Undergraduate Education: Course Descriptions

Found here are course descriptions for the current academic year. Visit the College Catalog for additional information on course descriptions for the entire university. To see sample syllabi of certain Physics courses, visit Courses with Web Pages.

Updated August 1, 2007.

Lower Division Astronomy Courses

Astro 1 - Basic Astronomy
4 Units
A survey of the development of astronomy with an emphasis on understanding the observable properties of the solar system, the sun and other stars, our own and other galaxies, and the entire universe. Topics of current interest will be discussed as time permits. (F,W,S,M)

Astro 1H - Honors Supplement to Basic Astronomy
1 Unit
 Prerequisite: honors standing.
A supplement to Astronomy 1 emphasizing fundamental concepts and additional topics in Astronomy. Intended for highly motivated and well prepared students. (F,W,S)

Astro 2 - History of the Universe
4 Units
Prerequisite: Astronomy 1.
The content will vary with the professor and student interests. Course has included modern extragalactic astronomy and cosmology, quasars, active galactic nuclei, dark matter, gravitational lenses, the early universe, the origins of life, and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. (S)

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Lower Division Physics Courses - Courses numbered 0-99

Phys 1 - Basic Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Mathematics 3A.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 21.
Classical mechanics, kinematics, vectors, Newton's laws, friction and electrical resistance, work and energy, conservation laws, momentum and collisions, rigid-body rotation. (W,S)

Phys 2 - Basic Physics
4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 1 and Mathematics 3A-B.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 22.
Rotational dynamics, statics, gravitation, periodic motion including LRC electrical circuits, fluid mechanics, temperature and heat, thermal properties of matter, the laws of thermodynamics. (S,M)

Phys 3 - Basic Physics
3 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 2 or 22; and Mathematics 3A-B-C.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 23.
Recommended preparation: Mathematics 5A (may be taken concurrently) and Physics 3L (may be taken concurrently).
Mechanical waves, wave interference and normal modes, sound and hearing, electrical field, Gauss's law, electric potential, capacitance and dielectrics, current, resistance, electromotive force, DC circuits. (F,M)

Phys 3L - Physics Laboratory
1 Unit
 Prerequisite: Physics 3 or 23 (may be taken concurrently).
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 13AH or Physics CS 15A.
Introductory laboratory emphasizing experiments in electromagnetism. (F,M)

Physics 4 - Basic Physics
3 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 3 or 23.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 24.
Recommended preparation: Mathematics 5B (may be taken concurrently) and Physics 4L (may be taken concurrenlty).
Magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction and inductance, AC circuits, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, light and geometrical optics, interference and diffraction. (F,W)

Phys 4L - Physics Laboratory
1 Unit
Prerequisite: Physics 4 or 24 (may be taken concurrently).
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 13BH or Physics CS 15B.
Introductory laboratory emphasizing wave motion and optics. (F,W)

Phys 5 - Basic Physics
3 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 4 or 24.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 25.
Recommended preparation: Mathematics 5C (may be taken concurrently) and Physics 5L (may be taken concurrently).
Special relativity, blackbody radiation, Compton scattering, photoelectric effect, Bohr model, quantum mechanics, molecules, condensed matter, nuclear physics, elementary particle. (W,S)

Phys 5L - Physics Laboratory
1 Unit
Prerequisites: Physics 4 or 24; and, Physics 5 or 25 (may be taken concurrently).
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 13CH or Physics CS 15C.
Introductory laboratory emphasizing atomic, molecular, and condensed matter physics. (W,S)

Phys 6A-B-C - Introductory Physics
3 Units Each
Prerequisite: Mathematics 3A or 34A (may be taken concurrently): Physics 6A for 6B: Physics 6B for 6C.
A. Mechanics. (F,W,M)
B. Heat, thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism. (W,S,M)
C. Electromagnetic waves, optics, modern physics. (F,S,M)

Phys 6AL - Introductory Experimental Physics
1 Unit
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in Physics 6A.
Self-directed laboratory course where students seek to discover simple mathematical descriptions to laws governing various physical phenomena. Each student is responsible for deciding what to measure, how to measure it, and what interpretation can be placed on the results. (F,W,M)

Phys 6BL - Introductory Experimental Physics
1 Unit
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in Physics 6B.
Experiments in the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of matter, the behavior of light, and quantum phenomena with application to the biological sciences. (W,S,M)

