QUANTUM MECHANICS I (PHY 511)

Prof. T. Schaefer



Physics 511 (Quantum Mechanics I) is a graduate level course on Quantum Mechanics. A brief outline is provided below.


Course Information

  1. Lecture: TuTh 9:50-11:20
    Instructor: T. Schaefer, Office C-135, Phone 632-4489
    email: Thomas.Schaefer@sunysb.edu
    Office hours: Tu. 11:30-1:00 and by appointment
    TA: Zhenguo Wang (zwang@grad.physics.sunysb.edu).
  2. Homework: Most tuesdays a set of homework problems will be assigned. (You can also check the website.)
    The homework is due tuesday the following week.
  3. Exams: There will be one midterm exam and a final on dates to be announced during the lecture.
  4. Grade: Your final grade will be determined by weighting the various portions of the course as follows:
    Midterm: 20%
    Final Exam : 40%
    Homework: 40%
  5. Textbook: (not required, but strongly recommended)
    R. Shankar: Principles of Quantum Mechanics.
    Supplemental references Some supplemental material will be handed out in class or posted on the website.


New: Recitation


Outline

  1. Mathematical Methods
    Hilbert spaces, linear operators, ...
  2. Quantum Mechanics: The Postulates
    Review of classical mechanics, quantum mechanics: the postulates, Schroedinger equation, discussion (Measurements, etc.), classical limit.
  3. Problems in one Dimension
    Free particle, scattering and tunneling, harmonic oscillator
  4. Path Integrals
    Path integral formulation, harmonic oscillator, numerical methods, Feynman diagrams.
  5. Symmetries and Angular Momentum
    Rotational invariance, the eigenvalue problem for L^2,L_z, hydrogen Atom, spin, addition of angular momenta.
  6. Perturbation Theory
    Time independent, time dependent perturbation theory, Feynman diagrams, WKB approximation.


Other Resources







Questions? Send email to thomas.schaefer@sunysb.edu


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