KURT H. BECKER, DIRECTOR

FACULTY*

Professors

Kurt H. Becker, Ph.D. (1981), Universität Saarbrücken, Germany
E. Byerly Brucker, Ph.D. (1959), Johns Hopkins University
Wayne E. Carr, Ph.D. (1967), University of Illinois
Hong-Liang Cui, Ph.D. (1987), Stevens Institute of Technology
Norman J. Horing, Ph.D. (1964), Harvard University
Erich E. Kunhardt (Dean of the Arthur E. Imperatore School of Sciences and Arts), Ph.D. (1976), Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute
Harold Salwen, Ph.D. (1956), Columbia University
Knut Stamnes, Ph.D. (1978), University of Colorado
Edward A. Whittaker, Ph.D. (1982), Columbia University

Assistant Professors

Rainer Martini, Ph.D. (1999) RWTH, Aachen, Germany

RESEARCH FACULTY*

Research Professors

Abraham Belkind, Ph.D. (1967), State University, Tartu, Estonia

Research Associate Professors

Bingquan Chen, Ph.D. (1996), University of Bergen, Norway
Vladimir Tarnovsky, Ph.D. (1989), New York University

Research Assistant Professors

Hans Eide, Ph.D. (2000), University of Alaska
Lev Murokh, Ph.D. (1996), Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

*The list indicates the highest earned degree, year awarded and institution where earned.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Physics

    The laws of physics govern the universe from the formation of stars and galaxies to the processes in the Earth’s atmosphere that determine our climate, to the elementary particles and their interactions that hold together atomic nuclei. Physics also drives many rapidly-advancing technologies such as information technology, telecommunication, microelectronics and medical technology including MRI imaging and laser surgery.

    The physics program at Stevens combines classroom instruction with hands-on research experience in one of several state-of-the-art research laboratories (Photonics Science and Technology, Optical Communication and Nanodevices, Quantum Electron Science and Technology, Electron-Driven Processes and Plasmas, Light and Life, Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Communication). Perhaps the most differentiating feature of the Stevens physics curriculum is SKIL (Science Knowledge Integration Ladder), a six-semester sequence of project-centered courses. This course sequence lets students work on projects that foster independent learning, innovative problem solving, collaboration and team work, and knowledge integration under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The SKIL sequence starts in the sophomore year with projects that integrate basic scientific knowledge and simple concepts. In the junior and senior years, the projects become more challenging and the level of independence increases.

    Our B.S. degree in Applied Physics is accredited by the Middle States Accreditation Board. Our graduates have a wide range of career opportunities beyond the pursuit of a traditional graduate degree in physics, including employment in a variety of other disciplines such as chemistry, life science, engineering or environmental science. Those who choose to further their physics education are accepted into graduate program at some of the best schools.

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    1 Technical Electives
    2 SKIL V and SKIL VI can be a year-long Senior Project resulting in a final report or a thesis.
    3 Thermodynamics may be Ch 321 or E 234.

    Other physics courses, needed in order to complete a concentration, may be substituted with the consent of your advisor.

    Qualified students may participate in faculty-supervised projects.

    Possible overloads during the latter semesters to insure a complete undergraduate curriculum:
    PEP 555 Statistical Physics 3-0-3
    PEP 512 Nuclear Physics 3-0-3
    PEP 520 Computational Physics 3-0-3
    PEP 541 The Physics of Gas Discharges 3-0-3

Minor in Physics
    You may qualify for a minor in physics by taking the required courses indicated below. Completion of a minor indicates a proficiency beyond that provided by the Stevens curriculum in the basic material of the selected area. If you are enrolled in a minor program, you must meet the Institute requirements. In addition, the grade in any course credited for a minor must be "C" or better.