Phys 6CL - Introductory Experimental Physics
1 Unit
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in Physics 6C.
Experiments in the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of matter, the behavior of light, and quantum phenomena with application to the biological sciences. (F,S,M)

Phys 10 - Concepts of Physics
4 Units
Not open for degree credit to students who have completed Natural Science 1A, Physics 1, 6A, or 21. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour.
A survey of important concepts in physics for the nonscience major. The contents will vary depending on the interests of the students and instructor. (W,S,M)

Phys 13AH - Honors Introduction to Experimental Physics
2 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 3 or 23 (may be taken concurrently).
Not open for degree credit to students who have completed Physics 3L or Physics CS 15A.
Designed to introduce undergraduates to contemporary experimental research at an early stage in their careers. Emphasis is placed on acquiring an "experimental frame of mind", professional communication skills, and a broad range of laboratory techniques. (F)

Phys 13BH - Honors Introduction to Experimental Physics
2 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 13AH; Physics 4 or 24 (may be taken concurrently).
Not open for degree credit to students who have completed Physics 4L or Physics CS 15B.
Designed to introduce undergraduates to contemporary experimental research at an early stage in their careers. Emphasis is placed on acquiring an "experimental frame of mind", professional communication skills, and a broad range of laboratory techniques. (W)

Phys 13CH - Honors Introduction to Experimental Physics
2 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 13BH; Physics 5 or 25 (may be taken concurrently).
Not open for degree credit to students who have completed Physics 5L or Physics CS 15C.
Designed to introduce undergraduates to contemporary experimental research at an early stage in their careers. Emphasis is placed on acquiring an "experimental frame of mind", professional communication skills, and a broad range of laboratory techniques. (S)

Phys 16 - Undergraduate Seminar
1 Unit
Selected topics of special interest designed to display the broad diversity of physics. Also designed to introduce students to faculty research and department labs. This course is strongly recommended for freshmen, transfer students, and prospective majors within physics. (F)

Phys 20 - General Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Mathematics 3A.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 1.
Classical mechanics, kinematics, vectors, Newton's Laws, work and energy, conservation laws. (F)

Phys 21 - General Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 20 with a grade of C- or better; Mathematics 3A with a grade of C- or better.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 1.
Momentum and collisions, rigid-body rotation. Rotational dynamics, statics, gravitation, periodic motion, fluid mechanics. (W)

Phys 22 - General Physics
4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 21 with a grade of C- or better; Mathematics 3A-B.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 2.
Temperature and heat, thermal properties of matter, the laws of thermodynamics. Mechanical waves, wave interference and normal modes, sound and hearing.(S)

Phys 23 - General Physics
3 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 22 with a grade of C- or better; Mathematics 3A-B-C.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 3.
Recommended preparation: Physics 3L or 13AH (may be taken concurrently).
Electric charge and electric field, Gauss's law, electric potential, capacitance and dielectrics, current, resistance, electromotive force, DC circuits. (F)

Phys 24 - General Physics
3 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 23 with a grade of C- or better; Mathematics 5A
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 4.
Recommended preparation: Physics 4L or 13BH (may be taken concurrently).
Magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction and inductance, AC circuits, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, light and geometrical optics, interference and diffraction. (W)

Phys 25 - General Physics
3 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 24 with a grade of C- or better; Mathematics 5A-B.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 5.
Recommended preparation: Physics 5L or 13CH (may be taken concurrently).
Special relativity, blackbody radiation, Compton scattering, photoelectric effect, Bohr model, quantum mechanics, molecules, condensed matter, nuclear physics, elementary particles. (S)

Phys 43 - Origins
4 Units
Same course as Religious Studies 43
Introduction to the ways in which different disciplines have addresses the concept of origins. This course is organized as a dialogue between science, religion and history or more broadly construed between science and the humanities. (S)

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Upper Division Courses - Courses numbered 100-199

A grade of C- or higher is required to satisfy the prerequisites for all upper-division courses. In series of courses, such as Physics 105A-B, the earlier courses are considered prerequisites for the later ones. Exceptions will be made only with the consent of the instructor.

