Our scientific interests encompass different branches of soft condensed matter and optical physics, including chiral phenomena, knot theory, laser trapping and imaging techniques, molecular and colloidal self-assembly, fundamental properties of liquid crystals, polymers, organic and nano photovoltaics, nano-structured and other functional materials, as well as their photonic and electro-optic applications. Recently, a number of applied research efforts in our group are directed at solving the global energy and climate change problems
PHYS 3330 - Electronics for the Physical Sciences
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2026
Introduces laboratory electronics for physical science students. Includes basic electronic instruments, dc bridge circuits, operational amplifiers, bipolar transistors, field-effect transistors, photodiodes, noise in electronic circuits, digital logic and microcontrollers. Students gain hands-on experience in designing, building and debugging circuits. Two lectures and one three hour laboratory per week. Concludes with a final project in which students design and build an experiment of their choice and present a seminar on the results.
PHYS 4510 - Optics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2023
Basic electromagnetic theory of light, using Maxwell's equations. Examples in geometrical optics; extensive applications in physical optics including diffraction and polarization. Spectra, including Zeeman effect and fluorescence. Recent advances in experimental techniques: microwaves, lasers, image converters.
PHYS 4810 - Special Topics in Physics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021
Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum. Offered intermittently depending on student demand and availability of instructors. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.
PHYS 7430 - Soften Condensed Matter Physics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2025
Introduces the science of liquid crystals, polymers, biological membranes, biopolymers, block copolymers, molecular monolayers, colloids, nanoparicle suspensions, emulsions, foals, gels, elastomers and other soft materials. Topics vary from semester to semester and is geared toward graduate students with diverse preparation backgrounds, including students from the Department of Physics, as well as other science and engineering departments.
PHYS 7450 - Theory of Solid State 2
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Second semester of condensed matter physics, covers topics in soft condensed matter physics, liquid crystals, semiconductors, Quantum Hall effect, Fractional Quantum Hall effect, superconductivity and other topics at the discretion of the instructor.
PHYS 7810 - Special Topics in Physics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021
Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum; offered intermittently depending on student demand and availability of instructors. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
