MAE Graduate Courses
AST 551/MAE 525General Plasma Physics IAn introductory course to plasma physics, with sample applications in fusion, space and astrophysics, semiconductor etching, microwave generation, plasma propulsion, high power laser propagation in plasma; characterization of the plasma state, Debye shielding, plasma and cyclotron frequencies, collision rates and mean-free paths, atomic processes, adiabatic invariance, orbit theory, magnetic confinement of single-charged particles, two-fluid description, magnetohydrodynamic waves and instabilities, heat flow, diffusion, kinetic description, and Landau damping. The course may be taken by undergraduates with permission of the instructor.
ELE 521/MAE 547Linear System TheoryFundamentals of linear system theory. Various topics important for further study in dynamic systems, control and communication and signal processing are presented.
MAE 501/APC 501Mathematical Methods of Engineering Analysis IMethods of mathematical analysis for the solution of problems in physics and engineering. Topics include an introduction to functional analysis, linear analysis & eigenvalue problems for matrices & linear operators, Sturm-Liouville theory, Green's functions for the solution of linear ordinary differential equations and Poisson's equation, and the calculus of variations, and the inverse and implicit function theorems.
MAE 511Experimental Methods IA laboratory course that focuses on basic electronics techniques, digital electronics, and data acquisition and analysis. Topics include introduction to digital and analog electronics, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion, microcomputer sampling, and data analysis. There are approximately four laboratory hours and two lecture hours per week. There is one project.
MAE 521Optics and LasersAn introduction to principles of lasers. Topics include propagation theory, interaction of light and matter, Fourier optics, and a description of operational characteristics of lasers, light scattering, and nonlinear optics.
MAE 527Physics of GasesPhysical and chemical topics of basic importance in modern fluid mechanics, plasma dynamics, and combustion science: statistical calculations of thermodynamic properties of gases; physical equilibria; quantum mechanical analysis of atomic and molecular structure including rotational and vibrational transitions; atomic-scale collision phenomena and excitation and ionization; emission, absorption, and propagation of radiation. Analyses of major greenhouse gases from point of view of molecular absorption and emission properties; discussion of effect of greenhouse gases concentration and disribution on climate equilibria.
MAE 532Combustion TheoryTheoretical aspects of combustion: the conservation equations of chemically-reacting flows; activation energy asymptotics; chemical and dynamic structures of laminar premixed and nonpremixed flames; aerodynamics and stabilization of flames; pattern formation and geometry of flame surfaces; ignition, extinction, and flammability phenomena; turbulent combustion; boundary layer combustion; droplet, particle, and spray combustion; and detonation and flame stabilization in supersonic flows.
MAE 541/APC 571Applied Dynamical SystemsPhase-plane methods and single-degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillators; invariant manifolds, local and global analysis, structural stability and bifurcation, center manifolds, and normal forms; averaging and perturbation methods, forced oscillations, homoclinic orbits, and chaos; Melnikov's method, the Smale horseshoe, symbolic dynamics, and strange attractors.
MAE 542Advanced DynamicsPrinciples and methods for formulating and analyzing mathematical models of physical systems; Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian formulations of particle and rigid and elastic body dynamics; canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory; and integrable and nonintegrable systems. Additional topics are explored at the discretion of the instructor.
MAE 551Fluid MechanicsAn introduction to fluid mechanics. The course explores the development of basic conservation laws in integral and differential form; one-dimensional compressible flows, shocks and expansion waves; effects of energy addition and friction; unsteady and two-dimensional flows and method of characteristics. Reviews classical incompressible flow concepts, including vorticity, circulation, and potential flows. Introduces viscous and diffusive phenomena.
MAE 553Turbulent FlowPhysical and statistical descriptions of turbulence, and a critical review of phenomenological theories for turbulent flows. The course examines scales of motion; correlations and spectra; homogeneous turbulent flows; inhomogeneous shear flows; turbulent flows in pipes and channels; turbulent boundary layers; calculation methods for turbulent flows (Reynolds stress equations, LES, DNS); and current directions in turbulence research. This course is offered in alternate years.
MAE 555Non-Equilibrium Gas DynamicsNon-Continuum description of transport and reactive flow. The course examines molecular collisions, Bolzmann equation, and Chapman-Enskog theory for near-equilibrium transport and flows as well as elementary chemical kinetics, non-equilibrium rarefied gas flow, radiation, and shock wave structure.
MAE 597Graduate Seminar in Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringA seminar of graduate students and staff presenting the results of their research and recent advances in flight, space, and surface transportation; fluid mechanics; energy conversion; propulsion; combustion; environmental studies; applied physics; and materials sciences. There is one seminar per week and participation at presentations by distinguished outside speakers.
MSE 501/MAE 561/CEE 561Introduction to MaterialsEmphasizes the connection between microstructural features of materials and their properties, and how processing conditions control structure. Topics include atomic bonding, crystal structure, thermodynamics, phase diagrams, defects, microstructure, diffusion, phase transformations, nucleation, coarsening, glasses, elastic and plastic deformation, fracture, sol-gel processing, sintering, and composites.
MSE 513/CHM 511/MAE 516Introduction to NanotechnologyThis course will thus cover a broad range of subjects, with particular emphasis on characterization and control of materials at the nanoscale. The focus is on both the techniques necessary for scientific investigations at small dimensions, and the very latest research developments in this rapidly evolving area. Specific topics covered will include fundamentals of nanoscience, processing of nanomaterials, self-assembled nanostructures, bionanotechnology, graphene, nanoelectronics, size-scaling of properties, and nanodevice fabrication and testing. The course will also provide critical practice in scientific writing and presentation.
