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Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy provides comprehensive and rigorous instruction in all basic aspects of its subjects. It also provides research facilities and guidance in selected specialties for advanced individual scholarly work.

Total departmental enrollment is approximately 1,700 each semester of the academic year and 150 during the summer session. All courses and advanced laboratories are taught by faculty members. Faculty members also supervise associated laboratories taught by graduate students.

Beyond the elementary level, typical course enrollment is 15-20; there is ample opportunity for individual work. Special introductory courses are offered for majors in physics and astronomy and for others with special interest in these subjects. There are about 80 undergraduate majors, half of whom are honors students, and 60 graduate students in physics or astronomy.

About 70 percent of graduates with bachelor's degrees pursue advanced study. Others find positions in government and industrial laboratories and in secondary school teaching. Some use their training as the basis for careers in other fields.

Graduates with an M.S. or Ph.D. in physics or astronomy have opportunities for employment in universities, colleges, and research laboratories in government and industry.

Undergraduate Programs

The department offers a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts, and an undergraduate minor in physics and in astronomy. It also offers a double major in physics and astronomy and a Bachelor of Science in applied physics.

Bachelor of Science in Physics

The Bachelor of Science in physics requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 60 s.h. of work for the major. It provides preparation for careers in industry, employment in research laboratories, and graduate study in physics and related sciences.

The B.S. major in physics requires the following courses or their equivalents. Students satisfy the following mathematics and laboratory requirements as well as the "Other Required Courses." The department encourages students to do additional work. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

MATHEMATICS 

LABORATORY 

One of these: 

Students who choose 029:128 Electronics as one of their two required laboratory courses are advised to take it before they take 029:132 Intermediate Laboratory.

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 

Two of these: 

Undergraduate majors who plan to pursue graduate study are advised to go as far as they can beyond the minimum requirements listed above, including further work in mathematics. In planning this work, they should be guided by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences maximum hours rule: Students earning a B.A. or B.S. may apply a maximum of 50 s.h. earned in one department to the minimum 120 s.h. required for graduation, whether or not the course work is accepted toward requirements for the major; students who earn more than 50 s.h. from one department may use the additional semester hours to satisfy requirements for the major (if the department accepts them), and the grades they earn become part of their grade-point average; but they cannot apply the additional semester hours to the minimum 120 s.h. required for graduation.

Students earning a B.S. with a double major in physics and astronomy may count more than 50 s.h. earned in the Department of Physics and Astronomy to the 120 s.h. required for graduation, but they must earn at least 56 s.h. in course work outside the department in order to graduate.

Bachelor of Arts in Physics

The Bachelor of Arts in physics requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 48 s.h. of work for the major. It is designed for students who wish to gain knowledge of physics but do not plan a research-oriented career in physics. The program is appropriate for those planning careers in medicine, law, science-related administration, business, technical writing, or secondary-school science teaching; see Science Education (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) in the Catalog.

The B.A. requires fewer physics courses than the B.S. and provides for a wider choice of electives.

The B.A. major requires the following courses or their equivalents. The department encourages students to do additional work. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. 

One of these: 

Students may earn a B.A. with a double major in the department; see "B.S. or B.A. with Double Major in Physics and Astronomy" below.

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

The Bachelor of Science in applied physics requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 60-83 s.h. of work for the major. It is intended primarily for students interested in a broad program of study in physics combined with a significant concentration of courses in an applied field that has immediate application to industry. The degree provides a foundation for a wide range of employment opportunities in high-technology industries, including research and development, product design and testing, sales, and quality control. It also is designed to include exposure to physics sufficient to allow the student to continue with graduate studies in either physics or astronomy.

The program offers four areas of concentration: optics, solid-state electronics, computer science, and medical physics. A student also may design a customized concentration area in close consultation with his or her advisor, and with departmental approval.

An essential component of each concentration is successful completion of a one-semester industrial internship or practicum experience in a research laboratory (an applied physics thesis is required for the latter option). This requirement may result in the need for a ninth semester to fulfill all requirements.

Because of this, the Four-Year Graduation Plan is not available for the B.S. in applied physics. Well-prepared students will be able to complete the degree in four years. Students should work closely with their advisors on a graduation plan.

The B.S. in applied physics requires the following courses. Students are encouraged to take additional course work. Advisors can suggest electives that will enrich programs and help students prepare for graduate work. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

COMMON REQUIREMENTS

In addition to satisfying mathematics requirements (see listings under Bachelor of Science in Physics), students must successfully complete the following courses or their equivalents. 

