Physics 651 - Quantum mechanics - Fall 2022
| Instructor | Renate Wackerbauer, Office Location: REIC 106 phone: 474-6108 e-mail: rawackerbauer@alaska.edu |
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| Open office hours | Walk-ins are very welcome; appointments help; email is effective for straight-forward questions. | ||||||||||
| Course info | Phys651, 3 credits | ||||||||||
| Prerequisites | graduate standing or instructor's permission | ||||||||||
| Lectures | MWF 13:00 to 14:00 pm, REIC 207. The lectures will explore in depth material presented in the text. |
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| Noyes Lab | Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (Rm 101 REIC is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in. | ||||||||||
| Text | Required text: Supplementary readings: There are many books on quantum mechanics in the library that almost all cover the material presented in the lectures. Please explore them to see different approaches to our topics. |
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Course Content |
This course provides an introduction into quantum mechanics at the graduate level. We will cover the postulates of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation, one-dimensional problems, the harmonic oscillator and supersymmetric quantum theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty relations, symmetries and consequences, Qm in 3-dimensions, angular momentum, spin, addition of angular momenta, the Hydrogen atom | ||||||||||
Homework |
Homework
will be assigned weekly and will be due by 3:00 pm on the following
Wednesday, unless explicitely altered at the time of assignment. Late homework will not be accepted.
Finished homework should be placed in my mailbox in the main
office of the Physics Department. Selected homework solutions
will be posted in the glass case in the Physics Department hallway. I
HIGHLY appreciate it if you RECYCLE paper for your homeworks! in case of problems with the link: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/wacker/CLASS/651hw.html |
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| Paper, Presentation | Explore
the fun and "strange world" of quantum mechanics! Explore a topic
related to this course on your own. This can be an application of
quantum mechanics in medicine, in nanotechnology, biology, etc.
It can be on non-hermitian quantum mechanics, quantum chaos,
alternative theories like Bohm's pilot wave theory, Feynman's path
integrals, a bridge between classical and quantum mechanics; quantum mechanics and classical wave experiments; it can
be on Bell's theorem, the EPR experiment, quantum computation, quantum
kryptography;
many other topics are possible, follow your own interest. This topic
will be explored by you in a concept paper and an oral presentation. A
good way
to get started is to browse through "physics today" to find an
interesting article on quantum mechanics that you will prepare such
that the class can understand. The project needs to be based on a published paper or advanced text book, online sources like Wikipedia are not allowed. Concept Paper: The concept paper starts with the hypothesis to be addressed in the paper, and continues with the explanation of a quantum mechanical concept. the focus is on how the concept is explained and whether it can be understood by an undergraduate physics student that had an introductory QM course. The use of any formula needs to be approved by the instructor at latest 2 weeks before the paper is due. The concept paper represents the basis and key message of the oral presentation. Goal is to formulate the concept as a take home message that is soo well explained that the audience will never forget about it; no "hiding" behind a sequence of formulas or derivation. The paper should consist of 2 pages of text (single column, 11pt, regular (single) line spacing, margins up to 1 inch in either direction) ; 3-5 references, figures, and formulas (if approved) do not contribute to the 2 pages. The concept topic should be discussed with the instructor, and is due Sept 30: submit a tentative concept title and a pdf of the main literature source. The paper outline presents a 1/2 page summary/ideas of the paper; it is due Oct 21. The concept paper is due Nov 18; it needs to be turned in as a HARD COPY and as PDF file. The grade is determined from physics (70%) and style (30%) of the paper. The physics part includes hypothesis formulation, correct physics, level covered, how explained, how introduced, understanding, terms defined. The style part includes organization and structure, references given, figures referenced, writing style. Presentation: The quantum concept will be presented to the class in a 10 minutes presentation the week before finals. The presentation needs to be turned in as a pdf-file, at latest the day after presentation. The grade is determined from clarity of presentation (50%) and content (50%). The clarity of presentation includes board use, clearity of writing/slides, references used, blocking board/screen, speaking clearly and loud, speed of speach, facing class and eye contact, dealing with questions. The content includes appropriate level, enough details, terms introduced before used, correct physics, how explained. |
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| Examinations | A
one-hour in-term examination and a two hour final examination will be
held during the semester. The exams will be closed books and closed notes.
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| Grading | The
maximum score for each homework will be 100 points. A solution
(homework, exam) that presents nothing more than a restatement of the
problem will receive zero credit. Illegible work will not be graded. Grades
A - D (including +/-) are assigned equal weight for total credits
between 40% and 100% unless otherwise noted. So A+ (>95), A
(>90), A- (>85), B+ (>80), B (>75), B- (>70), C+
(>65), C (>60), C- (>55), etc. A total score below 40% results
in an F. For the final grade homework, exams, etc. will be weighted as follows:
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| Course policies | Attendance at lectures is expected. Active class participation, questions, comments on newspaper articles on modern physics are extremely welcome in the lectures. A missed exam will receive 0 credit unless the instructor is notified by email, phone, etc before the exam starts. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled with the student. | ||||||||||
| Student Obligations | As
students of UAF, you are bound by the policies and regulations of the
University of Alaska, UAF rules and procedures, and the Student Honor
Code. You are obligated to make yourselves familiar with all conditions
presented in the UAF Catalog. Plagiarism on homework, or on exam, or on presentation or on paper will result in a failing grade. Students should keep up-to-date on the university's policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website: Further, students are expected to adhere to the university’s policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply. |
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Faculty members are designated as responsible employees which means
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you to resolve problems, please go to the following site:
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