The instructor of this course embodies warmth and kindness, seamlessly merging profound subject matter expertise with a genuinely approachable demeanor. His intellectual acumen is matched by his remarkable accessibility; he is exceptionally willing to assist students during office hours, demonstrating an openness to engage even beyond scheduled times. My frequent visits to his office, even outside the office hours, for discussions on a wide array of topics—from the nuances of course material to the broader vistas of theoretical physics—have likely made me a recognizable figure, as I've eagerly seized these opportunities for in-depth dialogue outside the traditional classroom setting. This consistent engagement has fostered a distinct student-teacher rapport, to the point where the instructor might well recognize me due to my regular use of office hours, a testament to their immense value.

The course, complex analysis, presents inherent challenges that the instructor tackled with skill and clarity, employing an engaging teaching style to illuminate complex concepts and significantly enhance my mathematical toolkit within physics. His strategic use of examples solidified my understanding, and his readiness to clarify any confusions during office hours was pivotal in demystifying the subject. The assignments and exams, thoughtfully crafted, struck a balance between fairness and rigor, with the instructor's adeptness at elucidating difficult concepts ensuring thorough preparation.

Despite these strengths, the course's progression was not without its challenges, particularly due to the constraints of the quarter system. This accelerated schedule, especially noticeable in the latter half of the term, slightly detracted from the learning experience, underscoring that the quarter system may not be the most conducive framework for such a complex subject. This is no reflection on the instructor's efforts, which remained commendable throughout, but rather an inherent limitation of the academic calendar.

Moreover, the lecture notes emerged as a crucial resource, often more relevant and insightful than the textbook, especially for exam preparation, underscoring the instructor's dedication to providing accessible and effective study materials.

Beyond his educational prowess, the instructor's affable nature fostered a classroom atmosphere filled with humor and engagement, making the learning journey both enjoyable and impactful. The lenient grading policy further contributed to a positive classroom experience.

This course, under the stewardship of such a dedicated and capable instructor, has been an enriching academic endeavor. Despite the challenges posed by the quarter system, the instructor's expertise, coupled with his approachable and supportive demeanor, makes this course highly recommendable to peers seeking both academic rigor and an engaging learning environment.

Overall a very nice class, but really poorly taught...
Dr. Solon does not show a lot of interest in teaching in an interactive or engaging way, but seems way more interested in his research, which makes sense considering he is an assistant professor.
The material was hard, but followable through textbooks or independent study. Class was a joke, at least to me... like you are taking a math class.. which takes the whole fun out of it. Connections to physics were never made, or never even implied. That is a pity considering he is a theoretical physicist whose intuition on the nature of theory can probably offer exciting insights on the standing of physics as a whole.
That's really not the problem though, as connections to physics can be made independently. The problem is Solon's complete lack of enthusiasm or appetite to teach... like complete.
I enjoyed the material, and the independent learning of mathematical aspects of physics and the derived straightforwardness in exams (no unusual unintuitive concepts or questions that arise in SR or QM), which led me to an A.
But his lectures were just awful, I ended up not going and teaching myself the class lol (funny considering that class costs 1k /4k $ for CApeople/internationals)
I would stay away from this research-oriented professor, as other mathematically oriented physics professors show WAY more enthusiasm and interest in teaching...