NFYK15003U Advanced Quantum Mechanics (Quant3)

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc Programme in Physics

Content

The course is a graduate level  in quantum  mechanics with emphasis on providing the students with tools to understand the advanced courses within the quantum  branch of the master program.  The introductory undergraduate quantum  mechanics curriculum is reviewed and expanded with emphasis on important concepts such as symmetries, approximate methods, scattering theory, and second quantization. It introduces the use of propagators and density matrices, applied to physical examples. Relativistic quantum mechanics is also introduced.

 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

The course gives knowledge about the modern quantum mechanics formalism, including Dirac notation, density matrices, different representations (such as e.g. position and momentum representations), and the importance of symmetries for conservation laws and practical solutions of quantum mechanical problems. Furthermore, the principles of scattering theory and time-dependent perturbation theory is an important part of the course, as well as introductions to relativistic and many-particle states.

Skills
The course should provide the student with the ability to:

  • Understand a quantum mechanical description of physical systems
  • Solve  both time-dependent and time-independent
    simple example of quantum mechanical problems using the Dirac formalism.
  • Use the concept of propagators and understand the Feynman's method of path integrals
  • Use symmetry argument to simplify the calculations and to understand the conserved quantities
  • Calculate scattering amplitude using advance scattering theory
  • Formulate and do calculations on many-body problem in terms of second quantization
  • Understand the relativistic Dirac equation and its relation to non-relativistic quantum mechanics

 

Competences
This course will provide the students with the necessary background for further studies in the different topics of quantum physics, such as quantum optics, condensed matter physics and particle physics, and it will give the student some of the necessary tools needed for analyzing physical systems where quantum mechanical effects play an important role.

The course is based on the text book: J.J. Sakurai and Jim Napolitana, Modern Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition (international edition).

10-15 ECTS undergraduate courses in quantum mechanics
Lectures and exercise sessions
mandatory course for specialisation "Quantum physics". Restricted elective course for specialisation "Physics".
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 90
  • Project work
  • 42
  • Theory exercises
  • 42
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 4 hours under invigilation
Continuous assessment
The exam consists of two parts; the required homework sets count for 40% of the final grade. The 4 hours written exam counts for 60% of the final grade.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed

Book and notes are allowed, but no computer or calculator.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
course responsible plus one censor.
Re-exam

Same as ordinary written 4 hour exam. Points from finished homeworks sets during the course count for 40% of the grade. The homework sets cannot be resubmitted.
For the third exam attempt, the student may choose to follow the course again and take the regular exam, or take the re-exam.
If there are 10 students or less signed up for the re-exam, the exam may be changed to oral examination.

Criteria for exam assesment

The highest mark (12) is given for excellent exam performance that demonstrates full mastering of the above mentioned teaching goals under Skills with no or only small irrelevant gaps. The grade 2 is given to a student who has achieved only minimally the course goals descirbed under Skills.