PHYS 711 - Fall 2012


This is the first semester of graduate Quantum Mechanics. Prerequisites for this course are knowledge of undergraduate quantum mechanics and linear algebra. Some of the topics will be familiar to you, but we will cover the material in more detail.

Instructor:
Matthias Schindler
PSC 403
(803) 777-6089
schindler@sc.edu

Class meeting times and location:
TTh 9:30am – 10:45am, PSC 409

Office hours:
Wednesday 1:30pm – 3:00pm and by appointment

Learning objectives:
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to identify the appropriate concepts to analyze problems  in quantum mechanics.
  • Students will demonstrate the use of physical laws to solve quantitative problems.
  • Specific concepts that students will be expected to demonstrate facility with include but are not limited to: quantum dynamics, angular momentum, symmetries, approximation methods.
  • Students will apply these concepts to a wide range of phenomena that may include topics from: the real hydrogen atom, neutrino oscillations, scattering, parity and time reversal.
Textbook:
"Modern Quantum Mechanics" by J.J. Sakurai/J. Napolitano (second edition)
Other recommended books are “Principles of Quantum Mechanics” by R. Shankar and “Quantum Mechanics” by E. Merzbacher. These (and a previous edition of the Sakurai book) are on reserve at the library. You might also want to consult you undergraduate textbooks.


Final exam:
Monday, December 10, 9:00am – 11:30am

Midwest exam:
Tuesday, October 9, 9:30am

Homework:
Homework problem sets will be assigned weekly. You will have approximately one week to complete the assignments. You are free to discuss problems with other students, but the work you turn in has to be your own work.

Grading:
Homework
 50%
Midterm exam
 25%
Final exam
 25%


Reading assignments:
It is recommended that you read the corresponding chapters in the textbook prior to class. Note that the textbook is not a substitute for the lecture and vice versa.

Course Calendar:
Week of
 Chapter
 Topics
Aug 20
 1
 Introduction, Mathematical methods
Aug 27
 1
 Mathematical methods
Sep 3
 2
 Quantum dynamics and the Schroedinger eq.
Sep 10
 2
 Schroedinger eq.
Sep 17
 2
 Harmonic oscillator, coherent states
Sep 24
 B3
 Transmission and reflection
Oct 1
 2
 Propagators and Feynman path integrals
Oct 8
Midterm, Oct 9
Oct 15
 4
 Symmetries in QM
Fall Break, Oct 18
Oct 22
 4
 Parity, time reversal
Oct 29
 3
 Angular momentum
Nov 5
 3
 Angular momentum
Election Day, Nov 6
Nov 12
 5
 Approximation methods
Nov 19
 5
 Approximation methods
Thanksgiving, Nov 22
Nov 26
The real hydrogen atom
Dec 3
Review
Dec 10
Final exam


Note that this is a tentative schedule and that it is subject to change depending on progress in class.

Policies and procedures:

Academic integrity: The policies governing academic integrity are clearly articulated by the University of South Carolina. Students should carefully review the policies outlined in the Honor Code. Instances of suspected violation will be reported. In particular, copying homework constitutes cheating and will be reported.

Classroom behavior: Please be respectful of others. In particular, cell phones and pagers have to be turned off or silenced during class.

Missed exams: Makeup exams will only be permitted with the previous approval of the instructor for valid and documented reasons. Students who are absent without approval will be assigned a grade of F for the exam.