Faculty of Science

Physics Courses

PC120 Digital Electronics 0.5

Introduction to digital logic: logic gates; combinational circuit analysis using boolean algebra and Karnaugh maps; number systems and codes; minimization techniques applied to combinational logic systems; flip-flops, multivibrators, counters and shift registers. (Cross-listed as CP120.)

3 lecture hours, 1.5 lab hours

PC131 Mechanics F 0.5

Calculus-based course, which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: one-dimensional motion; vectors; motion in two and three dimensions; force and motion; kinetic energy and work; potential energy; conservation of energy; collisions and momentum; rotational motion; simple harmonic motion; torque; angular momentum; and gravitation.

Prerequisite: OAC or Grade 12 U Physics.

Co-requisite: MA103 (or MA110*) or MA105.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC141.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC132 Thermodynamics and Waves W 0.5

Calculus-based course, which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: elasticity; fluids; waves and sound; temperature and heat; the laws of thermodynamics; entropy; and an introduction to electricity.

Prerequisite: PC131, MA103 (or MA110*) or MA105.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC142.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC135 Fundamentals of Photonics W 0.5

Introduction to photonics, a rapidly emerging discipline associated with the generation, manipulation, transmission and detection of light. Topics include overview of optics, lightwave fundamentals and applications of photonics.

Prerequisite: OAC or Grade 12 U Physics or OAC or Grade 12 U Chemistry.

PC141 Mechanics for the Life Sciences F 0.5

Algebra-based course, which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: kinematics; motion in two dimensions; force; work and energy; linear momentum and collisions; circular motion and gravitation; rotational motion and equilibrium.

Prerequisite: One of OAC or Grade 12 U Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC131.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC142 Thermodynamics and Waves for the Life Sciences W 0.5

Algebra-based course, which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: solids and fluids; temperature; heat; thermodynamics; vibrations and waves; sound.

Prerequisite: PC141 or PC131.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC132.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC200º Electronics Laboratory I F 0.25

Experiments in DC circuits. Emphasis is on developing expertise with test equipment in the quantitative study of DC circuits. Data analysis using spreadsheets. (Cross-listed as CP200º.)

Prerequisite: PC132, or PC120.

1 lecture hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC202º Optics Laboratory W 0.25

Experiments in geometric and wave optics.

Prerequisite: PC237.

Exclusion: PC201º, PC301º.

3 lab hours

PC203º Analog Electronics Laboratory W 0.25

Experiments in analog electronics including passive devices, analog simulation and symbolic computation.

Prerequisite: PC200º, PC212 or PC211.

Co-requisite: PC221.

Exclusion: PC201º.

3 lab hours

PC212 Electricity and Magnetism F 0.5

Introduction to electrostatics and magnetostatics including Gauss' law, electric potential, capacitance, electromagnetic induction. Introductory DC and AC circuit theory. Electromagnetic waves.

Prerequisite: PC131, PC132, MA103 (or MA110*), MA122.

Co-requisite: MA104 (preferred as a prerequisite).

Exclusion: PC210, PC211.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour

PC221 Analog Electronics I 0.5

AC circuit theory, complex impedance, resonance, Norton and Thevenin Theorems, semiconductor diodes, bipolar transistors, bias circuits, h-parameters, amplification, feedback.

Prerequisite: PC210 or PC212.

PC237 Optics 0.5

Nature of light: Huygen's principle, Fermat's principle. Geometrical optics: reflection and refraction at plane and curved surfaces, lenses and lens systems. Wave optics: interference, diffraction, polarization.

Prerequisite: PC131, PC132.

PC242 Modern Physics W 0.5

Fundamental topics in modern physics with extensive focus on applications. Topics covered include relativity, quantum theory of light, particle nature of matter, matter waves.

Prerequisite: PC131, PC132, MA205.

Exclusion: PC342*.

PC300º Electronics Laboratory II F 0.25

Experiments in electronics, including operational amplifiers, transducers, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. (Cross-listed as CP300º.)

Prerequisite: PC200º, (PC319 recommended co-requisite).

1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours

PC301º Physics Laboratory II W 0.25

Experiments in solid state device physics, optics and quantum mechanics.

Prerequisite: PC201º, PC321.

Co-requisite: PC322.

3.5 lab hours

PC302º Fibre Optics Laboratory W 0.25

Design of optical equipment (including reflective and refractive optical systems, interferometers and spectrometers). Optical sources and power measurements. Detectors (photographic, photoelectric, etc.), including use in the infrared and ultraviolet and at low intensity levels.

Prerequisite: PC202º, PC481.

3 lab hours

PC315 Introduction to Scientific Computation 0.5

(Cross-listed as CP315.)

