Astronomy

Mathematics

Faculty
Alexander Abanov, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Chicago: Theoretical condensed matter physics.
Philip B. Allen, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Theoretical solid-state physics; superconductors and superconductivity.
Ralf Averbeck, Research Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Universitaet Giessen, Germany: Experimental nuclear physics.
Dimitri Averin, 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.
Michael Creutz, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Stanford University: Theoretical particle physics.
Sally Dawson, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Harvard University: Theoretical physics; collider phenomenology.
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.
Steven Dierker, Adjunct Professor and Director, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana: Photon correlation 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.
Maria Concepcion Gonzalez-Garcia, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Universidad de Valencia: Particle physics phenomenology; neutrino 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., Stony Brook University: Experimental solid-state physics.
Thomas Hemmick, 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., Stony Brook University: 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.
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. Recipient of the State University Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2002.
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.
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.
Clark McGrew, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of California at Irvine: Experimental particle physics; neutrino physics.
John H. Marburger, Professor, former President of Stony Brook University and Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, White House; 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.
Peter Paul, Distinguished Service Professor and Acting Director, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 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 and Director, Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, 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, Ph.D., Utrecht University: Theoretical physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Jacobus Verbaarschot, Professor, Ph.D., University of Utrecht: Nuclear theory.
Frederick M. Walter, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley: Observational stellar astronomy.
Thomas Weinacht, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Michigan: Ultrafast optical physics; coherent control of molecular dynamics; time domain spectroscopy.
William I. Weisberger, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Theoretical physics. Member, Institute for Theoretical Physics.
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

1. Courses in Physics

   PHY 131/133, 132/134 Classical Physics I, II and Laboratories (see note)

   PHY 251/252 Modern Physics

   PHY 300 Waves and Optics

   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 131/133, 132/134.
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 are certified as satisfying the upper-division writing requirement by completing a writing project within their major. Scientific research results in journal publications use a terse language, but physicists and astronomers must also write engagingly in funding applications and in communicating their work to others, and this is what is expected in writing submitted to meet this requirement. Within the first month of the semester in which the student plans to satisfy the requirement, the student should speak with the course instructor or research supervisor about their intent to expand upon a course assignment (for example by adding a discussion of the history and significance of a physics experiment) or research project to meet the upper-division writing requirement. If there are questions over the suitability of the proposed writing project, the student should discuss the proposal with the undergraduate program director. Students are encouraged to seek comments on a draft of their text during the course of the semester, and the final text should be submitted to the instructor or research supervisor by the last day of classes for that semester. The course instructor or research supervisor will read the paper for evidence that the student’s writing meets the requirement and will forward the paper and their recommendation to the undergraduate program director for consideration; the undergraduate program director makes the final determination. The satisfaction of the writing requirement is certified independently of the course grade, and is best completed in the junior year.

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 277 Computing for Physics and Astronomy Majors
PHY 300 Waves and Optics
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
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 447 Tutorial in Advanced Topics
• PHY 472 Solid-State Physics
• PHY 487 Research

1. PHY 251/252 Modern Physics
2. PHY 300 Waves and Optics
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 300 Waves and Optics
   • ESE 321 Electromagnetic Waves and Wireless Communication
   • 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