QUANTUM MECHANICS
SPRING 2008 - COURSE OUTLINE FOR PHYU617/G115

http://nuweb2.neu.edu/ttaylor/qm.html

 Professor Tomasz Taylor

Office: 208 DANA               E-mail: taylor@neu.edu               Telephone: 617-373-2979

Office Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 11:45 to 1:00, and by appointment (e-mail) 

Textbook: "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by David J. Griffiths, 2^nd edition, (Prentice Hall, 2005). Other useful, but not required, textbooks include "Quantum Physics" by Stephen Gasiorowicz (Wiley) and "Quantum Mechanics" by Richard L. Liboff (Addison Wesley).

Topics to be covered (week by week):

Week 1:  The Limits of Classical Physics and the Emergence of Quantum Theory and
                Refresher on Complex Numbers and Basic Integrals
Week 2:  Wave-Particle Duality, Probability and the Schrödinger Equation (Ch. 1)
Week 3:  MLK Day on Monday, January 21 and
               Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation (Ch. 2)
Week 4:  One-Dimensional Potentials I (Ch. 2)
Week 5:  One-Dimensional Potentials II (Ch. 2)
Week 6:  The Formalism of Quantum Mechanics (Ch. 3.1-6)
Week 7:  Presidents' Day on Monday, February 18 and
               Midterm Exam on Wednesday, February 20
Week 8:  The Schrödinger Equation in 3D (Ch. 4.1)
           SPRING BREAK WEEK
Week 9:  The Hydrogen Atom I (Ch. 4.2)
Week 10: The Hydrogen Atom II (Ch. 4.2)
Week 11: The Angular Momentum and Spin (Ch. 4.3-4)
Week 12: Spin (Ch. 4.4) and Identical Particles (Ch.5.1)
Week 13: Atoms and Solids (Ch. 5.2-3)
Week 14: Review

Grade: Midterm Exam (February 20) - 25%,  Final Exam - 35%. The other 40% of the grade is determined from the average score on Monday quizzes which are based on one of the assigned homework problems (to be posted each week on the website, on Monday or Wednesday).