PHY 4604 / PHY 5607: Quantum Theory of Matter A

Syllabus

Lectures: MWF 11:15am -- 12:05pm, HCB 209.

Lecturer: Nick Bonesteel
Office: 410 Keen (Physics Department); A313 (Magnet Lab)
Tel.:  (850) 644-2516 (Department); (850) 644-7805 (Magnet Lab)
E-mail: bonestee@magnet.fsu.edu


Office Hours: 
Office hours will be held on MW 1:30pm – 3:30pm in 410 Keen.  If these times are not convenient, please feel free to contact me at any time to arrange an appointment.  (The best way to do this is by e-mail.)


Course Descriptions: 
This is the first semester of a two semester undergraduate level course covering the theory of quantum mechanics.  This theory is at the heart of much of our current understanding of the physical world and is the basis of most branches of modern physics (particle physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, etc.).  The goal of the course is to introduce you to the main concepts and tools for applying quantum mechanics to a variety of different problems.

Prerequisites: PHY 3101 (Intermediate Modern Physics) and PHZ 3113 (Mathematical Physics) and a background in the concepts of PHY 3221 (Intermediate Mechanics).

Main Text: D.J. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition), (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005). (amazon.com).  Available at the FSU Bookstore.


Other Useful Texts:

  • S. Gasiorowicz, Quantum Physics (Third Edition), (Wiley, 2003).
  • C. Cohen-Tannoudji et al., Quantum Mechanics Vols. I and II (First Edition), (Wiley, 2006).
  • R. Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition), (Springer, 2004).
  • K. Gottfried and T.-M. Yan, Quantum Mechanics: Fundamentals, (Springer, 2003).


Course Web Page:
http://www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/fall11/phy4604

 

                                                                                                                           

Outline of Course Content (Tentative):

 

Chapter

Topic

Week

____________

______________________________________

_____

 

 

Origins of Quantum Theory

 

1

Ch. 1

The Wave Function

2

Ch. 2

The Schrödinger Equation in One Dimension

3-5

Ch. 3

Mathematical Formalism of Quantum Mechanics

6-7

Ch. 4

Ch. 5

The Schrödinger Equation in Three Dimensions

Identical Particles

8-11

12-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

The remaining Chapters of Griffiths will form the basis of PHY4605 in the Spring of 2012.  I plan on following Griffiths’ book closely – so reading ahead is encouraged! The text will on occasion be supplemented by material from other sources (e.g. from the above list of books).

 

Course Work:  Course grades will be determined by your performance on the assigned problem sets, two midterm exams, and a final exam.  The percentage contribution of each to the overall grade will be as follows

  • Homework (25%)
  • Two Midterm Exams (25% each for a total of 50%)
  • Final Exam (25%)

 

Problem sets will be assigned every Friday, and will be due at the beginning of class on the following Friday.  Solutions will be posted on this website. No late homework will be accepted except for the case of excused absences (see below).    Discussion of the homework among students is encouraged, but each student should hand in his/her own solutions.  Since a significant portion of your final grade will come from these weekly assignments, homework will be accepted and graded only if written in a neat and orderly fashion, and if the answers are justified by showing complete work.

 

Homework Assignments:

 

  • HW#1 (Origins of Quantum Theory, Review of Statistics):  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Sep. 9.
  • HW#2 (Wavefunctions, Expectation Values, Time-Dependent Schrödinger Equation):  Griffiths, Chap. 1, Problems 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9 & 1.15.  Due: Friday, Sep. 16.    
  • HW#3 (Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation, Infinite Square Well):  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Sep. 23.
  • HW#4 (Quantum Harmonic Oscillator): Griffiths, Chap. 2, Problems 2.2, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13.  Due: Friday, Sep. 30.
  • HW#5 (More Harmonic Oscillator): Griffiths, Chap. 2, Problems 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.41, 2.42.  Due: Monday, Oct. 10.
  • MIDTERM #1 --- Friday, Oct. 14.  (Solution)
  • HW#6 (Wave Packets, Delta Function Potential, One-Dimensional Scattering):  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Oct. 21.
  • HW#7 (Finite Square Well, More One-Dimensional Scattering):  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Oct. 28.
  • HW#8 (Hilbert Space, Linear Operators):  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Nov. 4.
  • HW#9 (Generalized Statistical Interpretation, Uncertainty Principle, Equation of Motion for Expectation Values):  Griffiths, Chap. 2, Problem 2.38; Chap. 3, Problems 3.11, 3.13, 3.14, 3.17, 3.27.  Due: Monday, Nov. 14.
  • MIDTERM#2 --- Monday, Nov. 21.  (Solution)
  • HW#10 (Quantum Mechanics in 3D, Spherical Harmonics, Infinite and Finite Spherical Wells) Griffiths, Chap. 4, Problems 4.1, 4.2, 4.38, 4.3, 4.8, 4.9.  Due: Friday, Dec. 2.
  • HW#11 (Power Series Method, Hydrogen Atom): Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Dec. 9.

 

FINAL EXAM:  HCB 209, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

 

Homework Solutions will be posted on the course Blackboard page.   To find them just click on “Materials” and then on “HW Solutions.”

University Attendance Policy:
Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness.

Academic Honor Policy:
The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations for the integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge to “. . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University.” (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found at http://dof.fsu.edu/honorpolicy.htm.)

Americans With Disabilities Act:
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:
(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class.

This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.

For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:

Student Disability Resource Center
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108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
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(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
sdrc@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/

Free Tutoring from FSU:
On-campus tutoring and writing assistance is available for many courses at Florida State University. For more information, visit the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Tutoring Services’ comprehensive list of on-campus tutoring options - see http://ace.fsu.edu/tutoring or contact tutor@fsu.edu. High-quality tutoring is available by appointment and on a walk-in basis. These services are offered by tutors trained to encourage the highest level of individual academic success while upholding personal academic integrity.  

Syllabus Change Policy:
Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.