Physics 652 - Quantum mechanics - Spring15

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 Phys652, 3 credits
Prerequisites graduate standing or instructor's permission
Lectures MWF 13:00 to 14:00 pm, REIC 207.
The lectures will explore in depth material presented in the text.
Noyes Lab Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (Rm 101 NSCI) is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in.
Text

Required text:
Principles of Quantum Mechanics, by R. Shankar, Springer (2nd edition, 1994).

Supplementary readings:
Lectures on Quantum mechanics, by G. Baym, Benjamin/Cumings (1973)
--graduate level book
Quantum Mechanics, by F. Schwabl, Springer (2001)
--clearly written introduction; good basis for the author's book on advanced quantum mechanics.
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, by Griffiths, Prentice Hall (2nd edition, 2004)
--undergraduate book, excellent for filling some lack in qm
Quantum Physics, by S. Gasiorowicz, John Wiley (1974)
--introductory book on quantum mechanics
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.

Course Content

Tentative course calendar

This course is a continuation of Phys651 (Quantum mechanics I), an introduction into quantum mechanics at the graduate level. We will cover the spin, the addition of angular momenta, WKB approximation, Ritz's principle, time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theories and physical phenomena related to these perturbation theories, scattering theory, and Dirac's equation.

Homework

homework assignments

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 nano-technology, in engineering, in biophysics, 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 though "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 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 6 pages (single column, 11pt, regular (single) line spacing, margins up to 1 inch in either direction),  including title, name, introduction, qm background, detailed exploration of the topic with pictures and formulas. The summary (1.5 pages) is made up of a paragraph "intellectual merits" and a paragraph of "broader impacts", with each of the paragraphs having about the same length. Guidelines on "intellectual merit" and "broader impacts" can be found from the NSF webpage . Several references are expected but do not count towards the 6 pages. The topic should be discussed with the instructor, and is due Feb 4; an outline of the paper is due on Feb 18, and the paper is due April 1. The grade is determined from physics (40%), IM (20%), BI (20%), and style (20%). The physics-, IM-, BI- parts includes correct physics, how explained, appropriate level, correct math, understanding, terms defined. The style part includes organization and structure, english and writing style. Paper needs to be turned in as a hardcopy AND a pdf.
Presentation: The paper will be presented to the class in a 15-20 minutes presentation the week before finals. 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, 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. Presentation needs to be turned in as a pdf-file.
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.
Midterm exam Friday, March 13
Shankar, approx chapt 12-16
Final exam Tuesday, May 5, 1-3pm Shankar, approx chapt 12-20
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 are assigned as follows: A+ (>95%), A (>90%), A- (>85%), B+ (>80%), B (>75%), B- (>70%), C+ (>65%), C (>60%), C- (>55%), D+ (>50%), D (>45%), D- (>40%), else F
For the final grade homeworks, exams, etc. will be weighted as follows
Homework 30%
Presentation 10%
Paper 10%
Midterm 20%
Final exam 30%
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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