2019-2020 Edition - Harvard Physics
2019-2020 EditionTable of ContentsIntroduction2The Society of Physics Students3Why Should I Study Physics?4Ways to Study Physics at Harvard6Physics Course Strategies10Course Descriptions and Recommendations13Freshman SeminarsPhysics Department CoursesMathematics Department CoursesAstronomy Department CoursesOther Cool Stuff1415253132Research at Harvard37Contacts43The Back Page451
IntroductionThe Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students – SPS for short – hasproduced this booklet for students who are considering concentrating inphysics or a related field. Even if you’re not planning to become a physicsconcentrator, we hope you’ll find this booklet helpful.It can be hard to decide on a field to concentrate in. It’s also hard to choosewhich courses to take, whether they’re in the physics department or outside ofit. We can’t help you with choosing an Expository Writing class, but we hopeour experience as physics concentrators at Harvard will be useful to you. Youcan use this guide during shopping period, but you might want to keep it in adesk drawer for future reference — it might come in handy over the next fewshopping periods. Take the guide out for a walk once in a while, it likesexercise too.Of course, when you’re choosing your concentration and classes, it’s a goodidea to get as much information as possible. You can obtain advice from theinformational meetings held in the Science Center a few days before classesbegin, from individual members of the Physics Department Faculty, from theHead Tutors, and from upper-class students by emailing the SPS list. You canfind online resources at www.physics.harvard.edu. In fact, we very stronglyencourage you to get advice from as many sources as you can. (Of course, sinceno one reads the Introduction, we’ll stress this later on too.)Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of theinformation in this booklet. Nevertheless, it may contain inadvertent errorsand omissions, so you should be sure to consult the course information in themy.harvard portal and the student handbook subsection Fields ofConcentration before making any final decisions.2
The Society of Physics StudentsOur name says it all. The Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students (SPS)works to promote the interests of physics students at Harvard and Radcliffe.SPS organizes many different kinds of activities throughout the year:academic, career-related, and just-for-fun events. To learn about researchgoing on in the various sub-fields of physics and related areas, be sure toattend the Monday lunches at noon with the visiting colloquium speakers (eatnice food, learn a lot) as well as the Wednesday evening talks with Harvardprofessors as part of Physics 95 (all are welcome; ice cream served). We alsohost a number of talks about grad schools and careers for those trained in thephysical sciences. Keep your eyes out for events such as movie nights, andliquid nitrogen fun. Don’t miss our annual nitrogen-frozen pumpkin drop onHalloween. Fanciful ideas such as races across non-Newtonian cornstarchhave been proposed.The SPS functions as a liaison between the community of physics students andthe Physics Department. Periodically, the officers of SPS meet with the chairand undergrad tutors of the department to discuss issues of concern to physicsstudents. We hope all physics students will bring ideas to this process.The physics undergraduate study serves as a great place to relax, meet up withother physics students, and get to know Undergraduate Coordinator (a.k.a.“undergrad mom”) Carol Davis, whose office is across the hall. Look out forsweet snacks and free food!Another important function of the SPS is informing physics students of eventsthat may be of interest to them. SPS has produced this booklet in an effort toensure that new students are fully informed about the options available tothem. There is also an email list, sps-list@hcs (for major SPS and departmentannouncements) as well as a more informal sps-open@hcs (for interestingevents, opportunities, class advice, questions from students, and links). If youwant to subscribe to the email list, you can visit our website,www.hcs.harvard.edu/ physics. Also, check out our Facebook group(www.facebook.com/groups/168759966574319)!3
Why Should I Study Physics?Good question. Well, if you ask any physicist this question, they will probablytell you without hesitation: “It’s fun!” Of course, not all of us are destined tobecome physics faculty. But even if you’re not sure if you want to be a physicspro – in fact, even if you’re not sure you want to be a physics concentrator –we think you should at least take a few physics classes. Give us the chance toconvince you.If you want to go into any science, knowledge of physics is a valuable tool tohave. Not to toot our own horn too much, but physics is the basis for allphenomena in the understandable universe. Having knowledge of theprinciples behind all the other sciences leads to a deeper understanding and isa way to avoid silly errors. Do you want to be the biologist or inventor whoseideas violate the conservation of energy? Probably not. A firm grounding inphysics can only help your work in other fields.Also, physics is really fun.Even if you’re not sure if you want to go into research at all, knowledge ofphysics can help you out. As has become more and more clear, the job marketof the new millennium is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. SociologistManuel Castells calls it an Information Age, where the thriving center of theeconomy is based not only on technology but on technology for creating evenmore technology. Desirable jobs – the kind that pay off