Physics and Astronomy
College of Science and Engineering
Dean: Dr. Carmen Domingo
Department of Physics and Astronomy
TH 334
Phone: (415) 338-1659
Fax: (415) 338-2178
Email: physics@sfsu.edu
Chair: Dr. Joseph Barranco
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Susan M. Lea
Program Scope
The Physics and Astronomy Department offers strong undergraduate and graduate programs in physics, astronomy, and astrophysics, which are designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in science, technology, and teaching, as well as for graduate study. The goal is to educate versatile physicists and astronomers who combine a solid knowledge of theory with real-world skills in problem-solving, data acquisition and analysis, and computer-based simulation and analysis. The department specializes in the "hands-on" approach so important in the 21st century. Students at all levels are encouraged to work on a research project under the direction of a faculty supervisor. The projects may involve experimental laboratory work, astronomical observations and data analysis, or theoretical modeling using analytical and computational approaches.
The Bachelor of Arts in Physics is suited for students whose career goals involve the combination of physics with other fields such as engineering, business, or humanities. This program also provides excellent preparation for technical writers, technical salespeople, and laboratory technicians and research assistants.
The Bachelor of Arts in Physics with a Concentration in Astronomy is similar to the B.A. in Physics, but with upper-division coursework concentrated in astronomy. This program also provides excellent preparation for technical writers, as well as observatory or planetarium staff.
The Bachelor of Science in Physics is designed to educate students who plan to pursue further education in physics or related fields (M.S. or Ph.D. programs), or who plan to seek employment as physicists, scientific associates, or technical staff members in industry, national laboratories, or academic laboratories. This program combines the education in physics fundamentals of the B.A. program with additional advanced courses, laboratory, and computer work, and more specialized work in a specialty such as solid-state physics, optical physics, or computational physics. Students in this program are strongly encouraged to gain research experience. Graduates should have the fundamental mathematical, scientific, and learning skills to enable them to be lifelong learners who can rapidly master new scientific and technical developments.
The Bachelor of Science in Physics with a Concentration in Astrophysics is similar to the B.S. in Physics program, but with significant upper-division coursework in astronomy, as appropriate for students planning employment or graduate study in astrophysics. A senior project with a thesis is required.
The Bachelor of Science in Physics with a Concentration in Physics for Teaching is designed for students interested in high school or middle school teaching. This program stresses education in physics fundamentals together with laboratory work and direct classroom teaching experience. Elective units enable students to gain a breadth of knowledge in one or more additional subjects important for high-school teachers, e.g., mathematics, general science, or chemistry. Students may also elect to take advantage of the department's single subject matter program in physics to demonstrate their preparedness to enter a credential program to complete their training as teachers.
A satisfactory score on an exit examination is required for all bachelor's degrees.
A Minor in Physics and a Minor in Astronomy are available for students desiring a coherent program in physics or astronomy but one not as extensive as the B.A. It provides an excellent background for prospective secondary school teachers who wish to teach physics or astronomy as well as their major area, or for engineers who want additional depth in areas such as solid-state physics or optical physics.
The goal of the Master of Science in Physics is to provide a solid, in-depth background in theoretical and experimental physics, appropriate for students pursuing further education in the field via Ph.D. programs in physics, astronomy, or certain engineering fields, or for those seeking employment as physicists/astronomers in physics/astronomy-related jobs and professions; e.g., as technical associates, laboratory physicists, physics or astronomy data analyzers, engineers, or in education as instructors in community colleges. This program combines advanced education in core physics topics with additional advanced courses, laboratory and computer work, and more concentrated work in a specialty such as solid-state physics, particle physics, quantum optics, astrophysics, or computational physics. Students in this program are strongly encouraged to gain research experience.
The Master of Science in Physics with a concentration in Astronomy offers a program that is more closely tailored to students interested in careers in astronomy education and outreach, or employment in astronomical observatories and laboratories. It is also suitable for those seeking entry into Ph.D. programs in astronomy.
Professor
JOSEPH A. BARRANCO (2007), Professor of Physics and Astronomy; A.B. (1993), Harvard University; Ph.D., (2004), University of California, Berkeley.
ZHIGANG CHEN (1998), Professor of Physics; B.S. (1985), Yanzhou Teacher's College (PRC); M.S. (1988), University of Science and Technology of China; Ph.D. (1995), Bryn Mawr College; Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton University.
KIMBERLY A. COBLE (2016), Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.A. (1993), University of Pennsylvania; M.S. (1994), Ph.D. (1999), University of Chicago.
ADRIENNE COOL (1996), Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.S. (1984), Yale College; M.S. (1986), Columbia University; Ph.D. (1994), Harvard University.
MAARTEN GOLTERMAN (2001), Professor of Physics; Doctoraal Examen (1983), University of Utrecht; Ph.D., (1986), University of Amsterdam.
JEFFREY P. GREENSITE (1984), Professor of Physics; B.S. (1972), University of California, San Diego; Ph.D. (1980), University of California, Santa Cruz.
WEINING MAN (2008), Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.S. (1997), Jilin University; M.S. (2000), Jilin University; Ph.D. (2005) Princeton University.
RONALD MARZKE (2000), Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.S. (1987), Arizona State University; M.A. (1988), Ph.D. (1994), Harvard University.
BARBARA J. NEUHAUSER (1986), Professor of Physics; B.S. (1969), Purdue University; M.S. (1970), Stanford University; Ph.D. (1985), Stanford University.
HUIZHONG XU (2016), Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.S. (1997), Fudan University; M.A. (2000), City College of New York; Ph.D. (2004), University of Maryland, College Park.
Assistant Professor
JOHN M. BREWER (2019), Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.F.A (1991), New York University; M.A. (2012), M.S. (2012), Ph.D. (2016), Yale University.
KRISTAN JENSEN (2015), Assistant Professor of Physics; B.S. (2005), University of Puget Sound; Ph.D. (2010), University of Washington.
AKM NEWAZ (2014), Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.Sc. (1998), Dhaka University; M.A. (2003), Ph.D. (2006), State University of New York at Stony Brook.
CHARLI SAKARI (2019), Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.A. (2009), Whitman College; Ph.D. (2014), University of Victoria.
Adjunct Professor
MARY BARSONY (2003), Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.A. (1976), University of California Berkeley; S.B. (1982), Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.S. (1984), Ph.D. (1989) California Institute of Technology
DEBRA FISCHER (2003), Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.S. (1975), University of Iowa; M.S. (1992), San Francisco State University; Ph.D. (1998), University of California, Santa Cruz.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
CHRIS McCARTHY (2005), Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy; B.A. (1990), University of California, Berkeley; M.S. (1995), San Francisco State University; M.S. (1997), Ph.D. (2001), University of California, Berkeley.
Lecturers
Bland, Caudy, Dhakal, Digel, Fielder, Tennant
Majors
- Bachelor of Arts in Physics
- Bachelor of Arts in Physics: Concentration in Astronomy
- Bachelor of Science in Physics
- Bachelor of Science in Physics: Concentration in Astrophysics
- Bachelor of Science in Physics: Concentration in Physics for Teaching
Minors
Astronomy
ASTR 115 Introduction to Astronomy (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Category I or II placement for QR/Math, or completion of GE Area B4, or MATH 197.
Course Attributes:
- B1: Physical Science
ASTR 116 Astronomy Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: ASTR 115 (may be taken concurrently).
Course Attributes:
- B3: Lab Science
ASTR 300 Stars, Planets, and the Milky Way (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 220 or PHYS 111 with a grade of C- or better.
ASTR 301 Observational Astronomy Laboratory (Units: 2)
Prerequisites: ASTR 115 or ASTR 300 and PHYS 220 or PHYS 111 with grades of C- or better.
ASTR 340GW The Big Bang - GWAR (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Area A2 and PHYS 320 with a grade of C- or better.
Course Attributes:
- Graduation Writing Assessment
ASTR 341 Planetarium Training (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: ASTR 115 and ASTR 116; consent of the instructor.
ASTR 400 Stellar Astrophysics (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ASTR 700: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ASTR 400: Upper-division standing; CSC 309, MATH 245 or MATH 376, and PHYS 320 all with grades of C- or better; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ASTR 700/ASTR 400 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ASTR 405 Exoplanetary Science (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ASTR 115, PHYS 220, and PHYS 330; or consent of the instructor.
