Quantum Mechanics
PHY 691
 
Dr. Perry Rice
Room 13 Culler
PHONE:  529-1374
E-MAIL ADDRESS: ricepr@muohio.edu
WEB: http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~ricepr/
Office Hours 10-11 M,T,TH or by appointment
 
2 semester exams               23% each
1 final exam                              23%
Homework                               31%
 
Text: Principles of Quantum Mechanics, by Ramamurti Shankar 2nd Ed.
 
Prerequisites: for 691, Phy 491/591 or equivalent, or instructor permission. This entails wave mechanics at the level of  "Quantum Physics" by Eisberg and Resnick. Additionally, an undergraduate course in mathematical physics and/or partial differential equations.
 
The course will deal with the postulates and mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics, and the applications of quantum mechanics to various physical systems, including the hydrogen atom, simple harmonic oscillators, and two-level atoms. A list of topics is given below.
 
            Review of wave mechanics, Dirac notation, and linear vector spaces (Ch. 1)
            Review of the Hamiltonian formulation of classical mechanics (Ch. 2 )
            Postulates of quantum mechanics ( Ch. 4 )
            Solution of the Schroedinger equation for simple one dimensional potentials (Ch. 5 )
            The simple harmonic oscillator and raising and lowering operators (Ch. 7 )
            The Heisenberg uncertainty relation (Ch. 9)
            Symmetries and their consequences (Ch. 11 )
            Rotational invariance and angular momentum (Ch. 12 )
            The hydrogen atom ( Ch. 13 )
 
Questions are encouraged. Group discussion and even solution of homework problems is encouraged, although each student should write up his solutions in detail in his own words. Due to the length of problems, the exams will usually have an out of class component. Each student is expected to work independently on the tests. Tests and homework are a form of communication. Solutions to problems should start with equations we have discussed in class or in the text, and a logical development should follow. Derivations found in other texts may be followed, but must be cast in terms of the lecture and/or text. If you have any questions about the above, please see me.