6.60	Physics and Astronomy

Head: P. Blunden
General Office: 301 Allen Building
Telephone: 474 9817
Fax: 474 7622
Email: physics@physics.umanitoba.ca
Website: www.physics.umanitoba.ca/

Academic Staff

Program Information
The department offers opportunities for graduate study in several experimental and theoretical fields of contemporary interest, leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Fields of Research
Astronomy and Astrophysics: The Formation, Evolution, and Structure of Galaxies; The Late Stages of Stellar Evolution (Neutron Stars, Magnetars, Black Holes); Supernova Remnants and our Milky Way Galaxy; Advanced Genetic Algorithms for Astrophysical Data Modeling (Magnetic Fields in Molecular Clouds; Moons, Oceans, and Magnetic Fields).

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics: Study of atomic and molecular interactions in dense fluids by laser light scattering and far infrared absorption; atomic collision dynamics studied using electron energy-loss spectroscopy, laser excitation techniques and time-correlated particle detection.

Condensed Matter Physics: Magnetic properties of materials, including their dependence on crystal structure and morphology; surface magnetism of fine particles or thin films; crystalline transformations of amorphous magnetic materials; phase transitions and critical phenomena in ferromagnetics, spin-glasses and site- disordered systems; high Tc superconductors; acoustic phonon localization in disordered materials; structural phase transitions; nanomagnetism, biological applications of magnetic nanoparticles, nanoparticle magnetism, magnetism in think film systems.

Mass Spectrometry: Precise atomic mass determinations of stable and unstable nuclides; time-of-flight mass spectrometry of large molecules (particularly biomolecules) and molecular clusters.

Physics of Nanoscale Systems: Electronic and Optical Properties of Low-dimensional Electron Systems and Nanostructures; Electron Dynamics in a DNA molecule, Spin Transport in a Quantum Dot, Electronic States in a Quantum Dot/Quantum Ring.

Subatomic Physics: Properties of nuclei far from stability (decay energies, atomic masses, nuclear structure); nucleon-nucleon systems (spin observables, particle production); tests of symmetry principles (charge symmetry, parity); strange quark structure of the proton; Laser and Ion Trapping.

Theoretical Physics: Low temperature excitations in ordered crystalline magnets; investigations of reduced dimensionality on the magnetic and electronic properties of solids; the effects of disorder on the physical properties of solids as studied using renormalization group methods, fractal geometry and random matrix theory; phase transitions and critical phenomena; theory and computer simulation of defect processes in crystalline materials; relativistic dynamics of composite system; Kaluza-Klein theory and string dynamics; evolution problems in quantum, classical and semi-classical mechanics using the rigorous methods of mathematical physics; few-body scattering theory; electromagnetic interactions in both few-body systems and complex nuclei; relativistic approaches to the nuclear many-body problem.

Medical Physics: Through adjunct appointments, graduate studies are also carried out at CancerCare Manitoba and at the National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics. Dosimetry of therapeutic electron beams of energies up to 32 MeV; quantification of cerebral blood flow and metabolism using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT); precision radiotherapy; radiation dosimetry and quality control for diagnostic X-rays and Nuclear Medicine; hyperthermia; biomedical Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Research Facilities
As an integral part of the research programs outlined above, a variety of major research facilities exist within the Department of Physics and Astronomy. These include an HP RX5670 ITANIUM2 quad CPU computer server with 96 Gb RAM, HP Smart Array 5304 controller, 28x146 Gb U320 disk subsystem, Group members access the server through a high speed, switched network, we also have a HP ZX200 ITANIUM2 development server with a 9Gb RAM, and several PCs for code development and testing. As well, the department has a JEOL 100CX-II transmission electron microscope and an ISI-100B scanning electron microscope with EDAX energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, a high resolution mass spectrometer, two time-of-flight mass spectrometers for large ions and biomolecules with masses up to approximately 10,000 u, a S.H.E. dilution refrigerator for the production of millikelvin temperatures, a Philips X-ray diffraction and fluorescence unit, a Nicolet 7900 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer equipped for operation in the far-infrared, a Jarrell-Ash double monochromator optical spectrometer for Raman experiments, a Quantum Design PPMS 6000 magnetometer/susceptometer and a custom-designed SQUID-based magnetometer, and a local network of computers connected to the university’s central computer facilities. A good machine shop and electronics shop are located in the Physics Department. Both liquid nitrogen and helium are produced locally for low temperature research.

