H&SS Humanities and Social Science [3-0-0:3]
MATH 204 Complex Analysis 13-1 -0:4]
PHYS 224 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism 14-0-0:4]
PHYS 234 Introductory Quantum Mechanics [4-0-0:4]
SClE Science Elective [3-0-0:3]
18 credits Third Year
Fall Semester
H&SS Humanities and Social Science [3-0-0:3]
PHYS 321 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics [4-0-0:4]
PHYS 311 Advanced Experimental Physics [0-2-6:4]
PHYS 331 Atomic and Molecular Physics [3-0-0131
SB&M Business and Management [3-0-0:3]
17 credits
15 credits
Second Year Fall Semester
ENGG Engineering Elective [3-0-0:3]
H&SS Humanities and Social Science [3-0-0131
MATH 231 Numerical Analysis [3-1-0:4]
PHYS 221 Intermediate Classical Mechanics 14-0-0141 PHYS 242 Modern Experimental Optics [0-2-6141
18 credits Spring Semester
H&SS Humanities and Social Science [3-0-0131 PHYS 224 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism [4-0-0141
PHYS 201 Microphysics [4-0-0141
PHYS 222 Continuum Physics [4-0-0:4]
SB&M Business and Management [3-0-0:3]
18 credits
Third Year Fall Semester
Postgraduate Programmes and Research
ENGG Engineering Elective [3-0-0131
H&SS Humanities and Social Science 13-0-0131 PHYS 321 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 14-0-0:4]
PHYS 551 Structure and Properties of Materials [3-0-0:3]
PHYS 561 Microcharacterization [0-2-3:3]
16 credits
Spring Semester
FREE Open Elective
PHYS 572 Microprocessing of Materials PHYS 390 Independent Study Project SB&M Business and Management
15 credits A minimum of 101 credits is required for the BSc programme in Physics (Applied Physics Option). A choice of electives may result in this minimum being exceeded.
As a fundamental science, physics presents major challenges to the human mind and the principles of physics serve as a foundation for engineering and other sciences. The new technologies that physics has spawned are so ingrained in our civilisation that their scientific origins are often overlooked. The discoveries of the principles of solid-state transistors which led to the miniaturisation of electronic devices, of the atomic hyperfine structure and superconductivity which made possible nuclear magnetic Resonance (NMR) imaging, and of the laser principle which underpins present-day communication technology are but a few examples. In addition to directly generating technological innovation, physics also indirectly sup- ports progress throughout society by providing tools with which people in other fields create innovation.
The postgraduate Physics programmes at HKUST aim to provide students with a solid grounding in broad areas of physics principles and techniques, an ambience for creative and innovative activities, and opportunities for cross and inter- disciplinary research.
Of all the branches in physics, condensed matter physics (CMP) has the greatest impact on our daily lives. It is thus natural that the Department places emphasis on CMP. The research programmes initially consist of both experimental and theoretical CMP (including physics of materials and surface/interface studies) and optical physics. A programme of regular visiting faculty members and scholars in other specialties helps ensure a breadth of coverage.
The Department of Physics offers postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of Master of Science (MSc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Applicants for postgraduate programmes in Physics are expected to hold a BSc degree in Physics from a college or university of recognised standing. Selection for admission will be based on academic records and available results of standardised tests in physics, proficiency in the English language, a one-page essay on reasons for pursuing postgraduate study, two letters of reference, and a personal interview at the discretion of the Department.
Master of Science (MSc) in Physics
The MSc programme emphasises course work to strengthen students' general background knowledge in physics. It prepares students for careers in teaching or for advanced work in industry. The programme will take a minimum of one and one-half years of full-time study.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Physics
The MPhil is a research degree and this programme is designed to prepare students for teaching, for further postgraduate studies, or for advanced work in industry. A research thesis in addition to course work is a requirement forthe degree.
Normally students are expected to complete the programme within two years. After one year, students registered in the MPhil programme may apply to transfer to the PhD programme.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics
The PhD degree is conferred primarily in recognition of breadth of scholar- ship, depth of research, and power to investigate problems independently and efficiently. The programme normally takes a minimum of three years of full-time study beyond the BSc degree.
The qualifying examination to attain candidacy is designed to ascertain students' general knowledge of the subject, acquaintance with scholarly methods of research, and ability to organise and present material. The examination is compre- hensive in nature and includes materials covered in core subjects. Other require- ments forgraduation include the submission of an acceptable thesis and its successful defence before a Thesis Examination Committee.
