May be repeated up to a maximum of 6 credits. Cr/F.

Review of thermodynamics and kinetic theory, followed by an introduction to classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Microcanonical, canonical, and grande canonical ensembles; ideal Fermi and Bose gases and applications of statistical mechanics to selected physical problems. Prereq: PHYS 931; 939; 943.

Relativistic wave equations, propagator theory and Feynman diagrams, quantum theory of radiation, second quantization, introduction to quantum field theory and related topics. Prereq: PHYS 939; PHYS 944. (Normally offered every other year.)

One-semester course on the physical principles underpinning the field of high energy astrophysics. The first part of the course covers the underlying physical concepts, including radiation processes, particle acceleration processes, and accretion physics. The second part of the course includes more detailed discussion of the various astrophysical sources that can generate high energy radiations, including pulsars, X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts. An overview of important aspects of experimental methods is also provided.