Overview:  This course is intended to provide a broad introduction to the ideas which underpin modern physics, from its roots at the beginning of  the 20th century to the present day.  We'll begin by exploring key concepts in relativity and quantum mechanics, two areas that emerged from the ``breakdown'' of classical physics.  In the second part of the course, we'll apply what we have learned to the study of many-particle systems and the Universe. 

Course Texbook:  A. Beiser, Concepts of Modern Physics, Sixth Edition (McGraw-Hill 2003).

• Syllabus
• Announcements

Lectures

Lecture 3(pdf)   Lecture 3 (ppt)      Paper by L.B. Okun

Lecture 4(pdf)   Lecture 4 (ppt)      Papers by Kimble,  Lamb and Scully, and Aristov

Lecture 5(pdf)   Lecture 5 (ppt)     

Lecture 6(pdf)   Lecture 6 (ppt)     

Lecture 7(pdf)   Lecture 7(ppt)        Paper by Schwab and Roukes

Lecture 8(pdf)   Lecture 8(ppt)     

Lecture 9(pdf)   Lecture 9(ppt) 

Midterm 1(doc)  Midterm 1(ppt) 

Practice Midterm 1(pdf)

Lecture 11(pdf)  Lecture 11(ppt) 

Lecture 12(pdf)  Lecture 12(ppt) 

Lecture 13(pdf)  Lecture 13(ppt)

Lecture 14(pdf)  Lecture 14(ppt)

Lecture 15(pdf)  Lecture 15(ppt)

Lecture 16(pdf)  Lecture 16(ppt)    

Lecture 17(pdf)  Lecture 17(ppt)

Lecture 18(pdf)  Lecture 18(ppt)       

Lecture 19(pdf)  Lecture 19(ppt)

Midterm 2(pdf)  Midterm 2(ppt)

Practice Midterm 2(pdf)

Lecture 21(pdf)  Lecture 21(ppt)

Lecture 22(pdf)  Lecture 22(ppt)

Lecture 23(pdf)  Lecture 23(ppt)

Lecture 24(pdf)  Lecture 24(ppt)

Lecture 25(pdf)  Lecture 25(ppt)

Lecture 26(pdf)  Lecture 26(ppt)

Lecture 27(pdf)  Lecture 27(ppt)

Lecture 28(pdf)  Lecture 28(ppt)

Practice Final (pdf)