| Instructor: |
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| Course info: Prerequisites: Lectures: |
Phys651 (73798), 3 credits graduate standing or instructor's permission. MWF 13:00 to 14:00 pm, NSCI 207. Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (Rm 101 NSCI) is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in. |
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| Text: | Required text: Principles of Quantum Mechanics, by R. Shankar, Springer (2nd edition, 1994). |
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Supplementary readings: Lectures on Quantum mechanics, by G. Baym, Benjamin/Cumings (1973) graduate level book Quantum Mechanics, by F. Schwabl, Springer (2001) clearly written introduction; good basis for the author's book on advanced quantum mechanics. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, by Griffiths, Prentice Hall (2nd edition, 2004) undergraduate book, excellent for filling some lack in qm Quantum Physics, by S. Gasiorowicz, John Wiley (1974) introductory book on quantum mechanics There are many books on quantum mechanics in the library that almost all cover the material presented in the lectures. Please explore them to see different approaches to our topics. |
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| Course Content: Tentative course calendar |
This course provides
an introduction into quantum mechanics at the graduate level. We will
cover the postulates of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation,
one-dimensional problems, the harmonic oscillator and supersymmetric
quantum theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty relations, symmetries and
consequences, Qm in 3-dimensions, angular momentum, spin, addition of
angular momenta, the Hydrogen atom |
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Homework: |
Homework will be assigned
weekly and will be due by 5:00 pm on the following Friday, unless
explicitely altered at the time of assignment. Late homework will
not be accepted. Finished homework should be placed in the
designated box in the main office of the Physics Department. Homework
assignments and solutions will be posted in the glass case in the
Physics Department hallway. I HIGHLY appreciate it if you RECYCLE paper for your homeworks! |
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| Paper, Presentation |
Explore the fun and
"strange world" of quantum mechanics! Explore a topic related to this
course on your own. This can be an application of quantum mechanics in
medicine, in nanotechnology, in engineering, etc. Spectroscopy in
astrophysics, chemistry, ...It also can be on a dilemma of classical
physics or old quantum physics, but at a more advanced level than you
have had in your introductory physics classes. It can also be on
Bell's theorem, the EPR experiment, or quantum computation; many other
topics are possible, follow your own interest. This topic will be
explored by you in a paper and an oral presentation. Paper: It should be written for people with a background in physics, like an article in "physics today". It should consist of 8-10 pages, including introduction, qm backbround, detailed exploration of the topic with pictures and formulas, brief summary, and about 5 references. The topic should be discussed with the instructor, and is due October 20th; the paper is due November 17th. Presentation: The paper will be presented to the class in a 15-20 minutes presentation the week before finals. |
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| Examinations: | A one-hour in-term examinations and a two hour final examination will be held during the semester. In-term exams will be held in the classroom. The exams will be closed books and closed notes. | ||||||
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Midterm exam (in class) | Friday, Oct 27 | Shankar: approx. chapt. 3-11 | |
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| Final Exam | Saturday, Dec16,1-3pm | Shankar: approx. chapt. 3- 15 |
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| Grading: | The maximum score for each homework will be 100 points. A solution (homework, exam) that presents nothing more than a restatement of the problem will receive zero credit. Partial credit will be given, with the score of an individual problem ranging between zero and full credit. Credit will be given for clarity of presentation, illegible work will not be graded. For the final grade homework, exams, etc. will be weighted as follows: | ||||||
| Homework: | 30% | To pass the course, you need 50% of the total credits. Grades A - D are assigned equal weight for total credits between 50% and 100% unless otherwise noted | |||||
| Presentation: |
10% |
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| Paper: | 10% | ||||||
| Exam: | 20% | ||||||
| Final Exam: | 30% | ||||||
| Course policies: | Attendance at lectures is expected. Active class participation, questions, comments on newspaper articles on modern physics are extremely welcome in the lectures. A missed exam will receive 0 credit unless the instructor is notified by email, phone, etc before the exam starts. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled with the student. | ||||||
| Student Obligations: Disabilities Services |
As students of UAF, you are bound by
the policies and regulations of the University of Alaska, UAF rules and
procedures, and the Student Honor Code. You are obligated to make
yourselves familiar with all conditions presented in the UAF Catalog. The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. If you have any kind of dissability, please ensure that you go to the dissabilities services program coordinator. I will work with the office of disabilities services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accomodations to students with disabilities. |
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