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PHY-314 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

Course Outline
1. Polarization and introduction to Quantum Mechanics a. Wave equation Properties: Linear, superposition, Plane waves b. Polarization of light, Matrix representation c. Experiments with polarized light d. Understanding the results, quantum interpretation of the experiments 2. Postulates and Machinery of Quantum Mechanics a. Operators and Observables b. System and State vector c. Definition of probability d. Hilbert space 3. Time evolution of states a. Unitary evolution of states b. Hamiltonian Matrix 4. Two state systems a. Ammonia Molecule b. Ammonia Maser c. Spin-1/2 particle in Magnetic field: Stern-Gerlach Experiment d. Neutral K-Meson 5. Many or Infinite state systems a. Dependence of amplitudes on position b. Wave function, states of definite momenta c. Heuristic derivation of Schroedinger equation 6. Solving Schroedinger equation for simple/1-dimensional systems a. Particle in a box b. Scattering from a potential well c. Bound states of a potential well d. Delta function potential e. Harmonic Oscillator f. Simple model of a crystal 7. Revisiting Harmonic Oscillator potential using Operator approach 8. Schroedinger equation in 3 dimensions and many particles a. Two Particles b. Schwinger Oscillator model; connection with angular momentum algebra c. Identical particles d. Particle in 3-dimensional box 9. Interacting particles: entanglement

10. Hydrogen atom and Hydrogen-like atoms

References
The course outline is a superposition of several books. 1. Part (1, 2) is based on Chapter 1 of P. A. M. Dirac, Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Oxford University Press Also look at Chapter 1 in the following books: Harry J. Lipkin, Quantum Mechanics: New approaches to selected topics, Dover Press. V. Scarani, Six quantum Pieces, World Scientific Dirac book is a bit complicated. Hence, I do not advise any of you to read it now. 2. Part (3, 4, 5) is based on Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol: 3 3. Part (6-9) looks at solutions of Schroedinger equation. All standard textbooks of quantum mechanics can be used as a reference. In particular a. J. J. Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics, Addison-Wesley b. C. Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu and Frank Lole, Quantum Mechanics Vol: 1. Wiley Interscience c. J. S. Townsend, A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics, University Science Books d. Gennaro Auletta & Mauro Fortunato & Giorgio Parisi, Quantum Mechanics, Cambridge University Press 4. Book by W. Greiner on Quantum Mechanics has detailed calculations. I spotted few errors, hence, be careful of typographical errors!

Assignment guidelines
1. One assignment every 4 lectures. Return date will be mentioned on the assignment. Any deadline extension should be told the next day of receiving the assignment. 2. Please make sure that you do the assignment by yourself. You are free to consult your classmates, seniors/Ph.D. students and make sure you understand the concept. To know whether you have indeed done the assignment, time to time I will ask questions to some of you. Hence, do not try to fool yourself by copying assignments from others. 3. Do not take assignments to other faculties and ask them to solve for you. Faculties have solved assignments in their student times! It is your time to solve the assignments. 4. There will be surprise test during the class hour.

Course Schedule
1. Upto First mid-semester exam: Part 1 - 4 2. Between I and II mid-sem exam: Part 5 - 7 3. Between II mid-sem and Final exam: Part 8-10

Meeting outside class hours


We can fix a suitable time convenient for you and me. My suggestion is Thursday between 12:30 - 13:30 hrs (just after the Physics meeting).

Short presentations
All physics major and Int. Ph.D. students are expected to give short presentations on the following topics. Two students can join and give a single presentation. We expect to start the presentations after the first mid-semester. List of topics are given below: 1. Scanning Tunneling Microscope: a. Principle b. Working 2. Josephson Junction a. Principle b. Working 3. Chandrasekhar Mass limit 4. Coherent states 5. Squeezed states 6. Working of atomic clocks 7. Fluctuations and random number generator 8. Tunneling and ultraprecise thermometers 9. P-N junction

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