Modern Physics Course

This page is dedicated to the course PHYS222 (Modern Physics for Engineers and Scientists).

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the basis of experimental and theoretical development that led to the 20^thcentury revolution in physics
2. Understand the basics of Einstein’s special relativity and its application
3. The relation between mass and energy and its direct application
4. Review of the old quantum mechanics: discovery of the Planck constant, blackbody radiation. Bohr hydrogen atom, Compton scattering, photoelectric effect.
5. Formalism of modern quantum mechanics: Quantum states, wave functions, operators, Schrödinger equations, two and three dimensional potential wells, tunneling across barriers
6. Hydrogen atom and Schrödinger time independent equation: separation of variables, Radial and Spherical Harmonics, energy levels, shell, subshells, quantum numbers, selection rules, spin, Zeeman normal and anomalous, Pauli principle, Periodic table
7. Multi-electron atoms, LS Coupling, spectroscopic terms, Lande factor, selection rules. Diatomic molecules: vibration and rotation spectra. Laser: emission, and induced transition, resonances. Transition probability, selection rules.
8. Molecules, lasers and solids: Molecular bonding and spectra, Einstein coefficients. holography,  Bose-Einstein condensation in gases.
9. Elementary nuclear physics
10. Introduction to elementary particles: Quarks, lepton, baryons, mesons, conservations law.

Course elements:

• Lectures
• New labs on photoelectric effect and electron diffraction experiment
• Project: students are grouped in teams. Each team is assigned a small research project on the application of physics concepts in daily life. Examples are: application of pair production and annihilation in nuclear medicine, application of classical and relativistic Doppler effect, MRI…

Resources:

• Textbook:“Modern Physics for Engineers and Scientists” by S. Thornton and A. Rex
• Michelson & Morley experiment
• Light and Quantum: Talk given By Prof. Serge Haroche, 2012 Physics Nobel Prize Laureate.
• A historical overview of modern physics.
• Physics for the 21st century.

Minor in Physics:

Since 2017, TAMUQ engineering students can enroll in a physics minor.

For more information, please contact physics faculty or the program chair of the science program.