Phys 100A-B - Methods of Theoretical Physics
3 Units Each
Prerequisites: Mathematics 5C with a minimum grade of C- (for Physics 100A): Physics 100A with a minimum grade of C- (for Physics 100B).
Mathematical methods in physics: theory of functions of complex variables, Fourier series, integral transforms, partial differential equations of physics, boundary value problems, Legendre and Bessel functions. Introduction to Hilbert spaces. (F,W,M)

Phys 105A-B - Classical Mechanics
3 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 2 or 22 with a minimum grade of C-; Mathematics 5B (may be taken concurrently) (for Physics 105A): Physics 105A with a minimum grade of C- (for 105B).
Dynamics of a particle and systems of particles. Harmonic oscillator. Curvilinear coordinates. Central force motion. Scattering. Elementary rigid body motion. Moving coordinate systems. Lagrange's equations and generalized coordinates. Forces of constraint. Rigid body rotation. Small vibrations and normal modes. Hamilton's equations. Special relativity. (W,S)

Phys 106 - Nonlinear Phenomena
4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 105A; or ME 163; or upper-division standing in ECE.
Same course as ECE 183 and ME 169. Not open for credit to students who have completed ME 163C.
An introduction to nonlinear phenomena. Flows and bifurcations in one and two dimensions, chaos, fractals, strange attractors. Application to physics, engineering, chemistry, and biology. (S)

Phys 110A-B-C - Electromagnetism
4 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 5 or 25 with a minimum grade of C-; and, Mathematics 5C (may be taken concurrently) (for Physics 110A): Physics 110A with a minimum grade of C- (for 110B): Physics 110B with a minimum grade of C- (for 110C).
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric and magnetic properties of materials, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation from charged particles, special relativity. (F,W,S)

Phys 115A-B-C - Quantum Mechanics
4 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 5 or 25 with a minimum grade of C-; and, Physics 100A with a minimum grade of C- or Mathematics 124A (may be taken concurrently) (for Physics 115A): Physics 115A with a minimum grade of C- (for 115B): Physics 115B with a minimum grade of C- (for 115C).
Inadequacies of classical physics and quantum mechanical resolutions. The postulates of quantum mechanics. Schroedinger's equation, measurements, operators, and observables. Angular momentum and spin, the exclusion principle, perturbation theory and scattering theory. Application to atomic, molecular and nuclear physics. (W,S,F)

Phys 119A-B - Thermal and Statistical Physics
3-4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 5 or 25 with a minimum grade of C- (for Physics 119A): Physics 119A with a minimum grade of C- (for Physics 119B).
Physics 119A not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 118. Physics 119B not open for credit to students who have completed Physics 119. A. Thermodynamics: three laws of thermodynamics, phase diagrams, entropy, equipartition of energy, specific heat, reversible and irreversible processes, pressure, viscosity, thermal conductivity, diffusion. (F)
B. Statistical mechanics: Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein distribution laws. Relation of thermodynamic variables and microscopic properties. (W)

Phys 120 - Physics of California: Waves, Weather, Quakes and Fires
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 25.
Why do the waves hit the beach every five seconds? This course teaches students the relevant fluid dynamics and allows them to apply it to natural phenomena of California: seismic waves, tsunamis, maximum tree heights, fluid flow around fish.

Phys 121A-B - The Practice of Science
4 -3 Units
Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor for 121A. 121A is the same course as ECE 194R. Phys 121A with a minimum grade of C- (for 121B)
A. Provides experience in pursuing careers within science and engineering through discussions with researchers, lectures on ethics, funding, intellectual property, and commercial innovation. Students prepare a focused research proposal that is pursued in the second quarter of the course. (W)
 B. Provides experience in pursuing careers within science and engineering through discussions with researchers, lectures on ethics, funding, intellectual property, and commercial innovation. Students prepare a focused research proposal that is pursued in the second quarter of the course. (S)

Phys 123A-B - Condensed Matter Physics
4 Units Each
Prerequisite: Physics 115A with a minimum grade of C-.
Classification of solids; crystal symmetry, thermal electric and magnetic properties; metals, semiconductors, and the band theory of electronic states; magnetic resonance; superconductivity; imperfections. Emphasis will be placed on both fundamental and applied aspects. (F,W)

Phys 125 - Elementary Particle Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 115B with a minimum grade of C-.
Introduction to quarks and leptons and the phenomenology of the particles they comprise; fundamental symmetries, invariance principles, and the associated quantum numbers, strong, electromagnetic and weak interactions and their relationship. (S)

Phys 127A L - Analog Electronics
4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 2 or 22 with a minimum grade of C-, or Physics 6B with a minimum grade of C-; and, Mathematics 3B or 34B with a minimum grade of C-.
Passive circuits, diodes, transistors, field effect transistors, operational amplifiers, feedback and control. Design, building and testing of analog circuits. (F)

