Physics and Astronomy

Subject abbreviation: PHYS College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Shan-Wen Tsai, Ph.D., Chair Department Office, 3047 Physics

• (951) 827-5331; physics.ucr.edu

Professors

Vivek Aji, Ph.D. Barry Barish, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Kenneth N. Barish, Ph.D. Ward Beyermann, Ph.D. E. Gabriela Canalizo, Ph.D. John A. Ellison, Ph.D. Nathaniel Gabor, Ph.D. J. William Gary, Ph.D. Owen Long, Ph.D. Allen P. Mills, Ph.D. Bahram Mobasher, Ph.D Distinguished

Professor Umar Mohideen, Ph.D. Distinguished

Professor Leonid P. Pryadko, Ph.D. Naveen Reddy, Ph.D. Richard K. Seto, Ph.D. Jing Shi, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Kirill Shtengel, Ph.D. Harry W.K. Tom, Ph.D. Shan-Wen Tsai, Ph.D. Hai-Bo Yu, Ph.D. Roya Zandi, Ph.D.

Professors Emeriti

Robert B. Clare, Ph.D. Frederick W. Cummings, Ph.D. Bipin R. Desai, Ph.D. Sun-Yiu Fung, Ph.D. Frederick Hamann, Ph.D. Gail G. Hanson, Ph.D. Distinguished

Professor Peter E. Kaus, Ph.D. Nai-Li H. Liu, Ph.D. Ernest S. Ma, Ph.D. Donald C. McCollum, Ph.D. John C. Nickel, Ph.D. Douglas E. MacLaughlin, Ph.D. Raymond L. Orbach, Ph.D. Eugen S. Simanek, Ph.D. Chandra M. Varma, Ph.D. Jose Wudka, Ph.D. Jory A. Yarmoff, Ph.D. Allen D. Zych, Ph.D.

Associate Professors

Michael G. Anderson, Ph.D. Igor Barsukov, Ph.D. George Becker, Ph.D. Yanou Cui, Ph.D. Yongtao Cui, Ph.D. Anson D’Aloisio, Ph.D. Joshua Lui, Ph.D. Michael Mulligan, Ph.D. Laura Sales, Ph.D. Brian Siana, Ph.D. Flip Tanedo, Ph.D. Peng Wei, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

Simeon Bird, Ph.D. Steve Choi, Ph.D. Boerge Hemmerling, Ph.D. Andrew Joe, Ph.D. Thomas Kuhlman, Ph.D. Miguel Arratia Munoz, Ph.D. Jon Richardson, Ph.D. Shawn Westerdale, Ph.D.

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The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers two undergraduate degrees: the B.A. and B.S. in Physics.

The B.S. program is designed for students with a strong interest in the sciences or engineering who wish to emphasize this aspect of their education and training. The B.S. degree provides a strong background for students who wish to continue on to graduate school.

The B.A. program follows the liberal arts tradition with a broader coverage of the humanities and social sciences. It is selected often by students who intend to obtain a teaching credential with a specialty in science or to pursue a career combining business management opportunities with a knowledge in science and technology.

The extensive course offerings and modern facilities within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, coupled with close, personal counseling by faculty advisors, provide students with a physics program that is characterized by its breadth and flexibility.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Physics generally begin their careers in government or industry. Professions include research and development, system modeling and analysis, and sales in a large variety of fields. A Physics degree provides one of the most flexible qualifications with direct applications to materials science, advanced electronics, lasers and microwave devices, computing and communications.

The federal government and national laboratories employ many physicists as do industries in medical and scientific instruments, computers, audio and telecommunications equipment, financial analysis and investments, material science, and engineering.

The bachelor’s degree programs in the UCR Department of Physics and Astronomy are well suited for continued education in graduate school and for preparation in technical and professional careers. Colleges or universities, national laboratories, industry, and governmental agencies employ students with graduate training.

Students transferring to the Physics major must complete courses comparable to the following one-year sequences before they transfer:

• 1. General physics (calculus-based) equiva

lent to PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C

• 2. First-year calculus, equivalent to MATH 007A or MATH 009A, MATH 007B or MATH 009B, MATH 009C

Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.70 in transferable college courses. UCR has articulation agreements with most of the California community colleges. These agreements list specific community college courses that have been designated as comparable to UCR courses (see the statewide articulation Web site at www.assist.org). Transfer students will usually find it advantageous to complete most or all sequences before starting at UCR. All prospective transfers should try to complete the sequences they begin rather than divide a sequence between two campuses.

