Lecturer: Professor Xiangdong Ji
Phone: 5-7277, Office: Phys 2204A, Email: xji@physics.umd.edu
Time: MF 9:00-9:50am, W 9:00-10:50am
Room: Physics 4208
Jianzhou Wu
Phone: 5-4194; Office: Physics 4213
Email: wujz@glue.umd.edu
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
David J. Griffiths
Prentice Hall,
New York, 1978.
This is the second of a two-course series on Quantum Physics designed for undergraduate physics majors. It consists of three parts: In the first part, I will redevelop the quantum mechanical formalism using the Dirac "bra", "ket" notation. In part II, I will discuss various approximation methods to solve actual quantum problems: perturbation theory, variational method, semi-classical approximation etc. In the final part, I will consider time-dependent perturbation theory, identical particles, and other applications.
Homework will be assigned weekly and must be turned
in a week later at 4:00pm. You can drop it in the mailbox
at the TQHN office, Phys 2108. Late homework will be accepted
within the next two days, however, it will be graded on the
50% basis.
Problem solving is an essential part of physics. It is not
possible to learn the subject without working through problems.
There
is a strong correlation between doing the homework and doing well on
exams; although the grades on the homework only account for about 20%
of your final grade, you are unlikely to do well in the course if you
do not take the homework seriously.
I strongly encourage you to collaborate with other students in the
class on the homework. Ideally, you should try to find a group of 2-4
people to work with. First, do the problems yourself and then explain
your solutions to each other. Research on learning has shown this to
be much more effective than working through problems alone.
There will be two one-and-one-hour exams during the semester and a final. The first exam will be on Wednesday, March 3 and the second on Wednesday, April 14. The final will be on Wednesday, May 19, 8:00 to 10:00 am. All exams are closed-book.
The course grade for Physics 402 will be based on the following approximate percentages: two mid-term exams, 25% each; final exam, 30%; homework, 20%.
My official office hours will be from 10:00 to 11:00pm, Monday and Friday. However, you can come to my office and ask questions at any time if I am in and not busy. The TA office hours are 1:00 to 3:00pm, thursday.