Astrophysics and Astroparticle Physics Minor

As an astrophysics and astroparticle physics minor, you will obtain an overview of astronomy and astrophysics and/or astroparticle physics and the current topics of research in these areas. Astrophysics deals with observing and explaining celestial phenomena. Astroparticle physics is focused on using the cosmos as a laboratory for doing particle physics and for testing and expanding particle physics theories.

sample courses:

Galactic Astrophysics

A critical survey of the astrophysical information derivable from investigations of the cosmic radiation detectable at the Earth; electromagnetic and nuclear interactions and their role in radiation detectors and in cosmic-ray physics; properties of the primary particle radiation; primary x- and gamma rays; theory of origin, acceleration, and propagation; radioastronomy as related to cosmic ray phenomena; the sun as a source of cosmic rays.

Introduction to Quantum Physics I

Theoretical and experimental basis for quantum mechanics, following the historical development of 20th-century physics. Failure of classical physics; the Bohr theory of the atom; the Heisenberg uncertainty principle; the Schroedinger equation; atomic and molecular structure.