Phys 127B L - Digital Electronics
3 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 127A with a minimum grade of C-.
Gates, combinational and sequential logic, multiplexes, counters, shift registers, memory and microprocessors. Design, building and testing of digital circuitry, including a modern microprocessor based computer system. (W)

Phys 128A L-BL - Advanced Experimental Physics
3 Units Each
Prerequisite: Physics 127A with a minimum grade of C- and 115A (may be taken concurrently) (for Physics 128A): Physics 128A with a minimum grade of C- (for 128B).
Selected experiments in contemporary physics, e.g., holography, laser light scattering zeeman effect, x-rays, superconductivity, magnetic resonance, Mossbauer effect.
(F,W - Beginning in 2005-2006, Phys 128AB will be offered W,S)

Phys 129 L - Computer Interfacing
4 Units
Prerequisites: Mathematics 3B with a minimum grade of C-; and, Physics 2 or 6B or 22 with a minimum grade of C-.
Not open to graduate students.
Use of personal computer for control and measurement in a hands-on project oriented environment. Introduction to a real time multitasking operating system and the C programming language. Basic feedback control theory. (S)

Phys 131 - Gravitation and Relativity
4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 105A-B with a minimum grade of C-.
Physics 105B may be taken concurrently only with the consent of the instructor.
An introduction to Einstein's general relativity. The spacetime of special relativity, the principle of equivalence, gravity as geometry, the description of spacetime geometry, the spacetime of a relativistic star, solar system tests of general relativity, gravitational collapse, black holes, cosmology. (S)

Phys 132 - Stellar Structure and Evolution
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 25 with a minimum grade of C-.
Observed properties and classification of stars, the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, stellar atmospheres, hydrostatic equilibrium, energy transport, equations of state, thermonuclear reaction rates, origin of the elements, life history of stars, stellar death, compact objects, star formation. (F, Every Other Year)

Phys 133 - Galaxies and Cosmology
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 25.
Observed properties of galaxies, the interstellar medium, stellar dynamics, spiral arms, galaxy clusters, dark matter, quasars, the Hubble expansion, Friedmann models, thermal history of the universe, the origin of the light elements, the cosmic microwave background structure formation. (F, Every Other Year)

Phys 134 - Observational Astrophysics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 25.
Recommended preparation: Physics 132 or 133.
Techniques and implementation of observational methods in astronomy/astrophysics. Sensors, digital-image processing and analysis, research projects with computer-controlled remote access telescope using a digital image sensor. Studies of variable stars, galaxy morphology, supernova, etc. (W)

Phys 135 - Biophysics and Biomolecular Materials
3 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 6C or 25.
Same course as Materials 135.
Structure and function of cellular molecules (lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates). Genetic engineering techniques of molecular biology. Biomolecular materials and biomedical applications (e.g., bio-sensors, drug delivery systems, gene carrier systems).

Phys 141 - Optics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 25.
Modern geometrical and physical optics. Polarization, coherence, interference, and diffraction phenomena. Fourier transform spectroscopy, intensity correlation interferometry, spatial filtering, and holography. Selected topics on lasers, light scattering, and quantum optics as time permits.

Phys 142L - Experimental Research in Condensed Matter Physics
1-4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 5 or 25; consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 4 units.
Offers qualified undergraduates the opportunity to work in research laboratories in condensed matter physics. (This course is not always offered)

Phys 143L - Experimental Research in Elementary Particle Physics
1-4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 5 or 25; consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 4 units.
Offers qualified undergraduates the opportunity to work in experimental research in elementary particle physics. (This course is not always offered)

Phys 145L - Experimental Research in Astrophysics
1-4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 5 or 25; consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 4 units.
Offers qualified undergraduates the opportunity to work in experimental research in astrophysics. Each staff member has his/her own course identified by a number listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S,M)

Phys 150 - Special Topics in Astrophysics
1-4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 5 or 25.
Course varies from year to year according to the currents of the times. (This course is not always offered)

Phys 160K - Science for the Public
1-4 Units
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Same course as Engr 160
Provides experience in communicating science and technology to nonspecialists. The major components of the course are field work in mentoring, a biweekly seminar, presentations to precollege students and to adult nonscientists, and end-of-term research papers.
Enrollment: May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units, but only 4 units may be applied to the major. Open to graduate students (via Phys 260K) in science and engineering disciplines and to undergraduate science and engineering majors.