Research facilities at various national and international laboratories, including Argonne National Laboratory (Chicago), TRIUMF (Vancouver), Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos, N.M.), the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory (Newport News, VA), and the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (Heidelberg, Germany) are extensively used by members of the subatomic physics research group.

Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics makes use of data obtained with various telescopes including NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope, and with the International Galactic Plane Survey.

Research in medical physics is carried out at CancerCare Manitoba and at the National Research Council of Canada Institute for Biodiagnostics.

M.Sc. in Physics

Admission
Admission requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. To enter the Master’s program directly, a student must have an Honours B.Sc. degree in Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics and Physics, or Engineering Physics from the University of Manitoba or the equivalent. Students without the degree entrance requirements will have their undergraduate program evaluated and may be required to complete a pre-Master’s program of selected University of Manitoba undergraduate courses.

Application Deadlines
The Department of Physics and Astronomy allows students to begin their program on either 1 September, 1 January, 1 May, or 1 July. For admission for each of these start dates, Canadian/U.S. students should send their applications with complete supporting documentation to the Department of Physics and Astronomy no less than three and a half (3.5) months before the intended start date. Non-Canadian students should send their applications with complete supporting documentation to the Department of Physics and Astronomy to arrive no later than six and a half (6.5) months before the intended start date.

Program Requirements
Minimum program requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has certain supplementary regulations. Information about these regulations as well as a description of research programs in Physics is available at: www.physics.umanitoba.ca.

A Master’s degree in physics normally consists of both coursework and a thesis. For students in the medical physics M.Sc. program, the course load is increased and the thesis requirement is replaced by a practicum.

The Master’s program with thesis consists of two or three courses from the 700/7000 series offered by the department or from another department offering courses suitable for the candidate’s program. In special cases, courses may be drawn from the 400 series as listed. The program of study extends through a minimum period of twelve months. Frequently two summers of research work plus one winter of research and coursework are required to complete the program. In addition to coursework, these students must submit a thesis and defend it orally.

The M.Sc. program in medical physics is a two-year (18-month, course work, 6-month, practicum) program which requires 36 credits. A practicum in an approved laboratory and the submission of a research report is also required. On completion of the coursework and practicum, the student will be required to pass a comprehensive oral examination.

Second language reading requirement: none

Expected time to graduate: 2 years

Ph.D. in Physics

Admission
In addition to the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar, the normal procedure to be a candidate for a Ph.D. degree is to complete an M.Sc. degree first. However, students with an honours degree from the University of Manitoba or equivalent may be accepted directly into the PhD program.

Application Deadlines
The Department of Physics and Astronomy allows students to begin their program on either 1 September, 1 January, 1 May, or 1 July. For admission for each of these start dates, Canadian/U.S. students should send their applications with complete supporting documentation to the Department of Physics and Astronomy no less than three and a half (3.5) months before the intended start date. Non-Canadian students should send their applications with complete supporting documentation to the Department of Physics and Astronomy to arrive no later than six and a half (6.5) months before the intended start date.

Program Requirements
Minimum program requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has certain supplementary regulations. Information about these regulations as well as a description of Research Programs in Physics is available on the web: www.physics.umanitoba.ca.

International students entering the Ph.D. program are strongly encouraged to write and obtain minimum grade of 650 on the GRE physics subject examination prior to applying for the Ph.D. program.

The main program of studies is selected from one of the major fields of research listed above, and is supplemented by an ancillary program which takes into account the student's interests and breadth of experience.

