PHY 212: Applications of Quantum Mechanics
This is the second of a two course sequence designed for senior
undergraduate and beginning graduate students whose aim is to develop
a strong foundation in the formalism and application of quantum
mechanics.
General Information
Prerequisites: Phy 211 or successful performance on a
placement
exam; Mth 104, Mth 111, Phy 142L or equivalent.
Class Meetings:
Instructor: Roxanne Springer
- Office: Room 252, Physics and Mathematics
Building
- Phone: 660-2676
- Email: rps@phy.duke.edu
- Office
Hours: On demand unless this gets out of hand.
Teaching Assistant 1: Nan Zheng
- Office: Room 274B, Physics and Mathematics Building
- Phone: 660-2489
- Email: nz3@phy.duke.edu
- Office Hours: Wednesday 2-4pm
Teaching Assistant 2: Josh Powell
- Office: Room 275, Physics and Mathematics Building
- Phone: 660-2493
- Email: jwp14@phy.duke.edu
- Office Hours: Saturday 2-4pm
Texts: Cohen-Tannoudji, Quantum Mechanics Volume II
and R. Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics
Recommended Reading:
There are many good texts on Quantum Mechanics. If you are seeing this
material for the first time, it may be confusing at times, especially
when attempting to do the problem sets. When stuck it is very useful
to consult other books. The following books are recommended and have
been placed on reserve at the Science and Engineering Library:
- D.J. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.
- Cohen-Tannoudji, Diu and Laloe Quantum Mechanics, Vol I.
- R. L. Liboff, Introductory Quantum Mechanics.
- J. J. Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics.
Grades: Grades will be assigned according to the following
weighted average:
- Problem Sets: 40%
- Two Midterms: 15% each
- Final exam: 30%
Comments:
- A link to the problem sets is at the bottom of this webpage.
- You are encouraged to discuss the lectures and homework
assignments
with
fellow students so that you can learn the subject from each other.
However,
the written part of the homework assignments must be done individually.
Further, you may not access problem sets or exams from previous years.
- Course webpage as well as email will be used to disseminate
information
on problem set corrections,
class schedule emergencies, etc.
- All exams will be closed book. Formulae needed for the exams will
either be provided
or are expected to be known by the student.
Syllabus
Here is a list of topics we expect to cover. This list is not
necessarily complete and topics may be added or deleted, depending on
time and the interests of the students.
- The real hydrogen atom - intro to perturbation theory
- Multiparticle systems
- Addition of angular momentum
- WKB and path integrals
- Time independent perturbation theory
- Time dependent perturbation theory
- Scattering
Weekly Updates
Problem
Sets
Reading
Exam 1: Thursday 15 February 2007
Exam 2: Thursday 29 March 2007
Final: Monday 30 April 2007, 2-5pm