OutlineOutline z Introduction to the Department z Brief overview of required courses z Some necessary words on rights and resposibilities z Brief overview of the faculty

1 GettingGetting InformationInformation z Use it! z Ask !

2 RequiredRequired CoursesCourses z All five of the following formal introductory courses: G6037/8: Quantum Mechanics I and II G6092/3: Electromagnetic Theory I and II G6036 : Statistical Mechanics z Two courses from the following phenomenological subject courses: G6050: Elementary Particle G6040: G6018: Physics of the Solid State G6010: Advanced Astrophysics G6011: High Energy Astrophysics G6060: Laser Physics G6081-2: Solid State Physics I or ii z One of the following advanced theoretical courses: G8047-8 : Advanced Quantum Mechanics I or II G8069-70: Particle Physics I or II G8040 : General Relativity G8066 : Theoretical Solid State Physics G8050 : Advanced Mathematical Methods in Physics z One of the following special techniques courses OR a second course from the advanced theoretical courses above: G6099: Physical Phenomena G6042: Experimental Methods in Nuclear Physics G6080: Scientific Computing3 RemarksRemarks z Your goal should be † to learn as much as possible from your graduate courses † while progressing as rapidly as possible to starting research z Determine an appropriate course load in consultation with your graduate adviser. z We are considering modifications to these requirements that would lead to † early introduction to field-specific courses ¨ the earliest possible entry into research

4 PlacementPlacement ExamsExams z Quantum: † Offered on Thursday, 01-Sep-05, in 705 Pupin: † 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: G6037-8 (Quantum Mechanics I and II) z E&M: † Offered on Friday, 02-Sep-05, in 705 Pupin: † 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon: G6092-3 (Electromagnetic Theory I and II) z You are strongly encouraged to take either (or both) of these exams † Pass: Credit for the course † Fail : No record is kept z Re-visiting material you know well is not a productive use of your time!

5 QualifyingQualifying ExaminationExamination z Offered once per year (January) z Level: ~advanced undergraduate z Format: † Three (4 hr) written exams: ‹ Classical Physics (Mechanics, E&M) ‹ Modern Physics (formal Quantum Mechanics, applied Quantum Mechanics, and Relativity) ‹ General Physics (Thermodynamics, Optics, HEP, Nuclear, Astrophysics, Atomic, Condensed Matter) † Oral Examination by 3-person faculty committee z Pass/Fail status determined in faculty meeting following detailed discussion of each student’s performance on written and oral qualifying exam, and in course work: † Pass ¨ complete course requirements, begin research † Fail ¨ repeat entire exam following year † Conditional ¨ repeat specific section following year † Second failure ¨ requested to leave program z Statistics: (Past 5 years): † 96 students † 22 repeats † 2 failed 2nd attempt z Most take in first year (postponement is allowed in cases of known gaps in undergraduate preparation)

6 TypicalTypical ProgramProgram

Courses Summer Courses THESIS RESEARCH (full time) 2-3 per Semester Research 2-3 per Semester Teaching Teaching 9 hr/wk (full time) 9 hr/wk

01Qualifying Qualifying 23456 Examination Examination(?) Dissertation M. A. Defense M. Phil.

Ph.D.

7 EthicalEthical BehaviorBehavior (I)(I) z is an academic community committed to fostering intellectual inquiry in a climate of academic freedom and integrity. Its members are expected to uphold these principles and exhibit tolerance and respect for others. Thus, the Graduate School condemns all forms of misconduct and works strenuously to assure that its students are accorded tolerance, dignity and respect. Any graduate student who believes that he or she is a victim of misconduct has recourse to the mediation and grievance procedures developed by the Graduate School. Students are encouraged to discuss problems, questions, and grievances with anyone in a supervisory position, such as an advisor, director of graduate studies, department chair or appropriate dean or university administrator... z Full details available at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/G_D_Policy2003.pdf

8 EthicalEthical BehaviorBehavior (II)(II) z Columbia University is an academic community committed to fostering intellectual inquiry in a climate of academic freedom and integrity. Its members are expected to uphold these principles and abide by the regulations of the University. They are also expected to obey local, state and federal laws. Students continue at the University, receive academic credits, graduate, and obtain degrees subject to the disciplinary powers of the University. The Trustees of the University have delegated responsibility for student discipline to the deans of the individual schools or divisions. Students should be aware that academic dishonesty (for example, plagiarism, cheating on an examination, or dishonesty in dealing with a faculty member or other University official) or violence, threatening behavior, or harassment are particularly serious offenses that will be dealt with severely under Dean’s Discipline.

