Fizik

The aim of the Physics Department is to educate the future scientists who can make original and advanced research at international level in fundamental physics or in its high technology applications in close relationships with other interdisciplinary fields. The undergraduate physics program aims to train students by providing a strong background in fundamental areas of theoretical and applied physics and to prepare them for careers in industry or in academic institutions for higher education, i.e. MSc., PhD. and post-graduate studies. The Department admits a number of talented and qualified students every year. The program enables the accepted students to attain a solid background in all areas of physics. That is why, besides obligatory courses, a number of elective courses are also offered for students whose interests are developed in various areas of physics.

Research areas include the study of condensed matter physics in topics such as condensed matter theory, solar cells, high temperature superconductors, low temperature physics, nanoscience and nanoelectronics, all solid state thin film batteries, optoelectronic devices, lasers, photonics, and spintronics, statistical physics, material science, semiconductor physics, computational physics; and the study of high energy physics  in topics such as little Higgs model, extra dimensions, standard model and its extensions, and non-commutative geometry.

The department facilities compound semiconductor research and technology laboratories consisting of Carbon Nanostructures Laboratory, Quantum Device Laboratory, Nanophotonics and Quantum Optics Laboratory, Computational Research Laboratory, Electrical and Dielectrical Characterization Laboratory, Applications of Nanolitography Laboratory, Spintronics Materials Laboratory, Superconducting Electronics Laboratory, Thin Film Laboratory and Thin Film Characterization Laboratory, and Optical Characterization Laboratory.

The objectives of the undergraduate physics program is to train students both in science and mathematics to become professionals with the knowledge and skills in order to understand and interpret the physical systems, as well as to bring them the ability to analyze, design and solve the problems in physics and related disciplines. Besides training the students to enhance their academic skills, the program also aims to develop the ability of students in scientific communication, such as in writing and/or in oral presentations, to teach how to access information from scientific sources, and also attain the ability to work both independently and as a team.

For these purposes, after the introductory physics and related interdisciplinary courses, such as calculus, chemistry, and biology, are well established in the first two semesters, the students are required to take more core courses such as classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electromagnetic theory, and modern physics from the beginning of their third semester. The last two semesters are designed for elective courses which are more technical and to address the students’ own interests such as astronomy, high energy physics, special relativity, quantum optics, semiconductor physics, and molecular biophysics, etc.

The undergraduate program consists of four years of study. There are two regular, i.e. Fall and Spring, semesters per year. Besides these two semesters, some students stay on campus during the months of June to August for summer semester, where they may take elective courses.

Grading, depending on the instructor, is based on two to three midterm exams and a final exam, homework assignments, quizzes, and laboratory performance. Attendance in courses, depending on the instructor, is a requirement, where it’s checked by the instructors giving the course. All the instruction is held in English, and thus, all the incoming students are  required to demonstrate their proficiency in English before attending the courses.