May 5, 2014

PHYS 334 Quantum Physics 2

Lecture: T Th 11:00-12:20 PHY 313
Tutorial (if needed): Th 4:30-5:20

Formalism of quantum mechanics. Operator approach to the harmonic oscillator. Quantum mechanics in
three dimensions: Hydrogen atom, angular momentum and spin. Time-independent perturbation theory.
Fine structure of hydrogen. Zeeman effect. Identical particles. The variational principle. Ground state of
the helium atom. Applications in atomic and molecular physics. [Offered: F,S]

Prereq: PHYS 234 or CHEM 256/356; MATH 228 or AMATH 250; MATH 227 or 237 or 247.
Antireq: AMATH 373

INSTRUCTOR: W-K. Liu, PHY 371, ext. 36280 wkliu@uwaterloo.ca

Text: David J. Griffiths, INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS. (DG)
References: B.H. Bransden and C.J. Joachain, QUANTUM MECHANICS (2nd ed).



ASSESSMENT:

Final Grade = (50% Final Exam + 30% Midterm + 20% Homework) or (70% Final Exam + 10%
Midterm + 20% Homework), whichever is higher.

Homework assignments will be posted in LEARN, and are generally due in one week.

Wk Days Topics (tentative) DG
1 5/5-9 Back-of-the-envelope calculation. Interpretation of wave function. Time-dependent
and time-independent Schrdinger equation.
Ch 1
2 5/12-16 Free particles and wave packets. Postulates of QM. 2.4
3 5/19-23 Expectation values and operators, dynamical variables and operators. Eigenvalues
and eigenfunctions, probability amplitude, completeness and closure.
3.2-3.4
4 5/26-30 Dirac state vectors. Position and momentum representations. Commutators and
compactible observables, generalized uncertainty principle.
3.5-3.6
5 6/2-6 Operator approach to simple harmonic oscillator. Separation of varibles for the H-
atom.
2.3,
4.1
6 6/9-13 Angular momentum. Operator derivation of the spherical harmonics. 4.3
7 6/16-20 Radial equation for Coulomb potential. Non-degenerate perturbation theory.
(Midterm: Thursday June 19, 4:30-6:00 p.m.; tentative)
4.2,
6.1
8 6/23-27 Degenerate perturbation theory. Stark effect in hydrogen atom.

6.2
9 6/30-
7/4
Variational principle. He atom ground state. 7.1-7.2
10 7/7-11 Molecular hydrogen ion. Spin. 7.3,4.4
11 7/14-18 Spin-orbit coupling and fine structure of hydrogen atom. Zeeman effect. 6.3-6.4
12 7/21-25 2 spin-1/2. Identical particles. 5.1-2
13 7/29 Review
Midterm: Thursday June 19, 4:30-6:00 p.m. (tentative)

The course lecture plan and the schedule of due dates will be followed as closely as possible, but some
changes may occur. Any changes in assignment due dates or test dates will be discussed and announced in
class and posted on the course webpage. However, the grading scheme will remain the same.


ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
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assistant who will provide further assistance.
o Discipline: Students are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid
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to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about rules for group
work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course instructor, academic advisor,
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categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy #71, Student
Discipline. For information on typical penalties, students should check Guidelines for the
Assessment of Penalties.
o Appeals: A decision or penalty imposed under Policy 33 (Ethical Behavior), Policy #70
(Student Petitions and Grievances) or Policy #71 (Student Discipline) may be appealed, if
there is a ground. Students, who believe they have a ground for an appeal, should refer
to Policy #72 (Student Appeals).
COURSE RULES/CONSIDERATIONS:
Exam Period Travel:
o Final exam period August 5-16, 2014
o Students should start checking for posted exam dates in the middle of June.
o Student travel plans are not considered acceptable grounds for granting an alternative
examination time.
Students with Disabilities:
o AccessAbility Services, located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all
academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with
disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If students
require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of their disability, they should
register with AccessAbility Services at the beginning of each academic term.