PHY Physics CoursesPHY100H1 In 1905 Einstein presented the first of a quartet of papers which revolutionized our
understanding of gravity. He commented: Hardly anyone who has truly understood this
theory will be able to resist being captivated by its magic. The general theory of
relativity is not the only physics theory which is magical, and Einstein was not
physics only magician. We uncover the magic of the classical and the quantum world
courtesy of Kepler, Newton, Maxwell, Einstein, Heisenberg and others. Topics include
planetary motion, chaos, the nature of light, Schrodingers cat, time travel, black
holes, and quarks. No mathematics is required, and any necessary elementary classical
physics is reviewed. PHY110Y1 Designed for students who do not intend to take more than one course in Physics, but
who wish to acquire a working knowledge of basic physics needed in other areas of science.
The course is offered at a level similar to OAC Physics. Students in other disciplines who
wish some exposure to the methods and excitement of modern physics should consider either PHY100H or JPU200Y. (See
"NOTE" after PHY100H giving description of
laboratory) PHY138Y1 This course is recommended strongly for students following a life science program. This
course introduces topics in physics relevant for life sciences. Mechanics; torque and
statics; work, power and energy; viscous forces; vibrations and waves; sound; optics;
electric and magnetic forces and fields; dielectric and conductors; nuclear medicine; dose
from radiation; nuclear physics. (See "NOTE" after PHY100H
giving description of laboratory) PHY140Y1 The first physics course in many of the Specialist and Major Programs in Physical
Sciences. It provides an introduction to the concepts, approaches and tools the physicist
uses to describe the physical world while laying the foundation for classical and modern
mechanics. Topics include: the motion of single particles and rigid, extended bodies
(Newtonian Mechanics); planetary motion, gravitational collapse; black holes: Special
Relativity and an introduction to elementary particle physics; the description of large
numbers, e.g., a gas of weakly interacting particles (Statistical Mechanics); the
breakdown of Newtonian mechanics in the microscopic world; introduction to Quantum
Mechanics, wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle. (See "NOTE"
after PHY100H giving description of laboratory) PHY225H1 The 2nd year Physics Laboratory. Topics including experimental techniques,
instrumentation, and data analysis are introduced through experiments, complementary
lectures, and library research of some of the great experiments of physics. PHY238Y1 Electromagnetism; biological effects of radiation; physical optics; macroscopic
phenomena; heat engines and metabolism. Examples are taken, where applicable, from the
life sciences. PHY251H1 Point charges; Coulombs inverse square law; electrostatic field and potential;
Gauss law; conductors; magnetostatistics; Amperes law; Biot-Savart law;
dielectric and magnetic materials; electrostatic and magnetostatic energy; Lorentz force;
time varying fields; Faradays law; Maxwells equations. PHY252H1 The quantum statistical basis of macroscopic systems; definition of entropy in terms of
the number of accessible states of a many particle system leading to simple expressions
for absolute temperature, the canonical distribution, and the laws of thermodynamics.
Specific effects of quantum statistics at high densities and low temperatures. PHY255H1 Complex notation; free, damped and forced vibrations; resonance; AC circuits; coupled
oscillators; normal modes; travelling waves; simple harmonic wave; wave equation; wave
impedance; transverse and longitudinal waves; flow of energy in waves; reflection and
transmission at interfaces; group and phase velocity; Fourier series and Fourier
transforms. PHY256H1 Failures of classical physics; Stern-Gerlach effect; harmonic oscillator; uncertainty
principle; interference packets; scattering and tunnelling in one-dimension. PHY299Y1 Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. See page 42 for details. PHY305H1 The laboratory functions as an integrated lecture course/laboratory program. PHY307H1 Problem solving using Mathematica; introductory exercises; the physical pendulum,
integration methods; the heat equation, finite difference methods; coupled spin systems,
Monte Carlo methods; visualization and the statistical analysis of experimental data. PHY308H1 The analysis of digital sequences; filters; the Fourier Transform; windows; truncation
effects; aliasing; auto and cross-correlation; stochastic processes, power spectra; least
squares filtering; application to real data series and experimental design. PHY309H1 Classic quantum mechanics problems are explored using Maple computer algebra and
graphics. These include bound state and scattering problems in 1D, angular momentum and
spin, commutator algebra, scattering in 3D abd time dependent processes. General
techniques for computer-aided problem solving are developed. PHY315H1 The role of radiation in the generation, maintenance and evolution of planetary
atmospheres and climate: Radiation laws, absorption and emission. Simple radiative
exchange processes and atmospheric models. Energy balance. Radiation and climatic change.
