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		    graduate/undergraduate


PHYS 4421 - PHYSICS OF CONTINUUM MATTER: 
	    Exotic and everyday Phenomena in the Macroscopic World

INSTRUCTOR: Predrag Cvitanovic'
TIME:       Spring semester 2004, Tue, Thu 12:05-1:25 in Howey S104

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Continuum physics describes the macroscopic physical world around us. The
enormous progress of quantum physics in 20th century has almost eliminated
this kind of physics from the core physics curriculum - still research in
nonlinear science, biology, engineering, demands increased mastery of its
methodology. The course aims to redress the balance by offering a modern,
unified introduction to the basic concepts and phenomenology of continuous
systems.

The course is intended for physics, biomedical, math, engineering and
geophysics advanced undergraduates, starting graduate students.
The mathematical prerequisites are modest and are developed further
as the need arises. A brief outline of the course:

	[*] Historical perspective.
	[*] Gravitational fields.
	[*] Fluids.
	[*] Euler/Lagrange description.
	[*] Viscosity.
	[*] Navier-Stokes equations.
	[*] Whorls and vortices.
	[*] Stress, strain.
	[*] Elastodynamics.

DETAILS:  www.cns.gatech.edu/PHYS-4421

TEXTBOOK: Continuum Physics, Exotic and everyday Phenomena in the
Macroscopic World, by Benny Lautrup, a modern advanced undergraduate
introduction into the subject (download from course homepage).

TEACHING METHOD: Two lectures per week, homework sets, midterm and a final
exam.

START: Thursday Jan 8 2004, 12:05 in Howey S104

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Oct 14 2004 -- Predrag.Cvitanovic@physics.gatech.edu