Primary Faculty: Professors BARANGER (Vice Provost), BAYFIELD, CARLITZ, CLELAND, DUNCAN, DYTMAN (Graduate Admissions), GATEWOOD (Director, Allegheny Observatory), GOLDSCHMIDT, HAZARD (Richard K. Mellon Professor), JASNOW, JOHNSEN (Graduate Coordinator), KOEHLER, LOWE, MAHER (Provost), PRATT, ROSKIES (Co-director, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center), SHEPARD, TABAKIN (Chair), THOMPSON, VINCENT (Graduate Advisor), WINICOUR, ZIPF; Associate Professors BOYANOVSKY, DEVATY, ROVELLI, SCHULTE-LADBECK, STEWART (Dean, University Honors College), TURNSHEK, WU; Assistant Professors BOUDREAU, CONNOLLY, HILLIER (Graduate Advisor), LEVY, MUELLER (Graduate Advisor), NAPLES, PAOLONE, SNOKE; Instructor GUNDUZ; Lecturer SINGH; Research Professor CHOYKE; Research Associate Professor GOMEZ

Affiliated Faculty (Adjunct faculty and those with primary appointments in other areas): Professors BISHOP (Adjunct), COALSON (Chemistry), YATES (Richard K. Mellon Professor, Chemistry); Associate Professors EDWARDS (Adjunct), ERDMAN (Adjunct), KOZAMEH (Adjunct); Assistant Professors FRITTELLI (Adjunct), RAMSIER (Adjunct)

Emeritus Faculty: Professors ANDERSON, AUSTERN, BIONDI, COHEN, DAEHNICK, DRISKO, ENGELS, FITE, GARFUNKEL, GERJUOY, GOLDBURG, HALLIDAY, JANIS, NEWMAN, PAGE, SALADIN, STEHLE, TOWNSEND, WILLEY; Associate Professor KIEWIET de JONGE

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a PhD in either Physics or Astronomy, a PhD with an Area of Concentration in Applied Physics, a PhD with an Area of Concentration in Chemical Physics, and an MS in either Physics or Astronomy.

The preliminary examination is taken in the Spring Term by all first-year graduate students. It is a written examination and covers advanced undergraduate material only. The comprehensive examination is also taken in the spring by second-year graduate students and some well-prepared first-year students. It is a written examination based on the core graduate courses. In addition to passing the comprehensive examination, the PhD candidate must be judged satisfactory in at least three credit hours of teaching.

Additional information is contained in the brochures, Graduate Study in Physics and Astronomy and Requirements for the PhD and MS Degrees, Department of Physics and Astronomy, both of which may be obtained from the departmental office. The minimal degree requirements established by the Graduate Faculty of the University and by FAS Graduate Studies, as described elsewhere in this bulletin, should be read in conjunction with the specific departmental requirements.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has ongoing research programs, both theoretical and experimental, in the following fields: general relativity, astronomy (both astrophysics and astrometry), atomic physics, quantum optics, earth and planetary atmospheres, condensed matter (including solid-state physics, statistical mechanics and fluid dynamics, and biophysics), chemical physics, nuclear and intermediate energy physics, and elementary particle physics. The department (in collaboration with the physics department at Carnegie Mellon and Westinghouse Electric Company) operates the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center. The accessibility of this center greatly enhances the research capabilities of all the departmental research programs. Below is a sampling of current research activities in the department in many of these fields.

General Relativity: Theoretical studies include research in gravitational radiation by numerical analysis, reformulation of the classical Einstein equations, and the relationship of quantum theory to general relativity.

Astronomy and Astrophysics: The department has programs in extragalactic astronomy and cosmology, stellar astrophysics, and astrometry. In extragalactic astronomy and cosmology, there are programs to study the physical processes in quasars / active galactic nuclei, the formation and evolution of galaxies and the intergalactic medium using quasar absorption lines, gravitational lensing, and nearby galaxies such as blue compact dwarfs. In stellar astrophysics, much of the work deals with the observation and detailed numerical modeling of the stellar atmospheres of fast-evolving massive stars. In astrometry (positional astronomy), highly accurate studies of the motions of nearby stars are performed to deduce stellar parallaxes (distances) and search for planetary companions. Long-term astrometric studies are made at our own Allegheny Observatory in Pittsburgh. Instrument development for astrometric measurements is also carried out. Faculty have made UV / optical / IR studies using the most powerful and modern telescopes at leading observatories throughout the world and in space, for example, the WIYN telescope on Kitt Peak, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Keck Telescope. Radio astronomical studies have also been carried out at the several national observatories dedicated to radio astronomy.

Atomic Physics and Quantum Optics: There are both theoretical and experimental studies of the interaction of radiation with atomic systems and of interactions between ions and atoms, in weak and in strong electromagnetic fields (intense laser radiation), and in both relativistic and classical (non- relativistic) limits. This research has important consequences for lasers, for fusion plasmas, for astrophysics, and for our basic understanding of quantum mechanics.

Earth and Planetary Atmospheres: Both ground-based and rocket-based observations of the atomic and ionic processes in the upper atmosphere are carried out from observatories and launching stations around the world.

Condensed-matter Physics: In solid-state physics there are studies of the optical and infrared properties of solids, of semiconducting radiation detectors, quantum wells, the effect of ion implantation on channeling, photoluminescence and Raman scattering in semiconductors, and many topics in surface science, including the effects of strain and dislocation. High spatial and temporal resolution optical techniques are being developed and used to study electron and lattice dynamics in ferroelectrics, semiconductors, and other solid state materials. Using intense, picosecond laser pulses, electronic phase transitions such as Bose condensation of excitons are studied in bulk semiconductors and two- dimensional quantum well structures. In statistical mechanics and fluid dynamics there are both theoretical and experimental studies of phase transitions; spin glasses; fractals; critical phenomena; the properties of interfacial regions separating phases; and dynamic, non-equilibrium behavior in hydrodynamic systems. One of the more interesting experimental techniques involves the use of laser light scattering from density fluctuations in turbulent and incipient turbulent flow of fluids. Biophysics research within the department is primarily in the field of magnetic resonance imaging of live biological systems.

Nuclear and Intermediate Energy Physics: Theoretical research makes use of quantum field theory and quark dynamics to predict proton-antiproton reactions and the electromagnetic production of spin zero and spin one mesons. Experimental projects include studies of the structure of very light nuclei and nucleon resonances; the nucleon-nucleon force; and the competition between the strong interaction and the coriolis interaction in rapidly rotating nuclei. Experiments are conducted at national laboratories such as the Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory.

Elementary-particle Physics: Theoretical research projects include studies of strong and weak interactions, precision tests of quantum electrodynamics, and the behavior of quarks and gluons. Experimental projects include studies of proton anti-proton collisions resulting in the production and decay of “top” and “bottom” quarks using the CDF detector at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a search for the “tau” neutrine at Fermilab, and rare kaon decays at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Work on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (European Center for Nuclear Research) is also being done.

Independent Study Plan: Under this plan, an exceptionally able and well-motivated student may prepare for the examination and the completion of requirements without formal registration in the courses. Such a student would be assigned to a faculty member who would guide him or her in a private course of study and meet with the student in frequent tutorial sessions. A student following this plan would have complete freedom to attend courses as an auditor but must be registered for directed or independent study (see Grading and Credits in the first section of this bulletin). Except in unusual cases, students will not be admitted to this plan until they have demonstrated their abilities by formal enrollment in the conventional manner for at least one term.