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Note: This is the 2010–2011 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Note: This is the 2010–2011 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
This is a specialized and demanding program intended primarily, although not exclusively, for students with a theoretical bias who are interested in working in fields of study at the crossroads of physical chemistry and physics. The program will prepare students for either theoretical or experimental graduate work in departments where there is an emphasis on such cross-disciplinary areas as condensed matter physics, chemical physics, or material science.
A student whose average in the required and complementary courses in any year falls below a GPA of 3.00, or whose grade in any individual required or complementary course falls below a C (in both the final examination and supplemental examination if taken), may not register in this Honours program the following year, or graduate with the Honours degree, except with permission of both Departments.
The student will have two advisers, one from Chemistry and the other from Physics.
Students entering Physics programs from the Freshman Program must have successfully completed the courses below or their equivalents. Quebec students must have completed the DEC with appropriate science and mathematics courses.
Chemistry : A study of the fundamental principles of atomic structure, radiation and nuclear chemistry, valence theory, coordination chemistry, and the periodic table.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Butler, Ian Sydney; Fenster, Ariel; Kakkar, Ashok K; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Fall)
Chemistry : A study of the fundamental principles of physical chemistry.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Fenster, Ariel; Mittermaier, Anthony; Siwick, Bradley (Winter)
Physics : The basic laws and principles of Newtonian mechanics; oscillations and waves.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Ragan, Kenneth J (Fall)
Physics : The basic laws of electricity and magnetism; geometrical and physical optics.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Miyahara, Yoichi (Winter)
One of:
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the phylogeny, structure, function and adaptation of unicellular organisms, plants and animals in the biosphere.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Gregory-Eaves, Irene; Dhindsa, Rajinder S; Seizilles de Mazancourt, Claire (Fall)
Biology (Sci) : The cell: ultrastructure, division, chemical constituents and reactions. Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration. Principles of genetics, the molecular basis of inheritance and biotechnology.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Dent, Joseph Alan; Vogel, Jacalyn (Winter)
MATH 133 and either MATH 140/141 or MATH 150/151.
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Systems of linear equations, matrices, inverses, determinants; geometric vectors in three dimensions, dot product, cross product, lines and planes; introduction to vector spaces, linear dependence and independence, bases; quadratic loci in two and three dimensions.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Kelome, Djivede; Anderson, William J; Loveys, James G; Shahabi, Shahab; Clay, Adam (Fall) Kelome, Djivede; Anderson, William J (Winter) Palka, Karol (Summer)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of functions and graphs. Limits, continuity, derivative. Differentiation of elementary functions. Antidifferentiation. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Drury, Stephen W; Trudeau, Sidney; Shahabi, Shahab (Fall) Hundemer, Axel W (Winter)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : The definite integral. Techniques of integration. Applications. Introduction to sequences and series.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Trudeau, Sidney (Fall) Sancho, Neville G F; Drury, Stephen W; Trudeau, Sidney (Winter)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Functions, limits and continuity, differentiation, L'Hospital's rule, applications, Taylor polynomials, parametric curves, functions of several variables.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Roth, Charles (Fall)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Integration, methods and applications, infinite sequences and series, power series, arc length and curvature, multiple integration.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Roth, Charles (Winter)
Chemistry : Kinetics 1: Gas laws, kinetic theory of collisions. Thermodynamics: Zeroth law of thermodynamics. First law of thermodynamics, heat capacity, enthalpy, thermochemistry, bond energies. Second law of thermodynamics; the entropy and free energy functions. Third law of thermodynamics, absolute entropies, free energies, Maxwell relations and chemical and thermodynamic equilibrium states.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Galley, William Claude (Fall)
Chemistry : Heterogeneous equilibrium: phase rule and phase diagrams. Ideal solutions, colligative properties, solubility. Electrochemistry, Debye-Hückel Theory. Kinetics 2: Transition State Theory, complex reactions, free-radical reactions, chain reactions, catalysis, reactions at surfaces, ionic effects of reactions in solution, photochemistry.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Galley, William Claude (Winter)
Chemistry : Illustrative experiments in physical chemistry. Laboratory section of CHEM 223.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Blum, Amy; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Fall)
