The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University offers a suite of on-line courses and degree programs in Beam Physics. Courses are broad- cast via Internet & ISDN or are interactive and self paced. They cover an introduction to beam physics as well as various advanced topics. A combination of VUBeam courses, courses offered by the US Particle Accelerator School, courses taken in residence at MSU, transferred credit, and thesis work, allow to earn a Master's or Ph.D. Degree in Physics.

Interactive, web-based course part of the VUBeam Program, MSU's Virtual University Beam Physics courses and degree programs.

Topics: Ion Sources, Methods of Acceleration, Storage of Charged Particles, Magnet Design, Motion and Transfer Maps, Transfer Matrices and Aberrations, Fields and Potentials, Beamline Modules, Particle Optical Devices.

Degree requirement

· Admission, requiring application form with CV and letter of intent, three letters of reference, transcripts. All applications materials should be sent directly to Prof. Martin Berz, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.  · A total of 30 credits, of which up to 9 can be transferred from accredited universities.  · At least 16 credits at graduate level, the remainder can be upper division undergraduate.  · Passing of a departmental placement exam for incoming graduate students at the Master's or Ph.D. level, respectively; can be administered remotely.  · Passing of the departmental subject exams in four core areas of Physics (Ph.D. only); can be administered remotely.  · Completion of a dissertation under the guidance of MSU faculty and/or mutually agreeable external mentors (Ph.D. only) and a conventional MSU Physics and Astronomy guidance committee at a suitable laboratory.

Topics: Hamiltonian dynamics in curvilinear coordinates, transfer maps, perturbation theories, elements maps, aberrations, tracking, differential algebraic methods, normal forms.

Topics: Live videoconference presentations from sites of major accelerator sites outlining the properties and purposes of the respective devices. Included are Tevatron, LHC, RHIC, CEBAF, Hera, NLC, Muon Colliders, and many others.

Special topics in Beam Physics, arranged by mutual interest. Independent Study in Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics.

To register for a course, please visit http://vubeam.pa.msu.edu/register.html. Students that are enrolled as degree candidates, should also enroll through the regular MSU computer or telephone enrollment system

· Some financial aid is available for students regularly enrolled at an accredited US university or foreign universities. For information, see http://vubeam.pa.msu.edu/register.html. 

· The Virtual University Beam Physics Tuition Fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis; for more information, see http://vubeam.pa.msu.edu/register.html.

· Teaching- or Research Assistantships during any period of residency at MSU are awarded on a competitive basis.

· Participants from the Big Ten Universities and the University of Chicago can formally register for the course through the CIC Traveling Scholars program.

New Topics:  Neutrino Factories and Muon Colliders                      

Recent seminars:  Muon Collider & Neutrino Factory Studies  by  Dr. Bob Palmer, Brookhaven Natl. Lab 

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824

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