* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Physics PHYS 356 Spring Semester 2013 Quantum Mechanics (4 credit hours)
Density matrix wikipedia , lookup
Theoretical and experimental justification for the Schrödinger equation wikipedia , lookup
Matter wave wikipedia , lookup
Quantum electrodynamics wikipedia , lookup
Wave–particle duality wikipedia , lookup
Quantum dot wikipedia , lookup
Quantum field theory wikipedia , lookup
Coherent states wikipedia , lookup
Measurement in quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Renormalization group wikipedia , lookup
Double-slit experiment wikipedia , lookup
Particle in a box wikipedia , lookup
Bell test experiments wikipedia , lookup
Relativistic quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Path integral formulation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum entanglement wikipedia , lookup
Bohr–Einstein debates wikipedia , lookup
Quantum fiction wikipedia , lookup
Orchestrated objective reduction wikipedia , lookup
Quantum computing wikipedia , lookup
Many-worlds interpretation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum machine learning wikipedia , lookup
Quantum teleportation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum group wikipedia , lookup
History of quantum field theory wikipedia , lookup
Copenhagen interpretation wikipedia , lookup
Bell's theorem wikipedia , lookup
Quantum key distribution wikipedia , lookup
Hydrogen atom wikipedia , lookup
Symmetry in quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Canonical quantization wikipedia , lookup
Quantum state wikipedia , lookup
EPR paradox wikipedia , lookup
Physics PHYS 356 Quantum Mechanics Spring Semester 2013 (4 credit hours) INFORMATION SHEET Instructor: Office Hours: Schedule: Prof. Mark Yuly Lecture MTWTF MWF Rm. P106 1:00 – 2:00 PM 7:45 – 8:50 AM 567-9282 Rm. P106 Rm. P118 "There are things which seem incredible to most men who have not studied mathematics." -- Aristotle "If quantum mechanics hasn't profoundly shocked you, you haven't understood it yet." -- Neils Bohr Objectives: In this class I would like for you to develop a “quantum worldview” – by which I mean that I would like to re-examine some of the concepts that you have previously, in classes like classical mechanics and electricity and magnetism, held as starting assumptions. In doing this, you will need to learn a new mathematical formalism for describing physical phenomena. I know I certainly would not have designed the universe to work this way! I hope you will see in this class, demonstrated from His creation, that God’s thoughts are much more rich, complex and beautiful than those of any man. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Learning Outcomes: The objectives listed above I hope will be evidenced by the following outcomes: 1. to be familiar with the “axioms” of quantum mechanics, their implications, and to be able to apply them qualitatively to a variety of physical systems. 2. to be able to analyze quantitatively simple quantum spin systems similar to the Stern Gerlach experiment. 3. to understand the relationship between the matrix and wave formulations of quantum mechanics, and to work with confidence using either technique. 4. to be able to solve problems dealing with a number of important quantum mechanical topics, namely, the particle in a box, scattering, harmonic oscillators, angular momentum and the hydrogen atom. 5. to understand and be able to use time-independent perturbation theory to find approximate solutions. Text: A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics, Second Edition by John S. Townsend, University Science Books (2012). Attendance: Excessive absence from class will have a detrimental effect on assigned grades. The instructor will decide on a case-by-case basis whether tests can be made-up. Homework: Problem Sets are generally to be turned in before 5:00 PM on the due date. You will find them at http://www.houghton.edu/physics/department-of-physics/coursewebsites/phys-356-quantum-physics/. Late homework will not be accepted. I plan to be very particular about the format of the homework. Sloppy or disorganized work will not be accepted. I will expect the following rules to be followed: 1. Use only one side of your paper. 2. Each new problem is to begin on a new sheet. 3. Copy the problem, in its entirety, at the top of the page, before you begin the solution. 4. Use words to describe each step in the solution. 5. Leave space - do not crowd your work into a tiny area on the page. I will show you some examples of the format I expect you to follow. Exams: There will be three in-class unit tests. There will also be a take-home final examination during the last week of class. Grades: The final grade will represent a weighted average of the scores on the homework (50%), the three in-class unit tests (10%) each, and the comprehensive take-home final examination (20%).