PHYS 514 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Course Description
The goal of this course is to develop a functional understanding of and broad perspective on the physics relevant to modern (post late 1980s) atomic physics experiments. You should leave this course with a consistent, conceptual picture of atomic structure, the interaction of atoms with electromagnetic fields, and the nature of interactions between atoms. The point of this class is not to understand the nitty-gritty details behind the derivation of theoretical results. Rather, we will develop the skills necessary to do calculations relevant to experiments. Areas of special concentration will include methods for coherent control of atomic quantum states and the physics behind trapping and cooling technology (ion traps, magnetic traps, optical traps, magneto-optical traps, etc.). We will also discuss the use of AMO systems for quantum information systems.
This course will be useful and great fun even if you do not plan to pursue an atomic physics research topic. The interaction of light and matter (the real guts of this course) is an important subject in many research areas, from biophysics to physical chemistry. You can also view the subject matter of this course as applied quantum mechanics, and a great way to enhance your understanding of that subject.
We will be using Atomic Physics by Foot for some of the course. We will supplement with other resources as needed.
Homeworks
Homeworks will be due every other Friday, uploaded via my.physics. Homework sets will NOT be accepted late unless you have an official excuse (see list of excusable absences in the student code).
Final Project
There will be no exams or quizzes. There will be a final project, which will be worth 40% of your grade. Your final project will center on a recent theoretical or experimental atomic physics journal article. For your final project, you will give a 15 minute, conference-style talk to the class (the last several classes and/or the scheduled final exam time will be dedicated to this activity).
There are deadlines in during the term to get your chosen paper approved by the instructor and to submit an abstract for your talk. Completing these satisfactorily and on time will be part of your grade. You should feel free to seek help from the instructor, your classmates, or other members of your research group in picking an article. Note that the purpose of the talk is to share what you’ve learned with your fellow students and to learn how to tell a good story in a conference session.
Additional Course Policies
COVID
Following University policy, all students are required to engage in appropriate behavior to protect the health and safety of the community.
Students who feel ill must not come to class. In addition, students who test positive for COVID-19 must not attend class. These students are judged to have excused absences for the class period and should contact the instructor via email about making up the work.
Anti-Racism and Inclusivity Statement
The Grainger College of Engineering is committed to the creation of an anti-racist, inclusive community that welcomes diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, disability status, class, age, or religious beliefs. The College recognizes that we are learning together in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, that Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous voices and contributions have largely either been excluded from, or not recognized in, science and engineering, and that both overt racism and micro-aggressions threaten the well-being of our students and our university community.
The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon each of us to create a safe and encouraging learning environment that allows for the open exchange of ideas while also ensuring equitable opportunities and respect for all of us. Everyone is expected to help establish and maintain an environment where students, staff, and faculty can contribute without fear of personal ridicule, or intolerant or offensive language. If you witness or experience racism, discrimination, micro-aggressions, or other offensive behavior, you are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the course director if you feel comfortable. You can also report these behaviors to the Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART). Based on your report, BART members will follow up and reach out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe. If the reported behavior also violates university policy, staff in the Office for Student Conflict Resolution may respond as well and will take appropriate action.
Sexual Misconduct Reporting Obligation
The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.
A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here: wecare.illinois.edu/resources/students/#confidential.
Other information about resources and reporting is available here: wecare.illinois.edu.
Academic Integrity
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should also be considered as a part of this syllabus. Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Read the Code at the following URL: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/.
Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Every student is expected to review and abide by the Academic Integrity Policy: https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1/part4/1-401/. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.
Religious Observances
Illinois law requires the University to reasonably accommodate its students' religious beliefs, observances, and practices in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work requirements. You should examine this syllabus at the beginning of the semester for potential conflicts between course deadlines and any of your religious observances. If a conflict exists, you should notify your instructor of the conflict and follow the procedure at https://odos.illinois.edu/community-of-care/resources/students/religious-observances/ to request appropriate accommodations. This should be done in the first two weeks of classes.
Disability-Related Accommodations
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to https://www.disability.illinois.edu. If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability. You may access these by visiting the DRES website and selecting “Request an Academic Screening” at the bottom of the page.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Any student who has suppressed their directory information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should self-identify to the instructor to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. See https://registrar.illinois.edu/academic-records/ferpa/ for more information on FERPA.