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PHYS 4700
Fall
2018
Quantum Mechanics
Instructor:
Charles Torre, SER 232, 797-3426, Charles.Torre@usu.edu
Lectures:
T-Th, 12:00 – 1:15 p.m., SER 122
Text:
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, Second Edition, by David J. Griffiths
Office Hours:
By appointment
Learning Objectives:
  • Knowledge:  Wave functions, observables, probability interpretation, Schrodinger equation, elementary one dimensional examples, a particle in three dimensions, angular momentum, spin.

  • Skills:   Applying the laws of quantum mechanics in a variety of contexts; analysis and modeling of physical systems; statistical analysis; problem solving; applied mathematics, scientific exposition.

  • Thinking: Critical and scientific thinking. Understanding microscopic systems using quantum reasoning.

  • A detailed list of learning goals organized by chapter in the text can be found here.
Assessment:
  • Reading Quizzes (10%). Homework (30%).  3 exams (60%). 
  • Final Exam: Thursday, December 13, 12:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Additional information
  • This semester we will survey the foundations of the subject, basic techniques for its application to the real world, and a number of standard examples.  We will cover material appearing in Chapters 1–4, though we might not have time to go through all the material in these chapters.

  • To help you keep up with the material, I am assigning Reading Quizzes. These are brief multiple choice quizzes taken via Canvas.  They take a reading assignment for a given lecture and ask a few simple questions about it.
  • Our book is pretty readable as textbooks go, so I'm afraid you're going to have to read it. My lectures will usually not just be a version of the text. Rather, the text should be your principal reference which, along with my lectures and lecture notes, allows you to solve the various problems you are assigned.  If you want to learn the material thoroughly you should work through the text and the notes, filling in intermediate steps.

  • I will make available notes which summarize - but may not always exhaust - the content of the lectures. They will be posted here in PDF format on the Physics 4700 web site and can be viewed with any PDF viewer, e.g., your web browser, Acrobat Reader, etc.

  • Listening to lectures and reading books are necessary for learning physics, but they are far from sufficient. There is no substitute for wrestling with the material yourself by working problems. There will be a number of problem sets. Your primary goal in this course is to solve these problems using material given in the lectures and in the text, additional references, collaboration with your colleagues, etc.  I cannot over-emphasize the importance of the problem solving experience to the learning of quantum physics (or any other subject in physics, for that matter). Your grade will largely be determined by how well you do with the homework problems.

  • To help you understand the homework problems, there will be weekly help/recitation sessions. 
    Recitation times: TBA






Honor Code

The honor code will be strictly enforced in this course. Any suspected violations of the honor code will be promptly reported to the honor system. For more information please visit: http://studentconduct.usu.edu/studentcode/article6

Disability Resource Center

            USU welcomes students with disabilities. If you have, or suspect you may have, a physical, mental health, or learning disability that may require accommodations in this course, please contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) as early in the semester as possible (University Inn # 101, 435‐797‐2444, drc@usu.edu). All disability related accommodations must be approved by the DRC.  Once approved, the DRC will coordinate with faculty to provide accommodations..