Prof. Andrew Cumming, 3550 University room 206, email andrew.cumming-at-mcgill.ca
Office hours: W2-3pm, or email me for an appointment, or just drop by my office
MWF 9.35-10.25AM, RPHYS 114. The first lecture is on Friday September 2nd.
David Berardo and Alexander Mcdonald
There will be a weekly tutorial run by the TAs. Look out for a message in myCourses announcing the time and place.
I will provide notes on myCourses in advance of the lecture. The textbook will be Griffiths Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. This book is on reserve in the Schulich Library.
Limits of classical physics: quantization and probability. Blackbody spectrum. Photoelectric effect. Electron diffraction. de Broglie relation. Two slit experiment and probability.
The wave function [Griffiths Chp 1] A reminder about probability densities. Schrodinger equation. Normalization and expectation values. Free particles. Uncertainty principle. Momentum operator.
Time-independent Schrodinger equation [Griffiths Chp 2] Separable solutions. Energy eigenstates. Time-dependence, completeness and general solution to time-dependent Schrodinger equation. 1D infinite square well. The 1D harmonic oscillator. Delta function potential. Tunnelling. Finite square well.
Operator Formalism [Griffiths Chp 3] Hilbert space. Hermitian operators. Ladder operators. Observables and eigenvalues. Uncertainty principle and commutation relation. Dirac notation.
Quantum mechanics in three-dimensions [Griffiths Chp 4,5.1] Schrodinger equation in spherical coordinates. Hydrogen atom. Angular momentum. Spin. Two-particle systems and spin statistics.
Problem sets (20%), two midterms (20% each) and a final exam (40%). There will be approximately 6 problem sets, given every 10 days or so. When calculating the final grade, one homework set and/or one midterm grade will be dropped if it helps your final grade. The midterms will be held during lecture time on October 12 (Wednesday) and November 7 (Monday).
McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (more information). In accord with McGill University's Charter of Students' Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded. In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change. Additional policies governing academic issues which affect students can be found in the McGill Charter of Students' Rights.