Ancillary subjects must be chosen from a field of physics distinct from the major area of study or from other departments (e.g., Mathematics) offering suitable courses. In consultation with the student, a program of study is decided by a committee with the student’s advisor as chair.

Students must pass a candidacy exam and submit a thesis which describes their research work and which will be examined according to the general regulations.

Second language requirement: none

Expected time to graduation: 4 years

Course Descriptions

PHYS 7250 Seminar course in Advanced Physics Cr.Hrs.6 (016.725) Selected topics in advanced physics may be offered from time to time by the faculty or visiting lecturers. Credit for this course will be determined by the head of the department of Physics. [Prerequisite: consent of instructor].

PHYS 7260 Mass Spectroscopy Cr.Hrs.3 (016.726) Two lectures per week for one term. The course covers the techniques and applications of mass spectroscopy. Special emphasis is given to the general principles of ion optics for use in the design of modern instruments.

PHYS 7440 Advanced Topics in Physics Cr.Hrs.3 (016.744) Selected topics in advanced physics. This course may be offered from time to time by the faculty or visiting lecturers. [Prerequisites: consent of instructor].

PHYS 7500 Condensed Matter Physics 1 Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.750) The principles of electrical and vibrational properties of primarily crystalline structures. Topics include free electron theory, electron-electron interactions, screening, phonons, electron-phonon coupling and transport properties. Not to be held with the former 016.712.

PHYS 7510 Condensed Matter Physics 2 Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.751) A comprehensive survey of advanced topics in condensed matter physics. The topics may change from year to year but include collective excitations, defects, localized states, superconductivity, Josephson effect, superfluids, quantum Hall effect. Not to be held with the former 016.712. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7500 (016.750) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7520 Condensed Matter Physics 3 Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.725) An advanced treatment of cooperative phenomena which occur in various condensed phases of matter. Topics may change from year to year but include liquids, liquid crystals, incommensurate structures, magnetically ordered systems, amorphous solids, quasicrystals. [Prerequisites: PHYS 7500 (016.750) and PHYS 7540 (016.754) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7530 Physics of Magnetism Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.7530) A comprehensive survey of magnetism and magnetic materials. Topics include the origins of magnetic interactions, types of magnetic order, domain structures, magnetization processes, dynamics, thin films, applications. Not to be held with the former 016.721. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7500 (016.750) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7540 Statistical Mechanics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.754) The principles of statistical mechanics. Topics include statistical ensembles, entropy, Fermi gas, Bose-Einstein condensation, superfluidity, phase transitions and equilibria, fluctuations, Fluctuation-Dissipation and Wiener-Khintchin theorems, liquids and dense gases. Not to be held with the former 016.719. [Prerequisite: PHYS 4370 (016.437) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7550 Advanced Statistical Mechanics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.755) An advanced treatment of phase transitions and critical phenomena in a variety of systems. Topics include solvable models, mean field theory, Landau theory, scaling laws, series methods, renormalization group methods, linear response theory, generalized rigidity. Not to be held with the former 016.719. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7540 (016.754) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7560 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.756) Relativistic single particle equations for bosons and fermions, quantization of fields, interacting fields, elementary quantum electrodynamics, covariant perturbation theory and Feyman diagrams. Not to be held with the former 016.743. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7420 (016.742) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7570 Nuclear Physics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.757) Hadron and lepton scattering, the nucleon-nucleon interaction, nuclear structure, nuclear shell model, nuclear excitations and decay, hadronic interactions and decays, the quark model. Not to be held with the former 016.705. [Prerequisite: PHYS 4510 (016.451) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7580 Advanced Topics in Nuclear Physics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.758) A selection of advanced topics in nuclear and intermediate energy physics. Not to be held with the former 016.706. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7570 (016.757) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7590 Electromagnetic Theory Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.759) Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic potentials, gauge conditions, conservation laws, Green function methods, diffraction theory, simple radiating systems, Lagrangian derivation of Maxwell’s equations and the covariant structure of electromagnetism. Not to be held with the former 016.715.

