Physics and Astronomy (PHYS)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
PHYS 501. Independent Study1-3 Units
Description: Independent research conducted with the approval and supervision of a faculty member.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 502. Independent Study1-3 Units
Description: Independent research conducted with the approval and supervision of a faculty member.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 507. Solar System Astronomy3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 300; MATH 206 or ENGR 102.
Description: This is an advanced course in solar system astrophysics, and will cover orbital mechanics, the nature of light, astronomical instrumentation, solar physics, planetary atmospheres/geophysics, comets/asteroids, interplanetary dust and exo-planets.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 517. Physics of Climate3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Odd Years
Prerequisite(s): MATH 206 or ENGR 102 (or equivalent) or permission of instructor.
Description: Introduction to the physics of Earth's climate system, including the energy budget of the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere, shortwave and longwave radiation, the effects of clouds and aerosols, and models of the greenhouse effect, climate sensitivity, atmosphere-ocean feedbacks, and climate change.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 518. Space Weather3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Even Years
Prerequisite(s): MATH 206 or ENGR 102 (or equivalent), or permission of instructor.
Description: This course provides a comprehensive overview of the physics and effects of space weather. Space weather refers to conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems, and affect human life or health.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 520. Vibrations and Sound3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 298, PHYS 299 and MATH 206.
Description: Vibrating bodies, propagation of sound waves, physical acoustics, and ultrasonics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 530. Thermal Physics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 299; MATH 301 or ENGR 201.
Description: The laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic reasoning, and elements of statistical mechanics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 531. Introductory Statistical Physics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 530.
Description: Elementary probability theory applied to the understanding of properties of macroscopic matter in terms of their microscopic constituents. Kinetic theory of gases, transport phenomena. Equations of state derived from ensemble theory.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 541. Electromagnetic Fields3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 300; PHYS 350 or MATH 405 or ENGR 205; MATH 301 or ENGR 201.
Description: Electrostatic and magnetostatic fields in free space and in material media, solutions of Poisson's equation, time dependent fields, Maxwell's equations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 542. Electromagnetic Radiation3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 541.
Description: Poisson's equation and LaPlace's Equation, propagation of electromagnetic fields with applications to optics and microwave physics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 545. Advanced Optics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 355 and PHYS 542; or consent of instructor.
Description: Topics in optical physics including optical system design, lasers, and quantum optics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 546. Advanced Optics Lab1 Unit
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 355 or equivalent.
Fee: An additional $25.00 is charged for this course.
Description: Laboratory experiments illustrating fundamental optical phenomena, the interaction of light and matter, lasers, and quantum optics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 547. Fundamentals of Lasers3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 355; and PHYS 542 or ECE 473; or consent of instructor.
Description: Topics to be discussed include interaction of light with matter, optical amplifiers, laser resonators, Gaussian and higher order optical beams, non-linear optics, and ultra-fast laser pulses.
Note: Cross-listed with ECE 540.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 555. Elementary Quantum Mechanics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 300; PHYS 350 or MATH 405 or ENGR 205; PHYS 460.
Description: General concepts of quantum mechanics. Schrodinger equation and solutions in one, two and three-dimensions, hydrogen atom, and orbital angular momentum.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 556. Quantum Theory of Matter3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 555.
Description: Spin and general angular momentum, perturbation theory, variational principle, applications, identical particles, and scattering.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 561. Mathematical Physics I3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 350 or MATH 405 or ENGR 205.
Description: Selected mathematical techniques and their applications to various fields of physics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 562. Mathematical Physics II3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 350 or MATH 405 or ENGR 205.
Description: Selected mathematical techniques and their applications to various fields of physics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 563. Fluid Dynamics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Odd Years
Prerequisite(s): MATH 301 or ENGR 201 (or equivalent), or permission of instructor.
Description: An introduction to nonlinear fluid dynamics, covering kinematics (strain, rotation, transport), nonlinear conservation laws (mass, momentum, energy; dimensions forms), vorticity dynamics, viscous flows, boundary layers, shear instability, and turbulence. Concepts are illustrated with applications drawn from aerodynamics (lift and drag on airfoils, propulsion of fish and birds), biofluids (flow in blood vessels), compressible flow (shock waves), geophysical fluid dynamics (waves, shear instability), and turbulence (energy cascades, modeling strategies).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 565. Advanced Computational and Numerical Methods in Physics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 350 or PHYS 561.
Fee: An additional $25.00 is charged for this course.
Description: Modern computational and numerical methods in physics with application to problems in different branches of physics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 570. Atomic and Molecular Physics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 541 and PHYS 555; or consent of instructor.
