DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY -- (202) 806-6245 (main office), -5830 (fax)

Quantum Mechanics I,  PHYS-220 (80270)
        MW, 2:10- 3:30 pm, in TKH 103;
[ Topics ][ Minimal Requirements ][ Assignments ][ e-Gear ][ Welcome ]

Instructor: Tristan Hübsch (Office hours: MW 10:00 am–12:00 noon, T 2:00–4:00 pm)

TKH 213, 806-6267 thubsch@mac.com

 

Textbook and other sources (also @ iTunes U):

required: L.E. Ballentine, Quantum Mechanics

(recommended): S. Flügge, Practical Quantum Mechanics (Springer-Verlag) (try )
(optional): C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu & F. Laloe, Quantum Mechanics
(optional): E. Merzbacher, Quantum Mechanics (3rd ed.)
(optional): D. Bohm, Quantum Mechanics
and other sources, as given in class
(introductory level, optional): D.J. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics [errata]

The aim of the course is to give a thorough introduction to the quantum nature of Nature, some of the basic methods and techniques in its study and to serve as a preparatory course for the second part (PHYS-221). This course begins with reviewing the experimental indications of the quantum nature of Nature. The study of basic general properties and simple 1-dimensional models introduces the basic ideas and prepares for the study of semiclassical and operatorial techniques in Quantum Mechanics. The study of angular momentum and spherically symmetric potentials then finishes this first part of the course in Quantum Mechanics.

A successful student is expected to demonstrate a very good understanding of the fundamental principles of quantum physics, but also to demonstrate-and maintain-the ability to solve practical problems involving quantum phenomena. For minimal requirements, see below!

Minimum requirements :

To pass the course with a grade B or better , a graduate Student must, at the time of (on) the final exam, be able to demonstrate the ability to:

A graduate student who cannot demonstrate the above listed skills at the time of the final exam automatically forfeits a grade of B or better -- regardless of the total number of points acquired in homework, quizzes and exams, and regardless of the success in completing any other course requirement.

All homework assignments are due by 5:00 pm of the day indicated and should be either given to the instructor in hand, left in the instructor's mailbox in TKH#105, or slid under the instructor's office door, TKH#213. Late homework will not be accepted, except in cases of proven (medical) emergency.

Collaboration policy
Collaboration -- but not blind copying -- on the homework assignments is strongly encouraged; students should use this to learn from each other. All exams and quizzes are open text and open class-notes (including notebooks and class handouts), but no collaboration is allowed; by signing the exams and quizzes, the student implicitly agrees to abide by this policy. Violation of this policy is covered under the University regulations on academic dishonesty and cheating.

Coursework presentation and organization
While a neat presentation of home,- quiz- and exam-work is not required for full credit, it certainly makes it easier to assess the quality of the work and give the proper credit due. In all cases, include a simple sketch if it might help conveying the approach or the calculations. Where necessary, include all units and symbols such as the measure of an integral, arrow on a vector, vertical bars for the absolute value of a quantity, for the magnitude of a vector or for the determinant of a matrix, etc.

• Homework: Submitted answer sheets should be stapled (preferably in the top-left corner). The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page. Solutions should be labeled and ordered consecutively by the problem numbers. Include all calculation/work and give full reference to any result quoted from any source other than the text, and page/equation number for results quoted from the text.
• Mid-term exams: All exam questions are given on a question sheet and include the detailed point distribution and the place to write in the Student's full name and ID number. This question sheet is to be stapled, in the top-left corner, on the top of the answer sheets. It will be used to indicate the acquired points, part by part and in total, the average score and the standard deviation. A second copy of the question sheet is to be used for the take-home part in the same manner. The take-home part supersedes the in-class part: that is, by reworking a part of a problem at home, the student invalidates the in-class attempt at that part (regardless of correctness!). Points acquired by working at home are discounted at 2/3 and added to the in-class points which were not superseded.
• Final exam: All exam questions are given on a question sheet and include the detailed point distribution and the place to write in the Student's full name and ID number. This question sheet is to be stapled, in the top-left corner, on the top of the answer sheets. It will be used to indicate the acquired points, part by part and in total, the average score and the standard deviation. The final exams are stored by the instructor, but are available to the individual student for review and photocopy after the exam.

ADA disclaimer
Howard University is committed to providing an educational environment that is accessible to all students.  In accordance with this policy [details], students in need of accommodations due to a disability should contact the Office of the Dean for Special Student Services at 202-238-2420, for verification and determination of reasonable accommodations as soon as possible after admission to the Law School, or at the beginning of each semester.

© Tristan Hübsch, 2014