Quantum mechanics is the most successful theory of nature that we have.During this semester we will build on your understanding of quantum mechanics from PHYS 330/331 and apply quantum mechanics to atoms, molecules, and solids.We will study statistical physics, radioactivity, the atomic nucleus and possibly subatomic particles.The lecture and lab courses are separate courses with separate grades.PHYS 340 : LECTURE COURSE HOMEWORK: Homework assignments are Canvas and the deadline will be announced in class.The reason that the homework is already on Canvas is that previous students commented on the course evaluation that they wanted to see homework assignments earlier in the semester. Homework assignments must be legible, organized, and turned in on time for credit to be given. Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangements are made with your professor. Only 2 questions from each homework assignment will be graded for you to earn full points with those 2 questions being chosen at random.All other questions will have the answers posted online (note that the step-by-step solutions may not be posted but you can ask questions). Students are strongly encouraged to work collaboratively on homework assignments but must turn in their own written solutions.Remember that your friends may have good ideas but may have incorrect answers so you may do best if you try it yourself. Practice questions are on Canvas -please let me know if you have a question or want to know the correct answer.I will not be providing practice question solutions. QUIZZES: Quizzes will be on Canvas (found by clicking on the Quiz button on the front page). Quizzes are worth 10 points each unless otherwise stated. Some quizzes involve typed answers and I will have to grade each typed answer individually so please don't panic if your quiz has not been graded -it'll happen.
Quantum mechanics is the most successful theory of nature that we have.During this semester we will build on your understanding of quantum mechanics from PHYS 330/331 and apply quantum mechanics to atoms, molecules, and solids.We will study statistical physics, radioactivity, the atomic nucleus and possibly subatomic particles.The lecture and lab courses are separate courses with separate grades.PHYS 340 : LECTURE COURSE HOMEWORK: Homework assignments are Canvas and the deadline will be announced in class.The reason that the homework is already on Canvas is that previous students commented on the course evaluation that they wanted to see homework assignments earlier in the semester. Homework assignments must be legible, organized, and turned in on time for credit to be given. Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangements are made with your professor. Only 2 questions from each homework assignment will be graded for you to earn full points with those 2 questions being chosen at random.All other questions will have the answers posted online (note that the step-by-step solutions may not be posted but you can ask questions). Students are strongly encouraged to work collaboratively on homework assignments but must turn in their own written solutions.Remember that your friends may have good ideas but may have incorrect answers so you may do best if you try it yourself. Practice questions are on Canvas -please let me know if you have a question or want to know the correct answer.I will not be providing practice question solutions. QUIZZES: Quizzes will be on Canvas (found by clicking on the Quiz button on the front page). Quizzes are worth 10 points each unless otherwise stated. Some quizzes involve typed answers and I will have to grade each typed answer individually so please don't panic if your quiz has not been graded -it'll happen.
What will we be learning?We are entering a fascinating world that, I expect, will amaze you.Enter this course with an open mind, but also question everything you learn!Since 1895 most physics discoveries have been "modern".The Newtonian physics from your previous physics courses is classed as "Classical Physics" but we're going modern into a world where Newtonian physics does not work and we end up with incredible science.We will study the quantization of multiple physical properties and through the understanding of solids.Welcome to awesome world of quantum mechanics!So get ready to delve into Modern Physics!This course series (PHYS330 & PHYS331) fulfills the requirements of a Science Perspective core class and is a required course of the Physics major(s) and counts as an elective for Physics minors.The scientific method has resulted in historically unprecedented changes in our world.In this course you will learn how science proceeds, and practice the scientific method yourself in a weekly laboratory experience.You will learn the qualities of a good hypothesis or model, how to assess its validity, the significance of a scientific theory, and the elusiveness of "proof."On completing the course, you will be better able to understand and evaluate scientific or pseudoscientific claims that have direct impacts on your personal and professional life.This course is part of the Xavier Core Curriculum, which aims to develop people of learning and reflection, integrity and achievement, in solidarity for and with others.It addresses the following core learning objectives at the introductory level:• Students recognize and cogently discuss significant questions in the humanities, arts, and the natural and social sciences.• Students find, evaluate, and logically convey information and ideas in written and oral presentations.• Students evaluate problems using quantitative methods and arguments.Xavier University is committed to the health, safety, and care of all individuals within our community.As part of our Ignatian values and in the spirit of cura personalis, Xavier University wishes to disincentivize class attendance when students may be sick.For the duration of the pandemic, students who are ill will be excused from classes.We recommend the following procedures:• Students must adhere to University health and wellness procedures for self-evaluation, follow-up, and quarantine as necessary.• Students who are in quarantine due to close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, but who are not themselves symptomatic, are expected to attend class remotely and complete course assignments.• Untruthful student claims about illness may be regarded as a violation of the Student Handbook.• If Dr. Morris, or a family member, gets sick then you will receive a Canvas message or email.
