Transcript of Selected Undergraduate Courses

Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics - University of Calgary

Electromagnetic Theory I, II, & III

Text: Introduction to Electrodynamics by D. J. Griffiths

Topics: Maxwell's equations; wave solutions; insulating and conducting media; waveguides; radiation from accelerated charges; relativistic formulation; DC circuits; Lorentz force; electromagnetic induction; capacitors; inductors

Grades: A, A+, A+

Classical Mechanics I & II

Text: Analytical Mechanics by G. R. Fowles & G. L. Cassiday

Topics: Conservative and non-conservative forces; harmonic oscillators; phase-space analysis; central forces; non-inertial frames; Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics; rigid bodies; inertia tensor; eigensystems; perturbation theory

Grades: A, A

Statistical Mechanics I & II

Texts: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics by W. Greiner, L. Neise, & H. Stöcker and Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach by Y. A. Çengel & M. A. Boles

Topics: Probability theory; entropy; ensemble theory; equations of state; heat capacity; equipartition theorem; engines; thermodynamics; non-equilibrium systems; Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution; thermodynamic potentials; bosons and fermions; quantum counting; blackbody radiation; phase transitions; criticality; Ising model; mean-field theory

Grades: A, A

Quantum Mechanics I & II

Texts: Quantum Physics: An Introduction Based on Photons by A. I. Lvovsky and Principles of Quantum Mechanics by R. Shankar

Topics: Quantum postulates; Hilbert spaces; polarization; measurements; quantum cryptography; observables; entanglement; mixed states; causality; the Bell inequality; decoherence; quantum computation; De Broglie waves; continuous observables; Schrodinger equation; Heisenberg picture; coherent states; angular momentum; spin; the Bloch sphere; complex systems

Grades: A+, A-

Computational Physics I

Text: Computation Physics R. Ouyed & W. Dobler

Topics: Fortran 90/95; gnuplot; round-off errors; machine precision; under- and overflow; linear systems; Gaussian elimination; LU decomposition; the Mandelbrot fractal; the Burning Ship fractal;

Grade: A

Relativity

Text: Dynamics and Relativity by J. R. Forshaw & A. G. Smith

Topics: Lorentz transformations in classical mechanics; relativistic kinematics; spacetime diagrams; relativistic energy and momentum conservation; Geometrical interpretation; applications of relativistic kinematics; four-vector formalism and tensors; introduction to general relativity

Grade: A+

High Energy Astrophysics and Cosmology

Text: High-Energy Astrophysics: A Primer by J. E. Horvath

Topics: High-energy continuum radiation processes; shocks; supernovae and supernova remnants; white dwarfs; neutron stars; black holes; multi-messenger astrophysics; transient sources; active galactic nuclei; clusters of galaxies and cosmology

Grade: A

Galactic Astrophysics

Texts: Galaxies in the Universe: An Introduction by L. S. Sparke & J. S. Gallagher, III and Galaxy Formation and Evolution by H. Mo, F. vd. Bosch, & S. White

Topics: The Milky Way galaxy; space distribution of stars and interstellar material; kinematics and dynamics of stellar systems; rotation and spiral structure; classification and global properties of galaxies; active galaxies

Grade: A

Stellar Structure and Evolution

Text: Theory of Stellar Structure and Evolution by D. Prialnik

Topics: Observational properties of stars; equations of stellar structure; physics of stellar interiors; structure and evolution of stars; white dwarfs; neutron stars; black holes; observational aspects of stellar atmospheres; radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres; opacity; spectral line formation

Grade: A

Modern Physics

Text: Modern Physics by K. Krane

Topics: Special theory of relativity; origins of quantum mechanics; wave mechanics and applications; nuclear physics and radioactivity

Grade: A+