Web Site of the Department 

Head of Department : Osman Teoman Turgut

Associate Department Heads: Bora Akgün, Hakan Erkol

Professors : Gülen Aktaş Greenwood*, Ömür Akyüz*, Metin Arık*†,  Ersan Demiralp, Utkan Demirci•, Mehmet Erbudak•, Nihal  Ercan, Mehmet Hakan Erkut, Erhan Gülmez, Naci İnci, Levent Kurnaz, Gökhan Ünel, Serdar  Nergiz, Özhan Özatay, Veysi Erkcan Özcan, Tonguç  Rador, İbrahim Semiz, Yani Skarlatos *†, O. Teoman Turgut, Burçin Ünlü, Mehmet Erbudak•

Associate Professors : Levent  Akant, Aşkın Ankay, Hakan Erkol 

Assistant Professors: Bora Akgün, Özgür Burak Aslan, Ilmar Gahramanov, Can Kozçaz, Arkadaş Özakın, Gizem Şengör

Instructor: Emine Ertuğrul, İslam Çağrı İşeri

* Part time
• Adjunct
† Emeritus
 

The Physics Graduate Program is designed to develop the student's ability to pursue independent and original research. The program involves research in various areas of experimental and theoretical physics.
 

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM

The M.S. program in Physics comprises seven courses with at least 24 credits, a non-credit seminar course, and a Master's thesis. The elective courses are subject to advisor approval and may include at most two upper level undergraduate courses.

Total: 24 Credits: 
ECTS: 123

MS Remedial Program

If the candidate’s background is not physics, or his/her previous preparation is deemed insufficient, he/she will have to take an additional year of the remedial classes given below, which cover the topics of the third and fourth year physics:

Phys 302 Classical Dynamics II

Phys 401 Electromagnetic Theory I

Phys 402 Electromagnetic Theory II

Phys 411 Quantum Mechanics I

Phys 412 Quantum Mechanics II

Phys 421 Statistical Mechanics

Phys 326 Mathematical Methods in Physics

In order to continue to the regular MS program, the candidate must have passed all the remedial courses and obtained a minimum GPA of 2.5. The candidate can be waived out of the remedial exam if he/she passes the remedial waiver exam.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM (with MS Degree)

The Ph.D. program in Physics is composed of seven graduate courses (minimum of 21 credits), a non-credit seminar, qualifying exam, thesis proposal defense and a Ph.D. thesis to be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Institute of Graduate Studies in Science and Engineering. A maximum of three courses may be taken from the graduate courses offered by the other programs in the university with the permission of the graduate advisor. The department requires that the dissertation work shall lead to at least one published paper in a refereed physics journal listed in theScience Citation Index Expanded.

Total: 21/25 Credits
ECTS: 247

PhD Remedial Program

If the candidate’s background is not physics at the MS level, or his/her previous preparation is deemed insufficient, he/she will have to take an additional year of remedial classes covering the physics topics of the Master of Science Physics Curriculum. If the candidate meets the English Proficiency requirements and is admitted to the program, he/she must have passed all the remedial courses and obtained a minimum GPA of 2.5 in order to continue to the regular PhD program. The candidate can be waived out of the remedial exam if he/she passes the PhD written level exam.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM (with BS Degree)

The Ph.D. program in Physics is composed of a minimum number of fourteen courses in addition to a non-credit seminar, qualifying exam, thesis proposal defense and a Ph.D. thesis to be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Institute of Graduate Studies in Science and Engineering. A maximum of four courses may be taken from the graduate courses offered by the other programs in the university with the permission of the graduate advisor. The department requires that the dissertation work shall lead to at least one published paper in a refereed physics journal listed in theScience Citation Index Expanded.

Total: 45/49 Credits
ECTS: 307

Qualifying Exams

Ph.D. students are required to take their qualifying exams by the end of registration week of the semester following completion of the coursework. If the students want, the qualifying exams may be postponed one semester.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
 

PHYS 500 Readings in Physics (1+0+0) 1 ECTS 3
(Fizikte Literatür İncelemesi)
Supervised reading and library work. Choice of material according to individual needs. 

PHYS 501 Classical Dynamics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Klasik Dinamik)
Principles of mechanics. Hamilton's principle and Lagrange's equations, conservation laws. The principle of least action. Lagrangian formalism: central forces, rigid body motion, small oscillations. The Hamilton's equation of motion, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations for continuous media.

PHYS 511 Electromagnetic Theory I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Elektromanyetik Kuramı I)
Electrostatics and magnetostatics. Time-dependent fields and Maxwell's equations. Multipole expansion of the radiation field. The interaction of radiation with matter. Interference and diffraction. Wave guides and cavities. Electromagnetism and relativity.

