PHY 4604 QUANTUM MECHANICS I - Fall 2014

INSTRUCTOR

Pierre Sikivie
Office: NPB 2063
email: sikivie@phys.ufl.edu
tel: 352.392.1923

CLASS TIMES

MWF, 9:35am - 10:25pm, in NPB 1002

OFFICE HOURS

Mondays: 10:40am - 11:30am
Wednesdays: 12:50pm - 1:40pm
Fridays: 11:45am - 12:15pm


GRADER

Saiyu Hou
Office: NPB 1228
email: physicons@ufl.edu
Office hours: MW 4-5pm

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

"Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" (2d edition) by David J. Griffiths, Pearson Prentice Hall 2005. We will cover CHAPTERS 1-5.

There are many other useful textbooks on quantum mechanics. You are encouraged to explore alternatives. Here are four that have often been recommended by colleagues who taught the course in the past:
    - R. Shankar "Principles of Quantum Mechanics", 2d edition, Springer 1994.
    - L.E. Ballentine "Quantum Mechanics, A Modern Development", World Scientific 1998.
    - M. Belloni, W. Christian and A.J. Cox "Physlet Quantum Mechanics", Pearson Prentice Hall 2006.
    - S. Gasiorowicz "Quantum Physics", J. Wiley, 1974.

DESCRIPTION

PHY 4604 is the first course of our two-semester introductory quantum mechanics sequence for advanced undergraduates. It covers the basic concepts and formalism of quantum mechanics as well as some standard exactly solvable problems. The material covered is central to much of contemporary research in physics, in other sciences, and in engineering.

PREREQUISITES

Modern physics, PHY3103 or PHY3063, is a prerequisite because it motivates and introduces the Schrodinger equation, which is the starting point for this course. For mathematics, you should have completed differential equations, MAP 2302, as well as have familiarity with such linear algebra concepts as eigenstates and eigenvalues.

HOMEWORK

There will be seven homework sets, due on 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17 and 12/10. The homework is your best opportunity to learn the material in depth. If at all possible, do the homework entirely on your own. Only if you are hopelessly stuck is it allright to seek help from the instructor or other students. Any help must be explicitly acknowledged at the end of the corresponding problem. In that case you will not be penalized for having received help.

QUIZZES

There will be seven quizzes, each 15 to 20 minutes long, on 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, 10/24, 11/7, 11/21 and 12/10. The quizzes will be on the material covered by the previous homework set.

Of the seven quiz scores, only the best five will count towards the final grade.

GRADING

The final grade will be based on:
Homework 20%
Quizzes 40%
Final exam (December 18) 40%