On completion of this subject the student should be able to:
1. Understand and explain at least three experimental results which lead to the overthrow of some of the concepts of classical physics;
2. Explain and apply the new concepts and formalism which were introduced to replace classical physics;
3. Use the formalism of quantum mechanics to solve simple problems, including applications to the hydrogen atom, orbital and spin angular momentum, atomic spectra, etc.;
4. Discuss the conceptual problems of quantum mechanics, including the measurement problem, entanglement and non-locality.
Introduction: photoelectric effect, Compton effect, Davisson-Germer experiment, De Broglie waves, wave-particle duality; Schrodinger equation: postulates of quantum mechanics, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, eigenvalues and eigenstates, free particle solution; Simple applications: infinite potential well, finite potential well, barriers and steps, tunnelling, simple harmonic oscillator in one-dimension; Hydrogen atom: Rutherford scattering, Bohr model of atom, central field solution, quantum numbers, probability density, expectation values; Angular momentum: vector diagrams, space quantization, interaction with a magnetic field (Zeeman effect), Stern-Gerlach experiment, spin angular momentum; Atoms: Pauli exclusion principle, atomic spectra.
Eisberg, R., Resnick, R., Quantum physics of atoms, molecules, solids, nuclei, and particles, Wiley, Brisbane, Australia, 1985.
Serway, R. A., Moses, C. J., Moyer, C. A., Modern physics, Thomson/Brooks Cole, Belmont, USA, 2005.
Continuous assessment 40%
Written examination 60% (1×3 hrs.)
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