PSE COURSES
Plasma Courses | Supporting Courses
AEROSP 335. Aircraft and Spacecraft Propulsion
AEROSP 536. Electric Propulsion
AOSS 101. Introduction to Rocket Science
AOSS 370. Solar Terrestrial Relations
AOSS 450. Geophysical ElectroMagnetics
AOSS 477. Space Weather Modeling
AOSS 495. Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere
AOSS 545. High Energy Density Physics
AOSS 564 (AEROSP 564). Introduction to the Space and
Spacecraft Environment
AOSS 595 (EECS 518). Magnetosphere and Solar Wind
AOSS 597 (AEROSP 597). Fundamentals of Space Plasma Physics
AOSS 595. Magnetosphere and Solar Wind
EECS 423. Solid-State Device Laboratory
EECS 425. Integrated Microsystems Laboratory
EECS 517 (NERS 578). Physical Processes in Plasmas
EECS 528. Principles of Microelectronics Process Technology
EECS 720. Special Topics in Solid-State Devices, Integrated
Circuits, and Physical Electronics
ME 586 (Mfg 591). Laser Materials Processing
NERS 425. Application of Radiation
NERS 471. Introduction to Plasmas
NERS 472. Fusion Reactor Technology
NERS 571. Intermediate Plasma Physics I
NERS 572 (Appl Phys 672). Intermediate Plasma Physics
II
NERS 575 (EECS 519). Plasma Generation and Diagnostics
Laboratory
NERS 576. Charged Particle Accelerators and Beams
NERS 577. Plasma Spectroscopy
NERS 590-002. Plasma Engineering
NERS 590-003. Computational Plasma Physics
NERS 671. Theory of Plasma Confinement in Fusion Systems
I
NERS 672. Theory of Plasma Confinement in Fusion Systems
II
NERS 673. Electrons and Coherent Radiation
NERS 674 (Appl Phys 674). High Intensity Laser-Plasma
Interactions
PLASMA COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
AEROSP 335. Aircraft and Spacecraft Propulsion
Prerequisite: preceded by AEROSP 225 and MATH 216. I, II (4 credits)
Airbreathing propulsion, rocket propulsion, and an introduction to modern advanced
propulsion concepts. Includes thermodynamic cycles as related to propulsion
and the chemistry and thermodynamics of combustion. Students analyze turbojets,
turbofans and other air-breathing propulsion systems. Introduces liquid- and
solid-propellant rockets and advanced propulsion concepts such as Hall thrusters
and pulsed plasma thrusters. Students also learn about the environmental impact
of propulsion systems and work in teams to design a jet engine.
AEROSP 536. Electric Propulsion
Prerequisite: AEROSP 335, senior standing. I (3 credits)
Introduction to electric propulsion with an overview of electricity and magnetism,
atomic physics, non-equilibrium flows and electrothermal, electromagnetic, and
electrostatic electric propulsion systems.
AOSS 101 - Introduction to Rocket Science
Note: This course is of general interest for plasmas but does not count towards
the 15 credits required for GPSE.
AOSS 370 - Solar Terrestrial Relations
Note: This course is of general interest for plasmas but does not count towards
the 15 credits required for GPSE.
Introduction to solar terrestrial relations with an overview of solar radiation
and its variability on all time-scales. The effects of this variability on the
middle and upper atmosphere and the Earth near space environment, particularly
focusing on energetic particle radiation, are then discussed.
AOSS 450 - Geophysical ElectroMagnetics
The fundamentals of electricity, magnetism, and electrodynamics in the context
of the Earth. The first segment will cover electrostatics, the electric structure
and circuit of the Earth, electricity in clouds, and lightning. The second segment
will cover magnetostatics, currents, the magnetic field and magnetic dynamo
of the Earth, and the Earth's magnetosphere. The third segment will cover electrodynamics,
electromagnetic waves, radiation in the Earth environment, waveguides, and radiation
from sources.
AOSS 477 - Space Weather Modeling
AOSS 495 - Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere
Basic physical and chemical processes important in controlling the upper/middle
atmosphere and ionosphere: photochemistry, convection, diffusion, wave activity,
ionization, heating and cooling. The terrestrial, as well as planetary atmospheres
and ionospheres are to be considered.
AOSS 545. High Energy Density Physics
Prerequisite: MATH 450, Physics 405 & Physics 406. II (3 credits)
Introduces students to fundamental tools and discoveries of high-energy density
physics, where pressures are above a million atmospheres. Discusses fundamental
physical models, equations of state, hydrodynamics including shocks and instabilities,
radiation transport, radiation hydrodynamics, experimental technique, inertial
fusion, experimental astrophysics, and relativistic systems.
