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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Symmetries of Quantum Mechanics (PHYS10083)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryBuilding on the material presented in the Quantum Mechanics course, this course aims to introduce the basic mathematical tools of Quantum Mechanics with a special emphasis on the connection between physical phenomena and mathematical modelling. The Hilbert space of physical states is reviewed as a particular case of a linear vector space. General properties of representation theory are discussed for the case of finite groups and are applied to quantum mechanical systems. Representations of the continuous groups U(1), SO(3), and SU(2) are presented and discussed in relation with invariance under translations and rotations. The general theory of angular momentum is introduced and applied to cases of physical interest. Quantum mechanical results are compared to their classical counterparts for a number of physical systems.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: ( Quantum Mechanics (PHYS09053) AND Methods of Theoretical Physics (PHYS10105)) OR ( Introductory Fields and Waves (PHYS08053) AND Principles of Quantum Mechanics (PHYS10094)) OR ( Principles of Quantum Mechanics (PHYS10094) AND Methods of Theoretical Physics (PHYS10105))
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) 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 22, Summative Assessment Hours 6, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 48 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 100 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam 100%
Feedback - comments on assessments by graders
- one-to-one feedback in workshop
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Symmetries of Quantum Mechanics2:120
Resit Exam Diet (August)Symmetries of Quantum Mechanics2:120
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. understand the basics of finite group theory
  2. understand the representation theory of finite groups
  3. understand the general theory of angular momentum and its connection to the group of spatial rotations SO(3)
  4. apply the above concept to quantum mechanics e.g. selection rules
  5. apply the above concepts to the study of new (unseen) problems
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Workshop/tutorial sessions, as arranged.
KeywordsSymQM
Contacts
Course organiserDr Franz Herzog
Tel:
Email: fherzog@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Dipti Dineshwar
Tel:
Email: ddineshw@ed.ac.uk
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