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Dean Ian D. Brindle Faculty of Mathematics & Science Participating Faculty Professor Emeriti Ramesh C. Shukla (Physics) Professors Shyamal K. Bose, Chair (Physics), Douglas H. Bruce (Biological Sciences), Bozidar Mitrovic (Physics), Fereidoon S. Razavi (Physics), Stuart M. Rothstein (Chemistry), Jan Vrbik (Mathematics) Associate Professors David A. Crandles (Physics), Henryk Fuks (Mathematics), Maureen Reedyk (Physics), Kirill Samokhin (Physics), Edward Sternin (Physics), Art van der Est (Chemistry) Adjunct Professor Hanadi M. AdbelSalam (Physics) Senior Laboratory Instructor Frank A. Benko Laboratory Demonstrator Fulvio (Phil) Boseglav Graduate Officer Maureen Reedyk Administrative Assistant Fran Meffe 905-688-5550, extension 3412 Mackenzie Chown B210 |
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Candidates with an honours BA or BSc degree in Physics may apply to the Chair of the Department for entry into the program. Candidates holding a pass degree without sufficient concentration in Physics may, with the consent of the department, enrol in a qualifying year similar to year 4 of the honours program before formally applying for entry to the MSc program. Applicants may be required to write the Graduate Record Examination and/or an English language proficiency test. Full-time candidates with an honours degree or who have completed a qualifying year require a minimum of one year of resident study in a program that must be approved by the Chair of the Department. |
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The program must include PHYS 5F90 and two credits, of which at least one must be a graduate course. Further credits may be required where a candidate is deficient in a particular area. Part-time candidates may be considered, in which case at least two years of study beyond the honours degree is required. |
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The department's main research emphasis is on condensed matter physics. The following research fields are currently being pursued: |
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Lattice dynamics: lattice vibrations in simple metals, thermodynamics of anharmonic crystals, formalism of interacting many-body systems, Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. Superconductivity: unconventional pairing, novel materials (high-Tc, magnetic, etc.), localization and superconductivity, superconducting glassy state. Transport in metals: transport properties of heavy fermion systems. Non-crystalline materials: calculation of electronic structure and transport properties of amorphous and liquid metals, quasicrystals, alloys and semiconductors, vibrational and magnetic properties of amorphous solids. Unconventional superconductivity: magnetic superconductors, high temperature superconductors, strongly correlated electron systems in one and two dimensions. Mesoscopic physics. Quantum Monte Carlo studies of physical properties of isolated atoms and molecules. |
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Investigation of the optical properties of materials with phase transitions (e.g., ferromagnets, superconductors, heavy fermion, spin- and charge-density wave compounds) via optical spectroscopy from mm wave to uv. Preparation and characterization of ceramic, single crystal and thin film (using pulsed-laser deposition) high Tc superconductors, CMR materials (manganites) and amorphous alloys. Magnetic and transport properties at ambient and high pressure utilizing measurement techniques such as SQUID magnetometry, specific heat and dc-resistivity. |
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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and relaxation measurements in soft condensed matter systems. Study of collective motions in model membranes, phase transitions in liquid crystals. Biophysics of photosynthetic energy conversion using a combination of specialized optical spectroscopic techniques and theoretical models for excitation energy transfer and electron transport. Time resolved Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy and light-induced spin polarization in photosynthetic membrane proteins and donor acceptor molecular complexes. Investigation of energy and electron transfer and spin dynamics in these systems. Experimental research facilities are supported by electronics, glassblowing and machine shop services. The University provides extensive computing facilities using Silicon Graphics UNIX servers and high performance Beowulf clusters. |
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A number of fourth-year courses carrying graduate credit are offered by the department and can be selected with the permission of the Supervisor and the Chair. |
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A selection of the following courses, determined in part by student interest, will be offered each year. Further information about the courses to be offered in any year may be obtained from the Chair of the Department. MSc Thesis A research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis which will demonstrate a capacity for independent work. The research shall be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member and the thesis defended at an oral examination. Quantum Chemistry: Theory (also offered as CHEM 5P00) Self-consistent-field (SCF) method: configuration interaction; basis functions; electron correlation; physical properties of atoms, diatomic and polyatomic molecules. Advanced Electromagnetism Electromagnetic wave propagation in vacuum, dielectrics, conductors and ionized gases; wave guide and transmission line propagation; dipole and quadrupole radiation fields; relativistic transformation of the electromagnetic fields; radiation by moving charges. Advanced Statistical Physics Statistical ensembles, mean field and Landau theory, critical phenomena and the renormalization group; quantum fluids; superfluidity; linear response theory; selected topics on disordered systems. Advanced Quantum Mechanics I Angular momenta, relativistic Schrodinger equation, Dirac equation, positron theory and many electron problems. Advanced Quantum Mechanics II Symmetry, collision theory, Green's function, S-matrix, field quantization. Advanced Condensed Matter Physics Topics to be selected. Many Body Theory Green's functions at zero and finite temperature; perturbation theory and Feynman diagrams; linear response theory; electron- electron interaction; electron-phonon interaction; electrons in disordered systems; Fermi liquid theory; BCS theory of superconductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 5P50 and 5P51. Superconductivity Overview of basic experimental facts. Introduction to the BCS theory, effects of disorder, symmetry of the order parameter and the Ginzburg-Landau theory, magnetic properties of superconductors, macroscopic phase coherence phenomena, quasiparticle excitations in superconductors: thermal and optical properties; unconventional superconducting materials: HTSC, heavy fermions, organic superconductors. Optical Properties of Solids Measurement techniques; reflectivity, the dielectric function and the optical conductivity; Lorentz-Drude oscillator model; Kramers-Kronig transformations and sum rules; properties of metals, insulators and superconductors. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Density matrix formulation of NMR theory; spectroscopy of simple spin systems and spin-dependent interactions, relaxation theory; spin temperature; dipolar broadening in solids; NMR of soft condensed matter systems; practical aspects of high-fidelity solid-state NMR; NMR spectrometer design; NMR imaging and microscopy. Prerequisite: PHYS 5P50, PHYS 2P31 and PHYS 3P92 for the technical part - if given; strong background in quantum mechanics will be assumed. Graduate Seminar Course Independent study and presentation of major research papers in the area of specialization. A list of up to five papers is assigned by the supervisory committee and the student presentations are both in written and seminar form. Each student is required to attend and participate in all seminars given by students registered in the course. The course must be completed in first or second semester of graduate program. |
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2005-2006 Graduate Calendar
Last updated: August 24, 2005 @ 09:57AM