2008-2009 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

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confinement experiment incorporating a
levitated superconducting ring. The
Columbia Non-neutral Torus (CNT) is an
experiment devoted to the first study of
non-neutral plasmas confined on magnetic
surfaces. The Columbia Linear
Machine (CLM) is a continuously operating,
linear mirror device for the study of
collisionless plasma instabilities, plasma,
transport, and feedback stabilization.
Columbia’s Collisionless Terrella
Experiment investigates plasma transport
in magneto-spheric geometry and
the generation of strong plasma flow
from nonlinear electrostatic potentials.
Experimental research in solid-state
physics and laser physics is conducted
within the department and also in association
with the Columbia Center for
Integrated Science and Engineering and
the School of Mines. Facilities include
laser processing and spectroscopic
apparatus, ultrahigh vacuum chambers
for surface analysis, picosecond and
femtosecond lasers, a molecular beam
epitaxy machine, and photo-lithography
and thin film fabrication systems. Within
this field, the Laser Diagnostics and
Solid-State Physics Laboratory conducts
studies in laser spectroscopy of semiconductor
thin films and superlattices,
and laser diagnostics of thin film processing.
The Laser Lab focuses on the
study of materials under high pressure,
laser surface chemical processing, and
new semiconductor structures. Research
is also conducted in the shared characterization
laboratories and clean room
operated by the NSF Materials Research
Science and Engineering Center and the
NSF Nanoscale Science and
Engineering Center.
The department maintains an extensive
network of workstations and desktop
computers. The research of the Plasma
Lab is supported by a dedicated data
acquisition/data analysis system, and
the applied math group has access to a
Beowulf cluster. Through the Internet,
researchers in the department are currently
using supercomputing facilities at
the National Center for Atmospheric
Research; the San Diego Supercomputing
Center; the National Energy Research
Supercomputer Center in Berkeley,
California; the National Leadership Class
Facility at Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the IBM
SUR cluster at Brookhaven National Laboratory
in Upton, New York; and others.
Facilities, and research opportunities,
also exist within the interdepartmental
Materials Research Science and Engineering
Center, which focuses on complex
films composed of nanoparticles.
Current Research Activities and
Laboratory Facilities in Materials
Science and Engineering
See page 166.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of Applied Physics and
Applied Mathematics offers three undergraduate
programs: applied physics,
applied mathematics, and materials
science and engineering. The materials
science and engineering program is
described on pages 166–167.
The applied physics and applied
mathematics programs provide an
excellent preparation for graduate study
or for careers in which mathematical and
technical sophistication are important.
Using the large number of electives in
these programs, students can tailor their
programs to fit their personal and career
interests. By focusing their technical
electives, students can obtain a strong
base of knowledge in a specialized area.
In addition to formal minors, some areas
of specialization that are available are
described on pages 61–62. All technical
electives are normally at the 3000 level
or above.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
IN APPLIED PHYSICS
The applied physics program stresses
the basic physics that underlies most
developments in engineering and the
mathematical tools that are important to
both physicists and engineers. Since the
advances in most branches of technology
lead to rapid changes in state-of-the-art
techniques, the applied physics program
provides the student with a broad base
of fundamental science and mathematics
while retaining the opportunity for specialization
through technical electives.
The applied physics curriculum offers
students the skills, experience, and
preparation necessary for several career
options, including opportunities to minor
in economics and to take business-related
courses. In recent years, applied physics
graduates have entered graduate programs
in many areas of applied physics
or physics, enrolled in medical school,
or been employed in various technical or
financial areas immediately after receiving
the B.S. degree.
Several areas of applied physics are
represented by active research programs
in the department for graduate instruction.
These include fusion and space plasma
physics, optical and laser physics, and
condensed matter physics. Undergraduate
students can receive course credit
for research or an independent project
with a faculty member. Opportunities
also exist for undergraduate students in
the applied physics program to participate
in this research through part-time
employment during the academic year
and full-time employment during the
summer, either at Columbia or as part
of the NSF REU program nationwide.
Practical research experience is a valuable
supplement to the formal course
of instruction. Applied physics students
participate in an informal undergraduate
seminar to study current and practical
problems in applied physics, and obtain
hands-on experience in at least two
advanced laboratory courses.
Majors are introduced to two areas of
application of applied physics (AP) by a
course in each of two areas. Approved
areas and courses are:
DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
APMA E4101 or PHYS G4003
OPTICAL OR LASER PHYSICS:
APPH E4110 or E4112
NUCLEAR SCIENCE: APPH E4010
PLASMA PHYSICS: APPH E4301
PHYSICS OF FLUIDS: APPH E4200
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS: PHYS G4018
BIOPHYSICAL MODELING: APMA E4400
In addition to these courses, courses
listed in the Specialty Areas in Applied
Physics can be used to satisfy this
requirement with preapproval of the
applied physics adviser.
All students must take 30 points of
electives in the third and fourth years,
of which 17 points must be technical
courses approved by the adviser.
The 17 points include 2 points of an
advanced laboratory in addition to APPH
E4018. Technical electives must be at
the 3000 level or above unless prior
SEAS 2008–2009