| Instructor | Renate Wackerbauer, Office Location: REIC 106 phone: 474-6108 e-mail: rawackerbauer@alaska.edu | ||||||||||
| Open office hours | Walk-ins are very welcome; appointments help; email is effective for straight-forward questions. | ||||||||||
| Course info | Phys651, 3 credits | ||||||||||
| Prerequisites | graduate standing or instructor's permission | ||||||||||
| Lectures | MWF 13:00 to 14:00 pm, REIC 138. The lectures will explore in depth material presented in the text. | ||||||||||
| Noyes Lab | Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (Rm 101 REIC is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in. | ||||||||||
| Text |
Required text: Supplementary readings: There are many books on quantum mechanics in the library that almost all cover the material presented in the lectures. Please explore them to see different approaches to our topics. | ||||||||||
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Course Content |
This course provides an introduction into quantum mechanics at the graduate level. We will cover the postulates of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation, one-dimensional problems, the harmonic oscillator and supersymmetric quantum theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty relations, symmetries and consequences, Qm in 3-dimensions, angular momentum, spin, addition of angular momenta, the Hydrogen atom | ||||||||||
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Homework |
Homework will be assigned weekly and will be due by 4:00 pm on the following Friday, unless explicitly altered at the time of assignment. Late homework will not be accepted. Finished homework should be placed in the designated box in the main office of the Physics Department. Homework assignments and solutions will be posted in the glass case in the Physics Department hallway. I HIGHLY appreciate it if you RECYCLE paper for your homeworks! | ||||||||||
| Paper, Presentation | Explore the fun and "strange world" of quantum mechanics! Explore a
topic related to this course on your own. This can be an application of
quantum mechanics in medicine, in nanotechnology, in engineering, etc.
Spectroscopy in astrophysics, chemistry, ...It also can be on a dilemma
of classical physics or old quantum physics, but at a more advanced level
than you have had in your introductory physics classes. It can also be on
Bell's theorem, the EPR experiment, or quantum computation; many other
topics are possible, follow your own interest. This topic will be explored
by you in a paper and an oral presentation. A good way to get started is
to browse through "physics today" to find an interesting article on
quantum mechanics that you will prepare such that the class can
understand. The project needs to be based on a published paper or
advanced text book, online sources like Wikipedia are not allowed.
Paper:It should be written for people with a background in physics, like an article in "physics today". It should consist of 8 pages (11pt, standard margins and spacing), including introduction, classical mechanics background, detailed exploration of the topic with pictures and formulas, brief summary, and about 3-5 references. The topic should be discussed with the instructor, and is due Oct 1; an outline of the paper is due on Oct 15, and the paper is due Nov 26. The project needs to be turned in as a HARD COPY and as PDF file. The grade is determined from physics (60%) and style (40%) of the paper. The physics part includes correct physics, level covered, how explained, how introduced, understanding, terms defined. The style part includes organization and structure, title, references given, figures referenced, good to read. Presentation: The paper will be presented to the class in a 15 minutes presentation the week before finals. The presentation needs to be turned in as a pdf-file, at latest the day after presentation. The grade is determined from clarity of presentation (50%) and content (50%). The clarity of presentation includes board/transparency use, clarity of writing/slides, references used, blocking board/screen, speaking clearly and loud, speed of speech, facing class and eye contact, dealing with questions. The content includes appropriate level, enough details, terms introduced before used, correct physics, how explained. | ||||||||||
| Examinations | A one-hour in-term examinations and a two hour final examination will
be held during the semester. In-term exams will be held in the classroom.
The exams will be closed books and closed notes.
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| Grading | The maximum score for each homework will be 100 points. A solution
(homework, exam) that presents nothing more than a restatement of the
problem will receive zero credit. Credit will be given for clarity of
presentation, illegible work will not be graded. Grades
A - D (including +/-) are assigned equal weight for total credits between
40% and 100% unless otherwise noted. So A+ (>95), A (>90), A-
(>85), B+ (>80), B (>75), B- (>70), C+ (>65), C (>60),
C- (>55), etc. A total score below 40% results in an F. For
the final grade homework, exams, etc. will be weighted as follows:
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| Course policies | Attendance at lectures is expected. Active class participation, questions, comments on newspaper articles on modern physics are extremely welcome in the lectures. A missed exam will receive 0 credit unless the instructor is notified by email, phone, etc before the exam starts. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled with the student. | ||||||||||
| Student Obligations | As students of UAF, you are bound by the policies and regulations of the University of Alaska, UAF rules and procedures, and the Student Honor Code. You are obligated to make yourselves familiar with all conditions presented in the UAF Catalog. Plagiarism on homework, or on exam, or on presentation or on paper will result in a failing grade. | ||||||||||
| Disabilities Services | The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. If you have any kind of disability, please ensure that you go to the disabilities services program coordinator. I will work with the office of disabilities services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. |
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