Phys 198 - Directed Reading
1-4 Units
Prerequisites: consent of instructor; upper-division standing; completion of two upper-division courses in physics.
Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average for the preceding three quarters and are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30 units total in all 98/99/198/199/199AA-ZZ courses combined. No more than 12 units may be earned in all Physics 198/199/199DC/199RA courses combined.
Each staff member has their own directed reading course identified by a number code listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S)

Phys 199 - Independent Studies in Physics
1-5 Units
Prerequisites: consent of instructor; upper-division standing; completion of two upper-division courses in physics.
Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average for the preceding three quarters and are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30 units total in all 98/99/198/199/199DC/199RA courses combined. No more than 12 units may be earned in all Physics 198/199/199AA-ZZ courses combined. Directed individual study open to qualified seniors in the department. Each staff member has their own independent studies course identified by a number code listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S)

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Graduate Courses - Courses numbered 200-599

Phys 200A - Mathematical Methods of Physics
4 Units
Mathematical techniques useful in physics, including the theory of functions of a complex variable, linear algebra, Fourier transforms, differential equations, special functions, Cartesian tensors, calculus of variations and numerical methods.

Phys 205 - Classical Mechanics
4 Units
Review of Lagrangian mechanics. Variational principles. Hamilton's equations. Canonical transformations. Hamilton Jacobi Theory. Action angle variables. Time dependent and canonical perturbation theory. Central forces and scattering. Small vibrations. Rigid body motion. Poincare maps. Non-Integrable systems. Hamiltonian and dissipative chaos. (F)

Phys 210A-B - Electromagnetic Theory
4 Units Each
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems, time varying fields, Maxwell's equations, radiation, multipole fields, scattering, relativistic particle dynamics. (W,S)

Phys 215A-B-C - Quantum Mechanics
4 Units Each
Fundamental principles; Schroedinger equation; angular momentum; perturbation theory; scattering theory, emission, and absorption of radiation; Dirac equation. (F,W,S)

Phys 217A-B - The Many Body Problem in Condensed Matter Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 215C.
Field theoretic methods as applied to (non-relativistic) condensed matter systems. Green's functions and diagrammatic techniques applied to various examples of interacting many body systems, including fermions, bosons, and spins. Relationship of theoretical quantities to physical measurements. (W,S)

Phys 219 - Statistical Mechanics
4 Units
Prerequisites: Physics 205, 215A and 119 taken at another institution.
Fundamental principles of classical and quantum statistics. Non-interacting Boltzmann, Bose, and Fermi systems. Virial expansion and other approaches to interacting systems. Phase transitions. (W)

Phys 220 - Advanced Topics in Statistical Mechanics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 219.
Course will cover some of the following topics: a) critical phenomena-phase diagrams, first and second order phase transitions, scaling theory, high-temperature expansions, renormalization group; b) non-equilibrium statistical mechanics-Stochastic processes, Langevin equations, fluctuation-dissipation theorem, master equation , fluid dynamics. (S)

Phys 221A-B-C - Relativistic Quantum Field Theory
4 Units Each
Introduction to the theory of Lorentz covariant quantized fields. Global and local conservation laws. Path integral formulation. Applications to quantum electrodynamics, quantum chromodynamics, electroweak and interactions. Other possible topics include grand unification, the renormalization group, anomalies, current algebra, and supersymmetry. (F,W,S)

Phys 223A-B-C - Concepts and Phenomena of Condensed Matter Physics
4 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 219 and 215C.
Same course as Materials 224A-B-C.
Lattice and electron dynamics. Elementary excitations and collective phenomena. Transport properties. Disorder and localization. Long-range order and broken symmetries. Magnetism, superconductivity and liquid crystals. Properties and structures of polymers, membranes, and self-assembling systems. (F,W,S)

Phys 225A - Elementary Particle Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 125 or 215C.
The phenomenology of the standard model of particle physics. QED and QC process. (F)

Phys 225B - Elementary Particle Physics
4 Units
Prerequisite: Physics 225A.
Weak interactions; neutrino physics; C,P, and CP violation; electroweak gauge theory and symmetry breaking. Design of detectors and experiments; searches for new phenomena. (W)

Phys 229A-B - Gauge Theories of Elementary Particles
4 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 221A-B-C.
Quantum theory of non-Abelian gauge fields. Local, global, and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Collective phenomena; solitions, instantons, and magnetic monopoles. Effective field theories. Lattice gauge theory. Applications to the Standard Model of elementary particles. (F,W)

Phys 230A-B - String Theory
4 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 221B and 231B.
Introduction to string theory. Bosonic and super string theories and their spectra. String perturbation theory and conformal field theory. Nonlinear sigma models and spacetime structure. String compactifications and unification of forces. Non-perturbative results and methods; dualities and branes.

