Physics and Astronomy
Department Head: Dr. Mark Novotny
Graduate Coordinator
: Dr. Henk F. Arnoldus
140 Hilbun Hall
Box 5167
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Telephone: 662-325-2919
Fax: 662-325-8898
E-mail: hfa1@msstate.edu
Website: http://physics.msstate.edu
Graduate study is offered in the Department of Physics and Astronomy leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Physics and to the Doctor of Philosophy in Physics. Both thesis and non-thesis options are offered for the Master of Science. An interdisciplinary program leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering with a concentration in Applied Physics is available. A specific program, depending on the research interest of the student, is established by consultation between the student and his/her advisor. The department requires an M.S. (either thesis or non-thesis) from Mississippi State University or another recognized university as a prerequisite for admission to the Ph.D. graduate program. The non-thesis M.S. option provides a means of enabling the Ph.D.-track student to complete graduate education in a timely manner.
Major areas of study are:
- computational physics,
- theoretical and experimental optics;
- diagnostics using the techniques of laser spectroscopy;
- experimental and theoretical nuclear structure physics;
- intermediate energy nuclear physics;
- experimental and applied electromagnetic scattering;
- astrophysics;
- astrochemistry.
Graduate research and teaching assistantships are available.
Admission Criteria
TOEFL and IELTS scores are used following the General Requirements for Admission by the University.
Provisional Admission
A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the appropriate department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. The student must have as his or her initial objective advancement to regular status. A student admitted provisionally is eligible for advancement to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of regular graduate-level courses attempted after admission to the program. Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 GPA is not attained, the provisional student may be dismissed from the graduate program.
Academic Performance
A candidate for a degree must average B or higher on all courses attempted for graduate credit after admission to the program. No grade under C will be accepted for graduate credit; thus, a student may be terminated if he or she obtains more than two grades below a C in courses taken for graduate credit or fails to obtain a C or better in any repeated course. With the approval of the graduate coordinator and the college dean, a student may retake one course per degree, except for those approved for repeated credit (e.g. special topics, individual studies, thesis, dissertation, etc.). Both courses will remain on the permanent transcript, and both grades will be computed in final averages. This policy applies to all courses (even those not on the program of study) taken as a graduate student related to a specific program. Repeated courses must be taken at Mississippi State University. No additional program credit hours will be generated from a repeated course.
Prerequisite and Core Courses
A Bachelor of Science in physics/physical sciences or related fields will be considered as a prerequisite for receiving graduate credit for physics and astronomy graduate courses. For additional information, contact the Graduate Coordinator .
Master of Science in Physics - Thesis
| Core Courses | ||
| PH 8233 | Methods of Theoretical Physics I | 3 |
| PH 8743 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Methods of Theoretical Physics II | ||
| Mechanics | ||
| Electromagnetic Theory | ||
| Other coursework | 12 | |
| Thesis | ||
| PH 8000 | Thesis Research/ Thesis in Physics and Astronomy | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
A thesis is required.
Master of Science in Physics - Non-Thesis
| Core Coursework | ||
| PH 8213 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PH 8233 | Methods of Theoretical Physics I | 3 |
| PH 8243 | Methods of Theoretical Physics II | 3 |
| PH 8313 | Electromagnetic Theory | 3 |
| PH 8743 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PH 8753 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| Other coursework | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Students must pass a written qualifying examination on the Physics core courses listed. After successfully passing the qualifying exam, non-thesis M.S. students are required to pass an oral comprehensive exam.
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
All Ph.D. candidates will be required to take a minimum of 20 credit hours of PH 9000 Research/Dissertation. The committee for individual students may require additional courses, depending on the research area and background of the student. All students must pass an oral preliminary examination on the proposed dissertation topic and coursework.
In addition, all Ph.D. candidates are required to demonstrate a broad background in physics by passing four written preliminary examinations given on classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, mathematical physics, and quantum mechanics. These four exams are required for a non-thesis M.S. degree in Physics at MSU. The M.S. core curriculum is PH 8213 (Mechanics), PH 8233 (Methods of Theoretical Physics I), PH 8243 (Methods of Theoretical Physics II), PH 8313 (Electromagnetic Theory I), PH 8743 (Quantum Mechanics I), and PH 8753 (Quantum Mechanics II). These courses should be viewed as prerequisites to admission to the Ph.D. program.
PH 6013 Selected Topics in Physics for Teachers: 3 hours.
