PHYS 456/556

Quantum Mechanics II

Course:     PHYS 456 (CRN 24534) and PHYS 556 (CRN 24535)  (3 credits, each)
Lecture:    Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 — 2:45 pm, OCNPS 142 (Scale-Up room)
Recitation:   TBA

Instructor:  Dr. Charles E. Hyde
Office:    OCNPS/PSB 2100C
Office Hours:  Mondays, 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 occupy only half of the class time, an will be 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 556 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 24 February 2015:  1:30–2:45 pm, Chapters 1-5 and Appendix Sections A.1-A.6
Exam 2:  Tuesday  07 April 2015:  1:30–2:45 pm, Chapters 1–7
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:  Tuesday 05 May 2015:  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 Chapter 4, Section 4.4: Spin, and Chapters 5 - 7.  If time permits we will cover Chapter 9 and 11.

Course Schedule

Subject to change, Last update: 31 Dec 2014, 6:30 pm

text: D.J. Griffiths:  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2nd Ed.
Week of
 Chapter Reading
 Tuesday Class
 Thursday Class
 Friday
Recitation
19 Jan 2015
 Appendix, Chapters 3 and 4

 Review of QM-I

 Linear Algebra of finite and
infinite dimensional vector spaces
 none
26 Jan 2015
 Chapter 4:  Angular Momentum
 Angular Momentum and Spin
 Angular Momentum Addition
 Exercises,
Math Review
02 Feb 2015
 Chapter 5,  Identical Particles Sections 5.1, 5.2
 Two-Particle Systems
 Atoms
 none
09 Feb 2015
 Chapter 5,
Section 5.3
 Solids:  Free Electron Gas
 Solids:  Bloch Theorem and Band Gaps
 Harmonic Oscillator
16 Sep 2015
 Chapter 5
Section 5.4
 Quantum Statistical Mechanics
 Exam Review
 Exam Review
23 Feb 2015
 Chapter 1-5
 Midterm Exam 1, Chapters 1–5
 Exam post-view
02 Mar 2015
 Chapter 6
Perturbation Theory
 Section 6.1:  Non-degenerate Perturbation Theory
 Section 6.2:  Degenerate Perturbation Theory Math Review
09 Mar 2015
Spring Holiday
16 Mar 2015
 Chapter 6
Applications
 Section 6.3:  Hydrogen Fine Structure
 Section 6.4:  Zeeman Effect
 TBA
23 Mar 2015
 Chapters 6, 7
 Section 6.5:  Hyperfine Splitting
 Section 7.1 The Variational Principle
 TBA
30 Mar 2015
 Chapter 7
 Section 7.2:  The Helium Ground State
 Section 7.3  The Hydrogen Molecule Ion
 Exam Review
06 Apr 2015
 Chapter 1-7
 Midterm Exam 2, Chapters 1–7 Exam post-view
 TBA
13 Apr 2015
 Chapter 9:  Time Dependent Perturbation Theory
 Section 9.1:  Two Level systems
 Section 9.2:  Emission and Absorption of Radiation
 TBA
20 Apr 2015
 Chapter 9
 Section 9.3:  Spontaneous Emission
 Examples
 Holiday
28 Apr 2015
 Chapter 1-9
 Last Class:  Review problems
 no class
 none
08 Dec 2014
 Final Exams
 Final Exam:  12:30–3:30 pm OCNPS 142


Web page updated 31 December 2014