PHYS 512 Electromagnetic Theory II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Elektromanyetik Kuramı II)
Dynamics of charged particles in external electromagnetic fields. Radiation by moving charges, Lienard-Wiechert potentials. Scattering of electromagnetic waves. Cherenkov radiation, Bremsstrahlung. Vector multipole fields. Electromagnetic fluctuations. Radiation damping.

PHYS 521 Mathematical Methods of Physics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Fizikte Matematiksel Yöntemler I)
Functions of a real variable. Functions of a complex variable. Matrix algebra. Differential equations on the real axis. Linear vector spaces.

PHYS 522 Mathematical Methods of Physics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Fizikte Matematiksel Yöntemler II)
Differential equations on the complex plane. Calculus of variations. Differential operators in curvilinear coordinates. Partial differential equations. Group theory. Spectrum generating algebras and Sturm-Liouville systems.

PHYS 525 Introduction to General Relativity (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Genel Göreliliğe Giriş)
Kinematics, dynamics, and four-dimensional formulation of special relativity. The equivalence principle. Introduction to classical differential geometry. Einstein's equations and simple applications. Introduction to Big Bang cosmology and Inflation theories. White dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.

PHYS 531 Quantum Mechanics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Kuantum Mekaniği I)
Postulates. Harmonic oscillator. Hydrogen atom. Symmetries. Angular momentum. Spin. Addition of angular momentum. Identical particles.

PHYS 532 Quantum Mechanics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Kuantum Mekaniği II)
Bound state problems. Approximation methods. Time dependent and independent perturbation theories.  Scattering theory. Applications. Introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics and path integrals.

PHYS 541 Statistical Mechanics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(İstatistik Mekanik I)
Laws of thermodynamics and their applications. Classical kinetic theory and the Boltzmann equation. Microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical partition functions. Ideal quantum gases. Various applications in solid-state, nuclear and astrophysics.

PHYS 542 Statistical Mechanics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(İstatistik Mekanik II)
Cluster expansion for non-ideal classical and quantum gases, virial coefficients, phase transitions, magnetism. Ising model in two dimensions. Introduction to critical phenomena.

PHYS 546 Polymers (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Polimerler)
Polymer properties in terms of molecular structures. Molecular weight and configurations of macromolecules. Statistical thermodynamics of long-chain molecules. Elastic and viscoelastic deformation. Electrical and optical properties of polymers.

PHYS 551 Experimental Physics I (2+0+4) 4 ECTS 10
(Deneysel Fizik I)
Laboratory experiments fundamental to the development of modern physics. Design and construction of experimental setups and data collection instruments.

PHYS 552 Experimental Physics II (2+0+4) 4 ECTS 10
(Deneysel Fizik II)
Design and construction of experimental setups and data collection instruments.

PHYS 554 Numerical and Symbolic Computation (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Sayısal ve Simgesel Hesaplama)
Typical numerical and symbolic programming systems. Use of techniques such as special function evaluation, integration, root finding, solution of linear systems, the eigenvalue problem, variational and finite element techniques, Monte Carlo methods in the framework of actual problems such as nonlinear oscillations, scattering, Fourier and spectral analysis, nonlinear data fitting, eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of Sturm-Liouville systems, integration of partial differential equations.

PHYS 555 Numerical Methods in Chaotic Systems (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Kaotik Sistemlerde Sayısal Yöntemler)
Steady state behavior of dynamical systems. Poincare maps, stability and Liapunov exponents, limit sets, stable and unstable manifolds, phase portraits, construction of bifurcation diagrams. Fractals, dimensions and their determination, the Kaplan-Yorke conjecture, the embedding theorem, attractor reconstruction methods. Weakly deterministic systems and noise reduction.

PHYS 556 Simulation of Physical Phenomena (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Fiziksel Olayların Benzetimi)
Role of computer simulation in physics with emphasis on methodologies, data and error analysis, approximations, and potential pitfalls. Monte Carlo simulations, molecular dynamics, and first-principles calculations for materials.

PHYS 561 Many-Body Theory I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Çok-Cisim Kuramı I)
Creation and annihilation operators, Fock space description of the many body problems.  Electrons and phonons, spin-waves, basic Green’s functions, linear response theory, quasi-particle concept. Hatree-Fock approximation, collective excitations, BCS theory, Bogoliubov’s theory of BEC, Hubbard model.

PHYS 562 Many-Body Theory II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Çok-Cisim Kuramı II)
Path Integral approach to many body problems.  Perturbation theory and diagrammatic analysis of Green’s functions.  Applications of perturbation theory to various problems. Finite temperature Green’s functions.