See Undergraduate Studies section.

See College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.

Some of the following requirements for the major may also fulfill some of the college’s breadth requirements. Consult with a department advisor for course planning.

The major requirements consist of a core curriculum and additional requirements for various B.S. degrees. The core requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees in Physics are as follows:

• 1. Lower-division requirements (70 units)

• a) one of the following sequences: PHYS 041A, PHYS 041B, PHYS 041C, or PHYS 040A or PHYS 40HA, PHYS 040B or PHYS 40HB, PHYS 040C or PHYS 40HC, PHYS 040D, PHYS 040E. The first sequence is

preferred for the B.S. in Physics.

• b) PHYS 039

• c) MATH 007A or MATH 009A or MATH 09HA, MATH 007B or MATH 009B or

MATH 09HB, MATH 009C, MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046

• d) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C,

CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC

• e) CS 010A or CS 009P. A higher-level CS

course may satisfy this CS requirement with approval.

• 2. Upper-division requirements

(41 to 42 units)

• a) PHYS 130A, PHYS 130B, PHYS 132, PHYS 135A, PHYS 135B, PHYS 156A, PHYS 156B

• b) PHYS 139L (5 units), PHYS 142L (4

units) or PHYS 142W (5 units). Note that PHYS 142W satisfies the ENGL 001C requirement.

• c) 4 units of upper-division Physics elec

tives. Upper-division math, science or engineering may be substituted with approval.

Physics: Standard Track (B.S. degree)

• 1. Additional upper-division requirements

(16 to 17 units)

• a) PHYS 136

• b) One of the following: one addition

al quarter of PHYS 142L (4 units) or PHYS 142W (5 units); at least 4 units of Senior Thesis (PHYS 195A, PHYS 195B, PHYS 195C, PHYS 195D); at least 4 units of Internship in Physics (PHYS 198I); participation in an approved summer research program, such as a NSF REU, and an additional 4 units of upper-division physics elective.

• c) 8 additional units of upper-division

Physics electives. PHYS 156C is highly recommended for those planning to go to graduate school in physics.

Physics: Biophysics Track (B.S. degree)

• 1. Additional lower-division requirements

(25 units)

• a) BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C, BIOL 05LA or BIOL 020.

• b) CHEM 008A, or CHEM 08HA, CHEM 008B

or CHEM 08HB, CHEM 008C or CHEM 08HC, CHEM 08LA or CHEM 08HLA, CHEM 08LB or CHEM 08HLB, CHEM 08LC or CHEM 08HLC

• 2. Additional upper-division requirements

(8 units)

• a) 8 additional upper-division units taken

from BCH 110A, BCH 110B, BCH 110C or BIOL 107A (other upper-division CHEM/ BIOL/BCH may be substituted upon approval)

Physics Education Track (B.S. degree)

• 1. Additional lower-division requirements

(6 units)

• a) EDUC 003, EDUC 004

• 2. Additional upper-division requirements

(8 units)

• a) Choose two courses from the following

list: EDUC 105 (highly recommended), EDUC 147, EDUC 162, EDUC 132, EDUC 177, EDUC 179A

Physics: Applied Physics and Engineering Track (B.S degree)

• 1. 16 additional units of approved Engineer

ing electives including a minimum of 8 units at the upper-division level. A list of approved CS, EE, ME, CEE, CHE, and BIEN courses is available upon request from your physics faculty academic advisor or your advisor in the CNAS Advising Center. Example course plans caN be found in the department web pages. Physics: Astrophysics Track (B.S degree)

• 1. Additional upper-division requirements

(20 units)

• a) PHYS 136, PHYS 111, PHYS 112, PHYS 166, PHYS 140L (PHYS 111, PHYS 112, or

PHYS 166 can also satisfy the 4 units of upper-division core requirements in 2c. above.

Students continuing on to graduate school are encouraged to take additional upper-division courses in Mathematics, such as MATH 146A, MATH 146B, MATH 146C, MATH 165A, MATH 165B, and MATH 131.

Students may wish to earn a Minor in Mathematics which requires an additional 24 units of upper-division math.

To graduate, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C) is necessary overall and in the upper-division courses taken for the major (including upper-division courses listed under each track).

Bachelor of Arts For the B.A. degree, additional units are required in Humanities, Social Sciences, and foreign language to meet the breadth requirements.

