Undergraduate Course: Quantum Physics (PHYS10043)

Course Outline
School	School of Physics and Astronomy	College	College of Science and Engineering
Course type	Standard	Availability	Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Credits	10
Home subject area	Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)	Other subject area	None
Course website	http://www2.ph.ed.ac.uk/~gja/qp/qp_index.html	Taught in Gaelic?	No
Course description	In this course we study techniques used in the practical applications of quantum mechanics. We begin with a review of the basic ideas of quantum mechanics, including various representations, and fundamental symmetries including bosons and fermions. We then develop time-independent perturbation theory and consider its extension to degenerate systems. The variational principle is introduced, and extended to find self-consistent states of identical particles and the Hellmann-Feynman theorem relating classical and quantum forces. We then study time-dependent perturbation theory, obtain Fermi's Golden Rule, and look at radiative transitions and selection rules. We will also examine two-particle states, Bell's theorem and entanglement. Subsequently we study scattering in the Born Approximation.

Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites	Students MUST have passed: Physical Mathematics (PHYS09015)	Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	At least 80 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10 drawn from Schedule Q.
Additional Costs	None

Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites	None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?	Yes

Course Delivery Information

Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)						WebCT enabled: No		Quota: None
Location	Activity	Description	Weeks	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
King's Buildings	Lecture		1-11	10:00 - 10:50
King's Buildings	Lecture		1-11				10:00 - 10:50
King's Buildings	Tutorial		2-11			09:00 - 10:50
First Class	Week 1, Monday, 10:00 - 10:50, Zone: King's Buildings. JCMB
Additional information	Workshop/tutorial sessions, Wednesdays 9:00-11:00, JCMB 3218 and 3317 from Week 2.
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name		Hours:Minutes	Stationery Requirements		Comments
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)			2:00	12 sides

Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)						WebCT enabled: No		Quota: None
Location	Activity	Description	Weeks	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
King's Buildings	Lecture		1-11				09:00 - 09:50
King's Buildings	Lecture		1-11	09:00 - 09:50
King's Buildings	Tutorial		1-11			09:00 - 10:50
First Class	First class information not currently available
Additional information	Workshop/tutorial sessions, Wednesdays 9:00-11:00, JCMB 3218 and 3317 from Week 2.
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name		Hours:Minutes	Stationery Requirements		Comments
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)			2:00	12 sides

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to: 1)state and explain the basic postulates of quantum mechanics 2)understand the ideas of compatible and incompatible observables and explain the concept of good quantum numbers 3)define and apply matrix representations of spin operators 4)derive the effects of a time-independent perturbation on the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a quantum system and apply the results to a range of physical problems 5)discuss the fine structure of Hydrogen 6)explain the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method and demonstrate its use for bounding the energy of various systems 7)understand the concept of a transition probability and apply perturbation theory to time-dependent problems 8)discuss the interaction of radiation with quantum systems and explain the concept of selection rules 9) describe two particle interactions of bosons and fermions, explain the Born approximation and bound states for simple central potentials. 10) understand the Einstein-Podulsky-Rosen "paradox" and the concept of non-locality.

Assessment Information
Degree Examination, 100% Visiting Student Variant Assessment Degree Examination, 100%

Special Arrangements
None

Contacts
Course organiser	Prof Graeme Ackland Tel: (0131 6)50 5299 Email: gjackland@ed.ac.uk	Course secretary	Miss Jennifer Wood Tel: (0131 6)50 7218 Email: J.Wood@ed.ac.uk