduction to programming, use of external libraries, and implementation of basic algorithms with focus on numerical methods, error analysis and data fitting. No previous computer experience is required.
Although the course may be taken at any time, it will be most valuable taken in the spring of the first year as preparation for use in subsequent courses. The methods for error analysis and data fitting are particularly helpful in the introductory and upper-level laboratory courses.
PHYS 254 is strongly recommended for all physics majors and should be suitable for other science students. It is part of the requirements for the BA Distinguished Major program in physics and the BS in Physics. PHYS 254 will also serve as the first course in a concentration in computational physics provided by two other courses PHYS 553, 554 Computational Physics I, II.
Prerequisite: PHYS 254. Pre- or Corequisite: PHYS 321 and PHYS 355, or permission of instructor
A review of computational methods for differentiation, integration, interpolation, finding zeroes, extrema, etc. proceeding to a concentration on numerical solutions of differential equations, basic spectral analysis, numerical methods for matrices and Monte Carlo simulation applied to problems in classical and modern physics.
Prerequisite: PHYS 553, or permission of instructor
Advanced topics in computational physics including numerical methods for partial differential equations, Monte Carlo modeling, advanced methods for linear systems, and special topics in computational physics.
PHYS 553 and PHYS 554 are designed for upper-level physics majors
and physics graduate students and for other upper-level undergraduates and
graduate students with an appropriate background in physics and computing.
Following PHYS 254 or other appropriate preparation in basic scientific
computing, PHYS 553 will cover computational techniques and numerical methods
widely used in physics. PHYS 554 covers more advanced topics. Together these
courses constitute a concentration in computational physics that can be further
enhanced by the addition of a PHYS 393 Independent Study project with an
emphasis on computational techniques.
Concentration
in Optics
Four courses provide extensive coverage of topics in optics. The concentration can be further enhanced by choosing a PHYS 393 Independent Study project in an optics related area supervised by one of the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics group faculty members. This course sequence was created in recognition of the critical importance of this field in science and technology and the growing demand for scientists with basic knowledge and skills in this field.
PHYS 531 Optics [3 credit hours]
Prerequisite: PHYS 232, 241E, 251 or equivalent college-level electromagnetism course. Includes reflection and refraction at interfaces, geometrical optics, interference phenomena, diffraction, Gaussian optics, and polarization.
PHYS 532 Fundamentals of Photonics [3 credit hours]
Prerequisite: PHYS 531 or permission of instructor.
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the physics that underlies technologies such as lasers, optical time/frequency standards, laser gyros,
and optical telecommunication. Covers the basic physics of lasers and laser beams, nonlinear optics, optical fibers, modulators and optical signal processing, detectors and measurement systems, and optical networks.
PHYS 533 Optics Laboratory [2 credit hours]
Corequisite: PHYS 531 or permission of instructor.
Experiments include ray optics, aberrations, Hanbury Brown Twiss experiment, diffraction gratings and atomic spectroscopy. Michelson interferometer and coherence, diffraction, polarization and interference. One four-hour lab per week.
PHYS 534 Photonics Laboratory [2 credit hours]
Corequisite: PHYS 532 or permission of instructor.
Experimental topics include lasers, laser beams, diode lasers, frequency modulation, acousto-optic modulation, electrooptic modulation, and second
harmonic generation. One
our-hour lab per week.
Questions? Need more information? Please see one of the
undergraduate major advisors:
Bascom S. Deaver, Jr. 311C Physics 924-6574 bsd@virginia.edu
Olivier Pfister 135 Physics 924-7956 op6n@virginia.edu
Dinko Pocanic 163 Physics 924-7691 dp5m@virginia.edu
John Ruvalds 151 Physics 924-6796 jr7k@virginia.edu
Stephen E. Schnatterly 303 Physics 924-6798 ses5u@virginia.edu