The minor in Physics consists of 26 upper-division units in Physics. A minimum of 16 units must be unique to the minor and may not be used to satisfy major requirements.

• 1. First Tier (16 units)

• a) PHYS 130A

• b) PHYS 132

• c) PHYS 135A

• d) One Upper Division Physics elective

from PHYS 111, PHYS 150A, PHYS 151, PHYS 164, PHYS 165, PHYS 166, PHYS 177

• 2. Second Tier: at least 10 units from any

upper-division Physics courses not cho sen in the First Tier. The combined units from the First and Second Tiers should add to at least 26.

• 3. No more than 4 units of 190-199 courses

may be used to fulfill the upper-division units for the minor.

See Minors under the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Colleges and Programs section of this catalog for additional information on minors.

The department provides special advisory services to aid community college transfer students in formulating their program and in remedying any deficiencies in required course work. Transfer students who have followed the prescribed program at the community college should be able to continue with the sample program at the junior level.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics.

Ongoing research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy includes astrophysics and space physics, condensed matter physics, particle physics, heavy ion physics, surface science, laser physics, and environmental physics. Large-scale experiments are carried out at the major U.S. and European accelerator laboratories or observatories.

Admission: Physics-GRE scores are not required and all applications will be considered. Submission of the Physics-GRE scores, if available, it is encouraged. If you choose to submit your Physics-GRE scores, they will only be used when it raises the overall ranking of the application. Questions about requirements for admission should be directed to the graduate advisor at (951) 827-5332.

Master’s Degree A student is recommended for the degree of M.A. or M.S. in Physics upon completion of the following requirements:

• 1. Satisfactory completion of a minimum

of 36 quarter units of approved physics courses taken for a letter grade after admission to graduate study. Of these, at least 24 quarter units must be in the 200 series. Each course must be passed with a grade of “B-” or better. Each student must maintain an average for all courses of “B” or better.

• 2. Either of the following two plans:

Plan I (Thesis) Satisfactory completion of a thesis in a field of physics to be chosen in consultation with a faculty supervisor. This thesis is approved by a committee designated by the department.

Plan II (Comprehensive Examination) Satisfactory performance on the comprehensive examination.

Under either plan all requirements for the master’s degree must be completed not later than the end of the sixth quarter.

Normative Time to Degree Six quarters

Doctoral Degree The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the Ph.D. degree in Physics.

It is recommended that students in the Ph.D. program become associated with a research advisor by the end of Spring Quarter of their first year.

A student is recommended for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in Physics upon completion of requirements (1), (2), and

• (3) below. The student is recommended for the

Ph.D. degree upon completion of requirements

• (4) and (5) below.

• 1. Course Work

Each course must be passed with a grade of “B-” or better. Each student must maintain an average of “B” or better for all courses. A. Core courses for students pursuing

a program in Physics (other than the Astrophysics Track):

PHYS 205 (Classical Mechanics)

PHYS 210A, PHYS 210B, PHYS 210C (Electromagnetic Theory)

PHYS 212A, PHYS 212B (Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics)

PHYS 221A, PHYS 221B, PHYS 221C (Quantum Mechanics)

PHYS 296 (Summer Research in

Physics and Astronomy)

PHYS 401 (Professional Development

in Physics and Astronomy)

B. Core courses for students pursuing a

program in Physics on the Astrophys ics Track:

PHYS 205 (Classical Mechanics)

PHYS 210A, PHYS 210B, PHYS 210C (Electromagnetic Theory)

PHYS 212A (Thermodynamics and

Statistical Mechanics, Part A)

PHYS 214 (Techniques of

Observational Astrophysics)

PHYS 215 (Dynamics and

Evolution of Galaxies)

PHYS 218 (Fundamentals of

Astrophysics)

PHYS 219 (Cosmology and

Structure Formation)

PHYS 296 (Summer Research in

Physics and Astronomy)

PHYS 401 (Professional Development

in Physics and Astronomy)

In addition, students in both programs must complete at least three additional elective graduate level lecture courses, taken for a letter grade. These courses must be physics or astronomy-related and relevant to the student’s dissertation research. The program for each student must be approved by the Graduate Advisor and the student’s Research Advisor. Such a program may entail more than the minimum number of courses and may also involve a mixture of courses from different areas.

