PHYSICS M122 · PHYS M122Introduction to Plasmas in the Laboratory, Space, and Engineering
Physics · 4 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)
(Same as Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences M156 and Electrical and Computer Engineering M185.) Senior-level introductory course on electrodynamics of charged particles and their collective behavior in plasmas in laboratory, near-Earth space, and astrophysical settings. Covers selected applications taken from fusion energy, space weather, materials processing, generation of coherent radiation, and particle accelerators.
Letter grading.
When it runs
Not on the schedule for any of Fall 2025 through Spring 2027. UCLA publishes only that window, so this does not mean the course is gone — check the official listing.
Requisites
Official UCLA wording
Requisites: Physics 1A, 1B, and 1C (may be taken concurrently).
BruinTree reads · Prerequisite
confidence 1.00 · from UCLA’s structured dataRequires
Everything that has to come before this course, not just the courses named in the requisite above.
PHYSICS M122
- PHYSICS 1APhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics
- PHYSICS 1BPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields
- MATH 32BCalculus of Several Variables
- PHYSICS 1CPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Electrodynamics, Optics, and Special Relativity
- PHYSICS 1BPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fieldsanother path to it
- MATH 33ALinear Algebra and Applications
3 direct requisites. Showing 22 courses over 3 levels; the branches marked with a count carry on past it. Every course here opens its own tree.
Unlocks
What this course is a requisite for, and what those courses lead to in turn.
PHYSICS M122
- EC ENGR 285APlasma Waves and Instabilities
- EC ENGR 285BAdvanced Plasma Waves and Instabilities
1 course lists this as a requisite. The whole downstream is here — 2 courses over 2 levels. Every course here opens its own tree.