Fall 2023

Physics 472/572: Quantum Theory II

Learning Objectives
A continuation of Physics 371. Schrödinger equation with an external electromagnetic field; identical particles; addition of angular momentum; fine structure of atomic spectra; molecules; approximation methods (perturbation theory; semiclassical methods; variational principle); special topics.

Lectures: MWF, 9-9:50am in Soc. Sci. 114.


Office hours: Thursday 2-3pm, or contact me


All course grades and solutions available through d2l.

Review material from Physics 371
The Postulates of Quantum Mechanics
Matrix mechanics: the two-level system
Schrödinger equation in three dimensions


Lecture notes
Lec 1: The Meissner effect
Lec 2: The Aharonov-Bohm effect
Lec 3: Landau levels and the normal Zeeman effect
Lec 4: Identical particles: fermions and bosons
Special topic: Quantum transport
Lec 5: Bra-ket notation I
Lec 6: Bra-ket notation II
Lec 7: Addition of angular momentum I: 1/2+1/2
Lec 8: Addition of angular momentum II
Lec 9: Addition of angular momentum III
Lec 10: Time-independent perturbation theory
Lec 11: Applications of nondegenerate perturbation theory
Lec 12: Degenerate perturbation theory
Lec 13: Applications of perturbation theory I: Fine structure of Hydrogen
Lec 14: Applications of perturbation theory II: Zeeman effect
Lec 15: Variational principle
Lec 16: Ground state of Helium
Lec 17: Hydrogen molecular ion
Lec 18: WKB approximation
Lec 19: WKB, part 2
Lec 20: Time-dependent perturbations
Lec 21: Emission and absorption of radiation
Lec 22: Adiabatic approximation
Lec 23: Applications of the adiabatic approximation
Lec 24: Brief introduction to scattering theory: the Born approximation


Additional References:
Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol. III: Quantum Mechanics