Physics
Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Arts and Sciences

Chairperson: Paul Grannis
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Chris Jacobsen
Astronomy Coordinator: Frederick Walter
Undergraduate Secretary: Elaine Larsen
Office: P-110 Physics
Phone: (631) 632-8100
E-mail: Chris.Jacobsen@stonybrook.edu
Web address: http://insti.physics.sunysb.edu/Physics/

Minors of particular interest to students majoring in physics: electrical engineering (ESE), mathematics (MAT), optics (OPT), science and engineering (LSE)

Note: The requirements listed here include corrections to errors in the printed version of the 2001-2003 Undergraduate Bulletin.

Physics is the study of the basic physical principles that govern our universe. This study uses the language of mathematics and is applied in all other natural sciences (astronomy, chemistry, biology, geology, etc.) and engineering.

The objective of the major in physics is to teach students how to think in a scientific manner about the world.

This basic education is applicable to many fields (physics, engineering, computer programming, astronomy, geology, biophysics, medicine, medical technology, teaching, law, business, etc.). Since the basic principles of physics do not go out of style, and will be the basis for all new technology, the physics major provides knowledge of permanent value, hence the ability to adapt to new conditions. After graduation approximately half of our physics majors go on to graduate school, either in physics or in a related field (such as those mentioned above). The other half initially take positions in industry (in areas such as those mentioned above), but many of these return to graduate school at a later time.

Astronomy
See the Astronomy entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs for astronomy courses and major requirements.

Courses Offered in Physics

Requirements for the Major in Physics (PHY)
The major in physics leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Up to three physics courses passed with a C- may be applied to the major; all other courses offered must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. The requirements for the major in physics have changed effective Fall 2002. Changes are reflected in RED below.

Completion of the major requires approximately 64 credits.
Effective Fall 2002: Completion of the major requires approximately 60 credits.

1. Courses in Physics

   PHY 131, 132 Classical Physics I, II (see note)

   PHY 251/252 Modern Physics

   PHY 262/263 An Introduction to Solid-State Physics and Laboratory

   PHY 301 Electromagnetic Theory

   PHY 303 Mechanics

   PHY 306 Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics

   PHY 308 Quantum Physics

   PHY 335 Electronics and Instrumentation Laboratory

   PHY 352 Optics and Waves

   PHY 445 Senior Laboratory I

   
   Revised physics course requirements effective Fall 2002

   PHY 131, 132 Classical Physics I, II (see note)

   PHY 251/252 Modern Physics

   PHY 300 Optics and Waves

   PHY 301 Electromagnetic Theory

   PHY 303 Mechanics

   PHY 306 Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics

   PHY 308 Quantum Physics

   PHY 335 Electronics and Instrumentation Laboratory

   PHY 445 Senior Laboratory I

   
   Each course numbered above 300 must be completed with a grade of C or higher. At least four of these courses numbered above 300 must be taken at Stony Brook.
   Note: PHY 125, 126, 127 or 141, 142 may be substituted for PHY 131, 132.
2. Courses in Mathematics
   Equivalency for MAT courses achieved on the Mathematics Placement Examination is accepted as fulfillment of the corresponding requirements without the necessity of substituting other credits.
   1. One of the following sequences: MAT 131, 132 Calculus I, II
      or MAT 141, 142 Honors Calculus I, II
      or MAT 125, 126, 127 Calculus A, B, C
   2. One of the following:
      MAT 205 Calculus III
      or MAT 203 Calculus III with Applications
      or AMS 261 Applied Calculus III
   3. One of the following:
      MAT 305 Calculus IV
      or MAT 303 Calculus IV with Applications
      or AMS 361 Applied Calculus IV: Differential Equations
3. Courses in Related Fields
   Twelve credits of acceptable physics-related courses that complement a physics major’s education. A list of acceptable courses is posted in the Physics and Astronomy Undergraduate Office.
4. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
   Students satisfy this requirement in conjunction with their laboratory work in PHY 262/263, 335, 352, or 445. The student’s proficiency in writing according to standards of acceptable scientific communication is judged by examination of the student’s laboratory reports by the faculty member in charge of the course. Each student must attempt to pass this requirement before the end of the junior year. If the first attempt is judged unsatisfactory, the student must repeat the writing effort until a satisfactory level is achieved. Students must notify the instructor at the beginning of the semester when they intend to use the course’s laboratory reports for this requirement. The satisfaction of the writing requirement is certified independently of the course grade.

1. Students taking the PHY 125, 126, 127 sequence will have to delay portions of this program by one semester.
2. For the choices of physics electives, see the 400-level physics courses. Students are encouraged to include biology (BIO 201, 202) and chemistry (CHE 198 or CHE 131, 132) among their electives.

