PHYS 331 : Course Syllabus
Course Faculty
| Name | Phone | Office | Office Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Leader: | Craig J Copi | cjc5 | 368-8831 | Rock 210 | MWF 4:00-5:00 PM |
Text
There is one required text for the course:
Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 2nd edition (ISBN: 0-13-111892-7).
Lecture Times
The course meets MWF, 11:30AM-12:20PM, ROCK 303
Topics Covered
In this course we will mostly follow the textbook. The goal is to cover the first five chapters. Although this may not sound like a lot of material, it is! We most likely only cover selected topics in chapter 5.
- Statistical interpretation of the wave function
- Time-dependent Schrödinger equation
- Measurement
- The uncertainty principle
- Time-independent Schrödinger equation: stationary states
- Solving the time independent Schrödinger equation in 1 dimension: infinite and finite square well, free particle, harmonic oscillator, delta-function potential, scattering in 1D.
- Quantum mechanics formalism: Hilbert space, observables as Hermitian operators, statistical interpretation
- Dirac notation
- Solving Schrödinger equation in 3D: spherical coordinates, angular momentum, Hydrogen atom
- Spin
- Addition of angular momentum
- Identical particles (maybe)
- Quantum statistical mechanics (maybe)
Bulletin Board
A bulletin board has been created for this course. The PHYS 331 general course bulletin board is for general discussions of this course material. The main reason for having a forum is that it supports displaying equations using TeX.
Homework
The problem sets can be found elsewhere. There will be almost-weekly individual problem sets that will typically be due on Mondays. In doing problems, you are required to use good problem solving techniques.
Solutions must be turned in by the end of class, 12:30PM, on the day they are due.
Exams
Three exams will be held during class time, from 11:30-12:20PM, in a room to be determined. Exams will be open book (this means the course textbook only).
Note: The following dates are tentative and subject to change.
- Exam I: Wednesday, September 28, Location: Nord 204
- Exam II: Wednesday, October 19, Location: Nord 204
- Exam III: Wednesday, November 30, Location: Nord 204
Final Exam
The final exam for the course will be on Wednesday December 14, 2011 from 8:30-11:30 AM, in Nord 204. All students must take the final exam to pass the course.
Course Grading Scheme
Please check your grades online. If there are errors you must report them to me by the time of the final exam to get them corrected.
| Problem Sets: | 30% | |
| 3 In-class Exams | 15% each | |
| Final Exam | 25% | |
| Total | 100% |