ASTR 470 Observational Techniques in Astronomy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ASTR 300; ASTR 301 recommended; CSC 309 strongly recommended; all with grades of C- or better.
[Formerly paired with ASTR 770. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.]
ASTR 498 Astronomy Research Literature (Units: 2)
Prerequisite for ASTR 798: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ASTR 498: Upper-division standing; ASTR 300 and PHYS 320 with grades of C- or better; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ASTR 798/ASTR 498 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ASTR 685 Projects in the Teaching of Astronomy (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: ASTR 301 or ASTR 470 with a grade of B or better; consent of the instructor.
ASTR 697 Senior Project (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Senior standing.
ASTR 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites: Advanced Astronomy and Astrophysics majors and minors; approval of the department and consent of the instructor.
ASTR 700 Stellar Astrophysics (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ASTR 700: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ASTR 400: Upper-division standing; CSC 309, MATH 245 or MATH 376, and PHYS 320 all with grades of C- or better; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ASTR 700/ASTR 400 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ASTR 722 Radiative Processes and Gas Dynamics in Astrophysics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing; ASTR 400, PHYS 370, PHYS 430, and PHYS 460 or equivalents; PHYS 785 recommended.
ASTR 742 Galaxies and Cosmology (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ASTR 300, PHYS 370, and PHYS 430 or equivalents; ASTR 400 or equivalent recommended.
ASTR 770 Observational Techniques in Astronomy Research (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: CSC 309 or equivalent with a grade of B- or better and ASTR 400 or ASTR 700 or equivalent.
ASTR 798 Astronomy Research Literature (Units: 2)
Prerequisite for ASTR 798: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ASTR 498: Upper-division standing; ASTR 300 and PHYS 320 with grades of C- or better; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ASTR 798/ASTR 498 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Physics
PHYS 101 Conceptual Physics (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Category I or II placement for QR/Math, or completion of GE Area B4, or MATH 197.
Course Attributes:
- B1: Physical Science
PHYS 102 Conceptual Physics Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 101.
Course Attributes:
- B3: Lab Science
PHYS 111 General Physics I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: MATH 198 or MATH 199 or equivalent with a grade of C-minus or higher. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 112 required. If pre-calculus was completed in high school, the online Math Preparation for Physics mini-course is required; see the Department of Physics & Astronomy website for details.
Course Attributes:
- B1: Physical Science
PHYS 112 General Physics I Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 111.
Course Attributes:
- B3: Lab Science
PHYS 121 General Physics II (Units: 3)
Light, electricity, magnetism, atoms, and modern physics.PHYS 122 General Physics II Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 121.
PHYS 220 General Physics with Calculus I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: High school physics or equivalent; satisfactory score on physics placement examination; MATH 226 with a grade of C or better; concurrent enrollment in PHYS 222, MATH 227.
Course Attributes:
- B1: Physical Science
PHYS 222 General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 220.
Course Attributes:
- B3: Lab Science
PHYS 230 General Physics with Calculus II (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 220, MATH 227, with grades of C or better; concurrent enrollment in PHYS 232, MATH 228 recommended.
PHYS 232 General Physics with Calculus II Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 230.
PHYS 240 General Physics with Calculus III (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 220, MATH 227, with grades of C or better; concurrent enrollment in PHYS 242, MATH 228 recommended; recommended for Physics majors.
PHYS 242 General Physics with Calculus III Laboratory (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 240.
PHYS 320 Modern Physics I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 230, PHYS 240, MATH 228, with grades of C or better.
PHYS 321 Modern Physics Laboratory (Units: 2)
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 320.
PHYS 325 Modern Physics II (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 320 with a grade of C- or better.
PHYS 330 Analytical Mechanics I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 230, MATH 245 or MATH 376, with grades of C- or better.
PHYS 360 Electricity and Magnetism I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 230, PHYS 330, PHYS 385, with grades of C- or better.
PHYS 370 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 240, PHYS 320, MATH 228, with grades of C or better.
PHYS 385 Introduction to Theoretical Physics I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 240/PHYS 242 with grades of C- or better; concurrent enrollment in PHYS 330.
PHYS 430 Quantum Mechanics I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 320, PHYS 360 (may be taken concurrently), PHYS 385, and MATH 245 or MATH 376, with grades of C- or better.
