Stern-Gerlach experiment, Zeeman effect and electron precession in magnetic field. Spherically symmetric potentials and the Hydrogen atom. Quantum systems with external electric and/or magnetic fields e.g. Spin in quantum mechanics illustrated with spin 1/2: matrix representations, Stern-Gerlach experiments and measurement theory exemplified. Angular momentum theory and the Hydrogen atom, the rigid rotator and applications to rotation-vibration spectra of diatomic molecules. The harmonic oscillator in operator formalism and as an example of matrix mechanics.
Theory of measurement and collapse of wave function. Topics include: Operators and the general structure of quantum mechanics, observables, orthonormality of eigenstates, expansion theorem, commuting operators, matrix quantum mechanics. This course constitutes an introduction and revision, followed by an extended exposition, of the basic principles and applications of quantum mechanics. The course is designed to cater both for students who intend to take more advanced courses in quantum mechanics and for those for whom this is their last course in the subject. Aims: This course aims to provide a systematic introduction to some of the core concepts and techniques in Quantum Mechanics up to angular momentum, spin and electron in an external field. If time permits, addition of angular momentum and entanglement (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox).
Quantum systems with external electric and/or magnetic fields e.g. Spherically symmetric potentials and the Hydrogen atom. Heisenberg equations of motion and the notion of symmetry and conservation laws in Quantum Mechanics. SYNOPSIS AND AIMS Synopsis: This course constitutes an introduction and revision, followed by an extended exposition, of the basic principles and applications of quantum mechanics. David Mermin, "What's wrong with these elements of reality", Physics Today (1990) link David Mermin, "Quantum Mysteries Revisited", American Journal of Physics 58(8), (1990) link David Mermin, "Is the moon really there when nobody looks?", Physics Today (1985) link Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen, "Can Quantum Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?", Phys.Sometimes interesting articles appear on the arXiv.A number of copies of this text are available from the library. Feynman lectures on physics provide an interesting alternative source of information on this topic.
You should be able to access the articles linked below from a College computer free of charge. The library contains the books listed below, and College maintains journal subscriptions for the suggested articles. The following are sugested sources of material for students keen to delve deeper into the subject. For more details follow the link Book and Lecture Notes.Gasiorowicz "Quantum Physics" Wiley (3rd Edition) (2007) Mandl "Quantum Mechanics" Wiley (1992) and S. "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Cambridge University Press (3rd Edition) "Quantum Mechanics" Prentice-Hall (2nd Edition), the course roughly covers chapters 5, 6, 8, 12 (and parts of chapter 7) If you think of buying any of the suggested books keep this in mind. In preparing my course I often consulted the books Bransden&Joachain and Griffiths&Schroeter (see below) but my presentation does not follow any of them very closely. Freely available online resources include scans of handwritten lecture notes and typed up notes: NOTE the typed up notes are somewhat dated but cover large parts of the course, particular the formalism of quantum mechanics, angular momentum and spin (Lecture Note Sets 1 & 5 - 9) Lecture Note Sets 1 - 4 contain material already covered in QMA but are a useful source for revision.Students enrolling on SPA-6413 (QMB) must have passed SPA-5319 (QMA) and SPA-5218 (MT3) Online Notes AND BOOKS: Office Hours: Monday 11:00-13:00 GO Jones 6th Floor, office 603. The Module Organiser is Prof Andreas Brandhuber. Welcome to the Quantum Mechanics B (SPA-6413) Home Page