Comparative radiation studies in planetary atmospheres. Pollution and man-made effects. PHY325Y1/326H1 Experiments in this course are designed to form a bridge to current experimental
research. A wide range of experiments are available using contemporary techniques and
equipment. In addition to the standard set of experiments a limited number of research
projects are also available. The laboratory is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to
Friday. PHY341H1 Complex nature of the scientific method; inter-connection between theory, concepts and
experimental data; characteristics of premature pathalogical and pseudo-science; public
misunderstanding of scientific method; reasons for current anti-science mood; end of
Golden Era of Science; insufficiency of reductionism; trends in modern science. PHY342H1 Topics of current prominence in the physical sciences and mathematics are discussed.
Topics change each year as the sciences evolve. Appropriate topics might include:
high-temperature superconductivity, cosmology, chaos and non-linear dymanics. PHY346H1 Linear systems analysis; transport in biological systems; control of the oculomotor
system; electrical properties of nerves and membrane. Introduction to chaos in biological
systems. PHY351H1 Symmetry and conservation laws, stability and instability, generalized co-ordinates,
Hamiltons principle, Hamiltons equations, phase space, Liouvilles
theorem, canonical transformations, Poisson brackets, Noethers theorem. PHY352H1 Review of vector calculus, transformation properties of vectors, electrostatics, basic
formulae of magnetostatics, electromagnetic plane waves, special theory of relativity,
development of the equations of electrodynamics from the Einstein principle of relativity
and the laws of electrostatics. PHY353H1 Review of Maxwells equations; waves in free space; waves in dielectric and
conductive materials, skin effect; waves in dispersive media: polarization phenomena;
Fresnel equations; reflection and refraction from an interface; Brewster angle, total
internal reflection; interference, coherence effects; interferometers; Fraunhofer and
Fresnel diffraction; waveguides, optical fibres, radiation. PHY355H1 The general structure of wave mechanics; eigenfunctions and eigenvalues; operators;
orbital angular momentum; spherical harmonics; central potential; separation of variables;
hydrogen atom; Dirac notation; operator methods; harmonic oscillator and spin. PHY357H1 The subatomic particles; nuclei, baryons and mesons, quarks, leptons and bosons; the
structure of nuclei and hadronic matter; symmetries and conservation laws; fundamental
forces and interactions, electromagnetic, weak, and strong; a selection of other topics,
CP violation, nuclear models, standard model, proton decay, supergravity, nuclear and
particle astrophysics. This course is not a prerequisite for any PHY 400-level course. PHY358H1 Variational principle; fine and hyperfine structure of the hydrogen atom; the helium
atom; exchange terms; coupling schemes; Hunds rules; simple molecules; ortho and
para states; bonding and antibonding orbitals; rotation and vibration of molecules;
crystal binding; electron in a periodic potential; reciprocal lattice; Blochs
theorem; Kronig-Penney model and energy bands; metals, semiconductors and insulators;
Fermi surfaces; chemical potential. This course is not a prerequisite for any PHY
400-level course. PHY359H1 Designed for students interested in the physics of the Earth and the planets. Study of
the Earth as a unified dynamic system; determination of internal divisions in the planet;
development and evolution of the Earths large scale surface features (plate
tectonics, plate loading and flexure)age and thermal history of the planet; Earths
gravitational field and the concept of isostasy; mantel theology; geodetic measurement
techniques, in particular modern space-based techniques. PHY371Y1/372H1 An individual study program chosen by the student with the advice of, and under the
direction of, a staff member. A student may take advantage of this course either to
specialize further in a field of interest or to explore interdisciplinary fields not
available in the regular syllabus. PHY398H0/399Y0 An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. See page 42 for details. PHY406H1 The laboratory functions as an integrated lecture course/laboratory program. PHY407H1 Problem solving using Mathematica; introductory exercises; the physical pendulum,
