Undergraduate Course: Quantum Physics (PHYS10043)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | In this course we study practical applications of quantum mechanics. We begin with a review of the basic ideas of quantum mechanics and give an elementary introduction to the Hilbert-space formulation. We then develop time-independent perturbation theory and consider its extension to degenerate systems. We derive the fine structure of Hydrogen-like atoms as an example. We study the ground state and first excited state of the Helium atom and discuss multi-electron atoms. The Rayleigh-Ritz variational method is introduced and applied to simple atomic and molecular systems. We will then examine quantum entanglement, exploring Bell's inequality, quantum teleporatation, superdense coding, quantum computing including Deutsch's and Grover's algorithms, and the role of information theory in quantum entanglement.
We then study time-dependent perturbation theory, obtain Fermi's Golden Rule, and look at radiative transitions and selection rules. Subsequently we study scattering in the Born Approximation. We end by studying the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. |
| Course description |
* Non-degenerate Perturbation Theory
* Degenerate Perturbation Theory
* Hydrogen fine structure
* Identical particles, exchange interaction
* Variational Principle
* Hidden variables, EPR Paradox, Bell's inequality
* Characterising entanglement, qubit
* Quantum communication - teleporatation, superdense coding
* Quantum computing - Deutsch and Grover algoriithms
* Role of information theory in entanglement -Shannon entropy, entanglement entropy
* Time dependent perturbation theory
* Fermi's Golden Rule
* Interaction radiation with matter
* Scattering, Born approximation
* Born-Oppenheimer approximation - Covalent bond, H_2+ ion
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
50 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- 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.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | QuaPh |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Arjun Berera
Tel: (0131 6)50 5246
Email: ab@ph.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Dr Rebecca Hasler
Tel:
Email: becca.hasler@ed.ac.uk |
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