Physics 3200B

Quantum Mechanics I

2011-2012

R. A. Holt Room 232, P&AB E-mail (preferred): rholt at uwo dot ca Phone: 519-661-2187 (from campus: 82187) Office hours: Feel free to drop in anytime. Usually we can talk then, but if I’m busy we’ll make an appointment. Alternatively, e-mail or phone ahead to set a time.

COURSE INFORMATION

· Course Description (from UWO Calendar):

The Schrödinger equation in one dimension, wave packets, stationary states, the harmonic oscillator, the postulates of Quantum Mechanics, operators and eigenvalue equations, angular momentum, the hydrogen atom.

Antirequisite(s): Chemistry 3374A/B.

Prerequisite(s): Physics 2101A/B and 2102A/B, or Physics 2128A/B and 2129A/B; Physics 2110A/B.

Corequisite(s):

Pre-or Corequisite(s):

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

· Lectures: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 1:30 – 2:20 pm, Western Science Centre, Room 240

· Textbook: There will be no specific textbook. I will post my lecture notes on WebCT.

· Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 661-2111 x 82147 for any issues or questions regarding accommodation.

· Teaching Assistants: tba

· Course Content (tentative):

· The Origins of Quantum Mechanics

· The Schrödinger Equation in One Dimension

· Stationary States and the Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation

· Hermitian Operators, Eigenstates, Measurements

· Matrix Representations, Dirac Notation

· Angular Momentum

· The Three-Dimensional Schrödinger Equation, the Hydrogen Atom

· The Measurement Problem, Entanglement, Quantum Information Science

· Assignments: These will consist of problems to be worked out and handed in for marking.

· Mid-Term Test: There will be one 2.5-hour test at approximately the middle of the term. It will consist of both short-answer conceptual questions and longer problems to be worked out. It is very important to explain your reasoning! A formula sheet will be supplied. Bring a calculator (any type).

· Final Exam: There will be a 3-hour cumulative final exam during the April exam period. The format will be similar to that of the Mid-Term Test.

· Grading:

· Assignments 25%

· Mid-Term Test 30%

· Final Exam 45%

Accommodations for Religious Holidays

When scheduling unavoidably conflicts with religious holidays which a) require an absence from the University or b) prohibit or require certain activities (i.e., activities that would make it impossible for the student to satisfy the academic requirements scheduled on the day(s) involved), no student will be penalized for absence because of religious reasons, and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and instructor involved, they should consult the appropriate department chair and, if necessary, the student's Dean.

It is the responsibility of such students to inform themselves concerning the work done in classes from which they are absent and to take appropriate action.

A student who, for either of the situations outlined in paragraph one above (a or b), is unable to write examinations and term tests on a Sabbath or Holy Day in a particular term shall give notice of this fact in writing to his or her Dean as early as possible, but not later than November 15 for mid-year examinations and March 1 for final examinations, i.e., approximately two weeks after the posting of the mid-year and final examination schedule respectively. In the case of mid-term tests, such notification is to be given in writing to the instructor within 48 hours of the announcement of the date of the mid-term test. If a Special Examination is offered as an alternative means to satisfy the academic requirements, the instructor(s) in the case of mid-term tests and the dean in the case of mid-year and Spring final examinations will arrange for special examination(s) to be written at another time. In the case of mid- year and Spring final examinations, the accommodation must occur no later than one month after the end of the examination period involved. It is mandatory that students seeking accommodations under this policy give notification before the deadlines and that the Faculty accommodate these requests.

For purposes of this policy the University has approved a list of dates which are recognized religious holidays which require members of those religions to be absent from the University; this list is updated annually and is available at Departmental, Deans' and Faculty advising offices.

Make-up Policy

If you are unable to meet a course requirement due to illness or other serious circumstances, you must provide valid medical or other supporting documentation to the Dean's office as soon as possible and contact your instructor immediately. It is the student's responsibility to make alternative arrangements with their instructor once the accommodation has been approved and the instructor has been informed. In the event of a missed final exam, a "Recommendation of Special Examination" form must be obtained from the Dean's Office immediately. For further information please see: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf

A student requiring academic accommodation due to illness should use the Student Medical Certificate when visiting an off-campus medical facility or request a Records Release Form (located in the Dean's Office) for visits to Student Health Services. The form can be found here: https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf

Final Examination

In accordance with Senate Policy, a Special Examination will be held within thirty days of the regular final examination for students who are unable to write the regular examination for medical or other documented reasons. Requests for such a Special Examination must be made to the Associate Dean, Faculty of Science.

Note that if you fail to write a scheduled Special Examination, permission to write another Special Examination will be granted only with the permission of the Dean in exceptional circumstances and with appropriate supporting documents. In such a case, the date of this Special Examination normally will be the scheduled date for the final exam the next time the course is offered.

Cheating (Scholastic Offenses)

Scholastic offenses are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offense, at the following Web site:

http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

Plagiarism

Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea, or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence (see Scholastic Offence Policy in the Western Academic Calendar).

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

Classroom Conduct

Disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated in class. Please respect the rights of your classmates to benefit from the lecture by limiting your conversations to those essential to the class. Students who persist in loud or rude behaviour will be asked to leave.

Complaints and Suggestions

If you have a concern about something, please let us know. We rely on your feedback. Please contact initially the person most directly concerned; this will usually be your instructor. If that is not satisfactory, or if there is something more general bothering you, talk it over with the Physics & Astronomy Department Chair or the Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies (for contact information see http://www.physics.uwo.ca ).