PY 522 – Electromagnetic Theory II

Course Description: The goal of this course is to expose students to advances topics in classical electromagnetism with a contemporary point of view. Broadly, three areas will be considered: Electromagnetic sources, propagation of electromagnetic radiation, and the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with materials. Specific topics include antennas, Lienard-Wiechert potentials, synchrotrons, lasers, Gaussian beam propagation, electrodynamics of materials (electrons, phonons, plasmons, artificial materials, mageto-electrics), and nonlinear “optics”. Connections with current research will be made for each of these topics. An approximate lecture schedule is included below. The emphasis on this course is not mathematical physics, but rather stepping back and developing some physical insight into modern topics in E&M. This field of research is alive and well and directly impacts many other areas of research as well!