Radiations Newsletter

Volume 16, Issue 29

Juniors intending to apply for a Fulbright scholarship must fill out an intent-to-apply form which is due Monday, May 24.  A Fulbright can be a great way to participate in an academic program after Carleton.  The form is short and will keep the option open for applying over the summer.  For more information go to: https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/doc/fellowships/national/fulbright/.

As you begin to think about registration for the fall and beyond, it might be helpful to clarify what the similarities and differences are between Phys 260 Materials Science, Phys 354 Solid State Physics, and Chem 361 Materials Chemistry.

Physics 260 Materials Science (offered 2010-2011 Winter Term) explores the structure/properties relationships and technological applications of materials from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective. This course is more descriptive and less mathematical than the other courses. Next year, materials science with be taught with a different approach than it has been in the past. The first few weeks of the course will provide an introduction to relevant topics, and then the remainder of the course will be built around case studies of materials to meet energy and environmental challenges. (The only pre-req is an introductory physics or chemistry course, although many students have significantly more background.)

Physics 354 Solid State (offered 2009-2010 Spring Term, not offered 2010-2011) explores band structure and crystal structure of materials, phonons, electron transport, and select topics in magnetism, superconductivity and semiconductor physics. The solid state course is more rigorous and quantitative than Phys 260, but confines the discussion to certain types of solids. (Phys 336 is a pre-req.)

Chemistry 361 (offered 2010-2011 Fall Term) is an introduction to materials chemistry, covering a combination of topics that are found in Physics 260 and Physics 354, including band structure and crystal structure, solid solutions, and liquid crystals, as well as some topics that are more of interest to chemists such as synthesis methods and purification techniques. This course assumes a strong background in chemistry. (Organic Chemistry II is a pre-req, and you must be concurrently enrolled in either Chem 343 or Phys 339.)

If you have questions about the content of these courses, please talk to Melissa.

If any of you physics majors or potential majors are interested in taking Observational Astronomy (Astro 113) next fall, please let Cindy know so she can add you to the list.  Just send her an e-mail (cblaha@carleton.edu)by Monday, May 24.