Physics 486 Quantum Mechanics Spring Semester
Class Hours: MWF
12:
Classroom: Science 21
Instructor: Jeff E. Johnson
Office: 17A Science Hall
Office Hours: As posted
Phone: 330-1070
(
Text: Quantum Mechanics (second edition) Goswami
Prerequisites: Modern Physics, Mechanics I, Concurrent registration in E&M I and II is strongly recommended.
Summary of the
Course: The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the
foundations of Quantum Mechanics. We
will also discuss the philosophical implications of this rather non-intuitive
subject. Although Quantum Mechanics when
combined with relativity and electricity and magnetism (QED, Quantum
Electrodynamics) is the most accurate theory yet devised by humankind, we still
understand very little of what it really means.
There is said to be three stages a student goes through when attempting
to learn Quantum Mechanics: (1) I do not understand Quantum Mechanics, (2) I
can do Quantum Mechanics, (3) I do not understand Quantum Mechanics. This difficulty in understanding Quantum
Mechanics is perhaps not too surprising since unlike
Tentative Schedule:
Note: Normally, this would be a yearlong
course. Because we only have one
semester, I will only cover the main ideas of Quantum Mechanics. Therefore, some chapters may be lightly touched
on or omitted. Also, note
that
we may use some chapters in Gasiorowicz (see below) instead of Goswami if the former gives a
better presentation. Goswami’s and
Gasiorwicz’s texts are very similar.
Topic Text
1. Motivation for QM,
Bohr Atom,
Uncertainty Principle Chapters 1,2, Lecture notes
2. Schrodinger
Equation, Postulates of QM Chapter 3
3. One Dimensional
Solutions Chapter 4
4. Heisenberg-Bohr Microscope Chapter
5 (Bits of this will be presented throughout the course)
6. Harmonic
Oscillator Chapter 7(will
not do matrix method)
7. Equations of
Motion Chapter 8
(might be done at end)
8. Two Particle
Systems Chapter 9
9.
10. Angular Momentum Chapter 11 (probably
will use Gasiorowicz)
11. Motion in a
Central Potential Chapter 12 (probably
will use Gasiorowicz)
12. Hydrogen Atom Chapter 13
(probably will use Gasiorowicz)
13. Time Independent Perturbation Theory Chapter 18 (probably
will use
Gasiorowicz)
14. Electrons in EM
Field Chapter
14 (probably will use Gasiorowicz)
15. Basic Idea of Spin Mainly
lecture notes. Optional
class if you really want to know!
16. Helium Atom ,Ritz Variational method Chapter 19
17. Structure of Atoms (periodic table) Chapter 20
(probably will use Gasirowicz)
18. Numerical
Solution to Schrodinger’s Equation Lecture
notes, optional extra class
if there is interest.
19. The Meaning of Quantum Mechanics? Lecture
notes and handouts.
Grading:
There will be three semester exams and one comprehensive final exam. The semester exams
will be held during the fourth, eighth, and twelfth weeks of the semester. Assigned homework
problems will also count towards your final grade. The weighting of the above components is as
follows:
Component: Percent of Grade:
Homework 20%
3 exams 45%
Final (Comprehensive) 35%
Recommended Reserve books:
Quantum Physics, R. Eisberg and Resnick
Quantum Physics by Stephen Gasiorowicz, second edition