PHYS 571 "X-Ray Astronomy" (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(X-Işın Astronomisi)
Description of instruments used in detecting x-ray emission in various wavelengths. Methods of data analysis. Production mechanisms of x-ray emission. Galactic and extra-galactic x-ray sources and systems. x-ray binaries. Background radiation.

PHYS 572 High Energy Astrophysics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Yüksek Enerji Astrofiziği)
Compact objects as X-ray and gamma-ray sources: white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes, cataclysmic variables, novae, low mass and high mass x-ray binaries, various types of isolated neutron stars, low mass and high mass stellar evolution, radiation mechanisms. Supernova remnants: formation, physical processes and evolution, connection between supernova remnants and neutron stars.

PHYS 579 Graduate Seminar (0+1+0) 0 Pass/Fail ECTS 3
(Lisansüstü Seminer)
Seminars offered by faculty, guest speakers and/or graduate students designed to widen students' perspectives on specific topics of interest and to expand their range of scientific research techniques and publication ethics.

PHYS 580-599, PHYS 58A-59Z Special Topics in Physics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Fizikte Özel Konular)
Study of special topics not covered in other courses at the master's level.

PHYS 611 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Göreli Kuantum Mekaniği I)
Special relativity and four vectors. Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, and their solutions. Hole theory, interactions and relativistic perturbation theory.

PHYS 612 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Göreli Kuantum Mekaniği II)
Symmetry properties. Second quantization. Quantum theory of electromagnetic field. Introduction to quantum electrodynamics. Applications involving electromagnetic and weak interactions.

PHYS 623 Group Theory (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Grup Kuramı)
Basics of group theory. Finite groups and their unitary representations. Applications to linear perturbation theory and spin systems. Lie groups and algebras. Representations of so(3), angular momentum and Clebsh-Gordan coefficients. Projective representations and spin. Classification of semi-simple Lie groups. Applications in particle physics. Representations of the Poincare group.

PHYS 625 General Relativity and Gravitation I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Genel Görelilik ve Gravitasyon I)
Special relativity. Foundations of general relativity. Einstein-Hilbert variational principle. Hamiltonian formalism for Einstein field equations. Gravitational collapse. Gravitational radiation.

PHYS 626 General Relativity and Gravitation II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Genel Görelilik ve Gravitasyon II)
Modern differential geometry, causal structure. Relativistic stars, black holes, singularities and singularity theorems. Fields on curved spaces, quantum effects, Hawking radiation. Cosmology.

PHYS 628 Geometric Approach to Mechanics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Mekaniğe Geometrik Yaklaşım)
Fundamental concepts in differential geometry: manifolds, vector fields, tensors and forms, exterior derivative and Lie derivative. Symplectic manifolds and Hamiltonian mechanics. Lie groups and group actions on manifolds. Coadjoint orbits as examples of symplectic manifolds.  Momentum map construction. Poisson manifolds. Some applications to integrable systems.

PHYS 631 Atomic and Molecular Physics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Atom ve Molekül Fiziği I)
One-electron and many-electron atoms. Mean field and electron correlations. The Periodic System. Atoms in a magnetic field. Atoms in an electric field. General laws of optical transitions: Symmetries  and selection rules. Theory of spectroscopy. The Laser.

PHYS 632 Atomic and Molecular Physics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Atom ve Molekül Fiziği II)
Theory of chemical bonding. Molecular structure. Molecules in electric and magnetic fields. Symmetry and symmetry operations. Electronic, vibrational and rotational spectra. Techniques of molecular spectroscopy. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Properties of macromolecules.

PHYS 641 Advanced Solid State Physics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(İleri Katı Hal Fiziği I)
The Drude and Sommerfeld theory of metals, crystal lattices, nearly-free electron model, methods for calculating band structure, the semiclassical model of electron dynamics and conduction in metals, measuring the Fermi surface, surface effects, cohesive energy and failures of the static lattice model.

PHYS 642 Advanced Solid State Physics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(İleri Katı Hal Fiziği II)
Classical theory of the harmonic crystal, quantum theory of the harmonic crystal, measuring phonon dispersion relations, anharmonic effects in crystals, phonons in metals. Dielectric properties of insulators, semiconductors, magnetic properties of solids, superconductivity.

PHYS 645 Quantum Optics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Kuantum Optiği I)
Planck’s radiation law and Einsten’s A and B coefficients. Quantum mechanics of the atom-radiation interaction. Classical theory of optical fluctuations and coherence. Quantization of the radiation field. Single-mode quantum optics. Multimode and continuous-mode quantum optics.

