Prof. Dima Feldman
Barus & Holley 329
What's New (as of
Solutions of the
Final exam posted. The average grade is 20.3 points.
Please come to the Monday colloquia -- it is a good way to be exposed to
the wide world of physics. The colloquia are held each Monday at
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Material covered: Wave description of
particles. Wave mechanics and the Schrodinger equation. Fundamental
principles and postulates. Symmetry transformations. Time evolution
and stationary states. Theory of angular momentum. Advanced topics: Quantum
information, Gauge invariance, etc.
Prerequisites: Knowledge of basic undergraduate Hamiltonian Mechanics and Electromagnetism as well as a comfortable familiarity with standard Modern Physics, e.g., the Photo-electric Effect, the Franck-Hertz experiment, the Balmer Formula, the Pauli Principle, X-Rays, the Chemical Bond, the Schrodinger Equation and some applications such as one-dimensional binding and the problem of reflection and transmission through potential walls and barriers.
The course will emphasize two areas: (1) Basic principles of quantum mechanics. (2) How to calculate things and get real, actual, numbers. The use of proper dimensional analysis will be required for all problems that call for it.
Class meets: in Barus & Holley 153
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from
Required Texts:
J. Sakurai, "Modern
Quantum Mechanics."
R. Shankar, "Principles
of Quantum Mechanics" (2nd Edition).
Homework: About 1 set per week.
Course grader: Liang Wu.
Tests and Exams: Two midterm tests plus
a final exam.
Grading scheme:
Classroom Participation ................................... 5%
Homework ..................................................... 20%
Midterms .................................. 20% + 20% = 40%
Final
Exam ..................................................... 35%.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
..............................................................100%
Here are some other books that you may find useful for basic background:
1. Basic Training in Mathematics: A Fitness Program for Science Students by R. Shankar. [Call number = QA300.S4315 1995] This book will be helpful if you are finding the mathematics that we use in PH205 to be difficult. Chapters 8 and 9 on "Matrices and Determinants" and "Linear Vector Spaces" are good supplements to Shankar's Principles of Quantum Mechanics. The notation, as you might expect, is very similar in the two books. And there is much else of value between the covers.
2. Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol. III by Feynman, Leighton, and Sands. [Call number = 1-SIZE QC23.F45 (1964).] In this famous set of lectures, Feynman introduces quantum mechanics from his own unique viewpoint. The "bra" and "ket" notation is used right away. Feynman's terrific physical intuition makes these lectures great fun to read.
3. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by David J. Griffiths (Prentice-Hall
1995). An exceptionally well-written
undergraduate level textbook. Highly recommended.
Here are some intermediate textbooks that are classics:
1. L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz: Quantum Mechanics.
2. G. Baym: Lectures on Quantum Mechanics
3. K. Gottfried: Quantum Physics.
4. P. A. M. Dirac: Principles of Quantum Mechanics
e-mail Prof. Dima Feldman: Dima_Feldman@physics.brown.edu
Prof. Feldman's telephone extension: x33056
Prof. Feldman's Office Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays