Physics 337 Special Topics: Quantum Mechanics II
Spring 2005
Tuesday, Thursday 10:30 - 11:45, Guion Room 012

"If you are not confused by quantum physics then you haven't really understood it"
- Neils Bohr
"Apparently there is colour, appartently sweetness, apparently bitterness; actually there are only atoms and the void."
- Democritus, 420 B.C.

Course Description
This course is a continuation of Physics 313 Quantum Mechanics. As a continuation of Phys 313, this course is a continuation of an in-depth and mathematical introduction to the theory of quantum mechanics. Emphasis this term is on applications of quantum theory including approximation techniques and the study of more realistic quantum systems. See the tentative course topics list at the end of this syllabus for a list of topics covered.

Course Goals:
Students will increase their conceptual and mathematical understanding of quantum mechanics. Students will further develop their problem solving skills and will also gain more experience and increased ability with the mathematics associated with quantum theory. Simply stated, students will continue to learn to do quantum mechanics.    

Course Objectives:
The student will be able to: 

• Use the mathematical formalism of quantum theory (e.g. operators, generalized uncertainty principle, Dirac notation)
• Use approximation methods (perturbation theory, variational principle, WKB approximation)
• Solve a variety of systems and understand various quantum mechanical effects (fine structure of hydrogen, Zeeman effect, helium atom, hydrogen molecules etc.)
• Effectively communicate problems and their solutions relevant to quantum theory
• Explain the significance of quantum theory in the context of classical physics

From the Sweet Briar Catalogue
PHYS 337 Specal Topics (3) – Quantum Mechanics II
A continuation of PHYS 313, Quantum Mechanics, with emphasis on approximation methods and applications of quantum theory. Topics include time independent perturbation theory, the variational principle, the WKB approximation, time dependent perturbation theory, and other applications topics as time allows.

Communication:
Please consult the web page for class announcements, homework assignments, and other useful information.  You are responsible for checking the web page for updates.  Not all announcements will be made in class.

Feel free to call or stop by my office regardless of office hours.    I tend to check my voicemail and email frequently, so if I am not around, I will get in touch with you as soon as possible. One of the benefits of going to a small college like Sweet Briar is the opportunity to get personalized attention from your professors, take advantage of this in all your courses.

Text: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, David J. Griffiths, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall.
We will cover parts of chapters 5-9. The text we are using is a classic for this type of course. However, there are many other excellent texts on QM, including:
Quantum Physics, Stephen Gasiorowicz, 3rd edition, Wiley (also a popular text for a junior/senior level course, I added this one this term)
Understanding Quantum Physics - A User's Manual, Michael A. Morrison, Prentice Hall (very user friendly)
Introductory Quantum Mechanics, Richard L. Liboff, Addison Wesley
Quantum Mechanics, Eugen Merzbacher, Wiley (one of the more widely used texts for QM in physics graduate school)
Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles, Robert Eisberg and Robert Resnick, Wiley

I will assume you have access to a mathematical handbook of some sort.  The following are very good:
CRC Standard Mathematical Tables, William H. Beyer, CRC Press.
Tables of Integrals, Series, and Products, I.S. Gradshteyn and I.M. Ryzhik, Academic Press 
Schaum's Outlines Mathematical Handbook, M.R. Spiegel, McGraw Hill

Prerequisite Knowledge:
It is assumed you have a working knowledge of the material from: Math Methods, Modern Physics, Quantum Mechanics and three semesters of General Physics, and Calculus II & III.

Preparation:
This course is the second term of one of the "big three" fundamental junior/senior level physics courses (the other two are Electricity and Magnetism and Classical Mechanics). As such, I expect you to invest the appropriate amount of time for this course. I expect you to come to class well prepared and ready to work. Assume that I may give you a short quiz at any time to help motivate you to be prepared for class.  You are expected to diligently apply yourself, since it is for your future that you are working.

Attendance:
Attendance, timeliness, and participation are critical to the learning process and an integral part of this course.  Being late to class is disrespectful to your classmates and to your professor (not to mention irritating).   Missing class will make learning the material difficult, as some of what you get out of this course will come from discussion in class with your peers.  I reserve the right to take points off your grade for lateness or lack of in class activity.

Grades

Homework Sets and Project:
Successful completion of homework sets is an extremely important part of this course. Homework will generally be assigned every Friday and will be due the following Friday (by noon). HW will consist of problems from the text and problems I assign (or from other texts). The number of problems will likely vary because of difficulty. Just as one would practice a sport to get good at it, one must practice math and physics; the HW is your chance to do this. HW is due by the beginning of class on Thursday. Late HW will be penalized severely but most likely will not be accepted at all. See Assignments/Schedule  page.

I encourage you to work with your peers on the HW. Conversations with your classmates are an excellent way to learn. However, this does not mean you should copy homework.  One rule to go by when working with classmates: if you don't understand what you are writing down, don't turn it in.  

In addition to getting homework problems correct, it is your job as a physicist or engineer to communicate effectively how you solved the problem. This may mean using words to describe what you are doing instead of simply writing down equations. This also means being organized. It is best to do a problem and then transcribe your solution in a neat form to another piece of paper. I reserve the right to take points off your HW (even when fully correct!) for messy solutions. Solutions where your answer does not follow from the steps (or lack of steps) you have given will receive NO CREDIT. This is intellectually dishonest and will not be tolerated.

The project component of this course may take many forms. You may read and write a summary of a journal article on quantum mechanics (a good place to look is in the American Journal of Physics). You may attempt a particularly difficult problem from the text (a three star problem) and then write a paper on your solution. You may write a computer program associated with quantum mechanics and write a paper on the results.

Tests, Short Quizzes, and Final:
There will be two tests plus a cumulative final.  We will also have a relatively quick quiz almost every week. Expect to have a short quiz on days that HW is not due. These quizzes may be announced or unannounced and will most likely be based on readings and in class lecture/discussion.  Tests may have an in class and out of class section.

The following is a tentative topics list and timetable for this course. For current timetable assignments/schedule.

back to Quantum Mechanics II, Spring 2005
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last updated 1/18/2005