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Physics
Selector: Mary Foppiani
GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION
The undergraduate and
graduate programs offered by the Physics
Department of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) cover the varied aspects
of both experimental and theoretical physics. To support these programs
of study, the library's collections attempt to cover subjects up to
the research level, including all major source materials, reference
works, monographs, and journals. Beyond this level, materials on optics,
quantum physics, condensed-matter theory, and high-energy physics
are acquired to support current scholarship and ongoing investigations.
Acquisitions in the areas of atomic and nuclear physics are made on
a selective and representative basis only. Additionally, materials
on theoretical and experimental approaches to the field, on statistical
physics, on molecular biophysics, and on the philosophical foundations
and history of physics are selectively acquired to provide representative
coverage of interdisciplinary and methodological concerns in the field.The Department of Physics offers programs of study leading to BA, MA, and PhD degrees. As well, the Department of Physics at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics of the Boston University School of Medicine offer a joint PhD program in cellular biophysics.
Areas of research for the 37 faculty and 115 graduate students within the department include: surface physics, polymers, high-energy and medium-energy particle physics, laser theory, solid-state physics, superconductivity, computational physics, statistical mechanics, field theory and relativity, statistical physics, molecular and experimental biophysics, magnetism, low-temperature physics, theoretical particle physics and cosmology, biophysics, surface physics, nano-optics and nanoscale science, astrophysics, neutrinos, and condensed-matter physics.
In addition to direct support for the Physics Department, the Physics collection also supports the work being done in related Research Centers. Faculty, staff, and students from the Center for Polymer Studies, the Photonics Center, the Center for Computational Science, the Center for Nanoscience and Nanobiotechnology, the Center for Space Physics, the Institute for Astrophysical Research, and the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies are regular users of physics materials.
SCOPE OF COVERAGE
1. Languages collected (primary and selective) or excluded: English language works are primarily collected. Works written in languages other than English are acquired very selectively.
2. Geographical areas covered by the collections in terms of intellectual content, publication sources, or both, and specific areas excluded, as appropriate: There are no geographical limitations in the selection of physics materials. However, emphasis is placed on works published in North America.
3. Chronological periods covered by the collection in terms of intellectual content, movements or schools, and specific periods excluded, as appropriate: Works on the history and philosophy of modern physics are represented in the collection since theoretical physicists often refer to older material.
4. Chronological periods collected in terms of publication dates, and specific periods excluded, as appropriate: Although there are no specific chronological limits, recent materials are generally selected.
GENERAL SUBJECT BOUNDARIES AND LIBRARY LOCATIONS
The subject scope of this collection is primarily determined by the Library of Congress call number range QC. Most items are housed in the Science and Engineering Library. Some older physics materials can be found in Mugar Memorial Library.
| QC 1-999 | Physics |
| Z 7141-7145 | Physics Bibliography |
| Z 8001-8999 | Personal Bibliography
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RELATED SUBJECTS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RELATIONSHIPS
Interdisciplinary in nature, the Physics collection may support
related work in other departments. Therefore, consultation with
other selectors occurs in the following disciplines:
Astronomy: The Astronomy Selector collects works on astrophysics,
cosmology, and space plasmas.
Biology: Works on biophysics are generally acquired by the Biology
Selector.
Chemistry: Materials on spectroscopy and polymers are collected
by the Chemistry Selector.
Earth Science: The Physics Selector may collect works on geophysics
and geomagnetism.
Engineering: Both the Physics and Engineering Selectors acquire
works on lasers, optics, photonics, acoustics, electromagnetic theory,
classical and statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics.
Mathematics: Materials on mathematical and computational physics
may be collected by either the Physics or Mathematics Selector.
TYPES
OF MATERIALS
Collected: Monographs, periodicals, and reference materials including indexes and abstracts, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, bibliographies, and handbooks.
Collected Selectively: Electronic resources, textbooks, popular works; and proceedings from conferences, symposia, and workshops.
Not Collected: Patents, newsletters, preprints, and government documents.
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