QUANTUM MECHANICS
SPRING 2005 - COURSE OUTLINE FOR PHYU617/G115

http://www.atsweb.neu.edu/physics/t.taylor/qm.html

 Professor Tomasz Taylor

Office: 208 DANA               E-mail: taylor@neu.edu               Telephone: 617-373-2979

Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:40 to 2:40 PM

Textbook: "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by David J. Griffiths, 2^nd edition, (Prentice Hall, 2005). Other useful, but not required, textbooks include "Quantum Physics" by Stephen Gasiorowicz (Wiley) and "Quantum Mechanics" by Richard L. Liboff (Addison Wesley).

Topics to be covered (week by week):

Week 1:  The Limits of Classical Physics and the Emergence of Quantum Theory
Week 2:  Wave Particle Duality, Probability and the Schroedinger Equation (Ch. 1)
Week 3:  MLK Day on Monday, January 17 and
               Time-Independent Schroedinger Equation (Ch. 2)
Week 4:  One-Dimensional Potentials I (Ch. 2)
Week 5:  One-Dimensional Potentials II (Ch. 2)
Week 6:  First Midterm Exam on Monday, February 7 and
               The Formalism of Quantum Mechanics I (Ch. 3.1-3)
Week 7:  The Formalism of Quantum Mechanics II (Ch. 3.4-6)
Week 8:  The Schroedinger Equation in 3D (Ch. 4.1)
   SPRING BREAK WEEK
Week 9:  The Hydrogen Atom I (Ch. 4.2)
Week 10: The Hydrogen Atom II (Ch. 4.2)
Week 11: Second Midterm Exam on Monday, March 21 and
               The Angular Momentum (Ch. 4.3)
Week 12: Spin (Ch. 4.4)
Week 13: Identical Particles I (Ch. 5)
Week 14: Identical Particles II (Ch. 5)

Grade: 1st Midterm Exam (February 7) - 15%, 2nd Midterm Exam (March 21) - 20%, Final Exam (April 18, to be confirmed) - 35%. The other 30% of the grade is determined from the average score on Monday quizzes which are based on one of the assigned homework problems (to be posted on the website on each Wednesday).