The first volume (General Theory) differs from most textbooks as it emphasizes the mathematical structure and mathematical rigor, while being adapted to the teaching the first semester of an advanced course in Quantum Mechanics (the content of the book are the lectures of courses actually delivered.). It differs also from the very few texts in Quantum Mechanics that give emphasis to the mathematical aspects because this book, being written as Lecture Notes, has the structure of lectures delivered in a course, namely introduction of the problem, outline of the relevant points, mathematical tools needed, theorems, proofs. This makes this book particularly useful for self-study and for instructors in the preparation of a second course in Quantum Mechanics (after a first basic course). With some minor additions it can be used also as a basis of a first course in Quantum Mechanics for students in mathematics curricula. The second part (Selected Topics) are lecture notes of a more advanced course aimed at giving the basic notions necessary to do research in several areas of mathematical physics connected with quantum mechanics, from solid state to singular interactions, many body theory, semi-classical analysis, quantum statistical mechanics. The structure of this book is suitable for a second-semester course, in which the lectures are meant to provide, in addition to theorems and proofs, an overview of a more specific subject and hints to the direction of research. In this respect and for the width of subjects this second volume differs from other monographs on Quantum Mechanics. The second volume can be useful for students who want to have a basic preparation for doing research and for instructors who may want to use it as a basis for the presentation of selected topics.
To remind you, this book is based on a course I taught in 2006. On the last day of class, I followed the great tradition pioneered by Richard Feynman, in which the last class should be one where you can ask the teacher anything. Feynman's rule was that you could ask about anything except politics, religion, or the final exam. In my case, there was no final exam, and I didn't even make politics or religion off-limits. This chapter collects some of the questions people asked me, together with my responses. Student: Do you often think about using computer science to limit or give us a hint about physical theories? Do you think that we'll be able to discover physical theories which give more powerful models than quantum computation? Scott: Is BQP the end of the road, or is there more to be found? That's a fantastic question, and I wish more people would think about it. I’m being a bit of a politician here and not answering directly, because obviously the answer is “I don't know.” I guess the whole idea with science is that if we don't know the answer, we don't try to sprout one out of our butt or something. We try to base our answers on something. So, everything we know is consistent with the idea that quantum computing is the end of the road. Greg Kuperberg had an analogy I really liked. He said that there are people who keep saying that we've gone from classical to quantum mechanics so what other surprises are in store? But maybe that's like first assuming the Earth is flat, and then on discovering that it's round, saying who knows, maybe it has the topology of a Klein bottle. There's a surprise in a given direction, but once you've assimilated it, there may not be any further surprise in that same direction.
This concise textbook introduces an innovative computational approach to quantum mechanics. Over the course of this engaging and informal book, students are encouraged to take an active role in learning key concepts by working through practical exercises. The book equips readers with some basic methodology and a toolbox of scientific computing methods, so they can use code to simulate and directly visualize how quantum particles behave. The important foundational elements of the wave function and the Schrödinger equation are first introduced, then the text gradually builds up to advanced topics including relativistic, open, and non-Hermitian quantum physics. This book assumes familiarity with basic mathematics and numerical methods, and can be used to support a two-semester advanced undergraduate course. Source code and solutions for every book exercise involving numerical implementation are provided in Python and MATLAB®, along with supplementary data. Additional problems are provided online for instructor use with locked solutions.