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Physics 423: Quantum Mechanics II (Fall 2019)
Professor
Rogério de Sousa
Lectures
Mon, Thur: 11:30 - 12:50, Elliott
161.
Attendance not required,
but strongly recommended.
All lecture notes are available online; please
click on the corresponding link to the left.
It is strictly prohibited
to use cell phones, laptops, perform texting
or social networking during class (as an exception, I allow the use
of laptops or tablets to take notes or access
the textbook during class).
Office hours
Thursdays
3:00 - 4:00 pm, Elliott 117.
How to send me a message: Use the forum at
coursespaces:
http://coursespaces.uvic.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=1252594
Please send messages or questions using the UVic
coursespaces forum for P423.
That way all students will have access to our
conversation. If you wish to send me a private
message,
please send it to my UVic email: 
Textbook
"Introduction to
Quantum Mechanics", David J. Griffiths, 3rd Ed.
Some sections of the course will closely follow
this book, so I strongly recommend its purchase.
Other suggested
books
- "Quantum Mechanics", Vols. 1 and 2, by
Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu and Frank
Laloë
Very didatic presentation of the formalism and
applications of QM, written by the French
master.
Specially useful for people interested in AMO
(atomic, molecular, and optical physics).
- "Quantum Mechanics", Franz Schwabl
My favourite book for the wave function
(differential equations based) formalism.
- "Modern Quantum Mechanics", J.J. Sakurai
My favourite book for the operator formalism.
Specially useful for people interested in
particle physics and quantum field theory.
Topics to be
covered
| Review of the postulates of QM; motion of
a charged particle in an electromagnetic
field. |
| Aproximation methods I: Time independent
perturbation theory, fine structure of the
hydrogen atom, variational principle. |
| Identical particles: Bosons and Fermions,
atoms, solids. |
| Approximation methods II: Time dependent
perturbation theory, Fermi's golden rule,
interaction with the radiation field,
spontaneous emission. |
| If time allows: Scattering theory: Partial
waves, phase shifts, Born approximation. |
Grading scheme
| Assignments |
20% |
| Midterm |
30% |
| Final |
50% |
Assignments
There will be 8
assignments. All assignments are already
posted on this website, with noted due dates
on Friday at
6pm (Exceptions will be
posted on this website). The assignments must be
inserted in the
"P423" dropbox located in the left of
Elliott 136.
Assignment
solutions will be available online (links
on the left) a few days after the due date.
The assignments will be graded by the TA, Seamus
Beairsto. Any questions on grading should be
addressed
directly to him by email, at  .
Midterm exam
Oct. 28th (Monday),
in class 11:30 am - 12:50.
Notes on the exams
- On all examinations the only acceptable
calculator is the sharp EL-510R. This
calculator can be bought in the bookstore
for about $10. DO NOT bring any other
calculator to the examinations.
- You are allowed one 8.5X11'' handwritten
formula/note sheet (you may write on both
sides).
You will be responsible for the "usual"
constants and equations that we have dealt
with in class on a regular basis.
Final letter
grade: UVic's percentage grading system
| A+ |
90-100 |
Exceptional performance. |
| A |
85-89 |
Outstanding performance. |
| A- |
80-84 |
Excellent performance. |
| B+ |
77-79 |
Very good.
|
| B |
73-76 |
Good.
|
| B- |
70-72 |
Solid. |
| C+ |
65-69 |
Satisfactory.
|
| C |
60-64 |
Minimally satisfactory. |
| D |
50-59 |
Marginal performance. |
| F |
0-49 |
Unsatisfactory performance. |
How
to succeed
- Attend classes;
- Most
important: Work on the assignments by
yourself. If you can't solve a
problem, talk to your classmates,
or attend the office hour. However, it
is extremely important that you attempt to
solve the problem by yourself first.
Experience shows that students who copy
solutions from others usually perform very
poorly in the exams and fail the course.
- Common mistake: Some students do not
study/review the book/notes before attempting
the assignments. Instead,
they "pick" the notes trying to find the
material needed to solve a particular
problem. Such method does not work
because it leads to fragmented knowledge; the
student does not understand the connection
between the topics.
Moreover, studying that way does not prepare
for the exam, because there will be no book or
notes to "pick" during the exam.
- Suggestion on how to study: Do a subject
review before attempting the
assignment, by reading the
book/notes.
Start by reading the assignment fully, and
then attempt the problem that appears to
be easier (it is okay to briefly go
back to the book or notes during the
assignment).
- Solve extra problems to practice for the
exams.
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