Doctoral Program in Applied Physics

We offer Applied Physics doctoral studies in theoretical and experimental plasma physics (fusion and space plasmas); solid state physics (semiconductor, surface, low-dimensional physics, molecular electronics); optical and laser physics (laser interactions with matter), and nuclear science (medical applications)

Overview

Students wishing to puruse an MS degree which continues directly into a PhD program, should apply to the MS / PhD Track Program in Applied Physics. Students who have already earned an MS degree should apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or the Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD or DES) degree programs.

Financial aid is available for students pursuing a doctorate. Fellowships, scholarships, teaching assistantships, and graduate research assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. The Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination is required of candidates for admission to the department and for financial aid; the Advanced Tests are recommended.

Doctoral Programs

After completing the MS program in applied physics, doctoral students specialize in one applied physics field.

  • Plasma Physics: theoretical and experimental plasma physics (fusion and space plasmas)
  • Solid State Physics (semiconductor, surface, low-dimensional physics, molecular electronics)
  • Optical and laser physics (laser interactions with matter)

Some specializations have specific course requirements for the doctorate; elective courses are determined in consultation with the program adviser. Successful completion of an approved 30-point program of study is required in addition to successful completion of a written qualifying examination taken after two semesters of graduate study. Completing Applied Physics Laboratory APPH E4018 in the first year of graduate study is required. An oral examination, taken within one year after the written qualifying examination, and a thesis proposal examination, taken within two years after the written qualifying examination, are required of all doctoral candidates.

Program Requirements

Plasma Physics Graduate Specialty

Columbia, one of the leading university centers for training in plasma physics, offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science (MS), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD or DES) degrees. The program builds a foundation in the science and application of plasma physics and features a specialty in the high-temperature plasma physics needed for controlled fusion energy. Besides a sound basic training in relevant areas of applied physics, students develop expertise in experimental, theoretical, and computational plasma physics. This instruction provides the background needed to conduct research in Columbia University’s Plasma Research Laboratory and in other national plasma research facilities. Since its inception in 1960, the program at Columbia has granted more than 110 doctoral degrees with many of our graduates playing leading roles in all phases of plasma physics, including, in particular, the worldwide program to develop controlled fusion energy.

Degree Requirements for Master of Science (MS) in Applied Physics

  • 30 points (usually 10 courses) of courses taken for a letter grade with a 3.0 Minimum GPA
  • There are no specific course requirements for this degree, it is tailored to the student’s interests, but will usually include at least 5 core courses with an APPH designator and additional courses with PHYS/ELEN designators or advisor-approved courses from other departments.
  • Students with an interest in Plasma Physics should take the following courses:
     

Degree Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Physics: Plasma Physics

  • Complete requirements for the MS with a 3.0 Minimum GPA (unless a Master’s Degree from another institution has already been earned, in which case students receive 30 points and 2 Residence Units of advanced standing) /li>
  • Complete requirements for the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Degree
    • Written Qualifying Examination: Courses suggested for preparation at the level of the general, and solid state and optical physics parts of the written qualifying examination are listed in the qualifying examination memorandum.
    • 30 points of courses and/or research (beyond MS) taken for a letter grade with minimum 3.0 GPA: Can be fulfilled with core and related courses of specialization not used for the MS degree as well as research points, but no more than 15 points of research can be applied to this 30 point requirement
    • 6 Residence Units: Students who have earned the MS register for 1 Residence Unit per semester not including summer
    • Oral Exam (usually Spring of 2nd year)
    • Thesis proposal (usually Spring of 3rd year)
    • Ethics requirements: Online ethics course during Fall of 1st, year, attend departmental ethics seminar during Spring of 1st and 2nd years
    • Master of Philosophy Degree awarded
  • Complete Dissertation
  • Successful Defense

Degree Requirements for Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD or DES) in Applied Physics: Plasma Physics