COMPUTER SCIENCE CONCENTRATION 

One of these: 

OPTICS CONCENTRATION 

Two of these: 

SOLID-STATE ELECTRONICS CONCENTRATION 

One of these: 

MEDICAL PHYSICS CONCENTRATION 

One of these: 

One of these: 

Bachelor of Science in Astronomy

The Bachelor of Science in astronomy requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 64 s.h. of work for the major. It provides a balanced and integrated program of astronomy, mathematics, and physics courses that prepare students for advanced study in astronomy or astrophysics. It also serves as an interesting choice of major for a liberal arts education.

The B.S. in astronomy requires the following courses or their equivalents. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

MATHEMATICS 

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 

One of these: 

One of these:

Undergraduate majors who plan to pursue graduate study are advised to go as far as they can beyond the minimum requirements listed above, by taking one or more of the courses listed below. In planning this work, they should be guided by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences maximum hours rule: Students earning a B.A. or B.S. may apply a maximum of 50 s.h. earned in one department to the minimum 120 s.h. required for graduation, whether or not the course work is accepted toward requirements for the major; students who earn more than 50 s.h. from one department may use the additional semester hours to satisfy requirements for the major (if the department accepts them), and the grades they earn become part of their grade-point average; but they cannot apply the additional semester hours to the minimum 120 s.h. required for graduation.

Students earning a B.S. with a double major in physics and astronomy may count more than 50 s.h. earned in the Department of Physics and Astronomy to the 120 s.h. required for graduation, but they must earn at least 56 s.h. in course work outside the department in order to graduate. 

Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy

The Bachelor of Arts in astronomy requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 52 s.h. of work for the major. It is designed for students who wish to gain considerable knowledge of astronomy but who do not plan a research-oriented career in the field. The B.A. is appropriate for those planning careers in secondary school science teaching or science-related administration; see Science Education (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) in the Catalog. It also is appropriate for those preparing for professional school. The B.A. requires fewer physics and mathematics courses than the B.S., and thus provides for a wider choice of electives.

The B.A. in astronomy requires the following courses or their equivalents. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. 

One of these: 

One of these: 

Students may earn a B.A. with a double major in the department; see "B.S. or B.A. with Double Major in Physics and Astronomy" below.

B.S. or B.A. with Double Major in Physics and Astronomy

Students working toward a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with a double major in physics and astronomy must complete all requirements for both majors and must earn a minimum of 56 s.h. outside the Department of Physics and Astronomy in order to graduate. Students interested in earning a double major should consult with their advisors. See "Earning a Degree" in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Academic Handbook.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan. (Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.)

B.A. in Astronomy

Before the third semester begins: math through calculus I and II, physics I and II, and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: physics III and IV, at least one more course in the major, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: three more courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: nine courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.S. in Astronomy

Before the third semester begins: calculus I and II, physics II, and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: math through vector calculus, physics III and IV, linear algebra, two other courses in the major, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: four more courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: three more courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A. and B.S. in Physics

Before the third semester begins: calculus II, physics II, and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: physics III and IV, introduction to linear algebra, calculus III, up to two more courses in the major, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: two to four more courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: two or three more courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

Junior and senior physics and astronomy majors who are members of the University of Iowa Honors Program may take 6-8 s.h. of 029:099 Undergraduate Research and conduct an investigation with the guidance of a faculty member as part of their programs for the B.A. or B.S. with honors in physics, applied physics, or astronomy. They must present a written research report (honors thesis) and describe the results of the research at a departmental seminar.

Membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program requires that students maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information).

Minor in Physics

The minor in physics requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in physics, including 12 s.h. taken at The University of Iowa, chosen from 029:029 Physics III, 029:030 Physics IV, and 100-level physics courses. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 for all work in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Before enrolling in 029:029 Physics III, students must complete that course's prerequisites (029:027 Physics I and 029:028 Physics II, or 029:081 Introductory Physics I and 029:082 Introductory Physics II).

There is no minor offered in applied physics.

Minor in Astronomy

The minor in astronomy requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in astronomy and physics courses, including 12 s.h. of upper-level course work and 12 s.h. taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 for all work in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass.

The upper-level course work must include 6 s.h. chosen from 029:119 Introduction to Astrophysics I, 029:120 Introduction to Astrophysics II, and 029:137 Astronomical Laboratory. Remaining work may be chosen from any 100-level astronomy or physics courses.

Graduate Programs

The department offers a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in physics, and a Master of Science in astronomy. Students who wish to pursue a program in astronomy beyond the M.S. may qualify for a Ph.D. in physics with a specialization and dissertation in astronomy or astrophysics. An M.S. is not prerequisite to a Ph.D.

All graduate students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. in physics must pass the qualifying exam (see "Doctor of Philosophy in Physics").

Each entering graduate student is assigned a faculty advisor, who assists in preparing a plan of study and in guiding the student's progress.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy participates in an interdisciplinary doctoral program, the Program in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences (see Graduate College in the Catalog).

