Mike Litos's research is focused on plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA), and associated topics at the intersection of plasmas, lasers, and particle beams. His group is a major collaborator for several experiments at the FACET-II experimental facility at SLAC National Lab. These experiments include the following topics: high energy PWFA, high brightness electron beam generation, PWFA for positrons, relativistic beam-plasma filamentation, plasma lenses for electron beams, ion channel X-ray laser source, and strong-field nonlinear QED.
keywords
plasma physics, accelerator physics, plasma wakefield acceleration, laser-plasma interactions, plasma diagnostics, high power laser systems, high energy radiation sources, electron beam diagnostics, electron beams, positron beams
ASTR 5150 - Introductory Plasma Physics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022
Includes basic phenomena of ionized gases, static and dynamic shielding, linear waves, instabilities, particles in fields, collisional phenomena, fluid equations, collisionless Boltzman equations, Landau damping, scattering and absorption of radiation in plasmas, elementary nonlinear processes, WKB wave theory, controlled thermonuclear fusion concepts, astrophysical applications and experimental plasma physics (laboratory). Same as PHYS 5150.
PHYS 1115 - General Physics 1 for Majors
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Fall 2021
First semester of three semester sequence for physics, engineering physics and astronomy majors. Covers kinematics, dynamics momentum of particles and rigid bodies, work and energy, gravitation, and simple harmonic motion. Degree credit not granted for this course and PHYS 1110.
PHYS 2020 - General Physics 2
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019
Includes three lectures, one two-hour laboratory/recitation per week, plus three evening exams in the fall and spring semesters. Covers electricity and magnetism, light and modern physics. Designed for life science majors, including premed students. Natural science majors with a knowledge of calculus and others taking calculus are urged to take the calculus-based courses PHYS 1110, PHYS 1120, PHYS 1140 and PHYS 2130, rather than PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2020.
PHYS 2170 - Foundations of Modern Physics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020
Covers special relativity, quantum mechanics and atomic structure. Completes the three-semester sequence of general physics for physics and engineering physics majors. Normally taken with the laboratory PHYS 2150. Degree credit not granted for this course and PHYS 2130.
PHYS 3330 - Electronics for the Physical Sciences
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Introduces laboratory electronics for physical science students. Includes basic electronic instruments, dc bridge circuits, operational amplifiers, bipolar transistors, field-effect transistors, photodiodes, noise in electronic circuits, digital logic and microcontrollers. Students gain hands-on experience in designing, building and debugging circuits. Two lectures and one three hour laboratory per week. Concludes with a three-week project in which students design and build an experiment of their choice and present a seminar on the results.
PHYS 4150 - Plasma Physics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Discusses the fundamentals of plasma physics, including particle motion in electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, collisions, diffusion, and resistivity. Presents examples from space plasmas, astrophysical plasmas, laboratory fusion plasmas, and plasmas in accelerators.
PHYS 5150 - Introductory Plasma Physics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022
Includes basic phenomena of ionized gases, static and dynamic shielding, linear waves, instabilities, particles in fields, collisional phenomena, fluid equations, collisionless Boltzman equations, Landau damping, scattering and absorption of radiation in plasmas, elementary nonlinear processes, WKB wave theory, controlled thermonuclear fusion concepts, astrophysical applications and experimental plasma physics (laboratory). Department enforced prerequisite: PHYS 3310. Instructor consent required for undergraduates. Same as ASTR 5150.
PHYS 6950 - Master's Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2024
Approved problem in theoretical or experimental physics under the direction of staff members. Intended to introduce the student to procedures in research and development work. Work of an original nature expected.