PHY 131 Classical Physics I or 141 Classical Physics I: Honors
PHY 132 Classical Physics II or 142 Classical Physics II: Honors
MAT 131 Calculus I
MAT 132 Calculus II

PHY 251/252 Modern Physics and Laboratory
PHY 262/263 Introduction to Solid-State Physics and Laboratory
MAT 205 Calculus III
MAT 305 Calculus IV
CHE 131, 132 or 141, 142 General Chemistry or Honors Chemistry
CHE 133, 134 or 143, 144 General Chemistry Laboratory or Honors Chemistry Laboratory

PHY 301, 302 Electromagnetic Theory
PHY 303 Mechanics
PHY 306 Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics
PHY 308 Quantum Physics
PHY 335 Electronics and Instrumentation Laboratory
PHY 352 Optics and Waves
MAT 341 Applied Real Analysis
MAT 342 Applied Complex Analysis

PHY 405 Advanced Quantum Physics
PHY 445 Senior Laboratory I
At least two courses selected from:
• PHY 403 Nonlinear Dynamics
• PHY 408 Relativity
• PHY 431 Nuclear and Particle Physics
• PHY 446 Senior Laboratory II
• PHY 447 Tutorial in Advanced Topics
• PHY 472 Solid-State Physics
• PHY 487 Research

1. PHY 251/252 Modern Physics
2. PHY 262/263 An Introduction to Solid-State Physics and Laboratory
3. PHY 301 Electromagnetic Theory
4. PHY 303 Mechanics
5. PHY 335 Electronics and Instrumentation Laboratory
6. One of the following:
   • PHY 306 Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics
   • CHE 302 Physical Chemistry II

1. PHY 251 Modern Physics
2. One of the following:
   • PHY 262/263 An Introduction to Solid-State Physics and Laboratory
   • ESG 281 An Engineering Introduction to the Solid State
3. One of the following:
   • PHY 301 Electromagnetic Theory
   • ESE 319 Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
4. PHY 303 Mechanics
5. One of the following:
   • PHY 306 Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics
   • ESM 309 Thermodynamics of Solids
   • MEC 398 Thermodynamics II
6. One of the following:
   • PHY 335 Electronics and Instrumentation Laboratory
   • ESE 314 Electronics Laboratory B

