Physics 313: Quantum Mechanics I

Fall 2023 Course schedule

Note: this schedule is tentative. While the test dates are set, the exact material distributions between the lectures may change and will be updated regularly to reflect the topics discussed in class. All homework assignments must be submitted via Blackboard by 11.59pm of the due date.

Week	Material covered	Homework assignment
8/30-9/1 (short week)	Quantum states, Electron spin Classical vs quantum measurements(8/30) Quantum Spin "Experiments" (9/1) Review of complex numbers and linear algebra	No homework Optional complex number practice
9/04-9/08	9/04 Labor day, no classes Quantum spin states (ch. 1) Bra-ket notation (9/6) Quantum states as vectors (9/8)	No homework
9/11-9/15	Quantum states as vectors (ch. 1) Expectation values (9/11) Orthogonality of quantum states (9/13)	Homework #1 Due 9/13 Solutions
9/18-9/22	Quantum operators (ch. 2) Matrix representation of operators (9/18) Matrix representation of operators (9/20) Matrix representation of operators (9/22)	Homework #2 Quantum information lingvo , see also Wikipedia Due 9/22 Solutions
9/25-9/29	Angular momentum states (ch. 3) Basis transformations for quantum states and operators (9/25) Uncertainty relationship (9/25) Spin-1 particles (9/27) Ladder operators (9/29)	Homework #3 Due 9/29 Solutions
10/02-10/06	Schrodinger equation, time evolution (ch. 4) Stern-Garlach loops and which-way information (10/02) For extra fun: Spin-1 particle and 3-way loop problem and solution Hamiltonian and wavefunction time evolution (10/04) Spin-1/2 precession (10/06)	Homework #4 Due 10/04 Solutions
10/09-10/13	Quantum state time evolution (10/09) Midterm test #1 (10/11) Solutions 10/15 Fall break, no classes	No homework
10/16-10/20	Two-spin system, entanglement (ch. 5) Spin addition (10/16) Spin-spin interactions (10/18) Entanglement, EPR paradox and teleportation (10/20) Seminal papers on EPR paradox	No homework
10/23-10/27	1D motion and wave functions (ch. 6) Position and momentum operators (10/23) Gaussian Wavepackets(10/25) and their visualization Infinite square well (10/27) Example of the a quantum state time evolution and Mathematica simulation	Homework #5 Due 10/25 Example of ch.4 problem solution Solutions: required problems and optional problems
10/30-11/03	Schrodinger equation solutions (ch. 6,7) Finite potential energy step Different quantum systems treatment (11/01) Quantum interference (11/01) Quantum tunneling (11/03)	Homework #6 Due 11/03 Solutions
11/06-11/10	1D harmonic oscillator (ch. 7) Simple Harmonic Oscillator (11/05) Midterm test #2 (11/08) Solutions Quantum light as SHO (11/10)	No homework
11/13-11/17	3D motion (ch. 9) Basics of 3D motion (11/13) Shrodinger equation with central potential (11/15) Coulumb potential (11/17)	Homework #7 Due 11/15 Solutions
11/20-11/24	3D square well: video and notes 11/22-24 Thanksgiving break, no class	No homework
11/27-12/01	3D quantum systems (ch.9, 10) H-atom spectroscopy (11/27) Pauli exclusion principle (11/29) Nuclear structure model (11/29) Molecular spectra (12/01)	Homework #8 Due 11/29 Solutions
12/04-12/08	Intro to perturbation theory (12/04) Quantum at Small (12/06) Final review (12/08)	Homework #9 Due 12/06 Solutions
12/13	Final exam (2.00-5.00 pm) Solutions