Phys 712 — Spring 2015
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Beach
Office: 206 Lewis Hall
Email: kbeach@olemiss.edu
Website: https://www.phy.olemiss.edu/~kbeach

Catalog description

Continuation of Quantum Mechanics I

3 credit hours

Where and when

Lectures: M W F 10:00–10:50 in Lewis Hall Conference Room 104
Office hours: T W R 13:00–14:00 or by appointment
Final exam: Friday, May 8 at 08:00

Prerequisites

Phys 711: Quantum Mechanics I (Minimum grade: C)

Required text

Modern Quantum Mechanics, J. J. Sakurai and Jim J. Napolitano, Addison-Wesley; 2nd ed. (2010)
ISBN 9780805382914 [Amazon]

Grading scheme

Your grade will be based on the cumulative points you earn from assignments, two tests, and a final exam, weighted as follows.

Weekly homework: 30%
In-class test one: 20%
In-class test two: 20%
Final exam: 30%

The numerical score (out of 100) will be converted to a letter grade with a corresponding grade point value, following the UM +/– grading system adopted in Fall 2011. The conversion is carried out by matching to the ranges shown in the table below.

Letter grade Grade point value Numerical score range
A 4.0 ≥ 92
A– 3.7 [88,92)
B+ 3.3 [84,88)
B 3.0 [80,84)
B– 2.7 [76,80)
C+ 2.3 [72,76)
C 2.0 [68,72)
C– 1.7 [64,68)
D 1.0 [60,64)
F 0 < 60

Class attendance — Regular attendance is strongly encouraged. Some material presented in lecture may not appear in your textbook. During class, I will sometimes present worked problems, give hints and tips about the homework, and provide guidance about where to focus your studies for the tests and exams.

Homework — Homework assignments will be due in class. Late assignments will be penalized at the rate of 20% per day and hence worthless after five days.

In-class tests —Tentative test dates are listed on this syllabus. Any changes to these dates will be announced in class and posted on the class web site; students will be given at least one week’s notice. No make-up tests will be given except in cases of verified emergencies.

Topics likely to be covered

Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics — symmetries, conservation laws, degeneracies, parity, space inversion, translation and crystal momentum, time-reversal

Approximation Methods — time-dependent perturbation theory, interaction picture, scattering, mean field theories, slave particle techniques

Many-body systems — identical particles, permutation symmetry, gases of weakly interacting bosons and fermions, second quantized formulation, quantum spin systems

Relativistic Quantum Mechanics — Dirac equation, quantum field theory

Tentative schedule

W Jan 21 Lecture 1
F Jan 23 Lecture 2
M Jan 26 Lecture 3
W Jan 28 Lecture 4
F Jan 30 Lecture 5
M Feb 2 Lecture 6
W Feb 4 Lecture 7
F Feb 6 Lecture 8
M Feb 9 Lecture 9
W Feb 11 Lecture 10
F Feb 13 Lecture 11
M Feb 16 Lecture 12
W Feb 18 Lecture 13
F Feb 20 First in-class test
M Feb 23 Lecture 14
W Feb 25 Lecture 15
F Feb 27 Lecture 16
M Mar 2 Lecture 17
W Mar 4 Lecture 18
F Mar 6 Lecture 19
March 9, Midterm grades due
March 9–13, Spring break
M Mar 16 Lecture 20
W Mar 18 Lecture 21
F Mar 20 Lecture 22
M Mar 23 Second in-class test
W Mar 25 Lecture 24
F Mar 27 Lecture 25
M Mar 30 Lecture 26
W Apr 1 Lecture 27

April 3, Good Friday

M Apr 6 Lecture 28
W Apr 8 Lecture 29
F Apr 10 Lecture 30
M Apr 13 Lecture 31
W Apr 15 Lecture 32
F Apr 17 Lecture 33
M Apr 20 Lecture 34
W Apr 22 Lecture 35
F Apr 24 Lecture 36
M Apr 27 Lecture 37
W Apr 29 Lecture 38
F May 1 Lecture 39

May 1, Classes end

F May 8 Final examination

Academic integrity and honesty

Students are expected to adhere to the University of Mississippi Creed and the Standards of Honesty as described in Policy Code ACA.AR.600.001 and the M Book.

Students are reminded that cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Performance on all tests and assignments shall represent the individual work of the student. Those who violate the Standards of Honesty will be reported and subject to the appropriate sanction, which may include expulsion from the University.

Nondiscrimination policy

The University complies with all applicable laws regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity in all its activities and programs and does not discriminate against anyone protected by law because of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran.

Policies and procedures for students with disabilities

It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individual basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or meet course requirements. Students with disabilities should contact the Office of Student Disability Services (662-915-7128 or sds@olemiss.edu) to discuss their individual needs.

Examinations and last week of class

Regulations governing all examinations — A student’s failure to appear for an examination without an acceptable excuse,inability to present valid identification,absence from the room during the course of an examination without the consent of the examiner, or attempting any portion of an examination without submitting his or her answers shall result in failure of the examination. Tardiness beyond 15 minutes forfeits a student’s right to an examination.

Final examinations — A final examination, to be given at the time posted in the examination schedule, is required in each undergraduate course, unless the appropriate chair and dean have approved an exception. A student who has three or four final examinations in one day may arrange with the course instructor to take the noon or 7:30 p.m. examination at another time. In order to give a final examination at any time other than that shown in the posted examination schedule, an instructor must have prior approval of the department chair and dean.

Last week of class — The following guidelines exist to allow sufficient time for students and instructors to prepare for final examinations. These guidelines apply to the week preceding final examinations for undergraduate courses held during Fall and Spring semesters.

  • During the period of Wednesday through Friday of the last week of class, instructors are not to give exams, tests, or quizzes that contribute more than 10% of the final grade for a class. An instructor can obtain approval of the department chair and dean to give an exam, test, or quiz, of this weight, during this three day period. Instructors should return graded work and/or inform students of their grades on exams, tests, or quizzes prior to the beginning of finals week.

  • Exceptions to the above statement are automatically made for lab-based courses, technical writing courses, seminar courses that assign a term paper, and senior design courses that assign a multi-faceted project in lieu of a final exam. Major projects of the above types, which contribute more than 10% of the final grade and which are due during this Last Week period, should be assigned in the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and any substantial change in the assignment should be made known to students before the drop deadline.