Harvard tuition bills –more and more demand rock-solid analytical skills and the ability tounderstand complex, difficult problems. A physics education is all about that.A physics education is also fun.To put it a little bit more concretely, more and more physics students aretaking their undergraduate science degrees into the Big Three areas ofprofessional school: medicine, law, and business. Doctors now routinelyperform procedures such as “positron emission tomography” and “magneticresonance imaging.” The study and development of artificial joints and organsdemand cutting edge materials and biophysics knowledge. As debates overcloning and movie pirating have shown us, new sciences and technologieshave also led to all sorts of legal and social quandaries. Scientifically educatedlawyers who can intelligently wade through these morasses are becoming avaluable commodity. And as business and industry become more ever moretechnical, the executive who can actually understand their company’s functionor product is becoming increasingly valuable. If you’re the Wall Street type,hedge funds and investment banks are always looking for people with theanalytical and mathematical skills to do whatever it is they do down there. Andthey are willing to pay them lots and lots and lots of money.The increasingly important role of technology in our everyday lives has alsomade clear the need for quality science education in our schools, from4
elementary to high school. A teacher with a solid science background is alamentably rare creature, but they are also an immensely valuable resource toa school and to society at large. If you have some physics knowledge underyour belt, schools will love you.Also, physics is really fun.Basically, we’ve been saying the same thing in a bunch of ways: physicsdemands clear logical thinking and strong math skills. Maybe you’re not thekind of person who eats Gaussian integrals for breakfast, but taking even a fewphysics classes will help you hone your analytical thinking and problemsolving. As a bonus, you’ll learn all about the universe that we live in, which itturns out is a lot wackier than it seems at first glance. If you want to learnmore about the clever ways physics applies to everyday life, you might thinkabout taking Physics 125. And if you want to know all about the neat stuffgoing on in the forefront of physics, check out the Physics DepartmentColloquia (Monday afternoons), or the Wednesday evening lecture series (inconjunction with Physics 95). And pester your professors!In conclusion, you should study physics. It’s fun!5
Ways to Study Physics at HarvardHarvard is a very exciting place, but it’s a bit confusing for the first few weeks.So much happens before you’ve really figured out where you are! You’veprobably come with a lot of interests, but you may not be sure how to pursuethem here. The Society of Physics Students thought we could help you out alittle bit as you get acclimated, by giving you some advice on what you can dowith your interest in the physical sciences.The first thing to realize is that you have many options. Some choices must bemade by November of your sophomore year, when you select a concentration.You could concentrate in physics. You may wish to joint concentrate. You mayhave the option of advanced standing (in which case these decisions may beupon you even earlier). Or you might take physics classes for a secondary fieldor as electives, with no thought of concentrating in physics at all. New anddifferent plans of study are constantly being invented, so you should also feelfree to dream up just about anything and present it to Howard Georgi (theHead Tutor) or David Morin (the Co-Head Tutor). Chances are they’ve heardworse!(And after all this, you may very likely change your mind about thesedecisions. No problem—nothing is written in stone!)If you are considering concentrating in physics (or some variation on thattheme), this section describes the myriad options for concentration. Moredetails can be found in the Fields of Concentration section of the StudentHandbook.Or, you may wish to jump directly to the course descriptions.The Physics ConcentrationLet’s start with the most straightforward case. You want to concentrate inphysics. (Yay!) For non-honors, you must take twelve semester courses inphysics or related fields. These twelve courses normally include theintroductory sequence (through a semester of quantum mechanics) and maththrough multivariable calculus and linear algebra. After that, almosteverything you can think of counts either as a physics course or as a relatedcourse. So you can concentrate in physics without actually taking that manyphysics courses. However, if you’re sitting here figuring out how few you canget away with, you might be happier in another department.We’re serious when we say twelve semester courses in physics or relatedfields. These related fields’ courses might include offerings of the Chemistry,Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Astronomy,Engineering, Statistics, and other departments. Check them out!6
