Courses Offered 2024-2025

Description: A course designed to give the student a working knowledge of the methods most commonly used in solving physical problems.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course will provide students with the computing background necessary for successful research in (Astro)physics. Several high-level languages will be used. The course will cover the use of libraries, debugging and verification, modularization, documentation and testing, and will also introduce advanced topics including optimization and precision. Emphasis will be placed on `best practices' for scientific computing.

Description: The goal of this course is to establish a high level of mastery in basic data and error analysis. The goal of this course is not to provide students an introduction to a wide range of advanced techniques in data and error analysis. Students completing this course will possess the required tools to publish, present, and correctly defend their results.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Formal structure of quantum mechanics. Symmetries, angular momentum theory. Time-dependent perturbation theory. Quantization of the electromagnetic field.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include Maxwell's equations, wave propagation, radiating systems (multipole expansion, Lienard-Wiechart potentials), covariant formulation of electromagnetism. The material covered allows for the discussion and analysis of important examples directly related to important physical phenomena such as Faraday rotation, plasma physics, magnetohydrodynamics, and synchrotron and bremsstrahlung radiation.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Basic plasma concepts and introductory topics in the theory of highly ionized gases, including cross-sections, transport, waves, and thermonuclear fusion.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topic varies

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Weight: 0.5

Weight: 0.5

Description: Fundamentals of statistical mechanics, theory of ensembles; quantum statistics; imperfect gases, special topics.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course is intended for an interdisciplinary audience. We cover the electronic, optical, magnetic, and superconducting properties of nanomaterials and nanostructures. Examples of nanomaterials are semiconductor nanostructures (quantum dots, quantum wires), carbon-based nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes), nanocrystals, nanofibers, nano-waveguides, metamaterials, photonic crystals, biomedical nanomaterials, etc. We discuss the underlying principles and applications of the emerging field of nanomaterials and nanostructures. Scientific principles, theory, and experiments relevant at the nanoscale dimensions are presented. Finally, we discuss current and future nanotechnology applications in engineering, electronics, optoelectronics, photonics, plasmonics, polaritonics, nano-optics, quantum computing, and medicine.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Second quantization and Green's functions in condensed matter physics, decoupling approximations, diagrammatic perturbation theory.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course is intended to provide the student with a thorough introduction to molecular spectroscopy. The emphasis will be on understanding molecules and their spectra by making use of their symmetry (more precisely the symmetry of the Hamiltonian) for problem-solving. The necessary tools will be developed to explain the electronic, vibrational, and rotational spectroscopy of simple molecules. We will concentrate on situations involving interactions between gas-phase molecules and weak electromagnetic radiation.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course will introduce students to the processes and products of impact cratering on Earth and throughout the Solar System, including: impact cratering processes; the threat; the products of impact cratering; the effects of impact cratering as destructive and beneficial; techniques and research methods; comparative case studies of various impact structures

This course will feature weekly lectures, student presentations, hands-on laboratories, and a field trip to the Sudbury impact structure.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Physics is built on several core pillars. A professional physicist must have knowledge of these fundamental theories beyond the undergraduate level. The course provides an in-depth survey of Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, and Electrodynamics. These core areas are the foundational material necessary to be prepared for the Department's Ph.D. comprehensive examination.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Fundamental physics and instrumentation of biomedical ultrasound imaging presented at a level suited to graduate students performing thesis research in ultrasound imaging. The course will encourage students to develop a unified conceptual and mathematical understanding of ultrasound imaging and will emphasize the use of computer simulation to illustrate and extend key concepts. Topics covered will include physical acoustics, beam and image formation, coherent speckle, and blood-flow and tissue-motion estimation.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Instrumentation, apparatus, and methods.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Establish knowledge of the principles and techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). To apply previously learned physics concepts (from electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics) to NMR. To introduce applications of NMR in materials science, chemistry, and medicine.

Hours:  2.5 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: An introduction to the basic physical mechanisms involved in atmospheric phenomena such as the aurora, gravity waves, atmospheric electricity, greenhouse effect, and the ozone layer. Emphasis is also given to a basic understanding of the various "layers" into which the atmosphere and upper atmosphere are divided

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Selected topics pertaining to the upper atmosphere.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Selected topics pertaining to the upper atmosphere.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course will cover atmospheric dynamics associated with wave and turbulence motions. It will begin by examining simple concepts like the hydrostatic equation, then move to the Navier Stokes equation with gravity, Earth's rotation and various other forcings involved. We will deal mainly with the non-hydrostatic equations, although they may occasionally simplify the equations to Boussinesq and Anelastic. We will consider Reynold's stresses and their relevance to both waves and turbulence. Motions on various scales will be considered, from gravity waves to tides to high- and low- pressure systems, frontal systems and the impact of the jet stream. Further topics will include Rossby and Kelvin waves, and atmospheric tides. We will study these phenomena at all altitudes from the lower troposphere through the stratosphere and into the mesosphere.