Master of Science in Physics

The Master of Science in physics requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. It is offered with thesis, or critical essay, or by examination. The M.S. with thesis requires a thesis based on an original experimental or theoretical investigation by the student. The M.S. with critical essay requires a critical essay on the literature of a particular area of physics.

The M.S. may be a terminal degree or a step toward a Ph.D. In either case, the final examination is oral, conducted by a committee of three faculty members.

Students in the physics M.S. with thesis program earn the required 30 s.h. of graduate credit in courses numbered 170 or above, with at least 15 s.h. at the 200 level, a g.p.a. of at least 3.00, and a thesis based on an original experimental or theoretical investigation by the student. Students may earn a maximum of 6 s.h. in 029:220 Individual Critical Study or 029:281 Research: Physics. Up to one-third of the graduate program may be taken in related scientific fields other than physics and mathematics (e.g., chemistry, astronomy, geology, engineering).

Students in the physics M.S. with critical essay program earn the required 30 s.h. of graduate credit in courses numbered 170 or above, with at least 15 s.h. at the 200 level, a g.p.a. of at least 3.00, an independent study of the literature on a chosen topic, and preparation of a critical essay on that topic. Students may earn a maximum of 4 s.h. in 029:220 Individual Critical Study or 029:281 Research: Physics. Up to one-third of the graduate program may be taken in related scientific fields other than physics and mathematics (e.g., chemistry, astronomy, geology, engineering).

Students in the physics M.S. by examination program earn the required 30 s.h. of graduate credit with 18 s.h. in the core graduate courses 029:205 Classical Mechanics, 029:212 Statistical Mechanics I, 029:213 Classical Electrodynamics I, 029:214 Classical Electrodynamics II, 029:245 Quantum Mechanics I, and 029:246 Quantum Mechanics II, and the remaining 12 s.h. in courses numbered 170 or above. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 in the core graduate courses. Students may earn a maximum of 4 s.h. in 029:220 Individual Critical Study or 029:281 Research: Physics. Up to one-third of the graduate program may be taken in related scientific fields other than physics and mathematics (e.g., chemistry, astronomy, geology, engineering).

The student's plan of study should provide for as much advanced work as aptitude and previous preparation permit.

Master of Science in Astronomy

The Master of Science in astronomy requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. It is offered either with or without thesis. The M.S. may be a terminal degree or a step toward a Ph.D. in physics with specialization and a dissertation in astronomy or astrophysics. In either case the final examination is oral, conducted by a committee of three faculty members.

Students in the astronomy M.S. with thesis program earn the required 30 s.h. in courses numbered 170 or above, with at least 15 s.h. at the 200 level, and a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. The 30 s.h. must include at least 6 s.h. chosen from 029:232 Theoretical Astrophysics I, 029:233 Theoretical Astrophysics II, 029:234 Stellar Structure and Evolution, and 029:235 Special Topics in Astrophysics. Students may earn a maximum of 6 s.h. in 029:220 Individual Critical Study and 029:282 Research: Astronomy. Seminars do not count for credit toward the 30 s.h. requirement. Up to one-third of the course work may be in graduate courses in related fields, such as meteorology, geology, and electrical engineering; selection of such courses is encouraged.

Students in the astronomy M.S. nonthesis program earn 18 s.h. of the required 30 s.h. in the core graduate courses 029:205 Classical Mechanics, 029:213 Classical Electrodynamics I, 029:214 Classical Electrodynamics II, 029:232 Theoretical Astrophysics I, 029:233 Theoretical Astrophysics II, 029:234 Stellar Structure and Evolution, and 029:235 Special Topics in Astrophysics. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 in the core graduate courses. Students may earn a maximum of 4 s.h. in 029:220 Individual Critical Study and 029:282 Research: Astronomy. Seminars do not count toward the required 30 s.h. Up to one-third of the course work may be in graduate courses in related fields, such as meteorology, geology, and electrical engineering; selection of such courses is encouraged.

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

The Doctor of Philosophy in physics requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit.

Graduate students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in physics must pass a qualifying examination in all principal areas of physics at the level of first-year graduate work. The examination, which may be repeated only once, is given each year before the beginning of the fall semester. Students must take the exam for the first time no later than the start of their third year of graduate study.

All Ph.D. students must take comprehensive examinations; participate in advanced seminars; do original research in experimental physics, theoretical physics, or astrophysics; and prepare and defend a written dissertation based on this work.

The program of study for the Ph.D. with a major in physics includes thorough course work in both classical and quantum physics for all students, whether their specialized research is to be in an experimental or a theoretical area.

Students must take at least 24 s.h. of 200-level courses in the department, excluding 029:220 Individual Critical Study, 029:281 Research: Physics, 029:282 Research: Astronomy, and seminars. The following courses are required. 

