Introduction
The MS in Physics - Applied Physics specialization allows scientists and engineers to pursue coursework and research that emphasize concepts and techniques particularly appropriate for applied physics. The program offers courses in optics, materials, biophysics, environmental physics, imaging and modeling/theory to prepare students for a broad range of professional industrial and academic positions. Experiential learning through research projects and the ability to take classes outside of the department enable students to customize their coursework to gain the knowledge needed to their specific career path.
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to the MS in Physics - Applied Physics specialization students must meet the College of Graduate Studies requirements for admission and have an undergraduate degree in physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, or an allied field. Students with deficient backgrounds are required to register for additional coursework to remove deficiencies, per the recommendation of the graduate advisor.
Application materials required:
- Official Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- 2 letters of reference
Financial Support
Student support is available through a limited number of graduate assistantships. These are awarded at the discretion of the department. Decisions on these are made by the Department Chair and the Department Graduate Committee.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 32 credits are required as follows:
- 5 PHY grad courses, except PHY 598 /699
- At least 5 credits of research PHY 598 /thesis PHY 699
- PHY or other STEM courses 500 level or above to achieve 32 credit hours, approved by the graduate advisor.
Introduction
Currently, there is tremendous growth in the fields of optics and condensed matter, caused by rapid developments in quantum computation, superconductivity, electro-optic materials, optical, acoustical, and NMR imaging, semiconductor devices, tomography, and image processing. The Physics Department at Cleveland State University offers an M.S. degree in physics with an emphasis on Optics & Materials designed for scientists and engineers who wish to develop competence in these rapidly advancing fields.
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to the MS in Physics - Optics & Materials specialization students must meet the College of Graduate Studies requirements for admission and have an undergraduate degree in physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, or an allied field. Students with deficient backgrounds are required to register for additional coursework to remove deficiencies, per the recommendation of the graduate advisor.
Application materials required:
- Official Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- 2 letters of reference
Financial Support
Student support is available through a limited number of graduate assistantships. These are awarded at the discretion of the department. Decisions on these are made by the Department Chair and the Department Graduate Committee.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 32 credits are required for the Optics and Materials Specialization, chosen from the following list or approved substitutions:
Current Research
Surface Physics: Scanning probe microscopy used to examine nanoscale physics at surfaces. Surfaces are interesting because surface atoms do not have as many bonds as atoms in the bulk of a crystal, which can affect their properties, including magnetism and electronic conductivity. Further, the arrangement of atoms on a surface has profound implications for devices because how new atoms arrange on a surface can affect how abrupt an interface between two materials is or how ordered the next layer of atoms are.
High-Resolution Imaging: develop experimental methodologies and image processing strategies for minimally invasive high resolution optical and electron microcopy imaging.
Macromolecular Crystallography: X-Ray studies of crystallized biologically and chemically interesting molecules, for designing molecules with specific biological activities for developing drugs.
Experimental Solid-State Physics: Current topics in the electronic properties and possible applications of novel materials include intercalated graphite fibers, conductor-insulator composites, and thin-film materials. Most measurements involve low-temperature and/or high-pressure techniques.
Experimental Optics: Laser spectroscopy is being used to study diffusional processes. Presently, aggregation processes that result in the formation of fractal aggregates and phase transitions in liquid mixtures and micro emulsions are under investigation. The optical properties of various polymer materials also are being studied using laser techniques.
Statistical Physics: Phase transitions in liquid mixtures, glasses, polymers, superconductors, and magnets are being studied by applying modern techniques such as the renormalization group. Statistical physics methods are applied to cognitive science, health sciences, and polymer processing.
Computational Biophysics: Explore biological systems through theoretical and computational methods for biosensing, synthetic biology, biophysics, and materials sciences applications. Tools used include molecular dynamics, coarse-grained modeling, analytical modeling, stochastic methods and agent-based simulations. Biological systems under investigation include DNA molecules and proteins, DNA origamis, bimolecular complexes, microtubules, and active matter.
Experimental Biophysics: Epithelial mechanosensation and mechanotransduction; fluid flow sensing by the primary cilium. Methods include: perfused tissue culture, live cell imaging, optical trapping, electrophysiology, molecular biology.
Fluid Dynamics and Mixing: Understanding the fluid flow and its interaction with geometrical structures is critical in the design and performance optimization of chemical and biological synthesis and analysis systems. Computational modeling and experimental investigations are employed to a broad range of applied problems that require the manipulation of fluids, ranging from the optimization of mixing in microfluidic devices, to the fluid flow mapping in polymer extruders, and the development of efficient microreactors.
Atmospheric Physics: The Earth’s atmosphere exhibits many different aspects of physics, ranging from radiative transfer to fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. Our group uses high-resolution computer simulations (LES), as well as observational data, to study atmospheric flow, in particular the turbulent structure of the atmospheric boundary layer and boundary layer clouds.
Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Physics Department webpage.
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