integration methods; the heat equation, finite difference methods; coupled spin systems,
Monte Carlo methods; visualization and the statistical analysis of experimental data. PHY408H1 The analysis of digital sequences; filters; the Fourier Transform; windows; truncation
effects; aliasing; auto and cross-correlation; stochastic processes; power spectra; least
squares filtering; application to real data series and experimental design. PHY409H1 Classic quantum mechanics problems are explored using Maple computer algebra and
graphics. These include bound state and scattering problems in 1D, angular momentum and
spin, variational methods, scattering in 3D and time dependent processes. General
techniques for computer-aided problem solving are developed. PHY425Y1/426H1 Experiments in this course are designed to form a bridge to current experimental
research. A wide range of experiments are available using contemporary techniques and
equipment. In addition to the standard set of experiments and limited number of research
projects are also available. The laboratory is a continuation of PHY325Y and is open from 9:00am. - 5:00pm, Monday to
Friday. PHY445H1 The mathematical, physical and engineering basis for medical imaging is introduced by
combining the mathematical description of linear systems with the physics of imaging
systems utilizing x-rays, gamma-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance techniques. Three
student labs are held in the imaging research laboratories at Sunnybrook Hospital.
Students not in a physics specialist program should consult the coordinator about the
recommended background. PHY457H1 Quantum dynamics in Heisenberg and Schrodinger Pictures; Coherent States, Electron in a
Magnetic Field; Symmetries in Quantum Mechanics; WKB Approximation, Rayleigh-Schrödinger
and Brillouin-Wigner Perturbation Theory; Time Dependent Perturbation Theory, Fermis
Golden Rule; Absorption and Emission of Light from Atoms; Variational Techniques;
Scattering Theory, Greens Functions, Lippman-Schwinger Equation, Partial Wave
Analysis. PHY459H1 Thermal equilibrium and temperature; entropy; phase transitions; third law; chemical
rotation; Navier-Stokes equation; static and dynamic equilibria; sound waves; static
stability and internal gravity; waves; vorticity and turbulence. PHY460H1 Nonlinear oscillator; nonlinear differential equations and fixed point analysis;
stability and bifurcation; Fourier spectrum; Poincare sections; attractors and aperiodic
attractors; KAM theorem; logistic maps and chaos; characterization of chaotic attractors;
Benard-Rayleigh convection; Lorenz system. PHY471Y1/472H1 These self-study courses are similar to PHY371Y/372H, at a higher level. PHY478H1/479Y1 An introduction to research in Physics. For further information contact the Associate
Chair, Undergraduate Studies. PHY480H1 Topics include: classical and quantum statistical mechanics of noninteracting systems; the statistical basis of thermodynamics, ensembles, partition function, thermodynamic equilibrium, stability and fluctuations, formulation of quantum statistics, theory of simple gases, ideal bose and fermi systems. PHY482H1 Topics include: the origin and implications of symmetry in physics; the basic language of group theory; discrete groups and matrix groups; groups of physical transformations; the representation of groups; tensor operators and the Wigner-Eckart theorem; Lie groups. Applications to some of the following: crystal symmetries; electronic bands in crystals; vibrations of molecules; SU(2) and SU(3) in particle and nuclear physics. PHY483H1 Basis to Einsteins theory: differential geometry, tensor analysis, gravitational physics leading to General Relativity. Theory starting from solutions of Fchwarzchild, Kerr, etc. PHY484H1 Applications of General Relativity to Astrophysics and Cosmology. Introduction to black holes, large scale structure of the universe. PHY485H1 Lasers, and the interaction of light with matter. In addition to the semiclassical
theory of the laser, linear and nonlinear optical elements ranging from optical resonators
to acousto-optic modulators, along with a survey of laser types and their applications are