AOSS 564 (AEROSP 564). Introduction to the Space and
Spacecraft Environment
Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing. I (4 credits)
An introduction to physical and aeronomical processes in the space environment.
Discussion of theoretical tools, the Sun, solar spectrum, solar wind, interplanetary
magnetic field, planetary magnetosphere, ionospheres and upper atmospheres.
Atmospheric processes, densities, temperatures, and wind. Spacecraft interaction
with radiation, spacecraft aerodynamics, spacecraft-plasma interactions.
AOSS 595 (EECS 518). Magnetosphere and Solar Wind
Prerequisite: graduate standing. I, even years (3 credits)
General principles of magnetohydrodynamics; theory of the expanding atmospheres;
properties of solar wind, interaction of solar wind with the magneto-sphere
of the Earth and other planets; bow shock and magnetotail, trapped particles,
auroras.
AOSS 595 - Magnetosphere and Solar Wind
General principles of magnetohydrodynamics; theory of the expanding atmosphere;
properties of solar wind, interaction of solar wind with the magnetosphere of
the Earth and other planets; bow shock and magnetotail, trapped particles, auroras.
AOSS 597 (AEROSP 597). Fundamentals of Space Plasma Physics
Prerequisite: senior-level statistical physics course. II (3 credits)
Basic plasma concepts, Boltzmann equation, higher order moments equations, MHD
equations, double adiabatic theory. Plasma expansion to vacuum, transonic flows,
solar wind, polar wind. Collisionless shocks, propagating and planetary shocks.
Fokker-Planck equation, quasilinear theory, velocity diffusion, cosmic ray transport,
shock acceleration. Spacecraft charging, mass loading
AOSS 598. The Sun and the Heliosphere
Prerequisites: AOSS 464 & Physics 505 or equivalent. II odd years (3 credits)
A complete description of the physical processes that govern the behavior of
the Sun and the heliosphere with emphasis on recent theoretical and observational
results.
EECS 423. Solid-State Device Laboratory
Prerequisite: EECS 320 or graduate standing. I (4 credits)
Semiconductor material and device fabrication and evaluation: diodes, bipolar
and field-effect transistors, passive components. Semiconductor processing techniques:
oxidation, diffusion, deposition, etching, photolithography. Lecture and laboratory.
Projects to design and simulate device fabrication sequence.
EECS 425. Integrated Microsystems Laboratory
Prerequisite: EECS 311 or EECS 312 or EECS 414 or graduate standing. II (4 credits)
Development of a complete integrated microsystem, from functional definition
to final test. MEMS-based transducer design and electrical, mechanical and thermal
limits. Design of MOS interface circuits. MEMS and MOS chip fabrication. Mask
making, pattern transfer, oxidation, ion implantation and metallization. Packaging
and testing challenges. Students work in interdisciplinary teams.
EECS 517 (NERS 578). Physical Processes in Plasmas
Prerequisite: EECS 330. II, even years (3 credits)
Plasma physics applied to electrical gas discharges used for material processing.
Gas kinetics; atomic collisions; transport coefficients; drift and diffusion;
sheaths; Boltzmann distribution function calculation; plasma simulation; plasma
diagnostics by particle probes, spectroscopy, and electromagnetic waves; analysis
of commonly used plasma tools for materials processing.
EECS 528. Principles of Microelectronics Process Technology
Prerequisite: EECS 421 and EECS 423. II (3 credits)
Theoretical analysis of the chemistry and physics of process technologies used
in micro-electronics fabrication. Topics include: semiconductor growth, material
characterization, lithography tools, photo-resist models, thin film deposition,
chemical etching, plasma etching, electrical contact formation, micro-structure
processing, and process modeling.
EECS 720. Special Topics in Solid-State Devices, Integrated
Circuits, and Physical Electronics
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (1-4 credits)
Special topics of current interest in solid-state devices, integrated circuits,
microwave devices, quantum devices, noise, plasmas. This course may be taken
for credit more than once
ME 586 (Mfg 591). Laser Materials Processing
Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing. I (3 credits)
Application of lasers in materials processing and manufacturing. Laser principles
and optics. Fundamental concepts of laser/material interaction. Laser welding,
cutting, surface modification, forming, and rapid prototyping. Modeling of processes,
microstructure and mechanical properties of processed materials. Transport phenomena.
Process monitoring.
NERS 425. Application of Radiation
Prerequisite: NERS 312. II (4 credits)
Applications of radiation interaction with matter using various forms (neutrons,
ions, electrons, photons) of radiation, including activation analysis, neutron
radiography, nuclear reaction analysis, Rutherford backscattering analysis,
proton-induced x-ray emission, plasma-solid interactions and wave-solid interactions.
Lectures and laboratory.