Professor Chih-Yung CHlEN
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Experimental research on particle physics; structure and interaction of elementary particles; development and application of data processing and nuclear physics detection devices.
Professor Peter N. DOBSON
Director of Planning and Co-ordination
Theory of elementary particles and their interactions at high energy.
Professor George K. WONG
Nonlinear optics; nonlinear optical properties of liquid crystals, polymers, and Langmuir-Blodgett films; optical and transport properties of semiconductors; molecu- lar beam epitaxy (MBE) of narrow band gap semiconductors; and electron-hole drops in semiconductors.
Professor Chia-Wei WOO Vice-Chancellor and President
Quantum many-body theory; statistical mechanics; low temperature physics;
surface physics; liquid crystals.
Research Interests Professor Nelson CUE Head of Department
Fundamental processes of atomic collisions in solids; physics of materials;
spectroscopy of atoms, molecules and nuclei; radiation effects; ion beam analysis;
microscopy.
Professor David J. BARBER
Physics of novel man-made electronic and opto-electronic materials; struc- ture sensitive properties, including strength and deformation of materials; electron microscopy; ion thinning; mineralogy; fission tracks in nonmetals.
Dr Kwok-Kwong FUNG Senior Lecturer
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of microstructures and defects;
semiconductor superlattices and epilayers; oxide superconductors; ferroelastic, ferroelectric and nonlinear optical crystals; quasicrystals.
Dr Michael S. ALTMAN Lecturer
Static and dynamic properties of surface structure; structural phase transition in clean and adsorbate covered surfaces; two-dimensional growth during epitaxy;
surface magnetic structure and transitions; low energy electron microscopy (LEEM);
scanning tunnellinglatomic force microscopy (STMIAFM).
Dr Tai-Kai NG Lecturer
Undergraduate Courses
Theory of Fermi liquid systems; quantum Hall effects; strongly-correlated metal and quantum spin systems; disordered and mesoscopic systems; density- functional theory.
Dr lam-Keong SOU Lecturer
Molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth and characterization of Il-VI variable band gap semiconductor alloys; infrared laser devices; transport properties.
Dr Kwok-Yip SZETO Lecturer
Theory of quasicrystals; dynamics of frustrated spin systems; the Berry phase; superconductivity; critical phenomena in magnetic graphite intercalation compounds; cellular automata; chaos.
Dr Kam-Sing WONG Lecturer
Picosecond and femtosecond lasers; nonlinear optical properties of organic materials; ultrafast spectroscopy of the photoexcited carriers in conjugated polymers and semiconductors.
Dr Michael Kwok-Yee WONG Lecturer
Neural networks and performance optimization; graph bipartitioning; dilute spin glasses; dynamic behaviour of highly connected systems; processing of corre- lated pattern sequences; quantum transport.
Permission of the Head of Department is an alternative to the stated prerequisite, and this is a requirement for all courses for which prerequisites are not stated.
PHYS 001 Contemporary Physics [3-0-0:3]
Important ideas and developments in physics are discussed as well as their impact on technology, the economy, politics and quality of life.
Prerequisite : None
Textbook : Hewitt, Conceptual Physics, Sixth Edition, 1989 Scott, Foresman.
PHYS 101 General Physics I [3-0-3:4]
Basic principles treated quantitatively but without calculus. Intended for non- physical science and non-Engineering students. Topics include kinematics, gravitational and electric forces and fields, momentum, angular momentum, energy, thermal physics, fluid mechanics, sound waves.
Prerequisite : A-level Physics or PHYS 001.
Laboratory : Emphasises instrumentation, measurement, and interpreta tion of data.
Textbook : Slatt,Principlesof Physics,Third Edition,l989, Allyn & Bacon.
PHYS 102 General Physics II P-0-3:4]
Continuation of General Physics I. Topics include electricity and magnetism, optics, relativity; quantum physics, particle structure of matter.
Prerequisite : PHYS 101.
Laboratory : Emphasises instrumentation, measurement, interpretation of data.
Textbook : Slatt, Principles of Physics,Third Edition, 1989, Allyn & Bacon.
PHYS 121 Electricity and Magnetism [3-0-3:4]
A Physics core course intended for prospective physical science and Engi- neering students. Topics include electrostatics, behaviour of matter in electric fields, magnetic fields, Faraday's law, Maxwell's equations, electro- magnetic oscillations and waves, relativity.
Prerequisite : A-level Physics.
Textbook : Halliday and Resnick, Physics, Third Edition, Part 2 (Ex tended Version), 1986, Wiley.
PHYS 124 Optics, Waves and Particles [3-0-3:4]
A Physics core course intended for prospective physical science and Engi- neering students. Topics include physics of wave phenomena, electromag- netic waves, interference and diffraction effects, optics, wave properties of particles, introduction to quantum physics.
Prerequisite : PHYS 121.
Textbook : Halliday and Resnick, Physics, Third Edition, Part 2 (Ex- tended Version), 1986, Wiley.
PHYS 134 Mathematical Methods in Physics [3-0-0:3]
Physical applications of analytic and numerical methods are studied in such topics as differential equations, Fourier series, Laplace transforms, matrices and vectors. lntended for Physics students.
Prerequisite : A-level Pure Mathematics.
Textbook : Boa, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, Sec- ond Edition, 1983, Wiley.
PHYS 201 Phenomena of Microphysics [4-0-0:4]
lntroduction to the physics of atoms, solids, nuclei and elementary particles, emphasising the description of phenomena using the results of elementary quantum and statistical physics. lntended for physical science and Engineering students.
Prerequisites : PHYS 124 and PHYS 134 (or equivalent), or instructor's permission.
Textbook : Taylor and Zafiratos, Modern Physics for Scientists and En- gineers, 1991, Prentice-Hall International.
PHYS 221 Intermediate Classical Mechanics [4-0-0:4]
A Physics core course intended for Physics students. Newtonian mechanics of particles and systems of particles, including rigid bodies; oscillating systems; gravitation and planetary motion; moving coordinate systems;
Euler's equations; Hamilton's equations; normal modes and small oscillations.
Prerequisites : PHYS 124 and PHYS 134.
Textbook : Marion, Classical Dynamics or Davis, Classical Mechanics, 1986, Academic Press.
PHYS 222 Continuum Physics [4-0-0:4]
Local conservation laws; stress, strain, and rate-of-strain tensors; equations of motion for elastic and viscous response; waves in solids and fluids;
dislocations; ideal fluids, potential flow, Bernouli's equation, vorticity and circulation, lift; viscous incompressibleflow and the Navier-Stokes equations, Reynold's number, Poiseuille flow in a pipe, Stokes drag on a sphere;
boundary layers, Blasius equations; flow instabilities, Rayleigh-Bernard convection and the onset of chaotic flow, introduction to turbulent flow.
Prerequisite : PHYS 221.
PHYS 224 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism[4-0-O:4]
A Physics core course. Electrostatics: electric charge and fields, potential, multipoles, conductors, Laplace equation and formal solutions, field energy, dielectric materials, polarization. Magnetostatics, currents, magnetic fields and vector potential, dipoles, magnetic materials, field energy. Maxwell's equations. Special relativity.
Prerequisites : PHYS 124 and PHYS 134.
Textbook : Griff iths, lntroduction to Electrodynamics, Second Edition, 1989. Prentice-Hall.
PHYS 234 Introductory Quantum Mechanics [4-0-0:4]
A Physics core course intended for prospective Physics majors. lntroduction to concepts and techniques of quantum mechanics.
Prerequisite : PHYS 221.
Textbook : Saxon, ElementaryQuantum Mechanics, or Dicke and Wicke, lntroduction to Quantum Mechanics.
PHYS 242 Modern Experimental Optics [2-0-6:4]
Apractical laboratory course in basicand modern optics. Optical phenomena:
interference, diffraction, coherence, polarization and image formation. Lasers:
principles and a selection of applications, including light pulses and optical communication and holography. The course serves as an introduction to the optical equipment and techniques in current use in astronomy, biology, biochemistry, chemistry and physics research. Enrolment limited.
Prerequisite : PHYS 124.
PHYS 261 Electronic Circuits [2-0-6:4]
An experimental survey of some devices and circuits. In analogue electron- ics, the major emphasis is on operational amplifiers and bipolar transistors, and their applications. Some simple filters, diodes, and field-effect transistors are covered briefly. In digital electronics, a coverage of combinatorial logic devices is then applied to problems in programming and interfacing asimple microcomputer.
Prerequisite : PHYS 121.
Textbook : Diefenderfer, Principles of Electronic Instrumentation.
PHYS 311 Advanced Experimental Physics [2-0-6:4]
Limited to 3rd-year Physics students. Selected topics in experimental con- cepts and techniques. The student performs three to six diverse experiments, depending ondifficulty, selected from alistwhich includes optics, spectroscopy, electrical circuits, electronics and ionics, magnetic resonance, X-rays, solid state, cosmic rays, nuclear physics. lndependent work is stressed.
Prerequisite : PHYS 224.
PHYS 321 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics [4-0-0:4]
A Physics core course. Concepts of temperature, laws of thermodynamics, entropy, thermodynamic relations, free energy. Applications of phase equi- librium, multicomponent systems, chemical reactions, and thermodynamic cycles. Applications of statistical mechanics to physical systems: introduc- tion to treatment of Maxwell-Bobmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac statistics with applications. Elementary transport theory.
Prerequisite : PHYS 234.
Textbook : Kittel or Morse, Thermal Physics.
PHYS 325 Electromagnetic Radiation [4-0-0:4]
Electrodynamics: applications of Maxwell's equations, propagation in various media, radiation, relativistic electrodynamics, transmission lines and wave guides, interference and diffraction phenomena.
Prerequisite : PHYS 224.
Textbook : Marion and Heald, Classical Electromagnetic Radiation.
PHYS 331 Atomic and Molecular Physics [3-0-0:3]
Applications of quantum mechanics to atoms and molecules.
Prerequisite : PHYS 234.
Textbook : Bransden and Joachain, Physics of Atoms and Molecules, 1986, Wiley.
PHYS 332 Introductory Solid State Physics [3-0-0:3]
An introduction to modern solid state physics, including lattice structure, lattice vibrations, thermal properties, electron theory of metals and semicon- ductors, magnetic properties, and superconductivity.
Prerequisite : PHYS 234.
Textbook : Kittel, Introduction to Solidstate Physics, Sixth Edition, 1986, Wiley.
PHYS 342 Nuclear and Particle Physics [3-0-051 Behaviour of high-energy particles and radiation; elementary particles; basic properties of accelerators and detectors; general symmetries and conservation laws.
Prerequisite : PHYS 234.
Textbook : Griff iths, Introduction to Elementary Particles; Krane, In tro ductory Nuclear Physics.
PHYS 390 Independent Study Project [O-0-9:6]
This undergraduate research activity is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member and a written report is required. One of the following activities is expected : identify a non-textbook problem and suggest ap- proaches to its solution, solve a non-textbook problem, or acquire a specific research skill.
Postgraduate Courses
Permission of the Head of Department is an alternative to the stated prerequisite, and this is a requirement for all courses for which prerequisites are not stated.
PHYS 511 Mathematical Methods in Physics I [3-0-051 Review of vector analysis; complex variable theory, Cauchy-Rieman condi- tions, complex Taylor and Laurent series, Cauchy integral formula and residue techniques, conformal mapping; Fourier series; Fourier and Laplace transforms; ordinary differential equations, Green's functions, Bessel func- tions.
Textbook : Butkov, Mathematical Physics, 1968, Addison-Wesley.
PHYS 512 Mathematical Methods in Physics II [3-0-0:3]
Partial differential equations, separation of variables, wave and diffusion equations, Laplace, Helmholtz and Poisson's equations, transform tech- niques, Green's functions; integral equations, Fredholm equations, kernals;
Rieman sheets, method of steepest descent; tensors, contravariant and covariant representations; group theory, matrix representations.
Textbook : Butkov, Mathematical Physics, 1968, Addison-Wesley.
PHYS 513 Classical Mechanics [3-0-0:3]
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of classical mechanics, with modern applications in nonlinear dynamics.
Textbook : Goldstein, Classical Mechanics, Second Edition, 1980, Addison- Wesley.
PHYS 520 Classical Electrodynamics [4-0-0:4]
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic potentials, selected topics in electrodynamics of continuous media, special relativity, radiation theory.
Textbook : Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, Second Edition, 1975, Wiley.
PHYS 521 Quantum Mechanics I [M-0:4]
The formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of states and operators.
Symmetries and angular momentum. Stationery and time-dependent per- turbation theory. Fermi's rule and variational methods. The elements of scattering theory.
Textbook : Merzbacher, Quantum Mechanics, Third Edition, 1988, Wiley.
PHYS 522 Quantum Mechanics II [4-0-0:4]
Discussion of various application of quantum mechanics, such as collision theory, theory of spectra of atoms and molecules, theory of solids, second quantization, emission of radiation, relativistic quantum mechanics.
