This course will introduce you to the basic methods of quantum mechanics, in particular physics at the atomic scale.  We will cover the following topics:
Historical development of quantum physics, the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, the Bohr atom, the deBroglie theory and wave-particle duality.  Schrodinger equation and its applications, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, time-evolution of quantum states, quantum mechanical scattering and tunneling, atomic spectra, angular momentum and spin.

We will use the following textbook:

This textbook takes a fairly conventional approach to quantum physics.  It is intended to provide an in-depth study of the microscopic world, but not yet with the mathematical sophistication of a full quantum mechanics course.  If the subject catches your interest we encourage you to delve deeper into the matter. There are many ancillary textbooks that you could follow in parallel.  A few that we recommend are:

1) The Feynman Lectures on Physics (Volume 3) (Addison Wesley).
2) Modern Physics by H.C. Ohanian (Prentice Hall).
3) Quantum Mechanics for Engineering, Materials Science & Applied Physics by H. Kroemer (Prentice Hall).

For those of you interested in trying some computer solutions of the Schrodinger equation, you might checkout some interesting quantum mechanics demonstration on the web. You will have to download "Shockwave" software to look at these and, as far as we can tell, it is only available for PCs. If you are interested we recommend having a look at these visual quantum mechanics demonstrations.
 
 

Lecture Sec. 1

Lecture Sec. 2

Tutorials

Grading

*calculator allowed, one sheet of notes allowed
 

Homework

Homework due by 5pm in drop boxes (basement staircase of Burton tower in MP building), labelled according to TA (47=Ali, 48=Fred, 49=Masoud).
Late homework will be accepted (with a 50% score reduction) by 5pm the following business day.
The TAs will discuss some of the homework problems in the tutorials.
 

Topics

#2: The Classical Atom, An Introduction to the quantum length scale. (Chapters 1.1-1.5 of textbook)

#3: Photons, Discrete energy levels in atomic spectra. (1.6-1.9)

#4: The wave properties of particles.
      SPECIAL LECTURE on Special Relativity.

#5: The deBroglie Hypothesis. (2.1)
      Wave/particle velocities and the deBroglie wavelength. (2.2-2.3)

#6: The observation of the electron waves.
      The Davisson-Germer experiment. (2.3-2.5)

#7: Wave-Particle duality. (2.9 - 2.11)
      An introduction to the Schrodinger equation. (3.1-3.3)

#8: A simple example -- Particle in an 1D box. (3.4-3.5)
      Stationary states of quantum mechanical systems. (3.6-3.7)

#9: Particle in non-rigid box. (3.8)
      Square-well potential of finite depth. (3.9)

#10: Qualitative considerations of wave functions. (3.10)
        Asymptotic limits, parity, superposition. (3.11)

#11: Solutions to the "real" 1D Schrodinger equation.
        The square well potential. (4.1-4.2)

#12: The harmonic oscillator potential. (4.3)
        Vibrational energies of di-atomic molecules. (4.4)

#13:  (postponed) SPECIAL LECTURE on Nanophysics.
 

Midterm exam: (notes not allowed, calculator is allowed):
 

#14: Quantum Mechanics in 3 dimensions. (5.1-5.2)
        Eigenfunctions and Eigenvalues. (5.3-5.4)

#15: Spherically symmetric solutions to Schrodinger equation. (5.5)
        Quantization of energy levels. (5.5)

#16: Application to the Hydrogen atom. (5.5)
        Normalization, probability density & expectation values. (5.6)

#17: Time dependence of quantum states. (8.1)
        Superposition of quantum states. (8.2)

#18: The motion of a particle in a box. (8.3)
        Packet states in a square well potential. (8.4)

#19: Free particle packet states. (8.7)
        Packet states of moving particles. (8.8-8.9)

#20: The Heisenberg uncertainty principle. (8.10-8.11)

#21: Scattering processes and wave packets. (9.1)
        Probability density and probability current (9.3)

#22: Scattering by a one dimensional potential well. (9.4)
        Tunneling through a barrier. (9.5-9.8)

#23: Angular Momentum (from Chapters 10 & 11)

#24: Spin (from Chapter 11)
        Exchange Symmetry (from Chapter 13)

#25:  SPECIAL LECTURE:  Nanoscale Study of Quantum Materials
            (live demonstration of magnetic levitation with superconductors & frogs !)
 

Course Review (joint lecture sections):  MP203 9:10am-11:00am  Thursday Apr. 8th  (arrive early for free donuts !)
(two last pages from): Page(n-1), Page(n)
 
 

Final exam:   Wed.  Apr. 14th   2:00pm  (calculator allowed, one sheet of notes allowed)