Associate Professor: Brian Stewart

Assistant Professors: Tsampikos Kottos, Francis Starr, Greg A. Voth

Undergraduate Program

Departmental Advising Expert 2008–2009: Greg Voth, Class of 2009; Fred Ellis, Class of 2010

Department/Program Home Page

Participation in research and proficiency in the main subject areas of physics are the twin goals of the physics program. The major program is designed to develop competency in quantum theory, electromagnetism and optics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, classical dynamics, and solid-state physics. Preparation in mathematical and computational 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 chaos theory, theoretical soft condensed matter physics, granular flow, third sound in superfluid films, laser plasmas, spectroscopy and collision studies involving excited atoms and molecules, and physics at the gas-solid interface.

The science machine shop, located on the ground floor of the Exley Science Tower, maintains a well-equipped student shop. It is open to all students who have satisfied the shop foreman of their competence in handling machine tools. Many students also take advantage of Wesleyan's computing facilities in their research or course work. In addition to the usual workstations, the department has three state-of-the-art computer clusters that are available for students working in one of the theory groups.

Each semester, opportunities exist to serve as a teaching apprentice, course assistant, or department assistant in one of the introductory or intermediate-level courses. Many physics majors have found that this is a stimulating way to learn more about the fundamentals of the discipline and how to teach them. The Cady Lounge in the department serves as a focus for the major by providing a place where students can study and talk physics. There is also a study room where students in the introductory courses can come to get help and to work together. Students are encouraged to attend the weekly colloquium series and to participate in the weekly research seminars in atomic and molecular physics, chemical physics, condensed matter physics, and theory.

Pathways to the major. The appropriate course for students considering a physics major depends primarily on their preparation. There are three common tracks beginning in the fall semester.

• General Physics I (PHYS113) is a calculus-based introductory mechanics course requiring one semester of calculus, taken in either secondary school or in college, at about the level of MATH121. A student who has had no calculus is advised to take calculus during the first year, then PHYS113 in the first semester of the sophomore year.
• Students who have had a strong preparation in physics and calculus may take Special Relativity (PHYS215) and Chaos (PHYS217). These two half-credit courses are offered sequentially in two halves of the fall semester but are not sequential in content. They are intended for majors but are available to first-year or other students who have had both integral and differential calculus at about the level of MATH121/122 and a solid course in mechanics with calculus at the level of PHYS113.
• Students from both of the above tracks merge into the electricity and magnetism course of General Physics II (PHYS116) in the spring. Students intending to major in physics should complete either track no later than the end of their sophomore year, preferably by the end of their first year.
• Exceptionally well-prepared students may begin with Waves and Oscillations (PHYS213).  Students who feel that they fall into this category should consult with a member of the physics faculty.

Laboratory courses. The General Physics I/II (PHYS113/PHYS116) sequence has associated laboratory courses, PHYS121 in the fall, and PHYS122 in the spring. These laboratory sections are half-credit courses associated with the lecture courses but are not required. We encourage students to take the laboratory courses for a firsthand opportunity to observe, both qualitatively and quantitatively, some of the physical phenomena that are discussed in the lectures.

Students interested in a physics major should also consider Honors Physics Lab (PHYS125/PHYS126). These courses are more intensive versions of the Physics Labs (PHYS121/122) and are intended for students interested in a more rigorous application of their physics background to the laboratory experience. Potential majors taking Special Relativity (PHYS215) are also welcome in PHYS125.

Major requirements. To major in physics, you must complete PHYS116 no later than the end of your sophomore year; if you can complete it by the end of your first year, it will give you more flexibility to construct your major. You should also have completed MATH121, 122, and 221 by the end of the sophomore year. It is desirable for those who are considering graduate work in physics, or who wish to pursue an intensive major, also to complete PHYS213 and 214 by the end of the sophomore year. You should note that a few of the advanced courses may not be offered every year, and you should plan your program of study accordingly.