Requirements for a Minor in Physics
    PEP 101 Physics I
      or
    PEP 111 Mechanics
    PEP 112 Electricity and Magnetism
    PEP 209 Modern Optics
    PEP 242 Modern Physics
    PEP 527 Mathematical Techniques for Engineering Physics
    PEP 538 Analytical Mechanics
    PEP 542 Electromagnetism
    PEP 553 Quantum Mechanics with Engineering Applications

BS Degree in Engineering Physics (EP)

    The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics also offers an Undergraduate Engineering Physics (EP) Program, which leads to a BS degree in Engineering Physics in four concentrations (see below). The program aims to attract students who are intrigued by the possibility of combining a mastery of basic physics concepts with exposure to state-of-the-art engineering technology in selected high-tech areas. The EP Program is a special program that was developed jointly by the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics and the School of Engineering. Students in the EP Program follow a special core curriculum that combines aspects of the SoE and ISSA core curricula. This combination of courses provides the students with the basic concepts of engineering together with a basic understanding of physical phenomena at a microscopic level and lets them explore the relation of the physics concepts to practical problems of engineering in one of four high-tech areas of concentration: Applied Optics, Microelectronics and Photonics, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, or Plasma and Surface Physics. These concentrations represent high-tech areas of significant current local and global technological and economic interest. The PEP department has both research strength and educational expertise in these areas where there is significant growth potential. For all concentrations, required and/or elective courses offered by other departments (EE, EN, MT) can be used to complement departmental course offerings, which provide the students in the program with the necessary diversity, breadth, and depth of educational offerings and research opportunities.

EP Undergraduate Curriculum

    ‡ FE: Free Electives; TE: Technical Electives; CTE: Concentration specific Technical Electives.

EP Undergraduate Curriculum, Concentration "Applied Optics"

    ‡ Can be replaced by PEP 678 with the consent of the instructor.
    Possible CTE/TEs: PEP 515, PEP 516, PEP 528, PEP 570, PEP 679 (with consent of the instructor), PEP 680 (with consent of the instructor), EE 626 (with consent of the instructor)

EP Undergraduate Curriculum, Concentration "Microelectronics and Photonics"

    ‡ Technical Electives.
    Possible CTE/TEs: PEP 503, PEP 595, PEP 628 (with consent of the instructor), PEP 678 (with consent of the instructor)

EP Undergraduate Curriculum, Concentration "Atmospheric and Environmental Science"

    Possible CTE/TEs: PEP 509, PEP 510, PEP 520, EN 505, EN 541, EN545, EN 570

EP Undergraduate Curriculum, Concentration "Plasma and Surface Science"

    Possible CTE/TEs: PEP 503, PEP 520, PEP 524, PEP 540, PEP 544, MT 544.

Interdisciplinary Program in Computational Science
    For students interested in interdisciplinary science and engineering Stevens offers an undergraduate computational science program. Computational science is a new field in which techniques from mathematics and computer science are used to solve scientific and engineering problems. See the description of the Program in Computational Science in the Interdisciplinary Programs section.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

    The graduate program in physics is designed for the student who desires to master fundamental concepts and techniques, who is interested in studying applications in various areas of technology and science, and who wishes to keep abreast of the latest experimental and theoretical innovations in these areas. We offer a varied curriculum consisting of either highly specialized courses or broad training in diverse areas.

    When you seek an advanced degree, you can gain both breadth and specialization. The required degree courses provide broad skills in basic physics; the elective choices give highly specialized training in a variety of different areas. The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics is large enough to offer rich and varied programs in pure and applied physics, yet it is small enough to sustain the sense of a coherent community in search of knowledge.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
    BS degree in physics or equivalent including the following coursework: calculus-based three- or four-semester introductory physics sequence, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, quantum mechanics and mathematical methods.
    Ph.D. applicants lacking the above courses are required to take the indicated courses for no graduate credit.
    Graduate Record Examination including the Physics Subject Exam.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Master of Science - Physics
    The MS degree in physics will be awarded after completion of 30 credits of graduate coursework with the following requirements.
    PEP 642 Mechanics
    PEP 643/644 Electricity and Magnetism I and II
    PEP 554 Quantum Mechanics II
    One 600-level advanced quantum mechanics course
    (currently PEP 621, PEP 655 or PEP 680)
    PEP 528 Mathematical Methods of Science and Engineering II
    PEP 555 Statistical Physics and Kinetic Theory
    PEP 510 Modern Optics Lab (or another lab equivalent)
    And, two additional elective courses, chosen in consultation with an academic advisor.