z Full details available at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/G_D_Policy2003.pdf

9 PolicyPolicy onon AcademicAcademic andand PersonalPersonal MisconductMisconduct

The Graduate School prohibits academic dishonesty or misconduct. Without trying to list every example, the following illustrate the different forms that academic fraud or misconduct can take: 1. Cheating on examinations or tests; also fabrication of data and/or fabrication of results. 2. Plagiarism, the failure to acknowledge adequately ideas, language or research of others, in papers, essays, dissertations or other work. 3. Knowingly assisting others in plagiarism, by making one’s papers, essays, or written work available for such use. 4. Misstatement or misrepresentation in connection with any academic matter, such as in an application for admission or financial aid, or during a formal inquiry by University officials. 5. Misuse, alteration, or fabrication of University documents, records and credentials, including transcripts and I.D. cards. 6. Improper use of the library and its resources: theft or purposely hoarding or hiding books or materials. 7. Misconduct in carrying out teaching or research responsibilities. See appendix C for faculty guidelines. These guidelines apply to anyone teaching or conducting research at Columbia.

10 YourYour RoleRole z Why this emphasis? z Because †You are joining a community of scholars †Whose medium of exchange is individual ideas and research results z The community: †Your fellow students †The Columbia physics faculty †The associated research scientists, post-docs, and technicians

†Similar groups at11 other institutions TheThe ColumbiaColumbia FacultyFaculty z A broad department covering †Condensed matter †Astrophysics †“Particle” theory †Experimental particle physics †“Nuclear” physics z A department with †An illustrious past †A bright future (you)

12 CondensedCondensed MatterMatter z Theory z Experiment †Igor Aleiner †Tony Heinz electron transport Surface physics w. lasers †Boris Altshuler †Philip Kim condensed matter theory low-dimensional nanostructures †Allan Blaer †Aron Pinczuk Low T phase transitions low-dim e systems †Tim Halpin-Healey †Horst Stormer phase transitions and critical low-dim e systems phenomena †Tomo Uemura †Andy Millis µSR, high T interacting e’s in metals c

13 AstrophysicsAstrophysics

z Theory z Experiment † Andrei Beloborodov † Elena Aprile X-ray binaries, AGN, bursts Gamma ray sources, LXe-TPC † Lam Hui † Charles Hailey cosmology Gamma ray astronomy † Janna Levin † Szabolcs Marka theoretical astrophysics Gravitational Waves † Mal Ruderman † Amber Miller Compact objects CMB probes † Reshmi Mukherjee gamma rays, AGN † Stefan Westerhoff HiRes, AGN

14 “Particle”“Particle” PhysicsPhysics

z Theory z Experiment † Norman Christ LQCD † Gustaaf Brooijmans † Brian Greene D0, ATLAS strings, cosmology † Janet Conrad † Daniel Kabat strings, quantum gravity miniBoone, nuTeV † T.D. Lee (FNAL) Everything † John Parsons † Robert Mawhinney LQCD D0, ATLAS † Alfred Mueller † Michael Shaevitz QCD, heavy ions NuTeV, miniBoone † Eduardo Ponton “Beyond the SM” † Michael Tuts phenomenology D0, ATLAS † Erick Weinberg † William Willis strings, black holes ATLAS

15 “Nuclear”“Nuclear” PhysicsPhysics

z Theory z Experiment † Miklos Gyulassy † Brian Cole QCD, heavy ion theory PHENIX, LHC † William Zajc PHENIX at RHIC

16 ToTo LearnLearn MoreMore z Required: Attend the Graduate Seminar! (G6905, F 10:30-11:30, 831 Pupin) z Colloquium: (Mondays at 4pm) z Various regularly scheduled seminars z Read pre-prints! (http://xxx.arxiv.cornell.edu/ ) z Ask!

17 TheThe GraduateGraduate ExperienceExperience z It’s the same: † Continue to take classes † Grades continue to matter z It’s different: † You will make a transition from ‹a student to ‹a researcher to ‹an independent researcher † The experience will have a profound affect on your entire career, in or out of academia

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