Applied Physics
Applied
Physics courses
Applied Physics department home page
Director of undergraduate studies: Robert Grober, 415 BCT, 432-9653, robert.grober@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED PHYSICS
Professors
Charles Ahn, *Sean Barrett, Hui Cao, Richard Chang (Emeritus), Michel Devoret, Paul Fleury, *Steven Girvin, *Leonid Glazman, Robert Grober, Victor Henrich, Arvid Herzenberg (Emeritus), *Marshall Long, *Tso-Ping Ma, Simon Mochrie, Daniel Prober, Nicholas Read, *Mark Reed, Robert Schoelkopf, *Ramamurti Shankar, *Mitchell Smooke, A. Douglas Stone, *John Tully, Robert Wheeler (Emeritus), Werner Wolf (Emeritus)
Associate Professors
*Jack Harris, Sohrab Ismail-Beigi, *Karyn Le Hur
*A joint appointment with primary affiliation in another department.
Physics is the study of the fundamental laws of nature. Applied physics uses these laws to understand phenomena that have practical applications. Engineering in turn makes use of these phenomena for human purposes, forming a link between the fundamental laws of nature and their applications. Students majoring in Applied Physics take courses in both physics and engineering, as well as courses specifically in applied physics. Students completing the program in Applied Physics are prepared for graduate study in applied physics, in physics, in nanoscience, or in engineering, and, with appropriate prerequisites, in medicine; or they may choose careers in a wide range of technical and commercial fields or in fields like technical writing or patent law that draw on interdisciplinary subjects.
Contemporary physical science and engineering are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Traditional boundaries between fields have blurred, and new areas are constantly emerging, e.g., nanotechnology. The Applied Physics major provides a flexible framework on which students can build a curriculum tailored to their own interests, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
Introductory courses. During the freshman year, students interested in Applied Physics should start by taking courses in mathematics, and physics if possible, appropriate to their level of preparation. The choice between different starting points is generally made on the basis of performance on Advanced Placement tests (see the Freshman Handbook).
The recommended sequence in mathematics for students interested in Applied Physics or Electrical or Mechanical Engineering is MATH 115a or b, ENAS 151a, MATH 222a or b, and ENAS 194a or b. Either MATH 120a or b or MATH 230 is an acceptable alternative to ENAS 151a, and MATH 225a or b is an acceptable alternative to MATH 222a or b. Similarly, PHYS 301a may be substituted for ENAS 194a or b and MATH 222a or b.
The recommended starting courses in physics are PHYS 200a and 201b. These courses should be taken in the freshman year by students who have a strong preparation in mathematics and physics. Students with a particularly strong background in physics and mathematics may take PHYS 260a and 261b instead. Students who are less well prepared in physics and mathematics may choose to take PHYS 180a and 181b during their freshman year, or PHYS 200a and 201b during their sophomore year after they have taken more mathematics courses. Two laboratory courses, such as PHYS 205La or Lb and 206La or Lb, should be taken at some time during the freshman or sophomore year.
Because computers are ubiquitous in the practical applications of physics, students interested in Applied Physics should also take a course on the use of computers early in their studies. ENAS 130b, Introduction to Computing for Engineers and Scientists, is recommended; a comparable course in computer science may be substituted with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
The multiplicity of choices facing students interested in this general area indicates the importance of informed advice for freshmen. Students should consult freely with directors of undergraduate studies and individual faculty members in their departments of interest to optimize choices and to ensure maximum flexibility at the time a major is selected.
The major in Applied Physics requires eight courses beyond the introductory sequence. Two of these must be APHY 471a, 472b. All majors are also required to take APHY 322b, 439a, and PHYS 420a, or equivalents. The three remaining advanced courses should focus on a particular area of concentration. For example, a student interested in solid-state and/or quantum electronics might choose from APHY 321b, 448a, 449b, EENG 320a, and 325b. A student interested in the physics of materials and/or nanoscience might choose from APHY 448a, 449b, CHEM 225b, 450b, and MENG 285a. Many other concentrations are possible.
