Teaching
PHYS 305: The Art of Communication in Scientific Presentation (Offered in Spring)
Level: Graduate Course
Prerequisites: None, though it is preferred that the students will have already started engaging in research as
this will form a convenient topic for their presentations, though it is not strictly necessary.
Material Covered: The lectures will cover elements of storytelling (e.g., exposition, conflict/driving moment,
rising/falling action, climax/critical event) and their application to the development of your presentation. We will
also focus via different exercises on verbal/ nonverbal communication skills, including but not limited to:
posture, voice volume/ projection, speed of delivery, intonation, pauses, hand gestures, physical movements and
eye contact. Other items we will cover: technical aspects of slides - colors, effects, animations, etc; how to field
questions; how to prepare oneself in general.
Book(s) Used: There is no textbook for the course. Lectures will be self-contained and based on my notes.
Copies of notes as well as supplementary materials/reading will be distributed, when appropriate.
PHYS 015: Introduction to Modern Physics (Offered in Fall)
Level: Undergraduate Course
Prerequisites: Calculus and Algebra
Material Covered: Special Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and their applications in different fields of Physics
Book(s) Used: Modern Physics by Serway, Moses & Moyer (3rd Edition)
PHYS 226: Solid State Physics - I (Offered in Spring)
Level: Graduate and Undergraduate Course
Prerequisites: Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, and (some) Thermal & Statistical Mechanics (all
prerequisites - at least at the undergraduate level)
Material Covered:
(1) Static and dynamic aspects of structural properties of crystalline materials
(2) Electronic properties of solids
(3) Semiconductor Physics
Book(s) Used:
(1) Introduction to Solid State Physics by Kittel (7th edition or later)
(2) Solid State Physics by Ashcroft & Mermin (1st edition)
PHYS 220: Quantum Mechanics - I (Offered in Fall)
Level: Graduate Course
Prerequisites: Undergraduate-level Quantum Mechanics (or at the minimum, Modern Physics), Electromagnetic
Theory, and Mathematical Physics (all prerequisites - at least at the undergraduate level)
Material Covered: This is the first of the two-semester course. We will cover a range of topics over the course of
two semesters (not necessarily in this order): brief discussion of old quantum theory, wavefunctions and
Schrodinger’s equation, abstract formulation of quantum mechanics, Dirac notation, operators, vector spaces,
symmetry, spins, addition of angular momentum, approximation methods (perturbation theory and variational
method) and scattering theory, etc. Along the way, we will look at the application of quantum mechanical ideas to
explain phenomena within different fields of physics and chemistry.
Book(s) Used: There is no textbook for the course. I will try to make my lectures as self-contained as possible.
However, you are encouraged to acquire one or more of the following books to supplement the notes (a non-
comprehensive list):
(1) Quantum Mechanics, C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu and F. Laloe: Two volumes, good for self study. Highly
recommended.
(2) Quantum Mechanics, L.I. Schiff: A solid old-fashioned graduate textbook.
(3) Lectures on Quantum Mechanics, G. Baym: A very good graduate textbook, with a concise and
sophisticated exposition.
(4) Modern Quantum Mechanics, J.J. Sakurai: Another good book, with good examples.
(5) The Feynman Lectures on Physics, vol. III, R.P. Feynman: Great for gaining physical insights.
(6) Quantum Mechanics, F. Schwabl: Concise text.
Phys 221: Quantum Mechanics - II (Offered in Spring)
Level: Graduate Course
Prerequisites: Graduate-level Quantum Mechanics - I (PHYS-220)
Material Covered: This is the second of the two-semester course. We will cover a range of topics over the course
of the semester: addition of angular momentum, approximation methods (perturbation theory and variational
method) and scattering theory, etc.
Book(s) Used: There is no textbook for the course. To supplement the notes, and for purposes of self-study, I
recommend the same books that are listed above for PHYS 220 (Quantum Mechanics - I).