Advanced mathematics, such as complex variables and tensor analysis, is used freely in these courses. An introduction is given in 029:171 Mathematical Methods of Physics I and 029:172 Mathematical Methods of Physics II. The selection of less advanced course work depends on the adequacy of a student's preparation for graduate work; students' choice of more advanced and specialized courses depends on the direction in which their interests develop.

After a student has chosen a research specialty, he or she must submit a formal thesis proposal and defend the proposal in an oral comprehensive exam. The appropriate thesis advisor then becomes the candidate's general advisor and the chair of the comprehensive and final examination committee. The comprehensive exam must be taken before the beginning of the fourth year of graduate study.

Ph.D. candidates are not recommended for the degree until they have written the dissertation in proper form for formal publication and have submitted it for publication, with the approval of the research advisor, to a widely distributed, refereed scientific journal.

Admission

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Financial Support

Students qualified for graduate study are encouraged to apply for fellowships and assistantships. Contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy chair.

Research, Facilities

The department has an excellent library and a number of well-equipped laboratories and observatories, as well as a student computer cluster for which students can obtain accounts. Faculty, students, and staff access national supercomputers via the Internet. The central machine shop is fully equipped and staffed by skilled instrument makers and machinists, and there are electronics and machine shops for use by advanced students and research staff.

Experimental research is conducted in astronomy (optical, radio, and X-ray), atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, laser physics, medical physics, plasma physics, and space physics. Extensive facilities are available for construction of specialized research equipment and for data processing and analysis.

State-of-the-art semiconductor materials and devices are grown in two molecular beam epitaxy machines. Ultrafast laser techniques are developed and used to probe electron transport, energy relaxation, recombination, and spin dynamics in the novel nanostructures grown in these machines. Experiments also are conducted on laser-induced coherent phenomena and coherent control of charge carriers in semiconductor nanostructures. The experimental condensed matter program is closely coordinated with the condensed matter theory group.

Plasma physics is an active area of experimental and theoretical research. Laboratory experiments studying plasma processes of importance in various space and astrophysical plasmas are performed in a Q machine, including experiments on waves and instabilities in dusty plasmas. Additional laboratory and microgravity experiments with dusty plasmas include studies of Coulomb crystals, shocks, and complex fluids. Glow discharges for plasma processing applications are studied using laser diagnostics and numerical simulations. Wave propagation and plasma particle dynamics also are studied in collisionless plasmas through laboratory experiments. Laser techniques are developed for measuring plasma flow and following particle orbits. Plasma theory efforts include analytical and numerical investigations of magnetic reconnection and turbulence in space and astrophysical plasmas; collaboration with laboratory and space plasma experimental groups in strongly coupled dusty plasmas, waves, and instabilities; and free electron lasers and hydrodynamic turbulence.

State-of-the-art laser systems are available for high-resolution spectroscopic measurement and ultrafast studies of molecular structure, for collisional relaxation and nonlinear optical effects in atomic and molecular systems, and for plasma diagnostics.

Experimental research in elementary particle physics is carried out at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, CERN in Switzerland, and other international laboratories. The present generation of high-energy experiments has been designed to probe both the strong nuclear force and the weak interactions.

The department is well-equipped for research and instruction in observational astronomy. The primary optical instrument is a fully automated 15-inch telescope at a dark-sky site in Arizona. The telescope is equipped with CCD cameras and a variety of filters. There are 3-meter and 4.5-meter radio telescopes on the roof of Van Allen Hall, which are used for instruction and student research projects.

Research programs in galactic and extragalactic radio astronomy are carried out using the facilities of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, including the Very Large Array and the Very Long Baseline Array, one element of which is 10 miles north of campus. Current long-term research activities include studies of the center of the Milky Way galaxy; investigations of extragalactic radio sources; the formation of powerful winds in young, luminous stars; radio-wave scattering in the interstellar and interplanetary media; and interacting binary stars. A research program in X-ray astronomy has been established, and there is a laboratory for instrument development. Research topics in X-ray astronomy concentrate on observations of X-ray emission from black holes and supernova remnants, using existing spacecraft.

Active theoretical research is carried on in astrophysics; atomic, molecular, and optical physics; condensed matter physics; elementary particle physics; laser physics; mathematical physics; nuclear physics; plasma physics; and space physics. An active mathematical physics seminar fosters the exchange of ideas between mathematics and physics.

The primary emphasis of Iowa's program in experimental and theoretical space physics is on studies of cosmic and heliospheric physics, magnetospheric physics, and magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions. Facilities are available for designing and constructing spaceflight instruments. Investigators in the department have flown instruments for studying plasmas, energetic charged particles, auroral images, plasma waves, and radio emissions on a wide variety of terrestrial and planetary spacecraft, including Pioneer 10 and 11, Dynamics Explorer, Voyager 1 and 2, Galileo, Polar, Cassini, and Mars Express.