If you’re looking for a well-rounded physics education, the honors courserequirements serve as a good guideline. (Most people do honors, especiallysince there’s no thesis, tutorial, or general exam requirement; mostdepartments require at least a thesis.) For an honors degree, thirteen tofifteen courses are required, including the introductory sequence, two mathcourses beyond multivariable and linear algebra, and the advanced laboratoryclass (Physics 191r). Quantum beyond the first semester andthermodynamics/statistical mechanics courses are highly recommended,especially for those considering graduate work. If you already know singlevariable calculus, you may be able to place into a higher math course andreduce the number of courses required for honors to as few as thirteen.Joint ConcentrationsSo now that you’re taking 50 million classes, what about combining a physicsconcentration with something else? If you have a very strong interest inanother area, you may want to consider a joint concentration (Harvard speakfor a double major). Joint concentrations often require the completion ofhonors requirements in both departments. While this sounds like agargantuan task, it’s usually feasible.Some fields combine quite naturally with physics. For example, “physics andmath” works out to a mere three semesters of math beyond multivariablecalculus and linear algebra (including one analysis, one abstract algebra, andone geometry course) among your thirteen courses for the Honors Physicsdegree. “Physics and Astrophysics” is also easy; just substitute theastrophysics laboratory course for the lab course offered by the PhysicsDepartment, and take five semesters of astronomy (16, 17, 98, and two othersthat count as related courses in Physics).If that’s all you do, you may ask why you should bother to declare a jointconcentration. Perhaps most simply, it lets potential employers/graduateschools/significant others know what your real interests are. A jointconcentration will also give you greater access to both departments.Some fields, on the other hand, do not combine with physics quite so naturally.For a joint concentration like Physics and Classics, you’ll really have to talkwith the Head Tutor of each department. “Negotiate” might be the moreappropriate term, but do not despair — with a bit of persistence all things arepossible. And, such joint concentrations have probably been done before! (Youwill probably soon learn the story of one dedicated concentrator in Physicsand Music and the physics-related musical he wrote. Another student whograduated in 2009 did a special concentration combining physics and theater;her thesis was a play on quantum mechanics!)Also, a joint concentration in physics is easier than one in many other areas. Ifboth departments require a thesis for an honors degree, then a jointconcentrator must write a thesis combining the two fields. Because physics7
does not require a thesis for honors, only the thesis requirements of the otherdepartment apply.There are a few subtleties to joint concentrations. While the “physics andmath” joint concentration does not require a thesis, the “math and physics”concentration does. “Chemistry and Physics” is also a bit different — it is asingle concentration blending the two fields, technically not a jointconcentration. No, it doesn’t make much sense, so read the fine print carefully!Secondary FieldThe Faculty of Arts and Sciences offers “Secondary Fields” at Harvard College,which may be thought of as the equivalent to what are called “minors” at otherinstitutions. Amongst the departments offering secondary fields is the PhysicsDepartment. Students who decide not to study Physics as their primaryconcentration and have difficulty “negotiating” a joint concentration withanother department should certainly consider this as an option!The secondary field in Physics requires 4 courses. Students must take onecourse in electricity and magnetism (usually Physics 15b or 153), one coursein wave phenomena and/optics (normally 15c), and one course in quantummechanics (normally 143a). The final course should simply be a physicscourse at the 100 level or higher. Of course, students are welcome to takecourses of higher level that cover the specified material. Note that althoughmechanics (normally 15a or 16) is not required for a secondary field, it is aprerequisite for almost all other physics courses and is stronglyrecommended.More information on the details and procedures of this option can be found inthe Handbook for Students online. Interested students should, as always,consult Dr. Morin or Prof. Georgi!Other Options for Physics ConcentrationsThe Undergraduate Teaching and Education Program (UTEP) option is great ifyou have an interest in education; you will receive teaching certification alongwith your bachelor’s degree. The education requirements are quite significant,though, so for this concentration you’ll want to plan ahead. You’ll need sometime for the student teaching senior year! (That may seem far away now, butit’ll arrive before you know it.)Biophysics is great if you have interests in biological questions from a physicalstandpoint. As a very research-oriented option, coursework is flexible enoughfor concentrators to continue with classes in the physical sciences, many ofwhich have departmental courses at the intersection with biology. Work in aprofessor’s lab is required instead of the standard physics laboratory course.For more information on working with professors, please see the “Research AtHarvard” section.8
