Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11:00-11:50, P&A 5
The prerequisites are PHYC 330 (Introduction to Modern Physics) and MATH 314 (Linear Algebra with Applications).
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.
Xijie Luo
office: P&A front common space, email: xijieluo_at_unm.edu, office hours: Wendesday 12:30-14:30.
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 2015. 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.
| Dates |
Subjects |
Assignments/Exams |
| Aug. 18 Mon |
Course overview |
No problem session |
| Aug. 20 Wed |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.1-1.2 |
|
| Aug. 22 Fri |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.2-1.3 | |
| Aug. 25 Mon |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.3-1.4 | Problem session 1 |
| Aug. 27 Wed |
1 Stern-Gerlach experiments: 1.4-1.5 | |
| Aug. 29 Fri |
2 Rotation of basis states and matrix mechanics: 2.1-2.2 | Assignment
1 is posted |
| Sep. 1 Mon |
Labor day holiday | |
| Sep. 3 Wed |
2 Rotation of basis states and matrix mechanics: 2.2-2.3 | |
| Sep. 5 Fri |
2 Rotation of basis states and matrix mechanics: 2.4 | Assignment 1 is due |
| Sep. 8 Mon |
2 Rotation of basis states and matrix mechanics: 2.5 | Midterm exam 1 |
| Sep. 10 Wed |
2 Rotation of basis states and matrix mechanics: 2.6-2.7 | |
| Sep. 12 Fri |
2 Rotation of basis states and matrix mechanics: 2.7-2.8 | Assignment 2 is posted |
| Sep. 15 Mon |
3 Angular momentum: 3.1-3.2 |
|
| Sep. 17 Wed |
3 Angular momentum: 3.3 | |
| Sep. 19 Fri |
3 Angular momentum: 3.3 | Assignment 2 is due |
| Sep. 22 Mon |
3 Angular momentum: 3.4-3.5 | Midterm exam 2 |
| Sep. 24 Wed |
3 Angular momentum: 3.6 | |
| Sep. 26 Fri |
3 Angular momentum: 3.7 | Assignment 3 is posted |
| Sep. 29 Mon |
4 Time evolution: 4.1-4.3 | |
| Oct. 1 Wed |
4 Time evolution: 4.4 | |
| Oct. 3 Fri |
4 Time evolution: 4.5 | Assignment 3 is due |
| Oct. 6 Mon |
4 Time evolution: 4.5-4.6 | Midterm exam 3 |
| Oct. 8 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D:
6.1-6.2 |
|
| Oct. 10 Fri |
Fall break | |
| Oct. 13 Mon |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.2-6.4 | Assignment 4 is posted |
| Oct. 15 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.4-6.5 | |
| Oct. 17 Fri |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.5-6.6 | Assignment 4 is due |
| Oct. 20 Mon |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.6-6.7 | Midterm exam 4 |
| Oct. 22 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.7-6.8 | |
| Oct. 24 Fri |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.9 | |
| Oct. 27 Mon |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.9-6.10 |
|
| Oct. 29 Wed |
6. Wave mechanics in 1D: 6.10 | |
| Oct. 31 Fri |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.1 | Assignment 6 is posted |
| Nov. 3 Mon |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.2-7.3 | |
| Nov. 5 Wed |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.4-7.5 | |
| Nov. 7 Fri |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.6-7.7 | Assignment 6 is due |
| Nov. 10 Mon |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.8 | Midterm exam 6 |
| Nov. 12 Wed |
7. One-dimensional harmonic oscillator: 7.9-7.10 | |
| Nov. 14 Fri |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.1-5.2 | Assignment 7 is posted |
| Nov. 17 Mon |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.2-5.3 | |
| Nov. 19 Wed |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.3 | |
| Nov. 21 Fri |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.7 | Assignment 7 is due |
| Nov. 24 Mon |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles:5.7 | Midterm exam 7 |
| Nov. 26 Wed |
canceled |
|
| Nov. 28 Fri |
Thanksgiving holiday | |
| Dec. 1 Mon |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.4-5.5 | Assignment 5 is posted |
| Dec. 3 Wed |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.5 | |
| Dec. 5 Fri |
5. A system of two spin-1/2 particles: 5.6 | |
| Dec. 8-12 |
Assignment
5 is due Midterm exam 5 |
Students may study subjects of assignments together, but everyone is expected to prepare his/her original answer sheets.
1. Assignment due at 12 pm on Sep. 5 (Fri) [Problems: 1.2, 1.3, 1.7, 1.13, 1.14 Solutions]
2. Assignment due at 12 pm on Sep. 19 (Fri) [Reading the section 2.7 and Problems: 2.10, 2.12, 2.17, 2.22, 2.24 Solutions]
3. Assignment due at 12 pm on Oct. 3 (Fri) [Problems: 3.2, 3.7, 3.19, 3.24, 3.27 Solutions]
4. Assignment due at 12 pm on Oct. 17 (Fri) [Problems: 4.5, 4.10, 4.11, 4.14, 4.15 Solutions]
6. Assignment due at 12 pm on Nov. 7 (Fri) [Problems: 6.1, 6.4, 6.5, 6.14, 6.21 Solutions]
7. Assignment due at 12 pm on Nov. 21 (Fri) [Problems: 7.7, 7.9, 7.13, 7.17, 7.22 Solutions]
5. Assignment due at 5 pm on Dec. 8 (Mon), to be submitted to my mailbox [Problems: 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.10, 5.26 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 during 2-4 pm on Sep. 8 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 1 Solutions]
2. Mid-term exam during 2-4 pm on Sep. 22 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 2 Solutions]
3. Mid-term exam during 2-4 pm on Oct. 6 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 3 Solutions]
4. Mid-term exam during 2-4 pm on Oct. 20 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 4 Solutions]
6. Mid-term exam during 2-4 pm on Nov. 10 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 6 Solutions]
7. Mid-term exam during 2-4 pm on Nov. 24 (Mon) [Materials covered in the chapter 7 Solutions]
5. Mid-term exam during 10 am-12 pm on Dec. 10 (Wed) @ R&A 5 [Materials covered in the chapter 5 Solutions]