PC319 Digital System Design 0.5

Logic families and interfacing considerations for logic devices, VHDL, implementation techniques for combinational and sequential logic; introduction to finite state machines and design methodologies for synchronous and asynchronous sequential circuits; hazards, cycles and races; operation and interfacing of memory devices.

Prerequisite: CP104, PC120, PC221 (PC300º recommended co-requisite).

PC321 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 0.5

An introduction to quantum physics, inadequacy of classical mechanics, interpretation of the wave function, Schroedinger's equation, probability currents, bound states, structure of solids, band theory, free electron theory of metals, Fermi levels, semiconductor physics.

Prerequisite: PC211, MA205.

PC322 Solid State Device Physics W 0.5

Operating principles of solid state devices from the viewpoint of the quantum theory, silicon and germanium diodes, tunnel diodes, junction transistors, special topics.

Prerequisite: PC242 (PC321 preferred) [and PC344 effective Sept. 2004 only].

PC331 Quantum Mechanics II W 0.5

Advanced quantum mechanics. Topics covered include identical particles, time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, variational principle and Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation.

Prerequisite: PC321, MA205.

PC344 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics F 0.5

An introduction to thermodynamics and its statistical basis at the microscopic level, with applications to problems originating in a modern laboratory or engineering environment. Topics include thermodynamics of model systems, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, quantum statistics and applications.

Prerequisite: PC131, PC132, MA201.

PC360 Electromagnetic Theory 0.5

Maxwell's equations, plane wave theory of waveguides, radiating systems.

Prerequisite: PC212, PC237.

PC364 Data Communication and Networks F 0.5

Data communication fundamentals, with an emphasis on the physical layer, and telecommunication networks, with an emphasis on the architectures and protocols will be studied. Topics include transmission media, digital data transmission, architectures of telecommunication networks. (Cross-listed as CP364.)

Prerequisite: CP120/PC120, PC210 and PC211, or PC212.

PC401º Optical Networks Laboratory W 0.25

Experiments related to optical networks including measurement and testing of network components and signal analysis.

Prerequisite: PC302º, PC474, PC481.

3 lab hours

PC421 Photonics Devices W 0.5

Design and operation of modern optoelectronic devices. Some specific topics covered will be: general theory of determination band structure, optical modal gain and absorption in bulk and quantum well semiconductor heterostructures, double heterojunction semiconductor lasers, strained QW lasers, distributed-feedback lasers and VCSEL, highspeed modulation of semiconductor lasers, both small and large signals, including carrier transport effects, Franz-Keldysh effects and excitonic effects in bulk and QW semiconductors and electroabsorption modulators, interband and intersubband photo detectors.

Prerequisite: PC322, PC331, PC360, PC482.

PC450 Instrumentation 0.5

Amplifiers and filters, temperature transducers including thermistors, semiconductor diodes and thermocouples, photodetectors, strain and pressure sensing, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, true RMS measurements, data acquisition systems, the IEEE 488 instrumentation bus, special topics.

Prerequisite: PC120, PC221.

PC471 Analog Electronics II 0.5

Amplifiers, oscillators, operational amplifiers, active filters, special circuits.††

Prerequisite: PC221.

PC474 Optical Networks F 0.5

A study of the building blocks, the architecture and realization of optic networks; new developments in optic network technology, such as DWDM.

Prerequisite: PC364, PC481.

PC475 Design of Control Systems 0.5

Modelling of physical systems using differential equations, block diagrams, signal flow graphs, transfer functions, step response, PID controller, root locus design, Bode plots, Nyquist stability criteria, state-space design.

Prerequisite: PC221, MA205.

PC481 Fibre Optics 0.5

Types of fibres. Basic theory: characteristics, numerical aperture, losses, dispersion, modes. Passive fibre devices: couplers, connectors, splices. Light sources: LED, solid and semiconductor lasers. Modulators. Detectors. Systems design.

Prerequisite: PC237.

PC482 Lasers and Electro-optics F 0.5

An introduction to steady-state theories of laser oscillators and amplifiers, spectroscopy of laser media, population inversion mechanism in gaseous and solid-state systems. Topics include propagation of optical beams in homogeneous and lens like media, optical resonators and some specific laser systems.

Prerequisite: PC331, PC344, PC360.

PC491 Directed Research Project I 0.5

An in-depth investigation of a topic under faculty supervision, including the submission of a formal report.

Prerequisite: Registration status: Year 4 Honours Computing and Computer Electronics or Photonics and permission of the department.

PC492 Directed Research Project II 0.5

An in-depth investigation of a topic under faculty supervision, including the submission of a formal report.

Prerequisite: PC491 and permission of the department.

Faculty of Science Faculty of Science – Departments, Programs and Courses Physics and Computer Science Physics

Official electronic version updated at 10:33 a.m. March 31, 2005