Chemistry : Illustrative experiments in physical chemistry. Laboratory section of CHEM 243.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Blum, Amy; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Winter)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Matrix algebra, determinants, systems of linear equations. Abstract vector spaces, inner product spaces, Fourier series. Linear transformations and their matrix representations. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalizable and defective matrices, positive definite and semidefinite matrices. Quadratic and Hermitian forms, generalized eigenvalue problems, simultaneous reduction of quadratic forms. Applications.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Hundemer, Axel W (Winter)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Partial derivatives; implicit functions; Jacobians; maxima and minima; Lagrange multipliers. Scalar and vector fields; orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. Multiple integrals; arc length, volume and surface area. Line integrals; Green's theorem; the divergence theorem. Stokes' theorem; irrotational and solenoidal fields; applications.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Guan, Pengfei (Fall)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Functions of a complex variable; Cauchy-Riemann equations; Cauchy's theorem and consequences. Taylor and Laurent expansions. Residue calculus; evaluation of real integrals; integral representation of special functions; the complex inversion integral. Conformal mapping; Schwarz-Christoffel transformation; Poisson's integral formulas; applications.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Seiringer, Robert (Winter)
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First and second order equations, linear equations, series solutions, Frobenius method, introduction to numerical methods and to linear systems, Laplace transforms, applications.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011
Instructors: Humphries, Antony Raymond (Fall) Klemes, Ivo (Winter)
Physics : Linear circuit elements, resonance, network theorems, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, feedback, integrated circuits.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Barrette, Jean (Winter)
Physics : Newton's laws, work energy, angular momentum. Harmonic oscillator, forced oscillations. Inertial forces, rotating frames. Central forces, centre of mass, planetary orbits, Kepler's laws.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Holder, Gilbert (Fall)
Physics : Introductory laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Introduction to computers as they are employed for laboratory work, for data analysis and for numerical computation. Previous experience with computers is an asset, but is not required.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Siwick, Bradley (Fall)
Physics : Advanced laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Computers will be employed routinely for data analysis and for numerical computation, and, particularly, to facilitate the use of Fourier methods.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Ryan, Dominic; Engelberg, Edith M (Winter)
Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Daoust, Michel; Tsantrizos, Youla S; Moitessier, Nicolas (Fall) Daoust, Michel; Fenster, Ariel; Schirrmacher, Ralf (Winter) Daoust, Michel; Fenster, Ariel (Summer)
Chemistry : Basic concepts of electronic structure and molecular bonding will be developed and applied to the understanding of common materials. Acid-base chemistry. Survey of the chemistry of the main group elements. Introduction to coordination and organometallic chemistry.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Moores-Francois, Audrey (Winter)
Chemistry : A survey of the principles of electronic, vibrational and rotational spectroscopy. Magnetic resonance methods.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Kambhampati, Patanjali (Winter)
Chemistry : Molecular basis of thermodynamics with applications to ideal gases and simple solids. Topics to be covered will include: calculation of thermodynamic functions, chemical equilibrium constants, Einstein and Debye models of solids, absolute reaction rate theory, Debye-Hückel theory of strong electrolytes.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Wiseman, Paul (Winter)
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to computer systems. Concepts and structures for high level programming. Elements of structured programming using FORTRAN 90 and C. Numerical algorithms such as root finding, numerical integration and differential equations. Non-numerical algorithms for sorting and searching.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011
Instructors: Friedman, Nathan; Ranjbar, Amin; Rabbani, Amir Hossein (Fall) Friedman, Nathan; Rabbani, Amir Hossein; Meraji, Seyed Sina (Winter)
Physics : Fundamental laws of electric and magnetic fields in both integral and differential form.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Lovejoy, Shaun MacDonald (Fall)
Physics : Experimental basis for quantum mechanics; wave-packets; uncertainty principle. Hilbert space formalism. Schrodinger equation: eigenvalues and eigenvectors: applications to 1-d problems including the infinite and finite potential wells and the harmonic oscillator. Tunneling. Time independent perturbation theory.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Dasgupta, Keshav (Fall)
Physics : Angular momentum and spin operators. Operator methods in quantum mechanics. Coupling of spin and angular momenta. Variational principles and elements of time dependent perturbation theory (the Golden Rule). Solution of the Schrodinger equation in three dimensions. Applications to the hydrogen and helium atoms and to simple problems in atomic and molecular physics.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Gale, Charles (Winter)
