Molecular symmetry, group theory, reducible and irreducible representation, character tables, introduction to vibrational spectroscopy, Raman effect, infrared absorption, selection rules, pure rotational spectroscopy, normal modes, prediction and interpretation of the vibrational spectra of polyatomic species.

Group theory for chemistry; theory, instrumentation and bio/materials applications of rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectroscopy; electron spectroscopies for material science; supported by "hands-on" applications of computer programs to spectroscopy problems.

Interaction forces in interfacial systems; fluid interfaces; colloids; amphiphilic systems; interfaces in polymeric systems & polymer composites; liquid coating processes.

Materials for biomedical applications; synthetic polymers, metals and composite materials as biomaterials; biopolymers, dendrimers, hydrogels, polyelectrolytes, drug delivery systems, implants, tissue grafts, dental materials, ophthalmic materials, surgical materials, imaging materials.

Fabrication and characterization techniques for micro and nano electro mechanical systems, MEMS & NEMS (including: microlithography; wet & dry etching techniques; physical & chemical vapor deposition processes; electroplating; bonding; focused ion beams; top-down approaches - electron-beam lithography, SPM, soft lithography - ; bottom-up techniques based on self-assembly). Semiconductor nanotechnology. Nanotubes & nanowires. Biological systems. Molecular electronics.

Review of electromagnetism; geometrical optics, analysis of optical systems; wave properties of light, Gaussian beams, beam optics; interaction of light with matter, spontaneous and stimulated emission, optical amplification, theory and applications of lasers, optical interactions in semiconductors, light emitting diodes and diode lasers; detectors, noise in detection systems; light propagation in anisotropic crystals, Pockels and Kerr effect, light modulators; nonlinear optics, second harmonic generation, phase matching, nonlinear optical materials.

Boundary-value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics. Maxwell?s equations. Conservation laws. Electromagnetic waves and wave propagation in different media. Waveguides and resonant cavities. Radiating systems.

Propagation and focusing of optical fields; spatial resolution and position accuracy; techniques used for nanoscale optical microscopy; light emission and optical interactions in nanoscale environments; quantum emitters; quantum photonics; dipole emission near planar interfaces; optical resonators; surface plasmons; forces in confined fields; fluctuation-induced interactions.

Wave function; solutions of the Schödinger?s equation; infinite square well; harmonic oscillator; potential barrier; formalism of quantum mechanics; statistical interpretation; hydrogen atom problem; angular momentum; spin; identical particle systems; many-electron atoms; solids; quantum statistics.

Time-independent perturbation theory; fine structure of the hydrogen spectrum; variational approximation; helium atom; WKB quantization; time-dependent perturbation theory; two-level systems; emission and absorbtion; adiabatic approximation; geometric phase.

Topics will be announced when offered.

A series of seminars given by faculty or outside speakers. Participating students must also make presentations during the semester.

Independent scientific research towards Master of Science degree.

Selected experiments in physics. Single component and integrated solid state electronic device characteristics and applications in electronic circuits. Use of coherent and incoherent electromagnetic waves in modern physics experiments and contemporary technology applications with transmission, absorption, diffraction, and spectroscopic measurements. Laboratory technique, data recording and analysis, communication of results through written and oral reports.

Free electron theory of metals. Crystal lattices. Reciprocal lattice. Classification of Bravais lattices. X-ray diffraction and the determination of crystal structures. Electrons in a periodic potential. Tight binding method. Band structures. Semi-classical theory of conduction in metals. Fermi surface. Surface effects.

Optical micro-cavities. Fabry-Perot cavity. Quality factor. Finesse. Free-spectral bands. Whispering gallery modes. Coupling. Photonic molecules, glasses, crystals and meta-materials. Optical micro-cavities. Fabry-Perot cavity. Quality factor. Finesse. Free-spectral bands. Whispering gallery modes. Coupling. Photonic molecules, glasses, crystals and meta-materials.

Survey of the properties and applications of photonic materials and devices; semiconductors; photon detectors, light emitting diodes, noise in light detection systems; light propagation in anisotropic media, Pockels and Kerr effects, light modulators, electromagnetic wave propagation in dielectric waveguides, waveguide dispersion; nonlinear optical materials, second harmonic generation, Raman converters.

Provides hands-on teaching experience to graduate students in undergraduate courses. Reinforces students' understanding of basic concepts and allows them to communicate and apply their knowledge of the subject matter.

The following objectives will be met through extensive reading, writing and discussion both in and out of class.Build a solid background in academic discourse, both written and spoken. Improve intensive and extensive critical reading skills. Foster critical and creative thinking. Build fundamental academic writing skills including summary, paraphrase, analysis, synthesis. Master cohesiveness as well as proper academic citation when incorporating the work of others.

Variational principles.Lagrange?s equations. 2-body central force problems. Kinematics of rigid body motion. Rigid body equations of motion. Hamilton?s equations. Canonical transformations. Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Small oscillations.

Boundary-value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics. Maxwell's equations. Conservation laws. Electromagnetic waves and wave propagation in different media. Waveguides and resonant cavities. Radiating systems.

Spin. Complex vector spaces. Quantum dynamics. Bound state perturbation theory. Time dependent perturbation theory. Identical particle systems.

Rotations and angular momentum. Discrete symmetry operations. WKB approximation.

Selected experiments in physics. Single component and integrated solid state electronic device characteristics and applications in electronic circuits. Use of coherent and incoherent electromagnetic waves in modern physics experiments and contemporary technology applications with transmission, absorption, diffraction, and spectroscopic measurements. Laboratory technique, data recording and analysis, communication of results through written and oral reports.