Quantum Mechanics
General Information
Course registration number: PHYS 4310/5310
Course credits: 3
Semester offered: Spring 2009
Class time: MWF 12:00 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
First class: Monday, 12^th January 2009
Last class: Friday, 1^st May 2009
Final Examination: From 12:30 p.m. through 2:30 p.m., Monday, 4^th May 2009 as per university examination schedule and schedule of classes.
Hoilidays: 19 January, 9-13 March, as per university calendar.
Classroom: MH 2002
Class Website: http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~khare/teaching/
Prerequisite courses: PHYS 3320, MATH 3860, MATH 1890
Course Text: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2^nd Edition, David J. Griffiths, 2005 printing, Pearson Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-111892-7. Errata to the text are found here.
Other References: A Qauntum Mechanics Primer, D. T. Gillespie
Principles of Quantum Mechanics, R. Shankar
Quantum Mechanics, Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu, Frank Laloe
Quantum Mechanics: Non-Relativistic Theory, L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz
Schaum's Outline of Quantum Mechanics, Eliahu Zaarur, Phinik Reuven
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, Mary L. Boas


About Instructor
Instructor: Sanjay V. Khare
Title: Assistant Professor
Office: MH 5010
Phone: 419 530 2292
Email: khare@physics.utoledo.edu
Website: http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~khare/
Office Hours: MW 15:00 -- 16:00 or by appointment

About grading
Excused absence policy to be followed according to university guidelines.
Grading Scheme:
Homework: 25%
Attendance and class participation: 10%
First Exam: 15%
Second Exam: 15%
Third Exam: 15%
Final Exam: 20%

Syllabus
We will cover parts of Chapters 1-5, and the Appendix of the text. We will not cover all chapters in their entirety. Some sections will be omitted. Depending on student interests some modifications in the syllabus may be accommodated. The detailed course agenda will appear here.

Course Objectives
(i) To undestand motion of particles under the influence of the laws of quantum mechanics.
(ii) To understand the derivation, modification, and application of the mathematical methods used in the study of quantum mechanics.
(iii) To gain expertise in the formulation and solution of problems involving laws of quantum mechanics listed in (i) and the techniques in (ii).

Expectations from students
(i) Look at the class web-site at least once either before or after each class for the latest updates.
(ii) Submit homework in class at the beginning of the class when due. On every homework assignment on the top front page, list student’s name, identification number, course number, and homework number. Each homework assignment should be stapled together or put in a binder. Loose pages are not acceptable.
(iii) Read relevant sections from the text that will be covered in the class. These will be announced in the preceding class.
(iv) If you are late to class or decide to leave early do so discretely so as not to disturb others. Seat yourself towards the back exit door if your early exit is known in advance or when you enter late.
(v) Turn off sound on watches, cell phones, pagers, laptops and all other electronic devices while in class.
(vi) In general maintain an environment conducive to learning in the classroom.
(vii) Complete all homework and examinations honestly.
(viii) Please do not bring any food or drinks inside the classroom.
(ix) If you have any disabilities hindering your ability to follow any of these rules and/or needing any special considerations bring them to the attention of the instructor immediately.

Tips on how to succeed in this course
(i) Understand the derivations so that you can derive them yourself or explain them to someone else logically. Just memorising them is not of much value.
(ii) Modify the assumptions in the derivations to come up with entirely new derivations. Also, try adding more assumptions to standard derivations from the text to derive results for new special cases.
(iii) Solve lots of problems from the text or other sources.
(iv) Make up your own problems which are totally new or are modifications of those you solve. Then solve these problems.
(v) Discuss course material with fellow students and/or senior students.

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