Doctoral Program - Physics
    Ph.D. students must pass a qualifying examination. The examination will consist of a written part that tests mastery of a set of core physics topics, followed by an oral examination that tests the student’s ability to discuss physical problems with an examining committee of three faculty members. The student will have two opportunities to pass the examination. The first attempt must be made within the first two years of study at Stevens.

    Upon successful completion of the examination, the student becomes a qualified Ph.D. candidate. A Ph.D. advisory committee shall be formed for each candidate consisting of a major advisor on the physics department faculty, an additional physics department faculty member and a third Stevens faculty member from any department other than Physics. Additional committee members from Stevens or elsewhere may also be included.

    Ph.D. candidates are required to have competency in using computer-based methods of calculation and analysis. Student lacking this competency are encouraged to take PEP 520 Computational Physics.

    In addition to the courses required in the 30-credit MS degree, completion of the following coursework will be required for the Ph.D.:
    PEP 529 Mathematical Methods of Science and Engineering III
    PEP 667 Statistical Mechanics
    One 600-level quantum mechanics application course
    Three 700-level courses chosen in consultation with an academic advisor

    The student will carry out an original research program under the supervision of the major advisor and advisory committee. The results of the research will be presented in a written dissertation. Upon approval of the advisory committee, the written dissertation will be defended by the student in an oral defense.

    A total of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree are required for the Ph.D. degree. Required coursework represents 48 credits. At least 30 of the remaining 42 credits must be for the Ph.D. research (PEP 960).

    Applications are welcome from students who have already earned a master’s degree elsewhere. Applicants with the equivalent of the Stevens MS degree would be eligible to take the qualifying exam immediately and become candidates without additional course requirements. All remaining requirements including doctoral coursework, research and a total of 60 credits beyond the master’s degree would be required for the doctoral degree.

    Applicants with a non-physics master’s degree would be required to complete sufficient coursework to meet the requirements for a physics degree in addition to the remaining doctoral requirements outlined above. The details of the makeup work would be determined with an academic advisor appointed by the Physics department.

Doctoral Program - Interdisciplinary
    An interdisciplinary Ph.D. program is jointly offered by the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics and the Materials Program in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering. This program aims to address the increasingly cross-cutting nature of doctoral research in these two traditional disciplines, particularly in the area of solid state electronics and photonics and in the area of plasma and thin film technology. The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program aims to take advantage of the complementary educational offerings and research opportunities in these areas offered by both programs. Any student who wishes to enter this interdisciplinary program needs to obtain the consent of the two departments and the subsequent approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student will follow a study plan designed by his/her faculty advisor. The student will be granted official candidacy in the program upon successful completion of a qualifying exam that will be administered according to the applicable guidelines of the Office of Graduate Studies. All policies of the Office of Graduate Studies that govern the credit and thesis requirements apply to students enrolled in this interdisciplinary program. Interested students should follow the normal graduate application procedures through the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Master of Engineering - Engineering Physics
    The Master of Engineering - Engineering Physics degree program has two options. Students enrolled in either option develop a course of study in conjunction with their academic advisor.
    The Engineering Physics option in Applied Optics seeks to extend and broaden training in those areas pertinent to the field of applied optics or optical engineering. A bachelor’s degree in either science or engineering from an accredited institution is required.

Core Courses in Engineering Physics (Applied Optics)
    PEP 509 Intermediate Waves and Optics
    PEP 510 Modern Optics Lab
    PEP 515-516 Photonics I, II
    PEP 528 Mathematical Methods of Science and Engineering II
    PEP 542 Electromagnetism
    PEP 553-554 Quantum Mechanics and Engineering Applications I, II
    PEP 577-578 Laser Theory and Design
    The Engineering Physics option in Solid State Physics seeks to extend and broaden training in those areas pertinent to the field of solid state device engineering. A bachelor’s degree in either science or engineering from an accredited institution is required.

