Syllabus - PHYSICS 460 Fall 2011 Quantum Mechanics I...

PHYSICS 460 - Fall 2011
Quantum Mechanics I
Lecturer: Prof. Norbert Neumeister
Office: Room 374 Physics Building
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: Tuesday 2:00 – 3:00 PM (or by appointment)
Class: Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 – 11:45 AM, Room 331 Physics
Textbook: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics , D.J. Griffiths, 2
nd
edition
Course http://www.physics.purdue.edu/phys460
Website :
Grader: Jun Cheng
Office: Room 285, Physics Building
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday 3:30 – 4:30 pm,
Wednesday: 11:00 – 12:00 am,
Thursday: 9:00 – 10:00 am
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This is the first part of a rigorous two semester introduction to Quantum Mechanics. The
goals of this course are to teach you the basic concepts of Quantum Mechanics and to
make you adept in solving relevant problems. The course covers an introduction to the
definition and interpretation of the wavefunction, the solution of the time-independent
Schrödinger Equation for several systems, eigenvalue problems, abstract formulation of
Quantum Mechanics, the hydrogen atom, spin, two-particle systems, perturbation theory
and the WKB approximation.
LECTURES:
The lecture will be used to introduce new concepts and to provide examples that help you
understand how quantum mechanics works. Read the assigned text in advance of the
lecture and then again afterwards for optimal comprehension. Your active participation
during lectures with questions and comments is strongly encouraged. Please do not
hesitate to, or be shy about, asking questions. We will follow the textbook quite closely,
and you are strongly encouraged to get a copy. If you use the 1
st
edition instead, be aware
that the numbering of problems has changed. We will not spend very much time (but
more than Griffiths) on the experimental issues that led to the development of quantum
mechanics.

ASSIGNMENTS:
Specific reading assignments will be given supplementing the lecture material covered in
class.