For the experimentally-oriented among you, there is also an Applied Physicsoption. It combines hands-on physics, the advanced laboratory 191r, andEngineering Sciences classes.Not Concentrating at AllMaybe you’re interested in physics but you’d rather spend most of your timedoing something else. Great! You can still take a lot of physics classes. As a firstyear, there are a few different options of introductory sequences that you canlook into: 12a and 12b; and 15a (or 16 or 19), 15b, and 15c. For the lifesciences, or if you are interested in medical school, be sure to look into thePhysical Sciences 1, 2 and 3. You will typically need to have these classesunder your belt to take a higher-level course, but all the requirements arenegotiable – just talk to Prof. Georgi or Dr. Morin. In particular, we often seemath, chemistry, or even computer science concentrators taking quantummechanics (143a). Certain other classes are not as mathematical as most andare also worth thinking about. More advanced undergraduates in the sciencesshould be well-qualified to take many 100-level physics classes.Master’s DegreeBeyond the different concentration tracks, you may also have the option ofgetting a master's degree concurrently with your A.B. in four years. Check theHarvard College website for eligibility requirements, as the rules have recentlychanged. An extremely challenging courseload is necessary to satisfy therequirements, so very few students pursue this option.When pursuing the A.M., you continue to live as an undergraduate for fouryears and can fulfill the requirements with classes taken at any point duringyour college career. The A.M. requirements typically consist of eight classes,with at least six being grad classes and at least four being physics. Chem/Physconcentrators may also want to consider the A.M. in Chemistry. Talk to upperclass students and Dr. Morin or Prof. Georgi for more information.9
Physics Course StrategiesWe can't be sure that this advice will be useful to everyone, but if you learn thesame way most of us do, these hints may help your physics career run moresmoothly. Here are some general strategies that many of us wish we hadlearned sooner. Talk to other students!Upper-class students are the most valuable source of information aboutanything at Harvard. They can tell you about courses, professors, researchopportunities, summer programs, ways around bureaucratic obstacles, wherethe party’s at — in short, how to get the most out of your Harvardexperience. If the people you talk to don't know the answer to your question,chances are they know someone else who does.Self-promotion time: coming to SPS events is a great way to meet older physicsconcentrators (and people who like physics, or people who like people wholike physics). The first few SPS events focus heavily on course advising andgetting to know older physics concentrators. You should also feel free tocontact the SPS officers at any time; see the back cover for contact information.There is of course plenty of free advice (and addictive food) to be had at SPSevents, but you should also take advantage of the other opportunities/peopleavailable to you. Look into classes with your omnipotent friend QIf you go to the COOP a few days before classes, you should have a chance tolook at the text for each class. Look at the first chapter. How do you feel? Nowopen the book to the middle. Excited? Great! Also, for both physics and nonphysics courses, consult the Q-Guide to see how students have rated the coursein the past. Note, however, that the professor for the course may havechanged; the Q-Guide will point you to another
2019-2020 Edition. Table of Contents . Introduction 2 The Society of Physics Students 3 Why Should I Study Physics? 4 Ways to Study Physics at Harvard 6 Physics Course Strategies 10 Course Descriptions and Recommendations 13. Freshman Seminars 14 Physics Department Courses 15 Mathemat
Physics 20 General College Physics (PHYS 104). Camosun College Physics 20 General Elementary Physics (PHYS 20). Medicine Hat College Physics 20 Physics (ASP 114). NAIT Physics 20 Radiology (Z-HO9 A408). Red River College Physics 20 Physics (PHYS 184). Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SIAST) Physics 20 Physics (PHYS 184). Physics (PHYS 182).
Life science graduate education at Harvard is comprised of 14 Ph.D. programs of study across four Harvard faculties—Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. These 14 programs make up the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS).
Advanced Placement Physics 1 and Physics 2 are offered at Fredericton High School in a unique configuration over three 90 h courses. (Previously Physics 111, Physics 121 and AP Physics B 120; will now be called Physics 111, Physics 121 and AP Physics 2 120). The content for AP Physics 1 is divided
Sciences at Harvard University Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 350 Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-5315 gsas.harvard.edu Office of Diversity and Minority Affairs minrec@fas.harvard.edu gsas.harvard.edu/diversity Office of Admissions and Financial Aid admiss@fas.harvard.edu gsas.harvard.edu/apply
General Physics: There are two versions of the introductory general physics sequence. Physics 145/146 is intended for students planning no further study in physics. Physics 155/156 is intended for students planning to take upper level physics courses, including physics majors, physics combined majors, 3-2 engineering majors and BBMB majors.
Physics SUMMER 2005 Daniel M. Noval BS, Physics/Engr Physics FALL 2005 Joshua A. Clements BS, Engr Physics WINTER 2006 Benjamin F. Burnett BS, Physics SPRING 2006 Timothy M. Anna BS, Physics Kyle C. Augustson BS, Physics/Computational Physics Attending graduate school at Univer-sity of Colorado, Astrophysics. Connelly S. Barnes HBS .
PHYSICS 249 A Modern Intro to Physics _PIC Physics 248 & Math 234, or consent of instructor; concurrent registration in Physics 307 required. Not open to students who have taken Physics 241; Open to Freshmen. Intended primarily for physics, AMEP, astronomy-physics majors PHYSICS 265 Intro-Medical Ph
Within this programme, courses in Academic Writing and Communication Skills are available. There are also more intensive courses available, including the Pre-Sessional Course in English for Academic Purposes. This is a six-week course open to students embarking on a degree course at Oxford University or another English-speaking university. There are resources for independent study in the .