Core Courses in Engineering Physics (Solid State Physics)
    EE 619 Solid State Devices
    PEP 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
    PEP 510 Modern Optics Lab
    PEP 528 Mathematical Methods of Science and Engineering II
    PEP 538 Introduction to Mechanics
    PEP 542 Electromagnetism
    PEP 553-554 Quantum Mechanics and Engineering Applications I, II
    PEP 555 Statistical Physics Kinetic and Theory
    PEP 691 Physics and Applications of Semiconductor Nanostructures
    Courses with material already covered in undergraduate preparation must be replaced in consultation with an academic advisor.

    The Physics and Engineering Physics program offers, jointly with Electrical and Computer Engineering (EE) and Materials Engineering, a unique interdisciplinary concentration in Microelectronics and Photonics Science and Technology. Intended to meet the needs of students and of industry in the areas of design, fabrication, integration and applications of microelectronic and photonic devices for communications and information systems, the program covers fundamentals as well as state-of-the-art industrial practices. Designed for maximum flexibility, the program accommodates the background and interests of students with either a Master's degree or Graduate Certificate.

Interdisciplinary Concentration Microelectronics and Photonics Science and Technology
    (PEP 507, plus three additional courses from the Optics or Solid State concentration)

    Core: PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics*
    Six electives are required from the courses offered below by Materials Engineering, Physics and Engineering Physics, and Electrical Engineering. Three of these courses must be from Physics and Engineering Physics and at least one must be from each of the other two departments. Ten courses are required for the degree.
    *Cross-listed with EE 507 and Mt 507

Required Concentration Electives
    PEP 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
    PEP 515 Photonics I
    PEP 516 Photonics II
    PEP 561 Solid State Electronics for Engineering I
    MT 562 Solid State Electronics for Engineering II
    MT 595 Reliability and Failure of Solid State Devices
    MT 596 Micro-fabrication Techniques
    EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
    EE 626 Optical Communication Systems
    CpE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

Graduate Certificate Programs
    The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics offers five Graduate Certificate programs to students meeting the regular admission requirements for the master’s program. Each Graduate Certificate program is self-contained and highly focused, carrying 12 graduate credits. All of the courses may be used toward the master’s degree as well as for the certificate.

Applied Optics
    PEP 577 Laser Theory and Design
    PEP 578 Laser Applications and Advanced Optics
    and two out of the following four courses:
    PEP 515-516 Photonics I, II
    PEP 570 Guided-Wave Optics
    PEP 679 Fourier Optics

Photonics
    EE/MT/PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics
    EE/MT/PEP 515 Photonics I
    EE/MT/PEP 516 Photonics II
    EE/MT/PEP 626 Optical Communication Systems

Microelectronics
    EE/MT/PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics
    EE/MT/PEP 561 Solid State Electronics I
    EE/MT/PEP 562 Solid State Electronics II
    CpE/MT/PEP 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

Microdevices and Microsystems
    EE/MT/PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics
    EE/MT/PEP 595 Reliability and Failure of Solid State Devices
    EE/MT/PEP 596 Micro-Fabrication Techniques
    EE/MT/PEP 685 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
    Any ONE elective in the three certificates above may be replaced with another within the Microelectronics and Photonics (MP) curriculum upon approval from the MP Program Director.

Plasma and Surface Physics
    PEP 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
    PEP 524 Introduction to Surface Science
    and two out of the following four courses:
    PEP 525 Techniques of Surface Analysis
    PEP 540 Physical Electronics
    PEP 541 The Physic of Gas Discharges
    PEP 545 Plasma Processing

Satellite Communications Engineering
    (Interdisciplinary with Electrical and Computer Engineering)
    EE 587 Microwave Engineering I or EE 787 Applied Antenna Theory
    EE 611 Digital Communications Engineering
    EE 620 Reliability Engineering
    EE 674 Satellite Communications
    EE 740 Selected Topics in Communication Theory