This is the homepage for the second course in quantum mechanics being offered to M.Sc. (Physics) as well as dual degree students at IIT Madras during Spring 2012.
Objectives: This is the second course of two courses in quantum mechanics. It introduces the students to basic aspects of quantum mechanics.
Assessment
| Best 2 of 3 quizzes | 20x2 | 40% |
|---|---|---|
| Final | 60x1 | 60% |
| Total | 100% | |
Assignments
There will be several ungraded assignments that will be handed out to the student.
Notes and Handouts
An introduction to Special Relativity; The Hubbard Model: Some Rigorous Results and Open Problems by E. Lieb;
Official Course Content
Orbital and spin angular momentum. Angular momentum algebra. Eigenstates and eigenvalues of angular momentum. Addition of angular momenta, Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. Irreducible tensor operators and the Wigner-Eckart theorem.
Systems of identical particles. Symmetric and antisymmetric wavefunctions. Bosons and Fermions. Pauli's exclusion principle. Second quantization, occupation number representation.
Non-relativistic scattering theory. Scattering amplitude and cross-section. The integral equation for scattering. Born approximation. Partial wave analysis. The optical theorem.
Elements of relativistic quantum mechanics. The Klein-Gordon equation. The Dirac equation. Dirac matrices, spinors. Positive and negative energy solutions, physical interpretation. Nonrelativistic limit of the Dirac equation.
References
- J.J. Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics, Benjamin Cummings (1985).
- P.A.M. Dirac, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Oxford University Press (1991).
- L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics — Nonrelativistic Theory, 3rd Edition, Pergamon (1981).
- P.M. Mathews and K. Venkatesan, A Textbook of Quantum Mechanics, Tata McGraw-Hill (1977).
- J. Bjorken and S. Drell, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, McGraw-Hill (1965).
- A. Messiah, Quantum Mechanics, Vols. 1 and 2, North Holland (1961).