Entry requirements

60 credits including Mechanics II/KF. Participation in Transform Methods/Fourier Analysis, Electromagnetism I/Electromagnetism, Waves and Optics and Mathematical Methods of Physics that can be taken in parallel. Knowledge in special relativity (from e.g. Mechanics III, which can be taken in parallel, or Astrophysics I).

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• account for the concepts, language and formalism of basic quantum mechanics.
• do basic theoretical studies and calculations for quantum systems using the Schrödinger equation.
• calculate basic properties of atoms and molecules and electron physics using quantum physics.
• carry out spectroscopic studies of different elements and interpret the results.
• describe the importance of quantum physics in nature, engineering and society.
• orally present the results of experimental investigations and discuss their quantum mechanical interpretation.

Content

Scales in Nature. Experimental evidence for quantum physics. The photon. Photelectric effect. Two-component systems. Principles of quantum mechanics. Probabilistic interpretation. Expectation values, operators, superposition. Dirac formalism. Multi-particle systems, entanglement, EPR pair.

Continuous systems. Momentum operator. Wave functions, Schrödinger equation, the correspondence principle. Wave packets, uncertainty relations, wave-particle duality. Double slit experiment. Stationary states in one-dimensional systems: the infinite square well, the harmonic oscillator, transmission, tunnelling and reflection.

Three-dimensional systems, central motion, the hydrogen atom and one-electron atoms. Angular momentum algebra. Spherical harmonics. Spin, addition of angular momentum. 

Identical particles, fermions and bosons, the Pauli principle. Photons as bosons and black body radiation. Electron degeneration pressure and white dwarfs. 

Approximation methods for multi-component systems. Time-independent perturbation theory and the variational principle. Multi-electron atoms, spin-orbit coupling, the central field approximation, screening, fine structure, the periodic system. Spectral terms. Examples of spectroscopy. Diatomic molecules and Born-Oppenheimer approximation: binding, vibrational and rotational motion.

The importance of quantum physics for science, engineering and society.

Instruction

Lectures, exercise classes and, laboratory experiments. Guest lecture. The course makes use of subject integrated communication training with feedback and self evaluation.

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course (9 credits) and hand-in problems. The hand-in problems can give bonus points that can be used on the final exam and the regular re-exams. Laboratory exercises with an oral presentation (1 credit).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.