PHYS 431 Quantum Mechanics II (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 430 with a grade of C- or better.
PHYS 440 Computational Physics (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: MATH 245 or MATH 376; PHYS 320; and CSC 210 or CSC 309 or ENGR 213.
(PHYS 740/PHYS 440 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
PHYS 450 Introduction to Solid State Physics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 320, MATH 245 or MATH 376, with grades of C- or better.
PHYS 457 Introduction to Analog Electronics (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 121 or PHYS 230, MATH 226, with grades of C- or better.
PHYS 460 Electricity and Magnetism II (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 360 with a grade of C- or better.
PHYS 480 Introduction to Optics & Photonics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 230 and PHYS 240, PHYS 320 and PHYS 385 recommended, with grades of C- or better.
PHYS 490 Physics Project Laboratory (Units: 2)
Prerequisite: PHYS 321 with a grade of C- or better.
PHYS 491GW Advanced Laboratory II - GWAR (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: GE Area A2; PHYS 490 with a grade of C or better.
Course Attributes:
- Graduation Writing Assessment
PHYS 495 Introduction to Apparatus Fabrication (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: Physics majors; PHYS 490 with a grade of C- or better; consent of the instructor.
PHYS 685 Instructional Methods in Teaching Physics (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
PHYS 686 Experiences in Teaching Physics (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
PHYS 695 Culminating Experience in Physics (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Final semester of a Physics degree program.
PHYS 697 Senior Project (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 490; consent of the faculty adviser.
PHYS 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Approval of department and consent of instructor.
PHYS 701 Classical Mechanics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing; PHYS 460 (may be taken concurrently), PHYS 785 recommended.
PHYS 704 Electricity and Magnetism I (Units: 3)
Boundary-value problems in electrostatics, magnetostatics; Maxwell's equations and the causal structure of electrodynamics; plane waves and wave propagation.PHYS 706 Quantum Mechanics (Units: 3)
Bound states, collision theory, matrix mechanics, symmetry and groups, perturbation theory.PHYS 710 Advanced Laboratory Techniques (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 490.
PHYS 711 Semiconductor Devices and Technology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 450 with a grade of C or better.
PHYS 712 Physics of Plasmas (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing; PHYS 460; PHYS 701 or PHYS 785 recommended.
PHYS 714 Low-Temperature Physics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 360, PHYS 430, with grades of C or better.
PHYS 715 Lasers and Quantum Optics (Units: 3)
Atom-field interaction, stimulated emission, dipole oscillations, the ammonia maser, semi-classical laser theory, coherent states, quantum laser theory, Fourier optics, and holographic interferometry.PHYS 725 Special and General Relativity (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing; PHYS 701 (may be taken concurrently); PHYS 785 recommended.
PHYS 726 Quantum Field Theory (Units: 3)
Relativistic wave equations; quantization of the scalar, Dirac, and Maxwell fields. The LSZ reduction formula for S-matrix elements. Path-Integral evaluation of time-ordered products. Tree-level Feynman diagrams in quantum electrodynamics, and an introduction to non-abelian gauge theory.PHYS 730 Photonics and Nano Materials (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 320 and PHYS 360 or consent of the instructor. Non-Physics majors should consult with the instructor.
PHYS 740 Computational Physics (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: MATH 245 or MATH 376; PHYS 320; and CSC 210 or CSC 309 or ENGR 213.
(PHYS 740/PHYS 440 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
PHYS 775 Statistical Physics (Units: 3)
Statistical methods in physics: probability, phase space, distribution functions, partition functions. Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein statistics. Phase transitions, Monte Carlo method, transport theory. (Plus-minus letter grade only)PHYS 785 Theoretical Physics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 360, PHYS 460 (may be taken concurrently).
PHYS 832 Instructional Methods in Physics (Units: 2)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor; concurrent GTA appointment.
PHYS 885 Projects in Teaching Physics and Astronomy (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
PHYS 890 Introduction to Physics Research (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
PHYS 891 Physics Research Design (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites: Passed Level 1 Written English Proficiency Requirement and have research project approved.
PHYS 896 Directed Reading in Physics (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
PHYS 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)
Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.
PHYS 897 Research (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Completed undergraduate major in physics.
PHYS 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.
PHYS 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Approval of department and consent of instructor.