Alexander Abanov, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Chicago: Theoretical condensed matter physics.
Igor Aleiner, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Minnesota: Theoretical condensed matter physics.
Philip B. Allen, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Theoretical solid-state physics; superconductors and superconductivity.
Dimitri Averin, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Moscow State University: Solid-state physics.
Ilan Ben-Zvi, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute: Accelerator and beam physics.
Thomas Bergeman, Research Professor, Ph.D., Harvard University: Theoretical atomic physics.
Gerald E. Brown, Distinguished Professor, Ph.D., Yale University; D.Sc., University of Birmingham: Theoretical nuclear physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Robert L. deZafra, Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park: Experimental atmospheric sciences: remote sensing, stratospheric dynamics and trace constituent measurements, millimeter-wave spectroscopy.
Klaus Axel Drees, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Heidelberg: Experimental nuclear physics; relativistic ions.
Roderich Engelmann, Professor, Ph.D., University of Heidelberg: Experimental elementary particle physics.
Aaron Evans, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Hawaii: Observational extragalactic astronomy.
Miriam Forman, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., University at Stony Brook: Cosmic rays.
David B. Fossan, Professor, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison: Experimental nuclear physics; nuclear structure and reactions.
Marvin Geller, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Atmospheric dynamics.
Alfred S. Goldhaber, Professor, Ph.D., Princeton University: Theoretical physics; nuclear theory; particle physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Vladimir J. Goldman, Professor, Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park: Experimental condensed matter physics.
Erlend H. Graf, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Cornell University: Experimental low-temperature physics.
Paul D. Grannis, Distinguished Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Experimental high-energy physics; elementary particle reactions.
Michael Gurvitch, Professor, Ph.D., University at Stony Brook: Experimental solid-state physics.
Thomas Hemmick, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Rochester: Experimental relativistic heavy-ion nuclear physics. Recipient of the State University President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1996, and the State University Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1996.
John Hobbs, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Chicago: Experimental high-energy physics.
Barbara Jacak, Professor, Ph.D., Michigan State University: Experimental nuclear physics; relativistic heavy ions.
Chris Jacobsen, Professor, Ph.D., University at Stony Brook: X-ray physics.
Chang Kee Jung, Professor, Ph.D., Indiana University: Experimental high-energy physics.
Peter B. Kahn, Professor, Ph.D., Northwestern University: Theoretical physics; nonlinear dynamics.
Zurab Kakushadze, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Cornell University: String theory.
Janos Kirz, Distinguished Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: X-ray optics. Recipient of the State University Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1976.
Peter M. Koch, Professor, Ph.D., Yale University: Experimental atomic physics; quantum chaos; nonlinear dynamics.
Vladimir Korepin, Professor, Ph.D., Leningrad University: Exactly solvable models in quantum field theory. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
T.T.S. Kuo, Professor, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh: Nuclear theory.
Kenneth M. Lanzetta, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh: Observational cosmology.
James Lattimer, Professor, Ph.D., University of Texas: Nuclear astrophysics.
Linwood L. Lee, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., Yale University: Experimental nuclear structure.
Konstantin Likharev, Professor, Ph.D., Moscow State University: Solid-state physics.
Jack J. Lissauer, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Planetary science.
Robert Lourie, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Experimental nuclear physics; relativistic heavy ions.
James Lukens, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego: Experimental solid-state physics.
Robert L. McCarthy, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Experimental elementary particle physics.
Barry M. McCoy, Professor, Ph.D., Harvard University: Statistical mechanics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Robert L. McGrath, Professor, Provost and VP of Brookhaven Affairs, Ph.D., University of Iowa: Experimental physics; nuclear structure.
John H. Marburger, Professor, former President of the University at Stony Brook, and Director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, . Ph.D., Stanford University: Laser theory.
Michael Marx, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Experimental high-energy and relativistic heavy ion physics.
Emilio Mendez, Professor, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Interface Phenomena. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Solid-state experimental physics.
Harold J. Metcalf, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Ph.D., Brown University: Atomic physics; laser cooling and trapping; atom optics, precison Stark spectroscopy, lasers and optics teaching. Recipient of the State University Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1974.
Laszlo Mihaly, Professor, Ph.D., University of Budapest: Experimental low-temperature physics.
Richard A. Mould, Associate Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., Yale University: Theoretical physics; general relativity; quantum theory of measurements.
Herbert R. Muether, Emeritus Professor, Ph.D., Princeton University: Experimental nuclear physics; neutron physics. Recipient of the State University Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1978.
Robert Nathans, Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania: Energy; policy planning.
Luis Orozco, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin: Experimental atomic physics.
Peter Paul, Distinguished Service Professor, Ph.D., University of Freiburg: Experimental nuclear physics.
Stephen G. Peggs, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Cornell University: Accelerator physics.
Deane M. Peterson, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Harvard University: Observational astronomy.
Madappa Prakash, Research Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Bombay, India: Theoretical nuclear physics.
Michael Rijssenbeek, Professor, Ph.D., University of Amsterdam: Experimental high-energy physics.
Martin Rocek, Professor, Ph.D., Harvard University: Theoretical physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Vasili Semenov, Research Associate Professor, Ph.D., Moscow State University: Experimental condensed matter physics.
Robert Shrock, Professor, Ph.D., Princeton University: Theoretical physics; gauge theories, statistical mechanics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Edward Shuryak, Professor, Ph.D., Novosibirsk Institute of Nuclear Physics: Theoretical nuclear physics.
Warren Siegel, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Theoretical physics; strings. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Michal Simon, Professor, Ph.D., Cornell University: Astronomy.
John Smith, Professor, Ph.D., University of Edinburgh: Elementary particle physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Philip M. Solomon, Distinguished Professor, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin: Galactic and extragalactic astromony.
Gene D. Sprouse, Professor, Ph.D., Stanford University: Experimental nuclear structure.
Peter W. Stephens, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Experimental solid-state physics.
George Sterman, Professor, Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park: Theoretical physics; elementary particles. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Clifford E. Swartz, Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., University of Rochester: School curriculum revision.
F. Douglas Swesty, Research Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University at Stony Brook: Computational nuclear astrophysics.
Peter Van Nieuwenhuizen, Professor and Director of Yang Institute of Theoretical Physics, Ph.D., Utrecht University: Theoretical physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Jacobus Verbaarschot, Professor, Ph.D., University of Utrecht: Nuclear theory.
Frederick M. Walter, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Observational stellar astronomy.
William I. Weisberger, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Theoretical physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Ralph Wijers, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Amsterdam: Theoretical high-energy astrophysics.
Amos Yahil, Professor, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology: Astronomy.
Chen Ning Yang, Einstein Professor Emeritus, D.Sc., Princeton University; Ph.D., University of Chicago: Theoretical physics; field theory; statistical mechanics; particle physics.
Ismail Zahed, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Theoretical nuclear physics.

Teaching Assistants
Estimated number: 46