PHYS 531 Statistical Mechanics [4-0-0:4]
Microstates, ensembles, partition functions, and phase space averaging.
Chemical equilibria. Quantum statistical mechanics, Fermi-Dirac and Bose- Einstein distributions; applications to Bose and Fermi systems. Fundamen-
tals of statistical mechanics: density matrix, reduced distribution, Wigner function, correlation functions and fluctuations. Advanced topics include lsing model, lattice gases, spin systems, and introduction to critical phenom- ena.
Prerequisites : PHYS 513 and PHYS 521.
Textbook : Pathria, Statistical Mechanics, or MacQuarrie, Statistical Mechanics, or equivalent.
PHYS 540 Projects in Experimental Physics [O-9-0:3]
An individual project of modern topical interest under the supervision of a faculty member.
PHYS 551 Structure and Properties of Materials [3-0-0:3]
The physics of real materials: the structure of crystalline and amorphous solids; X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy; the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformations; crystallographic defects and their relation to mechanical properties.
Prerequisite : PHYS 201 or PHYS 234.
PHYS 561 Microcharacterization [2-3-0:3]
The basic physical principles underlying the many modern analytical tech- niques for characterizing materials from volumes of less than a cubic micron.
Discussion centres on the physics of the interaction processes, the instru- mentation involved, and the advantages and limitations of each technique.
Prerequisite : PHYS 201 or PHYS 234.
PHYS 572 Microprocessing of Materials 12-3-0:3]
Fundamentals of fabricating and patterning thin-film materials and surfaces, with emphasis on electronic materials. Vacuum and plasma thin-film depo- sition processes. Photon, electron, X-ray, and ion lithography. Techniques for pattern replication by plasma and ion processes. Emphasis is on under- standing the physics and material science that define and limit the various processes.
Prerequisite : PHYS 201 or PHYS 234.
PHYS 581 Atoms and Molecules [3-0-0:3]
Experimental and theoretical techniques in atomic and molecular physics.
Textbook : Flygare, Molecular Structure and Dynamics, or equivalent.
PHYS 582 Nuclear Physics [3-0-0:3]
A broad survey of nuclear phenomena. Bulk properties of nucleus, two- nucleon problem, nuclear models, nuclear spectroscopy, radioactivity, fission, fusion and other nuclear reactions.
PHYS 583 High Energy Particle Physics [3-0-0:3]
Introduction to the physics of baryons, mesons and leptons. Strong, electro- magnetic and weak interactions. Relevance of symmetry laws to particle physics. Unification of electromagnetic and weak interactions.
PHYS 610 Seminar in Physics
An individual indepth study of a current topic.
PHYS 621 Solid State Physics I [3-0-0:3]
A survey of the basic phenomenological knowledge of condensed matter physics, mainly dealing with solids. Topics include equilibrium properties such as structure and phase transitions, transport phenomena such as electrical and thermal conductivity.
Textbook : Ashcroft and Mermin, Solid State Physics, or equivalent.
PHYS 622 Solid State Physics II [3-0-0:3]
Topics will be chosen from broken symmetries, elementary excitations, and topological defects; critical phenomena, the onset of chaos, and the renormalization group; first order phase transitions, nucleation, and dendritic growth; broken gauge symmetries, superconductors and superfluids, the fractional quantum Hall effect; disordered systems, spin glasses, localization, and percolation theory.
PHYS 632 Quantum Field Theory [3-0-0:3]
Canonical field theory. Analytic property of scattering amplitudes and disper- sion relations. Renormalization and renormalization group. Symmetry and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Gauge theories.
Textbook : ltzykson and Zuber, Quantum Field Theory, or equivalent.
PHYS 642 Theory of Many-Particle Systems [3-0-0:3]
Equilibrium and transport properties of microscopic systems of many parti- cles studied at zero and finite temperatures. Applications of thermodynamic Green's function techniques.
PHYS 651 Quantum Electronics [4-0-0:4]
A detailed treatment of the physical principles underlying lasers, related fields, and applications. Topics include the interaction of radiation and matter;
theory of the laser; spectroscopy of atoms, molecules, and ions in crystals;
density matrix; nonlinear optics and optical processes; theory of coherence;
integrated optics.
PHYS 681-689 Special Topics
Offerings are announced each semester. Typical topics are group theory, superfluids, stellar evolution, plasma physics, low-temperature physics, X- ray spectroscopy and diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, non-linear dynamics, collider physics.