Description: The structure of atoms and diatomic molecules, the production of coherent radiation and its interaction with matter.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 575. Solid State Physics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 541 and PHYS 555, or consent of instructor.
Description: Crystal structure, elastic waves, lattice dynamics, phonons, band theory of solids and conductivity phenomena.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 580. Nuclear Physics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 541 and PHYS 555; or consent of instructor.
Description: Phenomenological study of nuclear properties. Nuclear structure and reactions, radioactive decay, interaction of charged particles with matter.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 585. Elementary Particle Physics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Even Years
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 541 and PHYS 555, or consent of instructor.
Description: Properties of elementary particles. Detectors and accelerators. Weak and electromagnetic interactions. Quark model of hadrons, strong interactions.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 589. General Relativity3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Even Years
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 460; MATH 301 or ENGR 201.
Description: Review of classical gravitation and special relativity, Riemannian geometry, Einstein field equations, exact solutions, tests of the theory, gravitational collapse and black holes, gravitational waves, cosmology.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 590. Astrophysics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 307; PHYS 350 or MATH 405 or ENGR 205 (or equivalent).
Description: Physics applied to the interstellar medium; the atmospheres, structure, and evolution of stars; galaxies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 595. Special Topics1-3 Units
Description: Introduction to an advanced topic or elaboration of an intermediate topic not treated comprehensively in a regular course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 601. Quantum Mechanics Laboratory3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 621 or PHYS 555 (may be taken concurrently).
Fee: An additional $25.00 is charged for this course.
Description: Laboratory exercises demonstrating the principles of Quantum Mechanics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 605. Theoretical Mechanics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 460 and PHYS 561, or consent of instructor.
Description: Analytical dynamics of systems of particles and rigid bodies. Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations, special relativity, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory and action-angle variables.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 611. Electromagnetic Theory I3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 542 and PHYS 561, and consent of instructor.
Description: Microscopic and macroscopic Maxwell's equations; the energy-momentum tensor; multipole radiation; radiation from accelerated charges; scattering and dispersion; and covariant formulation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 612. Electromagnetic Theory II3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 542 and PHYS 561, and consent of instructor.
Description: Microscopic and macroscopic Maxwell's equations; the energy-momentum tensor; multipole radiation; radiation from accelerated charges; scattering and dispersion; and covariant formulation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 621. Quantum Mechanics I3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 556 and PHYS 605, and consent of instructor.
Description: Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Hilbert space formalism, Schrodinger and Heisenberg representations, angular momentum theory, perturbation theory, scattering theory. Systems of identical particles and symmetries. Applications.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 622. Quantum Mechanics II3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 556 and PHYS 605, and consent of instructor.
Description: Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Hilbert space formalism, Schrodinger and Heisenberg representations, angular momentum theory, perturbation theory, scattering theory. Systems of identical particles and symmetries. Applications.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 625. Statistical Mechanics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 530 and PHYS 555, and consent of instructor.
Description: Application of ensemble or information theory to derivation of the laws of thermodynamics for classical or quantum systems. Properties of perfect and imperfect gases, magnetic phenomena, fluctuation phenomena, and the Onsager equations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 640. Solid State Physics I3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 575, and concurrent registration in Quantum Mechanics, and consent of instructor.
Description: Quantum mechanical foundation of the theory of solids, the many-body problem, the band approximation, and other approximate methods. Electron-photon interaction, theory of superconductivity, electronic transport processes.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 641. Solid State Physics II3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 575, and concurrent registration in Quantum Mechanics, and consent of instructor.
Description: Quantum mechanical foundation of the theory of solids, the many-body problem, the band approximation, and other approximate methods. Electron-photon interaction, theory of superconductivity, electronic transport processes.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 650. Research Methods in Physics & Astronomy3 Units
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Fee: An additional $25.00 is charged for this course.
Description: A survey of research methodologies. Topics may include modeling and simulation, experimental, theoretical, and computational techniques used in any branch of Physics and Astronomy, particle detector technologies, advanced handling of data statistics, data mining, laboratory safety, and research ethics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 670. Special Topics1-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): Concurrent or previous registration in PHYS 605, PHYS 611, or PHYS 621; and consent of instructor.
Description: One or more advanced topics not treated comprehensively in the regular courses.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 690. Independent Study1-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Description: Advanced study conducted under the direction of a faculty member.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 695. Research Seminar1-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Description: Regular but informal meetings of faculty members and graduate students active in an area of research to discuss problems of mutual interest, and to review the current literature.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHYS 699. Research1-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