Description: An overview of antenna/radar theory and application in Physics and Astronomy. To begin, we will overview Maxwell's equations as they apply to antennas, waveguides, plasmas, and propagation media. Then we will move to pragmatic applications relating to the design and construction of these devices in the real world. Following this, the course will turn to data acquisition and signal processing, with particular examples from atmospheric radar, satellite radar and astronomy. The impact of noise will be specially addressed. Applications in the medical field will also be demonstrated. Specific examples of applications include aperture synthesis, synthetic aperture, interferometry, antenna matching, super-heterodyne systems, Near and Far-field diffraction, Antenna coupling, NEC modeling, transmission lines, coaxial cables, VSWR, Polarization, Faraday Rotation, Stokes parameters, Radar Calibration, Noise suppression, Digitization, In-phase and Quadrature signals, special filters (comb filters etc.), VLBI, Transmitters, and radio scatter theory, among others.

Description: A course to introduce the basics of fluid dynamics, including the Euler equation, potential flow, Stokes flow, and the Navier-Stokes equation.

Weight: 0.5

Description: The Objective of this course is to provide the student with a solid background in the optical properties of condensed matter in the solid-state. Special emphasis is placed on photovoltaic materials, able to generate an electrical current from absorbed light. The course is divided in two parts. The first part of the course discusses the optical properties of materials having different electronic structures (metallic, semiconducting and insulating) and degrees of order (crystalline, micro/nanocrystalline and amorphous). Optical transitions in solids are introduced from quantum-mechanical arguments. Experimental techniques for measuring the optical properties in solids will also be presented. The second part of the course focuses on photoactive and photovoltaic materials. A number of such materials are introduced classifying them from their valence electronic structure. Different types of architectures for photovoltaic devices (including planar solar cells, thin-film solar cells and bulk hetherojunctions) are discussed in light of specific optical properties of these materials.

Description: Crystal structure; crystal binding; phonons and lattice vibrations. Electrons in solids. Energy bands; semiconductors; superconductivity. Magnetic properties.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course will cover the theory and applications of a range of scattering techniques for the study of structure and dynamics in condensed matter. Experimental implementation and data analysis techniques will also be discussed.

Description: The goal of the course is to acquaint students in physics, chemistry, and engineering with static and dynamic behavior of solid surfaces and interfaces, from both theoretical and experimental
points of view. Modern experimental methods (ultra-high vacuum based, and in air) will be
discussed: theoretical bases, experimental aspects and data interpretation. Topics will include
geometrical lattice structure, surface morphology, electronic structure, surface composition,
kinetics and dynamics (adsorption, vibrations, diffusion, desorption)

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: A brief review of the thermodynamic aspects of liquid-solid phase coexistence will be followed by the consideration of kinetics of crystal growth, including nucleation, microscopic growth laws, diffusion-limited growth and crystallization patterns. Grades will be based on written assignments and a short project due at the end of the term.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: (See also 9848) This course will cover basic polymer terminology and structural features of polymers, then continue with light scattering, x-ray analysis, rheology, and polarization microscopy. The different solid states (amorphous, crystalline, glassy, and mixtures), the transitions thereof, and typical polymeric relaxations will be discussed.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course will cover basic polymer terminology and structural features of polymers, then continue with light scattering, x-ray analysis, rheology, and polarization microscopy. The different solid states (amorphous, crystalline, glassy, and mixtures), the transitions thereof, and typical polymeric relaxations will be discussed.

Hours:  2 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include planet formation, orbital and dynamical processes in the Solar System, isotopes and cosmochemistry, meteorites, asteroids and comets, planetary interiors, and atmospheres as well as other Solar System processes such as impacts and tides.

This course will introduce students to the processes and products of impact cratering on Earth and throughout the Solar System, including:

1. impact cratering processes
2. 2. the threat
3. the products of impact cratering
4. the effects of impact cratering – destructive and beneficial
5. techniques and research methods; 6. comparative case studies of various impact structures.

