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.