The elective courses include the following, but other courses may be approved by the Graduate Advisor in consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee:

• a) Condensed Matter, Surface, Biophysics

and Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

PHYS 209A (Quantum Electronics)

PHYS 209B (Nonlinear Optics)

PHYS 209C (Advanced Topics in Quantum

Optics)

PHYS 234 (Physics of Nanoscale

Systems)

PHYS 235 (Spintronics and Nanoscale

Magnetism)

PHYS 240A, PHYS 240B

(Condensed Matter Physics) PHYS 241A, PHYS 241B, PHYS 241C

(Advanced Statistical Physics and Field Theory)

PHYS 242 (Physics at Surfaces

and Interfaces)

PHYS 245 (Atomic and solid-state

physics with positrons)

PHYS 246 (Biological physics)

PHYS 260 (Special topics in Condensed

Matter Physics)

• b) Nuclear and Particle Physics

PHYS 224 (Frontiers of Physics

and Astrophysics)

PHYS 225A, PHYS 225B (Elementary Particles)

PHYS 230A, PHYS 230B, PHYS 230C (Advanced Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Theory of Fields)

PHYS 262 (Special topics in

High Energy Physics)

• c) Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology

and Astroparticle Physics

PHYS 203 (Statistical Astronomy)

PHYS 204 (Advanced Galaxy Formation

and Cosmology)

PHYS 208 (General Relativity)

PHYS 211A (Radiative Processes in

Astrophysics)

PHYS 211B (Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics)

PHYS 213 (Astrophysics of the Interstellar

Medium)

PHYS 216 (Star Formation)

PHYS 217 (Stellar Structure and Evolution)

PHYS 226 (Cosmology)

PHYS 227 (Particle Astrophysics)

PHYS 229 (Theory of Dark Matter Halos

and Galaxies)

PHYS 261 (Special topics in Astrophysics)

• 2. Written Comprehensive Examinations

Students must have satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination, to be taken at the end of the student’s first year. In the event of a failure, a make- up exam is offered in the winter quarter of the second year. The comprehensive examination for students pursuing the physics program consists of an exam that covers Mechanics, Statistical and Thermal Physics, Quantum Mechanics, and Electromagnetism. The comprehensive examination for students pursuing the astronomy specialization consists of an exam that covers Mechanics, Statistical and Thermal Physics, Electromagnetism, and Fundamental Astrophysics.

• 3. Oral Qualifying Examination in General

Area of Proposed Research Satisfactory performance on an oral examination in the general area of the student’s proposed research. This examination is conducted by a doctoral committee, charged with general supervision of the student’s research. It is normally taken during the academic year following that in which the comprehensive examination requirement has been successfully completed. A student who fails this examination on the first attempt may, at the discretion of the committee, be permitted to take it a second time.

The Oral Qualifying Examination will be completed In-Person. Students taking the exam are expected to be present on campus with all committee members physically present. Hybrid or Remote exams are allowed by exception and approval from graduate advisor prior to the exam is required.

• 4. Dissertation Examination

Students must complete a dissertation containing a review of existing knowledge relevant to the area of the candidate’s research, and the results of the candidate’s original research. This research must be of sufficiently high quality to constitute a contribution to knowledge in the subject area.

• 5. Final Oral Examination

A final oral defense may be required. The final oral defense will be completed In-Person. Students taking the exam are expected to be present on campus with all committee members physically present. Hybrid or Remote exams are allowed by exception and approval from graduate advisor prior to the exam is required.

Normative Time to Degree 18 quarters

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Astronomy.

Ongoing research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy includes observational, theoretical, and computational astrophysics and cosmology. Observational programs are carried out at UC Observatories facilities, including Lick Observatory and the W. M. Keck Observatory, as well as with other national and international ground- and space-based facilities.

Admission Students entering the program should have completed a Bachelor’s (B.S. or B.A.) or Master’s degree (M.S.) in Physics, Astrophysics, Astronomy, or a closely related field from an accredited 4-year college or university. This degree must represent the completion of a program that meets the standards established by the Graduate Division at the University of California, Riverside.

International applicants are required to take the TOEFL examination as part of the pre-qualification process for admission and financial support. The scores should be submitted directly from ETS and should have a test date no older than two years from the intended date of enrollment at UCR.

Doctoral Degree The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the Ph.D. degree in Astronomy.

