PHYS 452/552 

Quantum Mechanics I

Course:     PHYS 452 (CRN 15831) and PHYS 552 (CRN 15832)  (3 credits, each)
Lecture:    Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 — 2:45 pm, OCNPS 142 (Scale-Up room)
Recitation:  Fridays,  1:30 — 2:30 pm, as scheduled.  Location TBA

Instructor:  Dr. Charles E. Hyde
Office:    OCNPS/PSB 2100C
Office Hours:  Mondays, 11:00-12:00, PSB2100C, Thursdays, 3:00-4:00 pm Physics Learning Center
email:     chyde'at'odu.edu
phone:    (757) 683 5853
web:       www.physics.odu.edu/~chyde

Textbook:  David J. Griffiths:  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2nd Edition Pearson Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-111892-7

Lecture Format:   Emphasis is this class will be on doing Quantum Mechanics, rather than just listening. Lectures will be brief, but interspersed with problems for you to work on in small groups on the large white boards in the Scale-Up room.  It is crucial to read (and study) the assigned chapter sections before each class.  All in class exercises must be completed individually as take-home problems, due during the next class period.  Attendance will be taken every class, and will be part of your grade.  Please notify Prof. Hyde in advance (if at all possible) of any absences.

Homework:  Homework problems will be assigned every class period, and due in the next class, as discussed above.  Students in PHYS 552 will be given supplementary problems.  You are encouraged to work with your classmates on the homework, but all submitted work must be your own, in your own handwriting (or typesetting).

Exams:  We will have two Midterm Exams plus the Final exam.  Exams are closed notes and closed book.  I will provide a basic formula sheet for each exam.  No other notes allowed.  All exams will be in OCNPS 142.  Make-up exams will not be given.  If you have to miss an exam please notify Prof. Hyde immediately.  In special circumstances only, your other exams will be averaged to replace the missed exam score.
Exam 1:  Tuesday 30 Sept 2014:  1:30–2:45 pm, Chapters 1, 2 and Appendix Sections A.1-A.3
Exam 2:  Tuesday  11 Nov 2014:  1:30–2:45 pm, Chapters 1–4 and Appendix Sections A.1-A.6
Each exam will be followed on the next class with the same exam as an in class Homework assignment to be completed in the class time, but open book and open notes.  These will be graded as part of your Homework score
Final Exam:  Thursday 11 Dec 2014:  12:30–3:30 pm ONCPS 142 (Comprehensive of whole class)
Grades:  Your final grade will be based on the following distribution
Exam 1:        15%
Exam 2:        15%
Final Exam    30%
Homework    20%
Class participation    10%
In-class exam follow-up 10%
Syllabus:  We will cover Part I of the textbook, Chapters 1—5.

Course Schedule

Subject to change, Last update: 22 Aug 2014, 10:30 pm

text: D.J. Griffiths:  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2nd Ed.
Week of
 Chapter Reading
 Tuesday Class
 Thursday Class
 Friday
Recitation
25 Aug 2014
 Preface,
Chapter 1
 Why Quantum Mechanics?
The Wave Equation
Section 1.1
 Probability Interpretation, Probability Theory
Sections 1.2, 1.3
 none
01 Sep 2014
 Chapter 1, Appendix
 Normalization, vector spaces
Section 1.3, Appendix A.1-A.3
 Momentum, Uncertainty Principle
Sections 1.5-1.6
 Exercises,
Math Review
08 Sep 2014
 Chapter 2
Solving the Schroedinger Eq'n
 Time Independent States
Sections 2.1, 2.2
 Harmonic Oscillator -I
Section 2.3
 none
15 Sep 2014
 Chapter 2
 Harmonic Oscillator -II
Section 2.3
 Free Particle
Section 2.4
 Harmonic Oscillator
22 Sep 2014
 Chapter 2
 Delta-function Potential
Section 2.5
 Finite Square Well
Section 2.6
 Exam Review
29 Sep 2014
 Chapter 1-2
 Midterm Exam 1, Chapters 1–2
 Exam post-view
06 Oct 2014
 Chapter 3
Formalism
 Hilbert Space, Observables
Sections 3.1, 3.2
 Eigenfunctions, Observables
Sections 3.3, 3.4
 Math Review
13 Oct 2014
 Chapter 3
 Fall Holiday
 Uncertainty Principle, Dirac Notation
Section 3.5, 3.6
 Exercises
20 Oct 2014
 Chapter 4
QM in 3-Dimensions
 Wave Equation in 3-D
Section 4.1
 Hydrogen Atom -I
Section 4.2
 TBA
27 Oct 2014
 Chapter 4
 Hydrogen Atom -II
Section 4.2
 Angular Momentum
Section 4.3
 TBA
03 Nov 2014
 Chapter 4
 Spin
Section 4.4
 Angular Momentum Addition
 Exam Review
10 Nov 2014
 Chapter 1-4
 Midterm Exam 2, Chapters 1–4 Exam post-view
 TBA
17 Nov 2014
 Chapter 5
Multiparticle Systems
 Two particle systems, Atoms
Section 5.1, 5.2
 Solids
Section 5.3
 TBA
24 Nov 2014
 Chapter 5
 Quantum Statistical Mechanics
Section 5.4
 Thanksgiving Holiday
 Holiday
01 Dec 2014
 Chapter 1-5
 Review problems
 Last class, Review Problems
 none
08 Dec 2014
 Final Exam Week
 no class (finals)
 Final Exam:  12:30–3:30 pm OCNPS 142