NERS 471. Introduction to Plasmas
Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by Physics 240 or equivalent. I (3 credits)
Single particle orbits in electric and magnetic fields, moments of Boltzmann
equation and introduction to fluid theory. Wave phenomena in plasmas. Diffusion
of plasma in electric and magnetic fields. Analysis of laboratory plasmas and
magnetic confinement devices. Introduction to plasma kinetic theory.
NERS 472. Fusion Reactor Technology
Prerequisite: NERS 471. II (2 credits)
Study of technological topics relevant to the engineering feasibility of fusion
reactors as power sources. Energy and particle balances in fusion reactors;
neutronics and tritium breeding, various approaches to plasma heating, heat
removal and environmental aspects
NERS 571. Intermediate Plasma Physics I
Prerequisite: NERS 471 or Physics 405. I (3 credits)
Single particle motion, collision, and transport; plasma stability from orbital
considerations; Vlasov and Liouville equations; Landau damping; kinetic modes
and their reconstruction from fluid description; electrostatic and electromagnetic
waves, cutoff and resonance.
NERS 572. (Appl Phys 672) Intermediate Plasma Physics
II
Prerequisite: NERS 571. II (3 credits)
Waves in non-uniform plasmas, magnetic shear; absorption, reflection, and tunneling
gradient-driven micro-instabilities; BGK mode and nonlinear Landau damping;
macroscopic instabilities and their stabilization; non-ideal MHD effects.
NERS 575 (EECS 519). Plasma Generation and Diagnostics
Laboratory
Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by a course covering electromagnetism.
II (4 credits)
Laboratory techniques for plasma ionization and diagnosis relevant to plasma
processing, propulsion, vacuum electronics, and fusion. Plasma generation includes:
high voltage-DC, radio frequency, and electron beam sustained discharges. Diagnostics
include: Langmuir probes, microwave cavity perturbation, microwave interferometry,
laser schlieren, and optical emission spectroscopy. Plasma parameters measured
are: electron/ion density and electron temperature.
NERS 576. Charged Particle Accelerators and Beams
Prerequisite: Physics 240 or EECS 331. I alternate years. (3 credits)
Principles and technology of electrostatic and electrodynamic accelerators,
magnetic and electrostatic focusing, transient analysis of pulsed accelerators.
Generation of intense electron and ion beams. Dynamics, stability, and beam
transport in vacuum, neutral and ionized gases. Intense beams as drivers for
inertial confinement and for high power coherent radiation.
NERS 577. Plasma Spectroscopy
Prerequisite: introductory courses in plasma and quantum mechanics. I alternate
years (3 credits)
Basic theory of atomic and molecular spectroscopy and its application to plasma
diagnostics. Atomic structure and resulting spectra, electronic (including vibrational
and rotational) structure of molecules and the resulting spectra, the absorption
and emission of radiation and the shape and width of spectral lines. Use of
atomic and molecular spectra as a means of diagnosing temperatures, densities
and the chemistry of plasmas.
NERS 590-002. Plasma Engineering
NERS 590-003. Computational Plasma Physics
NERS 671. Theory of Plasma Confinement in Fusion Systems
I
Prerequisite: NERS 572. I alternate years (3 credits)
Study of the equilibrium, stability, and transport of plasma in controlled fusion
devices. Topics include MHD equilibrium for circular and non-circular cross
section plasmas; magneto-hydrodynamic and micro-instabilities; classical and
anomalous diffusion of particles and energy, and scaling laws.
NERS 672. Theory of Plasma Confinement in Fusion Systems
II
Prerequisite: NERS 671. II alternate years (3 credits)
Study of the equilibrium, stability, and transport of plasma in controlled fusion
devices. Topics include MHD equilibrium for circular and non-circular cross
section plasmas; magneto-hydrodynamic and micro-instabilities; classical and
anomalous diffusion of particles and energy, and scaling laws.
NERS 673. Electrons and Coherent Radiation
Prerequisite: NERS 471 or Physics 405. II (3 credits)
Collective interactions between electrons and surrounding structure studied.
Emphasis given to generation of high power coherent microwave and millimeter
waves. Devices include: cyclotron resonance maser, free electron laser, peniotron,
orbitron, relativistic klystron, and crossed-field geometry. Interactions between
electron beam and wakefields analyzed.
NERS 674 (Appl Phys 674). High Intensity Laser-Plasma
Interactions
Prerequisite: NERS 471, NERS 571 or permission of instructor. I (3 credits)
Coupling of intense electromagnetic radiation to electrons and collective modes
in time-dependent and equilibrium plasmas, ranging from underdense to solid-density.
Theory, numerical models and experiments in laser fusion, x-ray lasers, novel
electron accelerators and nonlinear optics.