Physics 313: Quantum Mechanics I

Fall 2024 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 site by 11.59pm on the due date.

Week	Material covered	Homework assignment	Additional materials
8/28-8/30 (short week)	Quantum states, Electron spin Classical vs quantum measurements(8/28) Stern-Gerlach apparatus for spin measurements(8/28)	No homework Optional complex number practice	Review of complex numbers and linear algebra Complex numbers on-line calculator
9/02-9/06	9/02 Labor day, no classes Stern-Gerlach experiment, quantum spin states (ch. 1) Quantum state vectors(9/04) Averages and uncertainties, Bloch sphere (9/06)	No homework	EdX course with spin simulations Useful math handout
9/09-9/13	Quantum states as vectors (ch. 2) Vector representation of quantum states (9/09) Quantum operators (9/11) Anglular momentum operators (9/13)	Homework #1 Solutions Due 9/11
9/16-9/20	Quantum manipulations (ch. 2,3) Basis transformations (9/16) Uncertainty principle (9/16) Quantum computing lingvo(9/18) Which way information (9/20) Quantum cryptography:short video and a slightly longer video (9/20)	Homework #2 Solutions Due 9/18
9/23-9/27	Angular momentum states (ch. 3) Spin-1 particles (9/23) Raising and lowering operators (9/25) Time evolution of quantum states (9/27)	Homework #3 Due 9/25 Solutions
9/30-10/04	Schrodinger equation, time evolution (ch. 4) Spin-1/2 in magnetic field (9/30) Two-level system examples (10/02) Two-particle eigenistates (10/04)	Homework #4 Due 10/02 Solutions
10/07-10/11	Spin-spin interaction (10/07) Midterm test #1 (10/09) Solutions 10/11 Fall break, no classes	No homework
10/14-10/18	Two-spin system, entanglement (ch. 5) Entanglement and EPR paradox (10/14) Quantum teleportation (10/16) Position and momentum in QM (10/18)	No homework	Seminal papers on EPR paradox
10/21-10/25	1D motion and wave functions (ch. 6) Motion in flat potential lanscapes(10/21 and 10/23) Finite potential steps and wells(10/25)	Homework #5 Due 10/25 Solutions: mostly required problems and mostly optional problems
10/28-11/01	Solutions of the Schrodinger equation (ch. 6,7) Quantum interference(10/28) Quantum state evolution(11/1)	Homework #6 Due 11/01 Solutions
11/04-11/8	1D harmonic oscillator (ch. 7) Introduction to a quantum oscillator(11/4) Ladder operators, light as SHO(11/6) Midterm test #2 (11/08) Solutions	No homework
11/11-11/15	3D motion (ch. 9) 2D/3D square well(11/11) Shrodinger eqn in spherical coordinates(11/13) Molecular rotor(11/15)	Homework #7 Due 11/13 Solutions	Spherical harmonics visualization
11/18-11/22	Angular momentum conservation and eigenfunctions (ch.9, 10) Rotovibrational spectrum(11/18) Hydrogen atom (11/18) Pauli exclusion principle and multi-electron atoms (11/20)	Homework #8 Due 11/20 Solutions
11/25-11/29	11/27-29 Thanksgiving break, no class	No homework
12/02-12/06	Broader applications of Quantum Intro to perturbation theory (12/02) Quantum in Small (12/04) Final course review (12/06)	Homework #9 Due 12/04
12/10	Final exam (2.00-5.00 pm) Pre-test information Previous tests: 2022(questions only), 2022(with solutions), 2023(questions only), 2023(with solutions)