Wave-particle duality; two-slit experiment; wave packets; compatible and incompatible variables; postulates of quantum mechanics
Schroedinger equation; 1-D problems
Harmonic oscillator
Uncertainty principle
Systems with N degrees of freedom
Rotational invariance and angular momentum
Hydrogen atom
Spin
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS - PHYSICS 234
As part of the new curriculum, students will now do experiments in Phys 234. The scheduling will follow that of the Struture of Matter sequence, with the menu of experiments to be determined. (Note that in the new curriculum, all Physics concentrators will take Physics 234-235, while 236 and 237 become electives.)
PHYSICS 235 -- QUANTUM MECHANICS II
Level
Principles of Quantum Mechanics
(2nd edition) by Shankar
Quantum Physics
(2nd edition) by Gasiorowicz
Prerequisites
Physics 234
Syllabus
Review of one-dimensional quantum mechanics
Hilbert space
Hamiltonians
eigenstates; observables
hydrogen atom
Spin and angular momentum
review of spin 1/2
addition of angular momentum
Time-independent perturbation theory
first- and second-order perturbation theory
degenerate perturbation theory
fine and hyperfine structure
Electrons in an electromagnetic field
role of vector potential in QM
Aharonov-Bohm effect
Landau levels
Zeeman effect; Stark effect
Many-electron atoms
helium
shell structure
Hund's rules
variational methods
Molecules
orbitals
ionic and covalent bonds
hybridization
molecular spectra
If time permits:
Radiation of atoms
time-dependent perturbation theory
electromagnetic interactions
dipole transitions; selection rules
phase space; Fermi's golden rule
lasers
Other topics could include Bell's inequalities [or cover at end of 234?], path integrals, quantum Hall effect, quantum computing
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS - PHYSICS 235
Balmer Series; Rydberg Constant
Charge of the Electron - Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
Franck-Hertz Experiment
Electron Diffraction
Normal and Anomalous Zeeman Effect
The Compton Effect and the Electron Mass
X-ray Diffraction, Continuum and Line Spectra
Optical Pumping
NOTES:
The laboratory has 5 setups of Experiments 1, 2, and 3. All the rest are one of a kind setups.
Experiment 6, "The Compton Effect", is an experiment in atomic physics. The nuclear physics version is in Physics 237. Some instructors may choose to delete the experiment here and do it only in 237 when the techniques of particle detection are much better understood.