Chemistry : Selected experiments to illustrate physico-chemical principles more advanced than those of CHEM 363, CHEM 253 and CHEM 263.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011
Instructors: Sleiman, Hanadi; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Huot, Mitchell (Fall) Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Sewall, Samuel Lewis (Winter)
Chemistry : Quantum mechanical treatment of species of chemical interest. Introduction to perturbation theory, both time-dependent and time-independent. Treatment of the variational principle. Introduction to atomic spectra. Chemical bonding in terms of both the valence bond and molecular orbital theory. Elementary collision theory. Interaction of radiation with molecules.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Kambhampati, Patanjali (Fall)
Chemistry : A survey course on the structure of polymers, kinetics and mechanisms of polymer and copolymer synthesis; characterization and molecular weight distributions; polymer microstructure, the thermodynamics of polymer solutions; the crystalline and amorphous states, rubber elasticity and structure-property relationships.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Barrett, Christopher (Fall)
Physics : Vector and scalar potentials; plane waves in homogeneous media; refraction and reflection; guided waves; radiation from simple systems; dipole and quadrupole radiation; introduction to fields of moving charges; synchrotron radiation; Bremsstrahlung.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Guo, Hong (Fall)
Physics : Properties of crystals; free electron model, band structure; metals, insulators and semi-conductors; phonons; magnetism; selected additional topics in solid-state (e.g. ferroelectrics, elementary transport theory).
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Sutton, Mark (Fall)
(with at least 3 credits in Chemistry and 3 credits in Physics)
3 credits selected from:
Chemistry : Basic hypotheses of statistical thermodynamics; ideal monatomic, diatomic and polyatomic gases; Einstein and Debye models of solids; statistical theory of black-body radiation; Debye-Hückel theory of electrolyte solutions; absolute reaction rate theory of rate processes; theories of solutions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Physics : Scattering and structure factors. Review of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; correlation functions (static); mean field theory; critical phenomena; broken symmetry; fluctuations, roughening.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Coish, William (Fall)
9 credits selected from the list below:
Note: CHEM 480D1/CHEM 480D2 and CHEM 490D1/CHEM 490D2 are taken together.
Chemistry : A course designed to give Honours students research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Butler, Ian Sydney (Fall)
Chemistry : See CHEM 480D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Gray, Derek G (Winter)
Chemistry : A course designed to give Honours students research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Butler, Ian Sydney (Fall)
Chemistry : See CHEM 490D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Gray, Derek G (Winter)
Chemistry : Structure, bonding, synthesis, properties and applications of covalent, ionic, metallic crystals, and amorphous solids. Defect structures and their use in synthesis of specialty materials such as electronic conductors, semiconductors, and superconductors, and solid electrolytes. Basic principles of composite materials and applications of chemistry to materials processing.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Andrews, Mark P (Winter)
Chemistry : Kinetic laws, measurement of reaction rates, transition state and collision theory, experimental techniques in reaction kinetics, reaction mechanisms, RRKM theory, Marcus theory of electron transfer, photochemistry and catalysis. Recent developments and their application to chemical and biological problems. Elementary reactions in gas, solution and solid phases and on surfaces.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Cosa, Gonzalo (Winter)
Chemistry : Principles of the physical chemistry of phase boundaries. Electrical double layer theory; van der Waals forces; Brownian motion; kinetics of coagulation; electrokinetics; light scattering; solid/liquid interactions; adsorption; surfactants; hydrodynamic interactions; rheology of dispersions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order partial differential equations, geometric theory, classification of second order linear equations, Sturm-Liouville problems, orthogonal functions and Fourier series, eigenfunction expansions, separation of variables for heat, wave and Laplace equations, Green's function methods, uniqueness theorems.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Roth, Charles (Fall)
Physics : Geometrical optics, wave optics, lasers, Fourier transform spectroscopy, holography, optical data processing, stellar interferometry.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Sutton, Mark (Winter)
Physics : Advanced level experiments in modern physics stressing quantum effects and some properties of condensed matter. Continuation of PHYS 359.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Buchinger, Fritz; Barrette, Jean (Fall)
Physics : Honours supervised research project.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Barrette, Jean; Buchinger, Fritz (Winter)
Physics : Electrostatics, dielectrics, magnetostatics, timevarying fields, relativity, radiating systems, fields of moving charges.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Frey, Andrew (Winter)