Physics 6320 / 7320

Quantum Mechanics I

Fall 2010

D. G. Ellis

Home Page: http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~dellis/phys6320/home.html

(or follow links from Physics & Astronomy home page).

Class meetings: MWF 2:00-2:50 MH 4012

Instructor: David G. Ellis, emeritus professor

Office MH4027A, hours MWF 10-12 and by appointment

Phone 4634; email david.ellis@utoledo.edu

Textbook: N. Zettili, Quantum Mechanics Concepts and Applications, 2^nd ed. (Wiley 2009) ISBN 9780470026793

Course content: This is the first half of the standard graduate course in quantum mechanics. It assumes that you have been introduced to quantum mechanics at the undergraduate level. The emphasis in the first semester will be on the mathematical and conceptual development of the theory, the Schrödinger equation and stationary states, one-dimensional examples, applications to simple three-dimensional systems, and approximation methods for bound states. The second semester will include identical particles and statistics, angular momentum theory, time-dependent perturbation theory and transition probabilities, the density matrix, applications to atomic physics, electron-photon interactions, scattering theory, and the Dirac equation.

Homework problems will be assigned, with one set due every week or two. Late homework will not be accepted. There will be one midterm examination, and a final examination. The course grade will be based on all of the above, plus classroom participation.

There are many possible textbooks for this course, but there is no single standard book, such as the books by Jackson and by Goldstein for the classical courses. Our treatment will more or less follow the book by Zettili, especially in the first semester, and some homework problems may be assigned from that book. However some material will be added, and topics may not always be covered in the same order.

A list of other possible books is posted on the home page.