Physics 704 - Spring 2015

Classical Field Theory II

Contact Information
Learning Outcomes (includes Syllabus)
Course Policies and Classwork
Methods of Evaluation
Course Content
Course Schedule

Contact Information

Learning Outcomes (includes Syllabus)

• Demonstrate understanding of electromagnetic radiation and its propagation, including in waveguides.
• Demonstrate understanding of the radiation and scattering of electromagnetic waves.
• Examine the effects of scattering of waves by media at various wavelengths.
• Learn how to apply the essentials of Einstein's theory of Special Relativity to electromagnetic phenomena. We consider especially relativistic kinematics, the electromagnetic field tensor, covariance thereof and the relativistic precession of spin. Demonstrate ability to solve kinematic and electromagnetic problems in Minkowski spacetime.
• Study the motion of charged particles in electromagnetic fields using the action principle.
• Demonstrate understanding of energy loss and multiple scattering of charged particles as they traverse media.
• Elementary methods of classical fields: Invariance Principles and Conservation Laws. Tensor Fields and the Stress Tensor.

Students are expected to know electrodynamics at the PHYS 703 level before they take this course. Only students who have done well in PHYS 703 should take this course. Also, students are expected to have a firm grasp of the commonly employed mathematical methods of physics.

Course Policies and Classwork

Course Policies (from CTE website): The University of South Carolina has clearly articulated its policies governing academic integrity and students are encouraged to carefully review the policy on the Honor Code in the Carolina Community. Any deviation from these expectations will result in academic penalties as well as disciplinary action. The area of greatest potential risk for inadvertent academic dishonesty is plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, paraphrasing or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement.

Classwork: Classwork will consist of quizzes, on-board solutions of problems by students and projects. Students will be encouraged to participate in discussions and demonstrate understanding in one or more of these ways.

Project / Writeup:

• Pick something that is new, i.e., not already covered in class, but could be connected to what is taught in class. For instance, discussing basic radiation formulas for electric dipole antennas is not a good idea, since this is taught in class, but describing how real dipole antennas are made for various applications and how the differences between them is connected to the Maxwell equations might make a very good topic.
• Connection to the course is important. The above topic clearly connects well with what is taught in the course.
• Your contribution is important. A topic such as "The Northern Lights" has great potential. On the one hand this is an electromagnetic phenomenon and if you elucidate the details of how photons of different colors are emitted starting with the Maxwell equations you have added to the course. The goal is to impart some knowledge and learning, and also demonstrate that you understood something new on your own and expended some effort to do so!
• Deadlines: Monday Jan. 26, 2015 for a title and abstract. Monday Mar 23, 2015 for up to two pages of a project report.
  You are encouraged to give me a draft 2 weeks in advance, i.e., by Mar. 9, 2015 if you would like comments to improve your report.
  Drafts submitted after that date may be too late for revision.
• Format: Please use at least 10 pt font, minimum of one page, and a maximum of two pages. Use of TeX or LaTeX is encouraged, but any computer typeset output should be good.
• Possible sources within Jackson text: Sections 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 8.1, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11B, 9.4, 10.1D, 10.2D, 10.3, 12.9, ...
• Possible sources within Jackson problems: The second half of the Chapter 8 problems, further problems in Chapters 9, 10.

Example of a project:
Imagine that you are interested in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and want to learn something about this rich topic. You may wish to start with section 7.7 of the text by Jackson. In there he demonstrates the existence of both longitudinal and transverse MHD waves. For the the project you could:
(A) Explain what motivated you to do this project (connection to your research, or interest in MHD for some other reason, etc.).
(B) Explain what is MHD and why it is of interest / where such phenomena occur and need to be understood.
(C) Consider equation (7.69) without a magnetic field and show, as Jackson states a paragraph later, how ordinary sound waves result from the equation and what speed one gets for them.
(D) Re-consider equation (7.69) with a magnetic field and show that both longitudinal and transverse waves may result, and what is their speed.
(E) Describe the longitudinal and transverse phenomena displayed in Figs. 7.12 (a) and (b) respectively and described towards the end of the section.
(F) Conclude with how the phenomenon of lines of force being "frozen in" to the fluid, and how this shapes whatever physics phenomenon motivated you to study this topic in the first place: perhaps solar flares, or something else.

Methods of Evaluation

Grading: Students turning in less than 70% of homeworks will automatically earn an F grade.
For other students, the course score will be calculated as follows:

• 10% of the score is for classwork and in-class tests and quizzes.
  
• 10% of the score is for a project / project report.
  
• 30% for Homework.
  
• 20% for Tests.
  
• 30% for the Final Exam.
  

• A: 90%.   B+: 85%.   B: 75%.   C+: 70%.   C: 60%.   D: 50%.

Office of Student Disability Services policy statement

Detailed Course Schedule