Phys 231A-B-C - General Relativity
4 Units Each
Prerequisites: Physics 210A-B. Physics 231C may be repeated with consent of instructor.
Gravity as geometry, differential geometry, Einstein's equation, relativistic stars, gravitational collapse, black holes, cosmology, gravitational radiation, and special topics. (F,W,S)

Phys 232 - Stellar Structure and Evolution
4 Units
Physics of stellar structure, equations of state and heat transport. Birth of stars and physics of brown dwarfs. Thermonuclear burning and main sequence stellar structure. Evolution of stars and mass loss. Origin, physical structure, and cooling of compact objects. (S)

Phys 233 - The Interstellar Medium
4 Units
Theory and observations of the interstellar space, and the physical processes that form and shape them. Atomic, molecular, and ionized gas; dust; heating and cooling; shocks; generation and evolution of cosmic rays; formation of stars. (W)

Phys 234 - High Energy Astrophysics
4 Units
Accretion power in a range of astrophysical contexts, from quasars to galactic black holes. Rapid release of thermonuclear energy, Type I X-ray bursts, classical novae, Type Ia supernovae. Relativistic jets from black holes, non-thermal radiation processes, physics of gamma-ray bursts.

Phys 235 - Extragalactic Astrophysics
4 Units
Nebular astrophysics, active galactic nuclei, supermassive black holes, stellar dynamics, galaxies, clusters, dark matter, gravitational lensing, the intergalactic medium and galaxy formation. (F)

Phys 236 - Cosmology
4 Units
Galaxy surveys, the cosmic distance ladder, redshift and expansion, Friedmann models, classical tests, the cosmic microwave background, big bang nucleosynthesis, structure formation.

Phys 260A - Colloquium
1 Unit
A weekly seminar on Tuesdays.

Phys 260B - Seminar in Macromolecular Physics and Organic Solids
1 Unit

Phys 260C - Seminar in General Relativity
1 Unit
Talks on topics in gravity and general relativity pertinent to current doctoral research in the field.

Phys 260D - Seminar in Theoretical Physics
1 Unit

Phys 260E - Condensed Matter and Applied Physics Seminar
1 Unit
A lecture series of topics in materials and condensed matter physics, solid state physics, liquid helium, polymers, and related phenomenon.

Phys 260F - Seminar in High Energy Physics
1 Unit

Phys 260G - Graduate Seminar
1 Unit
Weekly seminar on topics of research currently being pursued in the Department of Physics.

Phys 260H - Seminar in Astrophysics and Cosmology
1 Unit
Talks on topics in astrophysics and cosmology pertinent to current doctoral research in the field.

Phys 260J - Physics Outreach
1 Unit
Active participation in an outreach program that presents physics demonstrations and experiments on the road to local schools in order to provide a valuable learning experience for K-12 students.

Phys 260K - Science for the Public
1-4 Units
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor; open to graduate students in science and engineering disciplines and to undergraduate science and engineering majors.
Provides experience in communicating science and technology to nonspecialists. The major components of the course are field work in mentoring, a biweekly seminar, presentations to precollege students and to adult nonscientists, and end-of-term research papers.

Phys 500 - Teaching Assistant Seminar
2 Units
No unit credit allowed toward advanced degree. Required course for all teaching assistants.
Covers development of teaching techniques especially oriented to lower-division physics laboratory instruction. Theoretical aspects covered at beginning of each quarter. Practical techniques discussed including weekly meeting with class instructor, formal evaluation, and videotaping analysis. (F)

Phys 594 - Special Topics
1-4 Units
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Special seminar on research subjects of current interest. Each staff member has a seminar identified by a number code listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S)

Phys 595 - Group Studies
1-6 Units
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units.
Each staff member has a group studies course identified by a number code listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S)

Phys 596 - Directed Reading and Research
2-12 Units
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Individual tutorial. Reading and research in special topics including work done as the basis for the dissertation. Each staff member has a directed reading and research course identified by a number code listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S)

Phys 599 - Dissertation Preparation
1-12 Units
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit up to 24 units.
This course is reserved for writing the dissertation. Each staff member has a research course identified by a number code listed in the Schedule of Classes. (F,W,S)

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