Physics 486 Syllabus
Spring 2005

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Here is the course syllabus.

Week Topic Reading Homework Discussion
Jan 18 Introduction & classical issues. S: 3, (S: 2 optional) -- none -- Solution 1
Jan 25 Schrödinger's equation.
Wave function & probability.
Expectation values.		 S: 4.3
S: 4.2 (pp. 127-129)
G: 1.1-1.5		 HW1 Solution 2
Feb 1 1 dimension:
Free particle. Square well.
Probability current.
Superpositions.
x & p distributions.		 S: 5.1-5.3
G: 2.1-2.2, 2.4
G: Fourier transform (see index)		 HW2 Solution 3
Feb 8 Finite square well
Harmonic oscillator (part 1).
Steps and barriers. Scattering.		 G: 2.6
S: 5.4, 7.1-7.3 (to p.198)
G: 2.3.2		 HW3 Solution 4
Feb 15 Classical limit.
Formalism: Vector spaces.		 S: 5.6, 6
S: 1.1-1.4		 HW4 Solution 5
Feb 22 Matrices & operators.
Eigenfunctions & eigenvalues.
Unitary & Hermitian operators.		 S: 1.5-1.10
G: 3.1-3.2, 3.4, 3.6, Appendix		 HW5 Solution 6
Mar 1 QM postulates. Commutators &
uncertainty principle.		 S: 4.1-4.3 (skip pp. 133-134), 9
G: 1.6,3.3,3.5		 HW6 Solution 7
Mar 8 Midterm solution
Symmetry & cons. laws.		 No new reading
S: 6		 HW7 -- none --
Mar 15 Harmonic oscillator (part 2). S: 7.3-7.5 (from p.197)
G: 2.3 (to p. 51)		 HW8 Solution 8
Mar 22 Spring Break
Mar 29 2 and 3 dimensions:
3D square well & oscillator.
Angular momentum.		 S: 10.2, 12.1-5 (to p. 329)
G: 4.3		 HW9 Solution 9
Apr 5 Angular momentum.
Spherical harmonics.		 S:12.5 (from p. 333)
G: 4.1		 HW10 Solution 10
Apr 12 Coulomb potential (H atom). S: 13.1-3
G: 4.2		 HW11 Solution 11
Apr 19 Spin ½. Pauli matrices.
Spin precession in a B field		 S: 14.1-3 (to p. 383)
G: 4.4
S: 14.4 (to p. 392)		 HW12 Solution 12
Apr 26 H atom with spin
Free particle in B field		 S: 14.5
G: 4.5
S: Exercise 12.3.8 (p. 317)		 HW13 Solution 13
May 3 Review Reading HW14
due May 4		 Solution 14
Final exam: 1:30 - 4:30 PM, Friday, May 6 (in 136 and 137 Loomis) - Solution