Symmetry and Broken Symmetry: Groups, Algebras, and Topologies in Modern Physics
(Physics 572)
Mike Guidry
Spring,
2004
http://eagle.phys.utk.edu/guidry/symmetry/
Class meeting Times
8:00-9:15 AM, Monday and Wednesday, Nielsen Physics room 512
Grade
Homework 20% (Not graded, but solutions will be provided). 100% for homework turned in on time and complete. Minus 5% per day for late or incomplete. Unless otherwise noted, required homework will consist of working all odd-numbered problems in assigned chapters. Problems are considered assigned when the chapter is assigned.
Midterm Test 40%
Final Test 40%
Optional Extra Credit
Up to 10 points added to final average for a presentation in a recognized University or ORNL seminar or colloquium (e.g., condensed matter, nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics, ...). Seminar can be journal-club or research topic in nature, must deal with applications of groups, algebras, or topologies in physics or related disciplines, and must be at least 20 minutes in length. Students intending to do this should discuss an outline of the proposed topic with me first. Five points of the possible 10 are awarded for presenting the seminar and 5 points are awarded as style points at my discretion (sort of like Olympic ice skating). If you have no natural forum for such a presentation and wish to make one, we can schedule a special seminar for the class in which you can make your presentation.
Textbook:
Symmetry and Broken Symmetry: Groups, Algebras, and Topologies in Modern Physics (Draft), Mike Guidry. I will suggest other valuable references (at the end of each chapter I list a few suggested references for background), but no other textbooks are required. PDF files of the draft will be available at the link below.
Link to Chapter PDF files for Symmetry and Broken Symmetry: Groups, Algebras, and Topologies in Modern Physics
Link to exercise solution files