Two hours classwork, three hours laboratory. For teachers. Basic concepts of physics. Will include discussion and clarification of material from currently adopted public school textbooks
PH 6113 Electronic Circuits for Scientists: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 1133 or PH 2223 and MA 2733). Two hours lecture and three hours laboratory. DC and AC circuits. Resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and transistors in basic analog circuits. Topics include filters, tuned circuits, power supplies, amplifiers and oscillators
PH 6143 Intermediate Laboratory: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Junior standing). Six hours laboratory. Data analysis. Experiments in classical and modern physics. Scientific report writing
PH 6213 Intermediate Mechanics I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 1133 or PH 2233 and MA 2733). Three hours lecture. Plane statics and dynamics of particles and systems of particles with emphasis on both derivation and application of principles involved
PH 6223 Intermediate Mechanics II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 4213/6213). Three hours lecture. Statics and dynamics of particles in three dimensional space using vector notation; Lagrange's equations; introduction to the special theory of relativity
PH 6323 Electromagnetic Fields I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 1133 or PH 2233 and MA 2743). Three hours lecture. Electrostatics, dielectrics, electric current, magnetostatics, electromagnetic induction, magnetic properties of matter
PH 6333 Electromagnetic Fields II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 4323/6323). Three hours lecture. Maxwell's equations, propagation of electromagnetic waves in free space and in matter, reflection and refraction, radiation
PH 6413 Thermal Physics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 3613 and MA 2743). Three hours lecture. Thermodynamics, kinetic theory, classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Applications to low temperature physics, solid-state physics and plasma physics
PH 6433 Computational Physics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites:PH 3613 and MA 3253).Three hours lecture. An Introduction to modern methods of computational physics including topics such as:solution of differential equations, numerical matrix methods, and Monte Carlo simulation
PH 6513 Intermediate Optics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 1123 or PH 2233 and MA 2733). Three hours lecture. Geometrical optics and physical optics
PH 6613 Nuclear and Particle Physics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 3613). Three hours lecture. Special theory of relativity; nuclear structure; radioactivity; nuclear reactions; nuclear forces; fission; fusion; high energy particle and astrophysics. Experimental apparatuses and techniques
PH 6713 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 3613 and MA 3253). Three hours lecture. Principles of quantum mechanics, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, angular momentum; the Schrodinger wave equation in one and three dimensions; the one-electron atom
PH 6723 Applications of Quantum Mechanics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 4713/6713). Three hours lecture. Introduction to perturbation theory and quantum statistics. Topics selected from multi-electron atoms, diatomic molecules, solid state and nuclear physics
PH 6813 Introduction to Solid State Physics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 3613). Three hours lecture. Crystal structure, crystal diffraction and the reciprocal lattice, crystal binding, free electron gas, energy bands, and semiconductors
PH 6990 Special Topics in Physics and Astronomy: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
PH 7000 Directed Individual Study in Physics and Astronomy: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
PH 8000 Thesis Research/ Thesis in Physics and Astronomy: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
PH 8213 Mechanics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: A good undergraduate training in physics and mathematics consent of instructor). Coordinate systems and transformations, tensors, and matrices. Particle dynamics, variational principles, Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations, rigid body motion, special relativity in mechanics
PH 8233 Methods of Theoretical Physics I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Topics will vary, but may include linear vector spaces, tensor analysis, group theory, function space and orthogonal polynomials
PH 8243 Methods of Theoretical Physics II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 8233). Topics will vary but may include analytic functions, Fourier analysis, Green's functions, integral transforms, partial differential equations and integral equations
PH 8313 Electromagnetic Theory: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 4333 or equivalent). Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. Boundary value problems in electrostatics, static multipole moments, theory of dielectrics, magnetostatics, plane electromagnetic waves, simple radiating systems. (Same as ECE 8313)
PH 8323 Electromagnetic Theory II: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Maxwwell's theory of electromagnetism: Electromagnetic waves,time-dependent multipole, expansions, radiation, waveguides, scattering diffraction, and specialty relativity . (Same as ECE 8323 )
PH 8513 Statistical Mechanics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 4713 and PH 4413 ). Classical and quantum statistical mechanics and statistical interpretation of thermodynamic quantities
PH 8613 Nuclear Physics I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 4723). Nuclear two-body problem and nuclear forces. Interpretation of experimental data through a study of nuclear models. Nuclear reactions and spectroscopy
PH 8743 Quantum Mechanics I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 4723 and MA 3313). Schrodinger theory, spherically symmetric systems, matrix mechanics, angular momentum and spin, time-independent perturbation theory
PH 8753 Quantum Mechanics II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: PH 8743). Time dependent perturbation theory, identical particles, theory of scattering, quantum-statistical mechanics, introduction of relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics
PH 8803 Molecular Structure: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 8743). Theory of rotational, vibrational and electronic spectra of molecules. Molecular structure and determination of molecular constants
PH 8990 Special Topics in Physics and Astronomy: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
PH 9000 Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Physics: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged