Quantum Physics (QP | SPA4215)

Please consult QMPlus for the authoritative information on this module.

Year: 1 | Semester: B | Level: 4 | Credits: 15

Prerequisites: PHY-121 and PHY-116 or equivalent courses of elementary calculus and special relativity
Lectures: 33 | Ex: 114 115 414 415 Lec: 210 410 411 (notation)
Exam: 2.5 hour written paper (80%), coursework (20%)
Practical work: none | Ancillary teaching: weekly exercises, tutorials

Course organiser: Dr Sanjaye Ramgoolam | Course deputy: Dr Kostya Trachenko

Synopsis:

An introduction to quantal properties in nature, and the theory developed to describe them. Descriptions of the evidence for particle-like properties of waves, and wave-like properties of particles, are followed by a study of their consequences and their formal expression in physical law: topics include Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Schrodinger's equation and elementary quantum mechanics.

Aims:

The aim of this course is to teach the empirical basis for the early development of the quantum theory of the microscopic world, as well as to give a first conceptual account of the basic quantum phaenomena.

Outcomes:

By the end of this course a student would be expected to: utilise the terms and basic methods of quantum physics; be familiar with the key historical experiments which demonstrated the wavelike-nature of matter and the particle-like nature of electromagnetic radiation; account for interference effects in two-slit diffraction, X-ray scattering and low-energy electron scattering experiments; account for particulate effects in the Compton scattering of X-rays and the photoelectric effect; display familiarity with the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and its application to simple one-dimensional systems; be able to solve the one dimensional time-independent Schroedinger equation in some simple case; understand the meaning of the quantum numbers that arise in solution of the Schroedinger equation.

Recommended books:

Young, H.D. and Freedman, R.A.
University Physics With Modern Physics
Longman HE (10th edition, 2000)
ISBN 0-201-60336-5

Krane, K.S.
Modern Physics
Wiley, (1995)
ISBN 0-471-82872-6

R.P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew Sands
Lectures on Physics (vol. 3)
Addison Wesley ISBN 0-201-02115-3