Senior requirement. Seniors must complete an independent research project, taken as APHY 471a and 472b. The independent research project is under the supervision of a faculty member in Applied Physics, engineering, or the departments of Physics, Computer Science, or Geology and Geophysics. The project may be started in the junior year and continued into the senior year. Students planning to do a research project should contact the project coordinator as early as possible to discuss available options and general requirements.
A well-prepared student interested in solid-state and/or quantum electronics might elect the following course sequence:
|
Freshman
|
Sophomore
|
Junior
|
Senior
|
|||
 |
||||||
|
PHYS 200a
|
ENAS 194a
|
APHY 439a
|
APHY 448a
|
|||
|
ENAS 151a
|
EENG 320a
|
APHY 471a
|
||||
|
PHYS 420a
|
|
|||||
|
PHYS 201b
|
APHY 322b
|
APHY 472b
|
APHY 449b
|
|||
|
PHYS 205Lb
|
PHYS 206Lb
|
|
|
|||
|
MATH 222b
|
ENAS 130b
|
|||||
A student starting physics in the sophomore year might elect:
|
Freshman
|
Sophomore
|
Junior
|
Senior
|
|||
|
||||||
|
MATH 115a
|
PHYS 200a
|
APHY 439a
|
APHY 448a
|
|||
|
PHYS 205La
|
PHYS 420a
|
APHY 471a
|
||||
|
ENAS 194a
|
|
EENG 320a
|
||||
|
MATH 120b
|
PHYS 201b
|
APHY 322b
|
APHY 449b
|
|||
|
ENAS 130b
|
PHYS 206Lb
|
APHY 472b
|
|
|||
|
MATH 222b
|
||||||
A typical program in physics of materials and/or nanoscience for a well-prepared student might be:
|
Freshman
|
Sophomore
|
Junior
|
Senior
|
|||
|
||||||
|
PHYS 200a
|
CHEM 118a
|
APHY 439a
|
APHY 448a
|
|||
|
PHYS 205La
|
CHEM 227a
|
APHY 471a
|
||||
|
MATH 120a
|
|
PHYS 420a
|
||||
|
PHYS 201b
|
APHY 322b
|
APHY 472b
|
APHY 449b
|
|||
|
PHYS 206Lb
|
MATH 222b
|
ENAS 130b
|
||||
|
ENAS 194b
|
CHEM 225b
|
|
||||
A typical program in physics of materials and/or nanoscience for a student starting physics in the sophomore year might be:
|
Freshman
|
Sophomore
|
Junior
|
Senior
|
|||
|
||||||
|
CHEM 118a
|
PHYS 180a
|
APHY 439a
|
APHY 448a
|
|||
|
MATH 115a
|
PHYS 205La
|
MATH 222a
|
APHY 471a
|
|||
|
CHEM 227a
|
PHYS 420a
|
|||||
|
CHEM 225b
|
MATH 120b
|
APHY 322b
|
APHY 472b
|
|||
|
PHYS 181b
|
ENAS 130b
|
CHEM 450b
|
||||
|
PHYS 206Lb
|
|
|
||||
|
ENAS 194b
|
||||||
Approval of the programs. The Applied Physics major provides for various programs corresponding to a range of student interests. Substitutions of equivalent courses may be permitted. Students interested in an Applied Physics major should contact the director of undergraduate studies as early as possible, and in any case by the end of the sophomore year.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites: PHYS 180a, 181b, or 200a, 201b, with appropriate math coreqs and 2 lab courses as specified; ENAS 151a or MATH 120a or b; MATH 222a or b and ENAS 194a or b, or PHYS 301a; ENAS 130b
Number of courses: 8 term courses beyond prereqs (incl senior req)
Distribution of courses: 3 courses in physical or mathematical sciences or engineering in area of concentration, with DUS approval
Specific courses required: APHY 322b, 439a, PHYS 420a, or equivalents
Substitution permitted: Any relevant course approved by DUS
Senior requirement: APHY 471a and 472b