  • Complete requirements for the MS with a 3.0 Minimum GPA (unless a Master’s Degree from another institution has already been earned, in which case student receives 30 points and 2 Residence Units of advanced standing)
  • Written Qualifying Examination Courses suggested for preparation at the level of the general and plasma physics parts of the written qualifying examination are listed in the qualifying examination memorandum
  • Ethics requirement Online ethics course during Fall of 1st year, attend departmental ethics seminar during Spring of 1st and 2nd years
  • Oral Exam (usually Spring of 2nd year)
  • 30 points of courses and/or research (beyond MS taken for a letter grade with 3.0 GPA Can be fulfilled with core and related courses of specialization not used for the MS degree as well as research points, but no more than 15 points of research can be applied toward this 30 point requirement
  • 12 points of APAM E9800: Doctoral Research Instruction
  • Thesis proposal (usually Spring of 3rd year)
  • Complete Dissertation
  • Successful Defense

Core Courses

Related Courses of Specialization

  • APPH E6110: Laser interactions with matter (3 pts)
  • APPH E4010: Introduction to nuclear science (3 pts)
  • APMA E4204: Functions of a complex variable (3 pts)
  • APMA E6901: Special topics in applied math (3 pts)
  • APMA E8308: Asymptotic methods in applied math (3 pts)
  • ELEN E4501: Electromagnetic devices and energy conversion (3 pts)
  • PHYS G4019: Mathematical methods in physics (3 pts)

Plasma Physics Faculty
Allen H. Boozer
Michael E. Mauel
Gerald A. Navratil - Applied Physics Program Committee Chair & Plasma Physics Doctoral Committee Chair

Research Scientists and External Advisors
Admitted students may work with scientific advisors external to the applied physics faculty, as long as student secures funding from said faculty. Examples of other researchers or faculty external to the department include:

James Bialek, Research Scientist/PPPL
Darren Garnier, MIT
Steven Sabbagh, Adjunct Professor & Research Scientist/PPPL

Solid State & Optical Physics Graduate Specialties

Solid State Physics Graduate Specialty
This graduate specialty encompasses the study of the electrical, optical, magnetic, thermal, high-pressure, and ultrafast dynamical properties of solids, with an aim to understanding them in terms of the atomic and electronic structure. The field emphasizes the formation, processing, and properties of thin films, low-dimensional structures—such as one- and two-dimensional electron gases, nanocrystals, surfaces of electronic and optoelectronic interest, and molecules. Facilities include a microelectronics laboratory, high-pressure diamond anvil cells, a molecular beam epitaxy machine, ultrahigh vacuum systems, lasers, equipment for the study of optical properties and transport on the nanoscale, and the instruments in the shared facilities overseen by the Columbia Nano Initiative. There are also significant resources for electrical and optical experimentation at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. Specific course requirements for the solid-state physics doctoral specialization are set with the academic adviser, in consultation with the Committee on Materials Science and Engineering/Solid-State Science and Engineering.

Optical Physics Graduate Specialty
This graduate specialty involves a basic training in relevant areas of applied physics with emphasis in quantum mechanics, quantum electronics, and related areas of specialization. Some active areas of research in which the student may concentrate are laser modification of surfaces, optical diagnostics of film processing, inelastic light scattering in nanomaterials, nonlinear optics, ultrafast optoelectronics photonic switching, optical physics of surfaces, and photon integrated circuits. Specific course requirements for the optical and laser physics doctoral specialization are set with the academic adviser.

Degree Requirements for Master of Science (MS) in Applied Physics

  • 30 points (usually 10 courses) of courses taken for a letter grade with a 3.0 Minimum GPA
  • There are no specific course requirements for this degree, it is tailored to the student’s interests, but will usually include at least 5 core courses with an APPH designator and additional courses with PHYS/ELEN designators or advisor-approved courses from other departments.
  • Students with an interest in Solid State Physics should take the following courses:

APPH E4018: Applied physics laboratory (2 pts)
APPH E4112: Laser physics (3 pts)
ELEN E4301: Introduction to semiconductor devices (3 pts)
ELEN E6331-2: Principles of semiconductor physics I and II (3 pts)
MSAE E4206: Electronic and magnetic properties of solids (3 pts) or their equivalent for solid state

