* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download phys_syllabi_411-511.pdf
De Broglie–Bohm theory wikipedia , lookup
Spin (physics) wikipedia , lookup
Bra–ket notation wikipedia , lookup
Basil Hiley wikipedia , lookup
Ensemble interpretation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum computing wikipedia , lookup
Quantum electrodynamics wikipedia , lookup
Renormalization wikipedia , lookup
Quantum fiction wikipedia , lookup
Scalar field theory wikipedia , lookup
Bell test experiments wikipedia , lookup
Measurement in quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Probability amplitude wikipedia , lookup
Orchestrated objective reduction wikipedia , lookup
Quantum machine learning wikipedia , lookup
Density matrix wikipedia , lookup
Schrödinger equation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum field theory wikipedia , lookup
Dirac equation wikipedia , lookup
Double-slit experiment wikipedia , lookup
Quantum key distribution wikipedia , lookup
Particle in a box wikipedia , lookup
Wave function wikipedia , lookup
Quantum entanglement wikipedia , lookup
Renormalization group wikipedia , lookup
Many-worlds interpretation wikipedia , lookup
Coherent states wikipedia , lookup
Quantum teleportation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum group wikipedia , lookup
Erwin Schrödinger wikipedia , lookup
Wave–particle duality wikipedia , lookup
Hydrogen atom wikipedia , lookup
Theoretical and experimental justification for the Schrödinger equation wikipedia , lookup
Bohr–Einstein debates wikipedia , lookup
Bell's theorem wikipedia , lookup
Matter wave wikipedia , lookup
History of quantum field theory wikipedia , lookup
Path integral formulation wikipedia , lookup
Copenhagen interpretation wikipedia , lookup
Quantum state wikipedia , lookup
EPR paradox wikipedia , lookup
Interpretations of quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Relativistic quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Symmetry in quantum mechanics wikipedia , lookup
Marija Drndic Fall 2006 Physics 411: Quantum Mechanics I This course is an introduction to the behavior of matter from a microscopic point of view. Schrödinger’s Wave Mechanics will be introduced and used to describe the influence of potential fields on the motion of a particle. After exploring Schrödinger’s Equation through many useful examples, our focus will shift to Heisenberg’s Matrix Mechanics and Dirac’s Formalism. Specific topics will include quantum uncertainty, level structure, spin, operators, and symmetry. Topics to be covered: 1. Pre-history: Einstein’s Quanta, de Broglie’s Postulate, Bohr’s Atom. 2. Particles and Waves: Analogy between Classical Mechanics and Geometrical Optics. 3. Schrödinger’s Equation & the Wave-function, _. 4. Born’s Interpretation of _: probability density, expectation values, “states” as eigenfunctions, “observables” as eigenvalues. 5. Particle motion without forces: the free particle, a particle confined to a box, tunneling. 6. Particle motion in a field of force: simple harmonic oscillator (SHO), SHO in an electric field. 7. The evolution of a quantum state in time. 8. Momentum Space vs. Coordinate Space: Fourier Transformations, uncertainty, commutators. 9. Schrödinger’s Equation revisited: operator representation of energy conservation. 10. The Hydrogen Atom: 1st encounter. 11. Angular momentum: generators of rotation, Lie Algebras. 12. Spin: Stern-Gerlach Experiment, Pauli’s Matrices, SU(2) representation. 13. Hilbert Space: Heisenberg’s Matrix Mechanics & Dirac’s Formalism, properties of Hermitian matrices. 14. SHO revisited: algebraic solution, raising/lowering operators. 15. Is Quantum Mechanics Complete?: Einstein vs. Bohr, Hidden Variables, Bell’s Inequality & Aspect’s Measurement. Prerequisites: Classical Mechanics, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra. Course Times: MWF 11-12 in DRL 3C2. (Office hours: TBA; additional one hour problem solving session/office hours by TA) Main Text: “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics”, by Griffiths. Available at the Penn bookstore. Supplementary Texts: (*cheap Dover Publishing version available at http://store.doverpublications.com/) “A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics”, by Townsend. (commonly used undergraduate text) “Wave Mechanics”, by Pauli.* (terse review of QM by one of its creators). “The Feynman Lectures on Physics: Vol. III”, by Feynman. (a must for any serious student of physics) Additional Reading: “Sources of Quantum Mechanics”, Edited by van der Waerden.* (collection of early papers) “The Physical Principles of the Quantum Theory”, by Heisenberg.* (thoughts from one of the masters) “Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics”, by Weyl.* (classic text) “Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics”, by Bell. (discussion of the “Foundations of QM”) “Quantum Paradoxes”, by Ahranov and Rohrlich. (excellent treatment of the “weirdness” of QM) Web Resources: “Eric Weisstein’s World of Physics” http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/ “Wolfram MathWorld” http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ Contact Information: email: [email protected] , office phone: 215-898-5810, office: 2N28. Grader/TA: Michael Fischbein. email: [email protected]. Assignments & Grading: Homework (40%), In-class mid-term exam (material up to ~ Chapter 2) (20%), Final exam (40%). No late homeworks accepted. The lowest homework score will be dropped.