PHY 399 Quantum Mechanics
Syllabus Spring 2008
Instructor: André Wehner, Olin 111, Ph. 238-5919, e-mail wehner@centre.edu,
Office
Hours: M-W-F:
Class Time:
Text: Introductory Quantum Mechanics 4th ed – Liboff
Grading: 3 tests @ 15% each = 45%
Final 25%
Homework 30%
Tentative grading scale: 90 = A-, 80 = B-, 70 = C-, 60 = D
Course Description
In this course we will explore the fascinating world of
quantum mechanics, the beautiful and strange physical theory that describes
nature at very small scales. We will start by reviewing the experimental
evidence that led to the development of the early quantum theory (Ch. 2) and
then formally develop quantum mechanics from its basic postulates and sharpen
the required mathematical tools as we move along (Ch. 3-6). We will study
several examples of a single particle in a one-dimensional potential which
encapsulate the major features of the theory, including barrier transmission,
particle in a box, and the harmonic oscillator (Ch. 7-8). We will extend our
studies to three dimensions including the study of of orbital and spin angular
momentum concluding with the solution for the hydrogen atom (Ch. 9-10). As none
but the simplest problems can be solved exactly in an analytical fashion, these
applications will also necessitate the study of various approximation schemes.
Thus, we will introduce perturbation theory, a technique for finding
approximate solutions to problems which cannot be solved exactly (
Schedule
|
Day |
Chapter Covered |
Homework |
|
|
|
|
|
2/1 |
1 |
Ch. 1: 14-16, 20 |
|
2/4 |
2 |
Ch. 2: 1, 3, 4, 19, 23, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34 |
|
2/6 |
3 |
Ch. 3: 1-3, 6-8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 |
|
2/8 |
3 |
|
|
2/11 |
3 |
|
|
2/13 |
4 |
|
|
2/15 |
4 |
|
|
2/18 |
4 |
|
|
2/20 |
5 |
Ch. 5: 2, 5, 9, 13, 15-17, 22-25, 28, 30, 33, 35, 36, |
|
2/22 |
5 |
40, 44, 49, 52, 54 |
|
2/25 |
5 |
|
|
2/27 |
Test 1 |
|
|
2/29 |
6 |
Ch. 6: 1, 2, 6-9, 11, 13, 16, 18-21, 23, 29, 32, 33 |
|
3/3 |
6 |
|
|
3/5 |
6 |
|
|
3/7 |
7 |
Ch. 7: 1, 5-7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 7-21, 28, 29, 31, 32, |
|
3/10 |
7 |
43, 44, 64, 65, 80-83 |
|
3/12 |
7 |
|
|
3/14 |
7 |
|
|
3/24 |
7 |
|
|
3/26 |
8 |
Ch.8.1: 1, 2, 7 |
|
3/28 |
8 |
|
|
3/31 |
Test 2 |
|
|
4/2 |
9 |
Ch. 9: 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 15, 18-21, 23, 31, 32, 34, 35, |
|
4/4 |
9 |
38-40, 45, 46, 49, 51, 54 |
|
4/7 |
9 |
|
|
4/9 |
9 |
|
|
4/11 |
9 |
|
|
4/14 |
10 |
Ch. 10: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 18, 23, 24, 29, 30, 33, 34, 37, |
|
4/16 |
10 |
38, 50, 56, 58 |
|
4/18 |
10 |
|
|
4/21 |
10 |
|
|
4/23 |
13 |
Ch. 13: 1, 2, 4, 12 |
|
4/25 |
13 |
|
|
4/28 |
Test 3 |
|
|
4/30 |
15 |
|
|
5/2 |
15 |
|
|
5/5 |
|
|
|
5/7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/?? |
Final (comprehensive) |
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