Course syllabus

 

Fall 2021


  • Instructor: Y.-C. Lin (my homepage)
  • Class Meetings: Thu. 4:10 - 7:00 p.m. Google Meet
  • Course Materials:
    This course does not follow a particular text, but the following essentially cover the material:
    • R. SHANKAR
      Principles of Quantum Mechanics
    • J.J. SAKURAI
      Modern Quantum Mechanics (Revised Edition, 1993)
    • E. Merzbacher
      Quantum Mechanics
    • A. MESSIAH
      Quantum Mechanics I & II
    • C. COHEN-TANNOUDJI, B. DIU, F. LALOË
      Quantum Mechanics I & II
    • N. ZETTILI
      Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications
    Recommended additional readings:
    • R.P. FEYNMAN, R.B. LEIGHTON, M. SANDS
      The Feynman Lectures on Physics: 3
    • L. SUSSKIND & A. FRIEFMAN
      Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum
  • Topics Covered:
    • Fundamental Concepts
      mathematical introduction; quantum two-state systems; wave functions in position and momentum space; postulates of quantum mechanics
    • Time Evolution
      time-evolution operator; Schrödinger/Heisenberg pictures; path integral formulation
    • Simple Models (One-Particle Systems)
      the harmonic oscillator; tunneling; resonance; periodic potentials; vector potentials...; perturbation theory
    • Angular Momentum
      rotations; orbital angular momentum; spin; [if time permits: addition of angular momenta]
  • Grading: The grade will be based on one midterm, the final exam and homework assignments.

Problem assignments