Symmetry in Physics

Catalog description

This lecture course will give students (undergraduate and graduate) the ability to recognize and use symmetry in various physical systems including atomic, molecular, condensed matter , photonic and others. Students will be able to obtain and use relevant group theory to get classification of quantum states, selection rules for go-no go processes, and quantum response functions. Finite Groups will be emphasized including point and space groups in 3D,2D,1D, and Symmetric Groups and representation theory Schur Lemma, invariants. Prerequisite is a course in Modern Physics or Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, or equivalent. Special Topics will include Topological Insulators and Superconductors and Braid Groups .