Syllabus

Physics 302b  2007

Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Instructor: Peter Love

KINSC Link 105

795-6505 (office)

plove@haverford.edu

Textbook and supplies
A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics, John S. Townsend, University Science Books, http://www.uscibooks.com/townsend.htm
A selection of other texts and useful references is on reserve in the Science library.

Course Requirements:

Three one-hour class meetings per week. Class periods will be devoted to lecture and discussion.

Reading is required in addition to the material covered in class. 

Evaluation will be based on two exams, a final, and weekly problem sets. 

Location and times:

Lecture: MWF 9:30 – 10:30 in KINSC H108. Attendance and participation are expected. Lecture will begin promptly at 9:35; please be on time.

Office hours: L105 M 1.30-2.30pm and 6pm-7pm

                                 T  1.30-3.30   

                                 or by appointment.

Exam schedule:

Exam #1 given out Wednesday Feb 21th in class, collected back Feb 28th in class.

Exam #2 given out Friday, Wednesday April 4th in class, collected back April 11th in class.

Final exam (self scheduled) covers all the material with some extra emphasis on the material covered after exam #2.

No extensions on exams or variances on exam dates are permitted without a Deans excuse

Course Description:

In this course we will discuss the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, beginning with the physics of finite dimensional Hilbert spaces, illustrated by the important physical concept of spin.  This approach allows us to examine quantum mechanical states and operators without the complications of wavefunctions and the mathematics associated with wave mechanics. We will also consider some of the ``paradoxes'' of quantum mechanics within this formalism. After studying spin and angular momentum we will turn to wave mechanics in one dimension and three dimensions, perturbation theory, and the behavior of systems of identical particles. 

Assignments and Tests:

Written work will be due each Wednesday in class. There will also be assigned readings to prepare you for class discussion. It is essential for your understanding that you stay ahead of class in your readings. Some assignments will include so-called individual problems. It is expected that you work on these problems without collaborating with other students. You may ask questions of the instructor concerning these problems.

There will be two time-limited, take-home exams and a self-scheduled, cumulative final at the dates given above. Exams will cover both concepts and problem solving. Time pressure in exam settings, while not the goal of the instructor, is not entirely avoidable. You should prepare to be able to work efficiently on the material covered and avoid poor time management choices during the exams. Practice exams will be available beforehand, but remember that while poor performance on the practive exam guarantees poor performance on the real exam, good performance on the practice exam does not guarantee good performance on the real exam. You should NOT use the practice exam as a guide to the detailed CONTENT of the real exam.

Grading procedures:

Course grade -- will be computed using the following weighting:

Written exercises 45%

First Exam                               13% 

Second Exam                          17%    

Final exam 20%

Class and recitation participation  5% 

Exams: Credit will be given for displaying understanding and for correct execution of problem solutions. Partial completion of a problem will receive partial credit. Clear explanations of your work are required. Exams must be turned in not later than the stated times, except by prior agreement. 

Late policy -- You may have two ``free extensions'' of one week during the course of the semester. If you are taking a free extension please simply hand in a sheet of paper with your name and a note that you are taking a free extension. Please save them for when most needed, and remember that you do not have to take your extensions.

No other extensions will be granted, except for significant illness, serious family matters, etc.; in such cases, a Deans excuse is required.

Honor Code Issues:

The important guiding principle of academic honesty is that you must never represent the work of another as your own. The following guidelines should govern your behavior in the course; please request clarification if you find yourself in any doubtful situations.

You may seek assistance for the Instructor or work together with other students (except on individual problems) in doing the weekly assigned exercises and in preparing for class discussions. If working with other students in the course avoid situations in which you are either contributing too much or too little to the collaborative effort. (Neither results in optimal learning, but are not violations of the honor code.) While working together is permitted and even expected and therefore does not need to be acknowledged, merely copying the work of another student without indicating that you have done so is clearly a representation of his or her work as your own and so is a violation of the code.

The exams must be entirely your own work. You must also follow all procedures and respect time limits without deviation.

Accommodations:

Students who think they may need accommodations in this course because of the impact of a disability are encouraged to meet with me privately early in the semester. Students should also contact Rick Webb, Coordinator, Office of Disabilities Services (rwebb@haverford.edu, 610-896-1290) to verify their eligibility for reasonable accommodations as soon as possible. Early contact will help to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and delays.