Recommended Text Books

Amnon Yariv:” Introduction to Quantum

Mechanics and its applications”
Eisberg/Resnick:”Quantum Physics”

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Contents
Introduction
Operators in Quantum Physics
Schroedinger Equation
Problem 1 Dimention
Oscillator harmonics
Atom hydrogen
Ganguan
Hamburan
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Review of basic quantum physics

Quantum Mechanics developed to explain

the failure of classical physics to describe
properties of matter on atomic scale
- energy quantization —› line spectra
- Zeamann Effect (PR1)
- Photoelecrics Effect
- Compton Effect (PR2)
- angular momentum quantization —› fine structure
- quantum mechanical tunneling —› nuclear  decay

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Atomic line spectra

 Emission spectra from atoms show

characteristic lines (unique to each
atomic species)
 Spectral lines correspond to transitions
between discrete atomic energy levels
 Wavelengths follow precise
mathematical patterns
 Evidence for energy quantization
 Fine structure (splitting) of spectral
lines is evidence of angular
momentum quantization
 <<< Mercury emission spectrum

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 35000

30000

25000
Intensité [U.A.]

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
650 700 750 800 850 900 950
longeur d'onde [nm]
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Quantum mechanical tunneling

 Wave packet is a spatially localised

superposition of plane waves - a good
description of a particle
 if kinetic energy < potential energy
(=height of barrier)
 then, classically particle can’t
penetrate barrier
 QM allows barrier penetration !
 in nuclei  particle can tunnel through
Coulomb potential barrier

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Nuclear  particle decay

 Nuclear square well + coulomb

barrier (~ 1/r)
  particle energy < coulomb barrier
height (=coulomb energy at nuclear
surface)
 classically  can’t escape from
nucleus
 QM allows barrier penetration
 nuclear decay lifetime depends on
barrier thickness

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A Physics joke ….

Q: What's the difference between a quantum

mechanic and an auto mechanic?

A: A quantum mechanic can get his car into

the garage without opening the door!

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Wave particle duality

 Light has wave-like properties (interference, diffraction,

refraction) and particle-like properties (photo-electric
effect, Compton effect)
 Particles show classical particle behaviour (scattering)
and also have wave-like properties (double slit electron
interference, neutron diffraction)
 A wave equation can be constructed which describes the
state of a particle or system of particles (the
Schroedinger equation)

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The 5 Postulates of QM

wave function —› observables

operators, eigenvalues and eigenfunctions
position and momentum operators
states and probabilities
time dependent Schroedinger equation

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Postulate 1

For every dynamical system there exists a wave

function  that is a single valued function of the
parameters of the system and of time, and from
which all possible predictions of the physical
properties of the system can be obtained.

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 The wave function

  = (r,t) in general, a complex number function

 (Real) Probabilty density P(r,t) = * = |(r,t)|²

 Probabilty (in volume d³r) P(r,t) d³r = |(r,t)|² d³r

 Normalisation:  |(r,t)|² d³r = 1 over all space

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 Example:  normalisation
 (x) = A / (1+x²)
  |  |² dx = |A|²  dx / (1+x²) - < x < 
 = |A|² { arctan(x = ) - arctan(x = -) }
 =  |A|²
 = 1 from the normalisation requirement
 => A = (1 /()) . exp(i)  is a complex phase
 by convention: A = 1 / () i.e.  = 0
 Probability to find particle in range -1 < x < 1 ?
 Prob = |A|² { arctan(x = 1) - arctan(x = -1) }
 = (1/) { (/4) - (-/4) }
 = 1/2
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Gauge invariance

 Any wavefunction can be multiplied by a phase factor

exp(i), where  is a real number, with no physical
consequence.
 Wavefunction  —›  exp(i)
 Probability density ~ ||²
 ||² —›||² exp(i) exp(-i) =||²
 Probability density unchanged!
 Important in particle physics and the unification of
fundamental forces

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Example: free particle normalisation

 Free particle:  (x,t) = A exp { i (k x -  t) }

  | |² dx = |A|²  exp(ikx-it-ikx+it) dx
 = |A|²  dx (- < x <  ) = 1
 => A = 0 as integral is infinite
 i.e. probability of localising particle to position x is zero
 to avoid problem, consider beam of particles with
average separation L
 unit probability of finding a particle in range 0 < x < L
  | |² dx = 1 over range 0 < x < L
 => |A|² L = 1 i.e. A = 1/ (L)
  (x,t) = 1/ (L) . exp { i (k x -  t) }

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