discussed. A number of modern topics from quantum optics, including laser cooling,
squeezed light and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen effect are also considered. PHY486H1 Introduction to quantum electrodynamics, quantization of the electromagnetic field;
semiclassical picture of atom-radiation field interaction, Einstein coefficients, laser
theory from the Einstein rate equations; resonance interaction of light with two-level
atoms, optical solution propagation, coherent and squeezed states of light, quantum theory
of atom-radiation field interactions, radiative decay and the lamb shift, photonic band
gap materials and quantum theory of the laser. PHY487H1 Introduction to the concepts used in the modern treatment of solids. The student is assumed to be familiar with elementary quantum mechanics. Topics include: crystal structure, the reciprocal lattice, crystal binding, the free electron model, electrons in periodic potential, lattice vibrations, electrons and holes, semiconductors, metals. PHY488H1 Introduction to quantum field theory and elementary particle physics. Topics include: canonical quantization, symmetries and conservation laws, S-matrix expansion, Feynman diagrams, Dirac equation, gauge invariance, quantum electrodynamics and, if time permits, an introduction to nonabelian gauge theories and weak interactions. PHY489H1 This course surveys the experimental basis and theoretical framework of the
Standard Model of Particle Physics and its possible extensions. Topics include
the standard electroweak model, scattering and parton distributions, strong interactions
and quantum chromodynamics. PHY491H1 Review of conventional, textbook quantum mechanics. Formal measurement theory and wave
function collapse; quantum states and nonseparability, violation of local casuality, Bell
theorems, quantum tricks, decoherence and the emergence of classical
behaviour. Hidden variables, deBroglie-Bohm theory and generalizations; many-worlds
interpretation and other theories of beables. Consistent histories approach of
Omnes and Gell-Mann and Hartle; nature of True and Reliable
statements. PHY493H1 This course covers wavefield and ray approximation methods for imaging the interior of the Earth using seismology. PHY494H1 How to investigate Earth structure at depths ranging from meters to tens of kilometers using gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic and nuclear geophysical methods. Current methodologies and the theoretical basis for them are presented. PHY495H1 This course deals with the numerical analysis of data associated with space geodesy,
earthquake seismology, geomagnetism and palaeomagnetism, isotope geochronology, as well as
numerical simulations of a wide variety of geodynamic processes (e.g. mantle convection,
post-glacial rebound, Earth tides). PHY496H1 A laboratory course (with introductory lectures) dealing with physical methods for
exploring Earth structure; i.e., seismic, gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic,
and nuclear methods. It is designed to give hands on experience with the
techniques of geophysical data analysis as well as data acquisition. PHY497H1 Topics include: the equations of classical hydrodynamics: conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; Bernoullis theorem; Ertels theorem; nondimensional analysis, dynamics of stratifield flow: static stability; convection; shear flow instability and the Miles-Howard theorem; internal gravity waves; gravity wave drag and Eliassen-Palm theorem; introduction to dynamics of rotating, stratified flow and baroclinic instability. PHY498H1 Topics include: thermodynamics of water substances in the atmosphere; nucleation of liquid water in water vapour and condensation nuclei; nucleation of the ice phase and ice nuclei; growth of cloud droplets and ice particles; initiation of precipitation particles; precipitation processes; role of clouds in atmospheric circulations; effects of latent heat release in PV distribution; concept of CISK; examples of CISK driven systems. PHY499H1 Topics include: review of radiation; satellite orbits; scanning geometries; visible, microwave, and infra-red techniques; remote sounding; the inverse problem; discussions of selected satellite missions. |
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