Instructor: Prof. Alexei Kananenka, 208 SHL, akanane@udel.edu
Text: R. Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Springer, 1994, 2nd Ed., Corrected printing, 2014.
Also Recommended: J. J. Sakurai, J. Napolitano, Modern Quantum Mechanics, 2nd Ed., Cambridge University Press, 2017; S. Weinberg, Lectures of Quantum Mechanics, 2nd Ed., Cambridge University Press, 2015; L. D. Landau,E. M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics (Non-relativistic theory), 3rd Ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, 1981; D. J. Griffiths, D. F. Schroeter, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Ed., Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Canvas: This course will use Canvas. All homework will be posted on Canvas. You are responsible for checking on upcoming assignments and their due date. Problems with Canvas should be directed to ITS.
Prerequisite: PHYS 607: Mathematical and Computer-Algebra Methods in Physics
Grades: Grades will be assigned as follows: A – 80% and above, F – below 40%, each 4% is one grade increment.
Course content: General principles of quantum mechanics: Hilbert space, discrete and continuum states, operators, observables, momentum operator, Hamiltonian, three pictures of quantum mechanics, density matrix, pure and mixed states; Schrödinger equation, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, simple problems in one dimension. Symmetries: generators of symmetry, similarity transformations, space translation, time translation and inversion.
Particle states in a central potential: angular momentum operator, Schrödinger equation for a central potential, Spherical harmonics, Hydrogen atom, Harmonic oscillator.
Spin, total angular momentum, angular momentum multiplets, addition of angular momenta, Clebsh-Gordan coefficients, Wigner-Eckart theorem.
Identical particles, symmetrization postulate, bosons and fermions.
Approximations for energy eigenvalues: nondegenerate and degenerate stationary perturbation theory, the Zeeman effect, the Stark effect, the fine structure of Hydrogen atom, variational methods, ground state of helium atom.
Assignments (20% course grade): Roughly every week there will be an assignment due. Assignments will be posted on Thursdays and will be due the following Thursday in class. It will consist of two types of problems: (a) similar to problems from Shankar’s text and the lecture material; (b) taken from Griffiths-Schroeter’s text. The latter text will not be covered in class and the subjects of the problems from this text will in general be unrelated to lectures. These assignments are an integral component of this course and may require a substantial amount of work. No assignments will be dropped from your grade for any reason (if you are sick and the solutions have already been given out, you will have to do a different make-up assignment). Students are expected to solve homework problems by themselves, although discussions with fellow students are encouraged. Use of solutions from previous years, from the web, from solutions manuals, etc. is not allowed.
Midterm Exam 1 (25% course grade): Closed-book, in class, 1 h 15 min exam. March 10, 2020.
Midterm Exam 2 (25% course grade): Closed-book, in class, 1 h 15 min exam. April 16, 2020.
Final Exam (30% course grade): Closed-book, in class, 2 hour exam. May 27, 2020.
Excused Absences: Absences on religious holidays listed in University calendars are recognized as excused absences. Nevertheless, students are urged to remind the instructor of their intention to be absent on a particular upcoming holiday. Absences on religious holidays not listed in University calendars, as well as absences due to athletic participation or other extracurricular activities in which students are official representatives of the University, shall be recognized as excused absences when the student informs the instructor in writing during the first two weeks of the semester of these planned absences for the semester.