Bryn Mawr College, Department of Physics
Physics 214: Waves and Quantum Mechanics, Spring 2008
Michael Schulz
Office: 340 Park Science Center
E-mail: mbschulz at brynmawr dot edu
Office phone: (610) 526 - 5367
Lecture (336 Park Science Center):
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10–11am
Recitation section (337 Park Science Center):
Tuesday, 6–7pm
Office hours:
Tuesday, 12–1pm
Wednesday, 7–9pm
Thursday, 6–7pm
Course webpage:
Course description:
A tentative schedule will soon be available on the calendar and assignments webpage.
Part I: Electromagnetic Waves and Photons. Wave properties of light: electromagnetic waves, wave equation, single slit diffraction, double slit diffraction gratings, diffraction gratings. Particle properties of light: photoelectric effect, Compton scattering. Particle and wave properties of light: single photon interference.
Part II: Matter Waves and the 1D Schrödinger Equation. De Broglie waves, atom interferometry, Bragg diffraction, the Schrödinger equation, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the correspondence principle and Ehrenfests theorem, wave packets, dispersion. Stationary states, one dimensional potentials: infinite square well, harmonic oscillator, finite square well, delta function potential. Qualitative features of solutions. Scattering and tunneling in one dimension.
Part III: General Principles and the 3D Schrödinger Equation. Observables and Hermitian operators, time dependence. Puzzles: Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiments, measurement and collapse of the wavefunction. Schrödinger Equation in three dimensions: infinite square well, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, Zeeman effect. Spin and the Stern Gerlach experiment. Identical particles and spin-statistics.
Part IV: Applications. A topical survey of a subset of the following, to be determined by interest and available time. Statistical mechanics: Fermi and Bose distributions, white dwarfs, blackbody radiation, Bose-Einstein condensation, lasers. Solids: band structure, superconductivity. Nuclear physics: binding curve, radioactivity, fission, fusion. Particle physics: QED, leptons, quarks, QCD, Weak interactions, Noether's theorem on symmetries and conservation laws.
Throughout. Many of the phenomena encountered through our study of the Schrödinger equation represent universal features of wave motion that also apply to classical material systems. We will discuss the universality of the following phenomena as they are encountered:
Simple harmonic oscillation, linearity and superposition, the wave equation, standing waves, Fourier series, traveling waves, dispersion, boundaries, reflection, transmission, attenuation, pulses, Fourier analysis, uncertainty principle, phase velocity, group velocity.
Textbook:
John S. Townsend
A Modern Introduction to Quantum Physics
(prepublication edition 12/24/2007).
Format:
We'll adopt the philosophy that class time is best spent bringing the material in your textbook to life through discussion and problem solving. I'll try to restrict lecturing to hitting the highlights of your reading assignments and to "big picture" ideas. For that reason, it will be very important for you to stay on top of the reading. Most of the class time will be devoted to working through problems.
Grading:
Homework: 30% (distributed weekly, due most Wednesdays)
Quiz 1: 20% (2 hours, closed book; distributed Friday 29 February and due Monday 3 March)
Quiz 2: 20% (2 hours, closed book; distributed Friday 11 April and due Monday 14 April)
Final exam: 30% (3 hours, closed book)I hope that there will be much discussion both inside and outside of class. You are allowed (and encouraged!) to work on the problem sets together and to form study groups. The solutions you submit must of course be prepared yourself and not be reproductions of other people's work.
Laboratory:
The laboratory is a required part of the course, but is run independently. While no official grade will be assigned to the laboratory, satisfactory completion of all laboratory exercises is required in order to pass the course. In the event that you are on the border between two grades, good lab performance and other indications of effort throughout the course will help to justify the higher grade.
Accommodations:
Students who think they may need accommodations in this course because of the impact of a learning, physical, or psychological disability are encouraged to meet with me privately early in the semester to discuss their concerns. Students should also contact Stephanie Bell, Coordinator of Access Services (610-526-7351 or sbell@brynmawr.edu), as soon as possible, to verify their eligibility for reasonable academic accommodations. Early contact will help to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and delays.