To fulfill the major in physics, a student must complete the following:

• Eight lecture courses, including (a) four core physics courses, PHYS213, 214, 316 and 324 (note that PHYS324 requires MATH222); and (b) at least four other course credits at the 200, 300, or 500 level, not including the laboratory courses or MATH221 or 222. For most majors, the department strongly recommends PHYS315, followed in importance by 313, and 358.
• Two laboratory courses: Experimental Optics (PHYS342) and Electronics Lab (PHYS345). Computational Physics (PHYS340) or a research or thesis tutorial with a physics faculty may be substituted for one of these two lab courses.
• Students planning graduate study in physics should take a minimum of 14 credits, at the 200 level or higher, in physics, mathematics, and computer science. PHYS215, 313, 315 and 358 are essential. In addition, the department strongly recommends MATH222, MATH226, PHYS565, and MATH229. Graduate physics courses may be elected with permission, and experience in computer programming is also extremely valuable.
• Students not planning graduate study in physics and who are interested in applying their knowledge of physics to other areas of the curriculum may choose up to four courses from other departments to satisfy requirement 1(b) above. This must be done in consultation with the physics major advisor, and the selections must constitute a coherent, coordinated program of study.

Honors in physics. To be a candidate for departmental honors in physics, a major must submit a thesis describing the investigation of a special problem carried out by the candidate under the direction of a member of the department. In addition, the candidate must have attained a minimum average in the eight lecture courses applied to the major, except those taken in the final semester of the senior year, of B (85.0) for honors and B+ (88.3) for high honors. Honors status is voted by the faculty on the basis of students' thesis work.

Combined 3-2 programs in science and engineering. Wesleyan maintains a 3-2 program with Columbia and the California Institute of Technology for students wishing to combine the study of engineering with a broad background in liberal arts. A student participating in this program spends three years at Wesleyan followed by two at the engineering school. After completing all degree requirements from both schools, he or she receives two degrees, a BA from Wesleyan and a BS in engineering from the participating school. During the three years at Wesleyan, a prospective 3-2 student enters a normal major program and completes the minimal requirements for the major and, in addition, fulfills the science and mathematics requirements for the first two years of the engineering school he or she plans to enter. During the final two years at the engineering school, the student follows its regular third- and fourth-year program in whatever field of engineering is selected and, in addition, may need to take other specific courses to satisfy its degree requirements. (This is more likely to be the case at Columbia, which has a core curriculum required of all students.) Contact the department advisor for further information.

Certificate Program in Informatics and Quantitative World Modeling. A recently established Certificate Program in Informatics and Modeling enhances student choices and options and is an ideal supplement for interested physics majors. The certificate program provides students with a coherent set of courses and practical instruction in two pathways: (1) integrative genomics science and (2) computational science and quantitative world modeling.

Study abroad for physics majors. The Physics Department encourages study abroad for majors since it allows our physics majors to play an active part as citizens of the world scientific community. As with any major, careful planning is needed to be sure that requirements for the major are fulfilled, and sophomores intending to declare a physics major are strongly urged to study these requirements for the major so that they can determine the optimum semester to study abroad. At Wesleyan we believe that the best study-abroad experience will include work done in the major, since this provides the student with a natural community of fellow students with shared interests and background and greatly facilitates the process of cultural integration. Physics majors are thus urged to consider direct enrollment in a university abroad where they can take courses related to their major interests.

The Physics Department cooperates with Dublin City University in Ireland to offer a preferred exchange program for physics majors. The spring semester opportunity allows students to study in a fully-integrated environment under the guidance of members of the Dublin City physics faculty who engage in collaborative research work with members of the Wesleyan Physics Department. Students will be placed in a laboratory and will participate actively in current research activities, working closely with Dublin City physics faculty.

BA/MA program in physics. This is a curricular option for those students who feel the need for the intensive research experience that a fifth year of study can afford. During the fifth year, the student will do additional course work and write an MA thesis based on original research. Tuition is not charged for the fifth year. Students interested in this possibility should consult the physics major advisor as early as possible, since it takes some planning to complete the requirements for both the BA and MA degrees in five years.

Program for nonmajors. The Physics Department offers two two-semester survey courses covering many of the main subject areas of physics (mechanics, electromagnetism and optics, thermodynamics, and kinetic theory), PHYS111/112 (no calculus) and PHYS113/116 (calculus). Two associated laboratory courses,  PHYS121/122, are also offered. Either of these two-semester course sequences (with the lab) should satisfy the physics requirement for admission to most schools of medicine, dentistry, or architecture, but occasionally schools require the calculus-based series, so attention to these details is necessary.

General Education courses. While the above courses are all excellent for General Education, the Physics Department offers topical general education courses. Designed for a general audience, they are more restricted in scope and explore in greater depth a particular area of physics. These courses are described in more detail in the course catalog.

Advanced Placement credit. You may receive one physics credit with a score of 5 on either physics AP exam. A score of 4 will fulfill introductory physics prerequisites.

Graduate Program

The Physics Department offers graduate work leading to the PhD and MA. The small size of the program (nine full-time faculty and about 15 graduate students) permits the design of individual programs of study and allows the development of a close working colleagueship among students and faculty. The department wants its students to do physics right from the start rather than spend one or two years solely on course work before getting into research. To this end, graduate students are expected to join in the research activities of the department upon arrival and must have done some work in at least two research areas before embarking on a thesis project. An interdisciplinary program in chemical physics is available to interested students. For more details, see the listing for chemical physics in the Chemistry Department.

For the PhD degree, in addition, students must have taken (or placed out of) five PhD-level graduate courses. Students must have demonstrated proficiency in the main subject areas of physics by the time they have completed the program. Each student, after passing the first examination (see below), selects an advisory committee of three faculty members. The committee assists the student to design a program of study, monitors progress, and makes annual recommendations to the department regarding the student's continuation in the program. The advisory committee also administers subsequent examinations described below.

Although the emphasis in the program is on independent research and scholarly achievement, graduate students are expected to improve their skills at teaching and other forms of oral communication. Each student is given the opportunity for some undergraduate teaching under direct faculty supervision. While this usually consists of participation in the teaching of undergraduate laboratories, direct classroom teaching experience is also possible for more advanced and qualified students. In addition, each student who has passed the candidacy examination (described below) is required to present an annual informal talk on his or her thesis work in a departmental seminar.

Experimental research areas are concentrated in atomic-molecular physics and condensed-matter physics. Current interests include Rydberg states in strong fields, molecular collisions, photoionization, laser-produced plasmas, quantum fluids, and granular and fluid flows. Current theoretical and computational research areas include nonlinear dynamics, quantum chaos, properties of nanostructures, and soft condensed matter.

Requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy

• Courses: In consultation with the advisory committee (or, for incoming students, with the graduate advisor), each student plans a program of study that will ensure an adequate grasp of the main subject areas of physics. e.g., quantum theory, including atomic and solid-state physics; electromagnetism and optics; classical dynamics and relativity theory; and thermal and statistical physics. While this will normally be a graduate-level (500) physics course, under special circumstances a lower-level physics course, a course in a related discipline, or a tutorial may be chosen.

• Research: During the first year, each student should associate with at least two different research groups by spending a semester with each group. During the second year, research with one of these groups may be continued or still another research area may be explored. This second-year research activity will normally form the basis for the PhD candidacy examination and may develop into the subject matter of the thesis.

• Examinations: Three formal examinations serve to define the various stages of the student's progress to the degree. The first, usually taken at the beginning of the second year, is a written examination on material at an advanced undergraduate level. Advancement to the second stage of candidacy depends on passing this examination as well as on course work and demonstrated research potential. Usually during the second semester of the second year, each student takes the PhD candidacy examination. This consists of an oral presentation before the student's advisory committee, describing and defending a specific research proposal. (The proposal might but need not grow out of previous research, nor need the proposal be adopted by the student as a thesis topic.) The committee then recommends to the department whether to admit the student to the final stage of PhD candidacy or whether to advise the student to seek an MA degree. The final oral examination, taken when the dissertation is completed, is described below.

• Dissertation: Each candidate is required to write a dissertation on original and significant research, either experimental or theoretical, supervised by a member of the faculty. The work must be defended in a final oral examination administered by the advisory committee. This oral examination covers the dissertation and related topics and is open to all members of the Wesleyan community. It is expected that the candidate will submit the results of his or her work to a scholarly journal for publication.

Requirements for the degree of master of arts:

• A minimum of eight credits with grades of B- or better is required for the MA degree. These may include three credits in research leading to the thesis, which is also required. Course selection is flexible and is done in consultation with the faculty advisor and with the members of the student's committee.

Last updated: June 11, 2008.

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