Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 12:00-12:50, P&A 5
The prerequisites are PHYC 330 (Introduction to Modern Physics) and MATH 321 (Linear Algebra).
Monday, 14:00-14:50, P&A 184
Professor Akimasa Miyake
office: P&A 25, email: amiyake_at_unm.edu, office hours: Monday 15:00-17:00, otherwise you may arrange a meeting by appointment.
Adrian Chapman
office: P&A 30, email: akchapman_at_unm.edu, office hours: Friday 13:00-15:00 by contacting him at his office.
J. S. Townsend, "A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics," 2nd Edition (required)
This is an upper-division course for quantum mechanics, and continues to PHYC 492 "Intermediate Quantum Mechanics II" in Spring 2014. As seen in the syllabus, the basics of quantum mechanics are taught in a self-contained manner. The course is suitable for undergraduate or graduate students who like to obtain comprehensive understanding of quantum theory and to master its mathematical treatments from scratch. In case you do not satisfy the above prerequisites, you may still discuss a registration with the instructor.
Its associated problems session PHYC 496 should be registered as well. It is quite important to do exercise, in order to digest notions and methods in quantum mechanics learned in the lectures. The session is used not only to help you to start assignments but also to have mid-term exams.
The final grade will be determined based on performance of mid-term exams and assignments (their weights are 65 % and 35 % respectively, for now). Their problems will be largely selected from the problems found at the end of chapters. Each mid-term exam is arranged after every chapter is completed. That is how you can study rather narrow, clearly-defined selections of materials for every exam, while they are still fresh in your mind. Overall it is expected that your learning is more effective and at the same time the load by the course is less stressful this way.
We plan to finish the textbook over two semesters (Fall 2013 and Spring 2014), so it is expected that we cover a half of materials in Fall. If time permits, I will explain briefly recent research activities related to quantum mechanics and quantum information.
| Dates |
Subjects |
Assignments/Exams |
| Aug. 19 Mon |
Course overview |
No problem session |
| Aug. 21 Wed |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.1 |
|
| Aug. 23 Fri |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.2 | |
| Aug. 26 Mon |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.3 | Assignment 1 is posted |
| Aug. 28 Wed |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.4-1.5 | |
| Aug. 30 Fri |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.5-1.6 | |
| Sep. 2 Mon |
Labor day holiday | |
| Sep. 4 Wed |
2. Rotation and matrix mechanics 2.1-2.2 |
|
| Sep. 6 Fri |
2. Rotation and matrix mechanics 2.2 | |
| Sep. 9 Mon |
2. Rotation and matrix mechanics 2.3-2.4 | Mid-term exam 1 |
| Sep. 11 Wed |
2. Rotation and matrix mechanics 2.5-2.6 | |
| Sep. 13 Fri |
2. Rotation and matrix mechanics 2.6-2.7 | |
| Sep. 16 Mon |
2. Rotation and matrix mechanics 2.7-2.8 | Assignment 2 is posted |
| Sep. 18 Wed |
3. Angular momentum 3.1-3.2 |
|
| Sep. 20 Fri |
3. Angular momentum 3.3 | |
| Sep. 23 Mon |
3. Angular momentum 3.3 | Mid-term exam 2 |
| Sep. 25 Wed |
3. Angular momentum 3.4-3.5 | |
| Sep. 27 Fri |
3. Angular momentum 3.6 | |
| Sep. 30 Mon |
3. Angular momentum 3.6-3.7 | Assignment 3 is posted |
| Oct. 2 Wed |
4. Time evolution 4.1 | |
| Oct. 4 Fri |
4. Time evolution 4.2-4.3 | |
| Oct. 7 Mon |
4. Time evolution 4.3 | Mid-term exam 3 |
| Oct. 9 Wed |
4. Time evolution 4.4 | |
| Oct. 11 Fri |
Fall break | |
| Oct. 14 Mon |
4. Time evolution 4.4-4.5 | No problem session |
| Oct. 16 Wed |
4. Time evolution 4.5-4.6 | |
| Oct. 18 Fri |
6. Wave mechanics in one
dimension: 6.1 |
|
| Oct. 21 Mon |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.1-6.2 | Assignment 4 is posted |
| Oct. 23 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.2-6.3 | |
| Oct. 25 Fri |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.4-6.5 | |
| Oct. 28 Mon |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.5-6.6 | Mid-term exam 4 |
| Oct. 30 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.6-6.7 | |
| Nov. 1 Fri |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.7-6.8 | |
| Nov. 4 Mon |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.8-6.9 | Assignment 6 is posted |
| Nov. 6 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.9-6.10 | |
| Nov. 8 Fri |
6. Wave mechanics in one dimension: 6.10 | |
| Nov. 11 Mon |
7. One-dimensional harmonic
oscillator: 7.1-7.2 |
Mid-term exam 6 |
| Nov. 13 Wed |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.2-7.4 | |
| Nov. 15 Fri |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.4-7.6 | |
| Nov. 18 Mon |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.6-7.8 | Assignment 7 is posted |
| Nov. 20 Wed |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.8-7.10 | |
| Nov. 22 Fri |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.1-5.2 | |
| Nov. 25 Mon |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.2-5.3 | Mid-term exam 7 |
| Nov. 27 Wed |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.3 | |
| Nov. 29 Fri |
Thanksgiving holiday | |
| Dec. 2 Mon |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.7 | |
| Dec. 4 Wed |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.4 | Assignment 5 is posted |
| Dec. 6 Fri |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.5-5.6 | |
| Dec. 13 Fri |
Mid-term exam 5 |
Students may study subjects of assignments together, but everyone is expected to prepare his/her original answer sheets.
1. Assignment due on Sep. 9 (Mon) [Problems: 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8 Solutions]
2. Assignment due on Sep. 23 (Mon) [Reading the section 2.7 and Problems: 2.8, 2.13, 2.16, 2.24 Solutions]
3. Assignment due on Oct. 7 (Mon) [Problems: 3.5, 3.7, 3.17, 3.19 Solutions]
4. Assignment due on Oct. 28 (Mon) [Problems: 4.4, 4.8, 4.11, 4.13 Solutions]
6. Assignment due on Nov. 11 (Mon) [Problems: 6.2, 6.4, 6.15, 6.23 Solutions]
7. Assignment due on Nov. 25 (Mon) [Problems: 7.4, 7.9, 7.13, 7.23 Solutions]
5. Assignment due on Dec. 13 (Fri) [Problems: 5.3, 5.5, 5.13, 5.17 Solutions]
Mid-term exams are held during the Monday problems session in a closed-book format. No communication with other students is allowed during the exams.
1. Mid-term exam on Sep. 9 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 1 Solutions]
2. Mid-term exam on Sep. 23 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 2 Solutions]
3. Mid-term exam on Oct. 7 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 3 Solutions]
4. Mid-term exam on Oct. 28 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 4 Solutions]
6. Mid-term exam on Nov. 11 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 6 Solutions]
7. Mid-term exam on Nov. 25 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 7 Solutions]
5. Mid-term exam at P&A 5 on Dec. 13 (Fri), 10-12 [Materials covered in the chapter 5 Solutions]