Students with an interest in Optical Physics should take the following courses:

APPH E4018: Applied physics laboratory (2 pts)
APPH E4100: Quantum physics of matter (3 pts)
APPH E4110: Modern optics (3 pts)
APPH E4112: Laser physics (3 pts)
APPH E6110: Laser interactions with matter (3 pts)
ELEN E9402: Seminar in quantum electronics (3 pts) or their equivalent for optical physics

Degree Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Physics: Solid State or Optical Physics

  • Complete requirements for the MS with a 3.0 Minimum GPA
    (unless a Master’s Degree from another institution has already been earned, in which case students receive 30 points and 2 Residence Units of advanced standing)
  • Complete requirements for the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Degree
    • Written Qualifying Examination
      Courses suggested for preparation at the level of the general, and solid state and optical physics parts of the written qualifying examination are listed in the qualifying examination memorandum.
    • 30 points of courses and/or research (beyond MS) taken for a letter grade with minimum 3.0 GPA
      Can be fulfilled with core and related courses of specialization not used for the MS degree as well as research points, but no more than 15 points of research can be applied to this 30 point requirement
    • 6 Residence Units - Students who have earned the MS register for 1 Residence Unit per semester not including summer
    • Oral Exam (usually Spring of 2nd year)
    • Thesis proposal (usually Spring of 3rd year)
    • Ethics requirements
      Online ethics course during Fall of 1st, year, attend departmental ethics seminar during Spring of 1st and 2nd years
    • Master of Philosophy Degree awarded
  • Complete Dissertation
  • Successful Defense

Degree Requirements for Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD or DES) in Applied Physics: Solid State or Optical Physics

  • Complete requirements for the MSwith a 3.0 Minimum GPA - (unless a Master’s Degree from another institution has already been earned, in which case student receives 30 points of advanced standing)
  • Written Qualifying Examination - Courses suggested for preparation at the level of the general, and solid state and optical physics parts of the written qualifying examination are listed in the qualifying examination memorandum.
  • Ethics requirement - Online ethics course during Fall of 1st year, attend departmental ethics seminar during Spring of 1st and 2nd years
  • Oral Exam (usually Spring of 2nd year)
  • 30 points of courses and/or research (beyond MS taken for a letter grade with 3.0 GPA - Can be fulfilled with core and related courses of specialization not used for the MS degree as well as research points, but no more than 15 points of research can be applied toward this 30 point requirement
  • 12 points of APAM E9800: Doctoral Research Instruction
  • Thesis proposal (usually Spring of 3rd year)
  • Complete Dissertation
  • Successful Defense

Core Courses

  • ELEN E4301: Introduction to semiconductor devices

Related Courses of Specialization

  • ELEN E4944: Principles of device microfabrication
  • ELEN E6140: Gallium arsenide materials processing
  • ELEN E6151: Surface physics and analysis of electronic materials
  • MSAE E6225: Techniques in x-ray and neutron diffraction
  • MSAE E6229: Energy and particle beam processing of materials
  • MSAE E6240: Impurities and defects in semiconductor materials
  • PHYS G8050: Advanced mathematical methods in physics

Solid-State Physics and Optical & Laser Physics Faculty
William E. Bailey
Katayun Barmak
Simon Billinge
Siu-Wai Chan
Alexander Gaeta
Irving P. Herman
James S. Im
Chris A. Marianetti
I.C. Noyan
Latha Venkataraman - Solid State and Optical Physics Doctoral Committee Chair
Wen I. Wang, EE & APAM
Nanfang Yu

Multidisciplinary and External Advisors
Admitted students may work with scientific advisors external to the applied physics faculty, as long as student secures funding from said faculty. Examples of other faculty in areas closely related to applied physics include:

Louis Brus, Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
Kenneth Eisenthal, Chemistry Richard Friesner, Chemistry Yasutomo Uemura, Physics

Advising

Have a question? Feel free to contact our Student Services Coordinator or reach out to a 1st Year Doctoral Applied Physics Advisor.

Graduate Admissions