We are
living in a quantum world. Get used to it.
Teaching Assistant:
Vishal Kasliwal
Department of Physics
Office: Disque 808
Email: vpk24@drexel.edu
Phone: (215)895-1544
Office hours: Wednesdays 4-5 and by appointment
We are
living in a quantum world. Get used to it.
Announcements
Course Meetings
Syllabus
Course Description and Philosophy
Course Outline
Textbook and Reading Assignments
Grading
Course rules of conduct
Problem Sets
Problem Hints
Exams
Course Schedule
Miscellaneous
Welcome back to Drexel and welcome to the home page of QM III. This is your resource page for information about the course, including homework assignments, exams, and solutions. This web page is also the syllabus for the course. To save paper, I will not print and distribute copies of documents in class. You may read them on the web or your computer and print out if you need.
In the first two quarters of our three part sequence on QM, you studied the basic equations, discussed the similarities and differences between the classical and QM descriptions, and solved some simple, typically one-dimensional problems. In the second quarter you worked on QM in three dimensions, including description of the Hydrogen atom, from which you could first see how the QM formulation yields accurate predictions of the observed phenomena, and studied multi-particle systems.
Now you're ready to delve more deeply into QM. Read through the practice problems to tune up your brains after the Summer (and the coop cycle). Then we'll quickly step up to more interesting work. Most problems more complicated than those you solved in QM I and II require use of one approximation scheme or another. Clearly, learning to do Physics is more than just memorizing equations; you need to learn methods for applying them: perturbation theory and the variational principle , for example. We'll examine the interaction of radiation with matter to see how absorption and emission of photons arises from perturbation theory. Then we will study scattering theory which describes how particles interact with each other, as in collisions in a particle accelerator. We will also consider some deep questions and experiments that strike at the core of our understanding of quantum mechanics, including the EPR paradox and Bell's Theorem.
See the Course Schedule for the assigned readings, which you should do before class, so that you are prepared to ask and answer questions.
I will also hand out photocopies of selected passages from other QM texts, as necessary to supplement Griffiths. Here's one from David Mermin:
Mermin on reality and quantum theory
Electronic distractions: Silence your cell phone or leave it home. Only phone calls (to me) from the Nobel Prize committee will be tolerated. Laptop computers may be used only for taking notes. Web surfing, texting, reading/sending email is prohibited during class. I will ask you to leave the class if you violate this rule.
Food: Our class meetings are at lunchtime and everyone has to eat sooner or later. So, if you must bring your lunch, you may do so, provided that you can still takes notes while eating it and the smell is not unbearable (or so tasty that I'm tempted to steal it - triathletes are always hungry).
Plagiarism: Use your own very large brain (you're a physicist!) and don't even think about cheating. See homework rules below.
You may discuss the homework with your classmates, but you and you alone are responsible for the work that you turn in. Please write up your own solutions to the problems. Breaches of this policy will result in homework scores being divided by the number of ``participants.'' Second offenses may result in failure (of the class).
Use of solutions to these problems from previous years constitutes plagiarism. You must attribute (by giving the correct reference) any significant help that you receive from outside sources.
Practice Problems 1 (PDF) Just for practice - I give you the solutions!
Practice Problems 2 (PDF) Ditto.
Problem Set 1 (PDF) Due by 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 5 in the "homework hand in folder."
Problem Set 2 (PDF) Due in class Wednesday, October 17.
Problem Set 3 (PDF) Due by 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 26 in the "homework hand in folder."
Problem Set 4 (PDF) Due by 4:00 p.m. Friday, November 16 in the "homework hand in folder."
Problem Set 5 (PDF) Due by 4:00 p.m. Friday, November 30 in "homework hand in folder."
Problem Set 6 (PDF) Due by 4:00 p.m. Friday,
December 7 in "homework hand in folder."
Quantum Computing with Ions (PDF)
Measuring and
Manipulating Individual Quantum Systems (PDF)
There will be two "midterm" exams, after weeks 4 and 8. These exams will cover material during the previous four weeks or so. Midterm 1 will be in class on 10/20 and will be half closed and half open book. Midterm 2 will be take-home, entirely open book, and will be distributed from this web site on 11/18 and due in class on 11/22.
The final exam will be held during the usual exam week, on Friday, December 14 at 8:00-10:00 a.m.. It will be comprehensive and half closed and half open book. You may bring a calculator to perform numerical calculations only.
| Week | Class Dates | Reading | Homework | Exams |
| 1 | September 24, 26 | practice problems, Griffiths ch. 6 | ||
| 2 | October 1, 3 | Griffiths ch. 6 | HW1 | |
| 3 | October 10 (no class 10/8) | Griffiths ch. 9 | HW2 | |
| 4 | October 15, 17 | Griffiths ch. 9 | ||
| 5 | October 22, 24 | Griffiths ch. 11 | HW3 | |
| 6 | October 29, 31 | Griffiths ch. 11 | ||
| 7 | November 5, 7 | Griffiths ch. 11 | Midterm exam 1 in class 11/5 | |
| 8 | November 12, 14 | Griffiths ch. 11, 7 | HW4 | |
| 9 | November 19 (Thanksgiving break 11/21) | Griffiths ch. 7, 12 | ||
| 10 | November 26, 28 | Griffiths ch. 12 and handouts | HW5 | |
| 11 | December 3, 5 | Griffiths ch. 12 and handouts | HW6 | |
| 12 | No Class | Final Exam, TBA |
Last update: December 10, 2012.