PHYS 7600 Applied Electromagnetism Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.760) Wave guides and resonant cavities, charged particle collision theory, Bremsstrahlung, radiation of moving charged particles, multipole radiation. Not to be held with the former 016.715. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7590 (016.759)(C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7610 Experimental Methods in Materials Science Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.761) A course covering many of the experimental techniques used in materials science. Topics will change from year to year but will be selected from the following: vacuum techniques, cryogenic techniques, data acquisition, optical and electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, electrical and optical measurements, superconducting and magnetic properties, ultrasonic measurements.

PHYS 7620 Experimental Methods in Physics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.762) A course covering many of the experimental techniques used in physics. Topics will change from year to year but will be selected from the following: laser, optical and electron spectroscopic techniques (applied to atoms and molecules), mass spectrometry (of large biological molecules and atomic nuclei), general aspects of detector and instrumental designs, cryogenic techniques and targets, basics of particle accelerators, data acquisition.

PHYS 7630 Particle Physics Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.763) Basic particles and interactions, symmetries and conservation laws, the quark model, deep inelastic scattering, electroweak theory, introduction to QCD. Not to be held with the former 016.730. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7420 (016.742) (C+) or consent of instructor.]

PHYS 7640 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics for Advanced Students 1 Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.764) An introduction to the fundamentals of quantum mechanics for students in engineering and sciences other than physics, in the context of modern materials. Postulates of quantum mechanics, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, one-electron and many-electron systems. [Prerequisites: PHYS 1050, PHYS 1070, MATH 1300, MATH 1500, MATH 1700 (or both MATH 1510 and MATH 1710 or MATH1690), (C+) or equivalents.]

PHYS 7650 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics for Advanced Students 2 Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.765) A continuation of PHYS 7640. Electron spin, approximation methods for stationary states, time-dependent perturbation theory, term project. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7640 (C+).]

PHYS 7710 Quantum Optics Cr.Hrs.6 (016.771) Matter-radiation interaction, spectral line broadening, quantization of the radiation field, degree of coherence of light; number, coherent, chaotic and squeezed states of light, quantum theory of detection, laser theory, resonance fluorescence, light scattering, non-linear quantum optics. Not to be held with the former 016.708. [Prerequisite: permission of instructor].

PHYS 7720 Quantum Mechanics I. Cr. Hrs. 3 (016.772) Topics include the concepts and foundations of quantum mechanics, continuous and discrete symmetries, time dependent perturbation theory including interaction with electromagnetic fields and scattering theory. [Prerequisite: PHYS 4380 (C+). Not to be held with the former PHYS 7420].

PHYS 7820 Photonics Cr.Hrs.6 (016.782) A survey of photonic devices and their physical principles. Optics, optical fibres, lasers, LEDs, photo-detectors, electro-optic modulators, liquid crystal displays, acousto-optics, photon switching and computing, and fibre-optic communication. [Prerequisite: PHYS 4520 (or 016.452), or ECE 3600 (or 024.360) (C+), or consent of instructor].

Medical Physics Courses

PHYS 7360 Medical Radiation Physics Cr.Hrs.3 (016.736) The relevant physics of the production and interaction of radiation beams used in both diagnostic and therapeutic medicine will be covered. Such beams included X- and g-rays, particle beams, visible and I.R. radiation, microwaves, and ultrasound. [Prerequisite: PHYS 4560 (or 016.456)(C+) or consent of instructor].

PHYS 7370 Radiotherapy Physics Cr.Hrs.3 (016.737) The calculations and measurements necessary to determine the radiation dose distribution in patients receiving radiotherapy will be presented. Newer treatment modalities, e.g., pion therapy and hyperthermia will be discussed. [Prerequisites: PHYS 4510 (or 016.451) and PHYS 4560 (or 016.456)(C+), or consent of instructor].

PHYS 7380 Radiation Biology Cr.Hrs.3 (016.738) The interaction of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations with living systems. The relevance to Radiotherapy. Nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology. Prerequisite: PHYS 1020 (or 016.102)/ 016.103 (or 016.121) or consent of instructor.

