Undergraduate Information Participation in research and mastery of the main subject areas of physics are the twin goals of the physics program. The major program is designed to develop proficiency in quantum theory, electromagnetism and optics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, classical mechanics, classical dynamics, and solid state physics. Preparation in mathematics and mathematical methods is an integral part of the program. Interested and qualified students may pursue several opportunities for advanced work, including graduate courses and participation with graduate students and faculty in research. The department encourages its students to do physics at the earliest opportunity by making arrangements to work with one of the research groups or by arranging an independent research tutorial. Research may be experimental or theoretical, and may, but need not result in a senior honors thesis. Most majors who intend to write a thesis begin research no later than the junior year and continue it through the summer into the senior year. Current research interests include astrophysics and chaos theory, third sound in super fluid films, laser plasmas and photo dissociation, atomic and molecular spectroscopy of highly excited states in electric fields, physics in two dimensions, and molecular collisions.