This course will feature weekly lectures, student presentations, hands-on laboratories, and a field trip to the Sudbury impact structure.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include stellar clusters, stellar motions, galactic structure, local standard of rest, interstellar medium, dark matter, spiral structure, superbubbles, HII regions.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include the basic physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium and the current models for low and high mass star formation will be discussed. Special attention will be paid to the observational evidence that supports these models or points to their shortcomings.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Techniques and methods of infrared astronomy, including imaging, spectroscopy, and interferometry with ground- and space-based instrumentation. Application to research in star formation, the interstellar medium, nearby galaxies, and the high-redshift universe.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: A project-based course consisting of several computationally-intensive projects. Possible project topics include orbital dynamics, radiative transfer, magnetohydrodynamics, and plasma astrophysics. The astrophysics behind each project topic will be stressed.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: The fundamentals of radiative transfer, radiative transitions, radiation from moving charges, bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, and Compton scattering.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include relativistic cosmological models; background radiation; cosmological implications of nucleosynthesis; baryogenesis; inflation; structure formation; quasars; intergalactic medium; dark matter and energy.

Description: Properties of stars. Observational data for determining stellar evolution. Physical processes in stellar interiors. Nuclear processes. Convective and radiative energy transport. Stellar Pulsations and variable stars. Stellar models and evolutionary tracks through all phases. Models of stellar atmospheres. Compact Objects. Brown Dwarfs.

Description: This course is an intensive introduction to modern astrophysics. It is expected that all entering Astronomy MSc students will take A9610 in their first term of study (if offered). Topics include time and coordinate systems; orbits; spectra and radiative processes; the Sun, stars, and stellar evolution; the interstellar medium; the Milky Way and external galaxies; the high-Z universe and cosmology. This course is a pre-requisite for all other astronomy graduate courses (except where noted).

Description: Introduction to the nature and physics of the interstellar medium. Topics covered include a wide range of microscopic and macroscopic physical and chemical processes that determine the properties, dynamics, and behavior of the interstellar medium. Emphasis on the underlying (astro)physical concepts, and their connections to actual astronomical observations of the interstellar medium.

Description: This course will provide students with the computing background necessary for successful research in (astro)physics. Several high-level languages will be used. The course will cover the use of libraries, debugging and verification, modularization, documentation and testing, and will also introduce advanced topics including optimization and precision. Emphasis will be placed on `best practices' for scientific computing.

Description: Topics include the diversity and properties of planetary systems, the formation and dissipation of primordial circumstellar disks, the growth of dust to planetesimals, the formation of terrestrial and giant planets, the properties and evolution of second-generation dusty debris disks, and the dynamics of planets and small bodies in mature planetary systems. Prerequisite: Astronomy 9610, or permission from the instructor.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include the diversity and properties of planetary systems, the formation and dissipation of primordial circumstellar disks, the growth of dust to planetesimals, the formation of terrestrial and giant planets, the properties and evolution of second-generation dusty debris disks, and the dynamics of planets and small bodies in mature planetary systems. Prerequisite: Astronomy 9610, or permission from the instructor.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include Maxwell's equations, wave propagation, radiating systems (multipole expansion, Lienard-Wiechart potentials), covariant formulation of electromagnetism. The material covered allows for the discussion and analysis of important examples directly related to important physical phenomena such as Faraday rotation, plasma physics, magnetohydrodynamics, and synchrotron and bremsstrahlung radiation.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: A thorough introduction to molecular spectroscopy. The emphasis will be on understanding molecules and their spectra by making use of their symmetry for problem-solving. The necessary tools will be developed to explain the electronic, vibrational, and rotational spectroscopy of simple molecules. We will concentrate on situations involving interactions between gas-phase molecules and weak electromagnetic radiation.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This course introduces the theoretical and observational foundations required for the study of stellar photospheres. Topics include radiation and radiative transfer, spectroscopy, and observational instrumentation, including spectrographs and detectors.

Hours:  3 lecture hours
Weight: 0.5

Description: This is a graduate-level course covering the application of gas/fluid dynamics to problems of astrophysical interest. Topics include the fluid equations, magnetohydrodynamics, waves and shocks, instabilities, turbulence, gravitation, blast waves, and numerical techniques.

Description: This is a graduate-level course covering the application of gas/fluid dynamics to problems of astrophysical interest. Topics include the fluid equations, magnetohydrodynamics, waves and shocks, instabilities, turbulence, gravitation, blast waves, and numerical techniques.

Hours: 
Weight: 0.5

Description: Evolution, reservoirs, and fate of water in the solar system. The course will involve discussion of topical papers, presentations, paper reviews, and a final manuscript.

Hours: 
Weight: 0.5

Description: Topics include Mar's: core and magnetism based on geochemistry and geodynamics; mantle and crust based on meteorite petrology and geochemistry; crust based on volcanology and geomorphology; water-based on petrology, geomorphology, aqueous geochemistry and salts; weather and climate history based on remote sensing; remote exploration including findings based on recent missions using remote sensing and geochemical analysis; potential for life-based on geomicrobiology constraints; moons Phobos and Deimos.

Hours:2 
Weight: 0.5

Presentation assignments in the form of one-page abstracts, final exam. Taught with Geology 9710.