PHYS 646 Quantum Optics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Kuantum Optiği II)
Optical generation, attenuation and amplification. Resonance fluorescence and light scattering. Nonlinear quantum optics. Quantum cryptography. Quantum computing. Entangled states and quantum teleportation.

PHYS 648 Integrated and Fiber Optics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Entegre ve Fiber Optiği)
Propagation of waves in dielectric thin films. Cylindrical waveguides. Bit limitation rate due to material dispersion. Multimoding. Step index and graded index fibers. Switching and modulation by integrated optics techniques.

PHYS 651 Nuclear Physics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Nükleer Fizik I)
Advanced study of experiment and theory of nuclear structure. SU(N) symmetries and the Standard Model. Quark model of hadrons. Baryon-baryon interaction. Weak Interactions in Nuclei. Nuclear Reactions, relativistic heavy ion collisions, optical model, meson-nucleus reactions. Mean field models. Nuclei far from stability, nuclear astrophysics, big-bang and stellar nucleosynthesis.

PHYS 652 Nuclear Physics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Nükleer Fizik II)
Electromagnetic interactions with nuclei, electron-electron scattering, electromagnetic response functions, polarization observables. Nucleon momentum distributions, scaling. Parity-violating electron scattering. Semi-leptonic weak interactions with nuclei; charge-changing properties, weak neutral currents, neutrino scattering. Frontiers and future facilities.

PHYS 653 Advanced Topics in Nuclear Physics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Nükleer Fizikte İleri Konular)
Nuclear Chromodynamics, introduction to Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), structure of nucleons, lattice QCD, phases of hadronic matter and relativistic heavy ion collisions, medium-energy physics, nuclear and nucleon structure, and dynamics studied with medium- and high-energy probes (neutrinos, photons, electrons, nucleons, pions, and kaons). Studies of weak and strong interactions.

PHYS 661 Particle Physics I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Parçacık Fiziği I)
Phenomenology of particle properties and interactions; Experimental results. Conservation laws. Accelerators, particle detectors and techniques. Strong interactions, quark model predictions. Quantum Electrodynamics and Feynman diagrams.

PHYS 662 Particle Physics II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Parçacık Fiziği II)
Weak interactions, V-A theory, non-conservation of parity. Gauge field theories. Weinberg-Salam theory of electroweak interactions. The standard model of weak, electromagnetic and strong interactions.

PHYS 665 Field Theory I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Alan Kuramı I)
Classical field theory. Canonical quantization. Dirac field. Interacting fields, perturbation theory. S-matrix and the LSZ formalism. Feynman graphs. Elementary processes. Radiative corrections. Regularization. Renormalization.

PHYS 666 Field Theory II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Alan Kuramı II)
Functional methods, non-perturbative properties. Effective action. Renormalization group. Symmetries. Ward identities. Constrained systems. Non-abelian gauge theories. Spontaneous symmetry breaking.

PHYS 675 Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Faz Değişimleri ve Kritik Olaylar)
Ideas and current techniques in physics related to the study of critical phenomena in statistical mechanics and field theory. Landau theory of phase transitions, critical indices, scaling and universality, renormalization group, duality transformations, lattice gauge theory.

PHYS 679 Graduate Seminar (0+1+0) 0 ECTS 6 (Pass/Fail)
(Lisansüstü Seminer)
Study of selected topics of interest in physics through seminars offered by faculty, guest speakers and graduate students.

PHYS 681 Directed Studies I (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Yönlendirilmiş Çalışmalar I)
Study of selected advanced topics under the supervision of one or more faculty members.

PHYS 682 Directed Studies II (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Yönlendirilmiş Çalışmalar II)
Study of selected advanced topics under the supervision of one or more faculty members.

PHYS 683-689, 691-699 PHYS 68A-69Z Special Topics in Physics (4+1+0) 4 ECTS 10
(Fizikte Özel Konular )
Special topics not covered in other courses at PhD level.

PHYS 690 M.S. Thesis ECTS 60
(Yüksek Lisans Tezi)
Design and completion of a research project on a topic of student’s special interest under the supervision of a thesis advisor.

PHYS 699 Guided Research (2+0+4) 4 ECTS 10
(Yönlendirilmiş Araştırmalar)
Guidance of doctoral students towards preparation and presentation of a research proposal in physics.

PHYS 700 Graduate Seminar (0+1+0) 0 ECTS 6
(Lisansüstü Seminer)
Seminars offered by faculty, guest speakers and graduate students designed to widen students' perspectives on specific topics of interest and to expand their range of scientific research techniques and publication ethics.

PHYS 790 Ph.D. Thesis ECTS 120
(Doktora Tezi)
Design and completion of a research project on a topic of student’s special interest under the supervision of a dissertation advisor.