PHYS 7390 Radiation Protection Cr.Hrs.3 (016.739) Ionizing radiation including X-ray, g-ray, neutrons, alpha-, beta-, and heavy ion-particle sources, bioeffects, and protection principles are covered. Non-ionizing radiation, including laser light, radio- frequency waves, ultraviolet and infrared light, and ultrasound, sources, bioeffects, and exposure protection guidelines are studied. Prerequisites: [PHYS 7360 (or 016.736) and PHYS 7380 (or 016.738) (C+) or consent of instructor].

PHYS 7400 Medical Imaging Cr.Hrs.3 (016.740) Fundamental principles of image formation, analysis of the characteristics of medical images, parametric description of image quality; application to transmission radiography. [Prerequisite: consent of instructor].

PHYS 7410 Diagnostic Methods Cr.Hrs.3 (016.741) Medical imaging in terms of signal acquisition, data processing, image reconstruction, special techniques; applications in fluoroscopy, computed tomography, radionuclide imaging, ultrasound, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7400 (or 016.740)(C+)].

PHYS 7460 Methods in Medical and Health Physics 1 - (Medical Imaging and Radiation Protection) Cr.Hrs.3 (016.746) This practical course is designed to give students hands-on experience with equipment, clinical techniques and methods of analysis in medical imaging and health physics. Topics such as: dosimetry of unsealed sources, radiation shielding design and surveys, meter calibration, decontamination and plume dispersal, CT, Ultrasound, X-ray and Nuclear Medicine imaging techniques, mammography and quality assurance in medical and health physics will be covered. Students are required to take both PHYS 7460 (or 016.746) and PHYS 7470 (or 016.747) which will be offered in consecutive years. Note: only students accepted to the Medical Physics Program will be allowed to register for this course.

PHYS 7470 Methods in Medical and Health Physics 2 - (Radiotherapy and Radiation Biology) Cr.Hrs.3 (016.747) This practical course is designed to give students hands-on experience with equipment, clinical techniques and methods of analysis in radiotherapy and radiation biology. Topics such as: error analysis and data reduction, dosimetry of ionizing radiation, radiotherapy treatment planning, calibration, HDR brachytherapy, micro-dosimetry and quality assurance in medical physics, will be covered. Students are required to take both PHYS 7460 (or 016.746) and PHYS 7470 (or 016.747) which will be offered in consecutive years. Note: only students accepted to the Medical Physics Program will be allowed to register for this course.

PHYS 7700 Research Project in Medical Health Physics Cr.Hrs.0 (016.770) Students undertake a relevant research project in an approved laboratory. At least six months of full-time research is expected. The research project report shall be submitted in a style and length as specified by the department. A comprehensive oral examination will follow the submission of the project report.
Astrophysics & Astronomy Courses

PHYS 7660 Astronomy 1: The Phenomenology of Galaxies Cr.Hrs.3 (016.766) Describes astronomical standards such as intensity magnitudes, colour and metalicity; the properties of stars and the interstellar medium; galactic structure, kinematics, and the evolution of galactic components.

PHYS 7670 Astronomy 2: Galactic Dynamics Cr.Hrs.3 (016.767) A continuation of PHYS 7660, this course provides mathematical descriptions of potential theory, disk dynamics and spiral structure, collisions between galaxies, and dark matter. Additional topics are galaxy evolution, large-scale structure of the universe and cosmology. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7660 (or 016.766)(C+)].

PHYS 7680 Astrophysics 1: Stars Cr.Hrs.3 (016.768) Covers the basic physical concepts required to extract qualitative estimates of astrophysical parameters, describes several aspects of observational astronomy, and it emphasizes in a more mathematical way the astrophysics of stellar structure and evolution.

PHYS 7690 Astrophysics 2: Interstellar Matter and Galaxies Cr.Hrs.3 (016.769) Emphasizes the physics of interstellar matter and dust grains, gaseous nebulae, basic hydrodynamics, shock waves, and supernova remnants. [Prerequisite: PHYS 7680 (or 016.768 (C+)].