Physics 621 Graduate Quantum Mechanics I
Fall 2008
Welcome to the Physics 621 WWW pages...
Course Description:
This
course is intended for graduate students in physics and related
disciplines and, along with the second semester (Physics 622), covers
essential aspects of non-relativistic quantum mechanics.
A standard undergraduate
preparation in physics and math is assumed, however, we will start "at
the beginning". Topics will include the axiomatic development of wave
mechanics, wave packets, the Schrödinger equation in one and three
dimensions, sectionally constant potentials in 1D, variational methods,
time-independent perturbation theory, the WKB approximation,
the linear harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, and the 3D central force
problem.
Lectures: Tues and Thurs 9:30-10:50,
Small 152
Text:
Quantum Mechanics (3rd Edition, 1998) by Eugen Merzbacher, Wiley,
ISBN: 978-0-471-88702-7
Additional References:
There are many other appropriate books on Quantum Mechanics that you
may find useful, many of which are in the physics library, including:
- Baym, Lectures on Quantum Mechanics QC174.1.B35 (1969)
- Cohen-Tannoudji, Quantum Mechanics QC 174.12 C6313 (1977)
- Dirac, Principles of Quantum Mechanics QC 174.3 D5 (1947)
- Gasiorowicz, Quantum Physics QC 174.12 G37 (1996)
- Landau and Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics: non-relativistic theory
QC 174.12 L3513 (1977)
- Messiah, Quantum Mechanics QC174.1 M413 (1970)
- Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics QC174.12 .S25 (1994)
- Schiff, Quantum Mechanics QC174.1 .S34 (1968)
- Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics QC174.12 .S52 (1994)
- etc.
Grading Scheme
The grade for the course will be determined from:
- Homework: 50%
- Midterm test (take-home): 25%
- Final Exam : 25% (nominal date: Tuesday Dec. 16, 8:30-11:30 AM)
Grader
The grader for the homework will be Rui Yang:
email: rxyang@wm.edu
office: Small 318B
phone: 221-3550
Homework
- Homework 1 due Tues. Sept 16
(Solutions)
- Homework 2 due Thurs. Sept 25
(Solutions)
- Homework 3 due Thurs. Oct 9
last updated: Sept 30 2008
http://physics.wm.edu/~armd/P621.html
Dept. of Physics
College of William and Mary