A student is recommended for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in Astronomy upon completion of requirements (1), (2), and

• (3) below. The student is recommended for the

Ph.D. degree upon completion of requirements

• (4) and (5) below.
• 1. Course Work

Each course must be passed with a grade of “B-“ or better. Each student must maintain an average of “B” or better for all courses.

Core Courses

PHYS 206 (Computational Astrophysics)

PHYS 211A (Radiative Processes in

Astrophysics)

PHYS 213 (Astrophysics of the Interstellar

Medium)

PHYS 214 (Techniques of Observational

Astrophysics)

PHYS 215 (Dynamics & Evolution of

Galaxies)

PHYS 217 (Stellar Structure & Evolution)

PHYS 219 (Cosmology & Galaxy

Formation)

First-year students will also take two quarters of PHYS 297 (Directed Research), starting in the Winter quarter. The advisor for this research will be chosen by the start of the Winter quarter.

In addition, students must complete two elective graduate-level courses, taken for a letter grade. These courses must be physics or astronomy-related and relevant to the student’s dissertation research. The program for each student must be approved by the Graduate Advisor and the student’s Research Advisor. Such a program may entail more than the minimum number of courses and may also involve a mixture of courses from different areas.

The elective courses include the following, but other courses may be approved by the Astronomy Graduate Advisor in consultation with the Astronomy Graduate Advisory Committee:

PHYS 203 (Statistical Astronomy)

PHYS 204 (Advanced Galaxy Formation

and Cosmology)

PHYS 208 (General Relativity)

PHYS 211B (Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics)

PHYS 216 (Star Formation)

PHYS 218 (Fundamentals of Astrophysics)

PHYS 226 (Cosmology, Advanced Topics)

PHYS 227 (Particle Astrophysics)

PHYS 229 (Theory of Dark Matter Halos

and Galaxies)

PHYS 247 (Introduction to Applied Data

Science)

PHYS 261 (Special Topics in Astrophysics)

• 2. Comprehensive Examination

Students must have satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination, to be taken at the end of the student’s first year. In the event of a failure, a make- up exam is offered by the end of the Fall quarter of the second year. The comprehensive examination for students pursuing the Astronomy program consists of (i) a written exam covering the core courses, and (ii) an oral report on the research undertaken during the two graded research classes taken in the first year.

• 3. Oral Qualifying Examination in General

Area of Proposed Research Students must have satisfactory performance on an oral examination in the general area of the student’s proposed research. This examination is conducted by a doctoral committee, charged with general supervision of the student’s research. The exam must be taken before the end of the student’s third year in the program. A student who fails this examination on the first attempt may, at the discretion of the committee, be permitted to take it a second time.

• 4. Dissertation

Doctoral candidates must complete a satisfactory written dissertation that presents a review of existing knowledge relevant to the candidate’s original research, an outline of specific problems addressed by the candidate’s work, and a detailed description of the strategies, analysis techniques and results of the candidate’s original research. The dissertation will be reviewed by a dissertation committee, charged with general supervision of the student’s research.

• 5. Final Oral Examination

Doctoral candidates must perform satisfactorily in a final oral defense of their dissertation before the candidate’s dissertation committee. The oral defense will consist of a public presentation followed by a closed-door examination period with the committee.

A student who fails (5) on the first attempt may, at the discretion of the committee, be permitted to take it a second time.

Oral Qualifying Examination and Final Oral Examination Modality The Oral Qualifying Exam and Final Dissertation Defense will be completed In-Person. Students taking the exam are expected to be present on campus with all committee members physically present. Hybrid or Remote exams are allowed by exception and approval from graduate advisor prior to the exam is required.

Professional Development Students must complete PHYS 401 (Professional Development in Physics and Astronomy)

Normative Time to Degree 18 quarters

Master’s Degree A student is recommended for the degree of M.S. in Astronomy upon completion of the following requirements:

• 1. Satisfactory completion of the Core

courses for the Doctoral Degree in Astronomy, including two quarters of PHYS 297 (Directed Research). Each course must be passed with a grade of “B-” or better. Each student must maintain an average for all courses of “B” or better.

• 2. Either of the following two plans:

Plan I (Thesis) Satisfactory completion of a thesis in a field of astronomy to be chosen in consultation with a faculty supervisor. This thesis is approved by a committee designated by the department.

Plan II (Comprehensive Examination) Satisfactory performance on the comprehensive examination.

Professional Development Students must complete PHYS 401 (Professional Development in Physics and Astronomy)

Normative Time to Degree 6 quarters