PHYS 572
Spring 2019
| Section:
01
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| This course may be repeated for credit. |
Symmetries underlie the great conservation laws. For example, conservation of momentum is a consequence of translation invariance; energy conservation is a manifestation of time invariance.
PHYS572 will be devoted to a survey of the role of symmetry in physics. Symmetry has many more consequences in physics than just explaining the conservation laws; it underlies and unifies the mathematical description of nature in all the branches of physics. The course will begin with the symmetries underlying the conservation laws of classical mechanics and then use symmetry as a springboard toward a deeper understanding of the structure of mechanics. We will then turn our attention to quantum mechanics, exploring how the theory of point groups and continuous rotation groups can be used to generate bases for quantum mechanical states. The meaning and significance of results ranging from selection rules to the Wigner-Eckart theorem will be examined.
Examples will be drawn predominantly from atomic and molecular physics, but the applicability of the results to other branches of physics, including condensed matter and high energy physics, will be explored. Along the way, we'll take time to examine concepts such as accidental symmetry and broken symmetry. |
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| Credit: .5 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
None |
| Course Format: Lecture | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: GRAD |
Prerequisites: PHYS515 |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
TBA
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Examinations and Assignments:
TBA |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Graduate course open for qualified undergraduate students by permission of instructor (PHYS 315 is a prerequisite). |
| Instructor(s): Stewart,Brian A. Times: ...W... 02:50PM-04:20PM; Location: SCIE221; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 10 | | SR major: 2 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 3 | GRAD: 8 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: X | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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