1. PHYS 485 General Information
Physics 485 provides an introduction to quantum physics including suitable for majors in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, and related Sciences.
When:
Lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00 - 3:20 pm.
Midterms: Monday, Oct-14th and Wed, Nov-20th
Final: TBA
Where:
Lectures and exams take place in: 136 Loomis Laboratory of Physics

2. PHYS 485 Contact Information
Instructor:  Professor Matthias Grosse Perdekamp Office:        469 Loomis Laboratory Phone:       (217)         
Office hours: Tuesday 5:00-6:00pm
Grader:      Tsung-Han Yeh Office:         Loomis-MRL Interpass 390F
Phone:       no office phone        
Office hours:  Tuesday 4:00-5:00pm
For course related if you would like a prompt reply make sure to
place “PHYS 485 “ into your subject line
Course web-page:

3. PHYS 485 Grading Policy
Course grades will be determined by the following percentages:
Problem sets 45%
Midterm I %
Midterm II %
Final exam 25%
Final grade boundaries will be chosen such that NA++NA+NA- ~ 40% of NAll
and similar for B letter grades .

4. PHYS 485 Homework
10 problem, one per week. Problem sets will account for 45% of the final grade.
Problem sets will be distributed by Wednesdays by the end of the day
and are due one week later, Wednesday in class.
Late submission: 485 homework box, 2nd floor.
Late deductions: 20% Wednesday 2.05pm to Thursday 6pm
40% after Thursday 6pm to Friday 6pm
100% after Friday 6pm
Solutions will be posted on the course web-page on Monday morning and
homework will be returned during the Monday lectures.
First homework: Wednesday Sep. 4th due Wednesday Sep. 11th.
Problem sets aim to enhance your learning of the material. I encourage you to
consult with other students in the class on the problem sets, but remember that
you will be on your own in the exams.
TA and lecturer office hours are scheduled Tuesday afternoon.

5. PHYS 485 Exams
Midterms:
There will be two midterm examination, given in class.
Each midterm will account for 15% of your final grade.
Midterm I (Monday, October-14, in class)
Midterm II (Wednesday, November-20, in class)
Final Exam:
There will be a three-hour final exam, which will account for 25% of your final grade.
The final exam will cover all course material.
All exams are closed book. However, it is permitted to use a one page summary
of your own notes during the midterms and three pages for the final. Calculators
will be necessary.
About half of the exam problems will be taken from study lists of problems for
each exam and the homework.

6. Recommended Reading Textbook:
Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles , 2nd Edition,
Robert Eisberg and Robert Resnick (1985).
Other books you might want to consult:
Quantum Physics, 3rd Edition,
Stephen Gasiorowicz (2003).
The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol.III,
R. Feynman, R. Leighton, M. Sands (1964).
As Reference for selected topics: Quantum Mechanics,
C. Choen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, F. Laloe (1992).

7. PHYS 485 Makeup Time & Day
Poll: What is the best time to schedule a Makeup Class if necessary?
[I will try to avoid this but it might become necessary ~ 2 times,
to acommodate travel to my experiment at BNL]
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
2-3.20pm
3-4.20pm
4-5.20pm
5-6.20pm
6-7.20pm
7-8.20pm
8-9.20pm
Please raise your hand for times that will not work for you!

8. Quantum Mechanics
Scope: Quantitative description of phenomena observed in atoms,
molecules, nuclei, elementary particles and condensed matter
(in the non-relativistic limit).
The goals of this course are to
(a) review the basic concepts of quantum mechanics
(b) study it’s applications for a broad range of different
areas: atoms, molecules, condensed matter and nuclei.

9. Why Quantum Mechanics ?
In the late 19th and early 20th century physics experiments increasingly
gain access to microscopic observables:
However, attempts to describe atomic particles as
point masses governed by the laws of classical
mechanics and field theory (E&M) fail for an increasing
set of experimental observations.
Examples:
Thermal radiation : “ultraviolet catastrophe” for black body radiators
( Wednesday!)
Atomic spectra : discrete optical emission lines!
Intrinsic orbital
angular momentum: spin phenomena, eg. Stern Gerlach experiment can not
be explained in the framework of classic physics
Superconductivity : again, no classical explanation

10. A Current Example on How Well Classical Physics Works!
Classical EM allows perfect description of currents and
voltages in case of an events that leads to the loss of
superconductivity in the g-2 magnet:
Fit of classical transformer
eqns. to highly precise data !
World largest superconducting solenoid
upon arrival at Fermi-Lab in July 2013

11. Why Quantum Mechanics ?
In the late 19th and early 20th century physics experiments increasingly
gain access to microscopic observables:
However, attempts to describe atomic particles as
point masses governed by the laws of classical
mechanics and field theory (E&M) fail for an increasing
set of experimental observations.
Examples:
Thermal radiation : “ultraviolet catastrophe” for black body radiators
( Wednesday!)
Atomic spectra : discrete optical emission lines!
Intrinsic orbital
angular momentum: spin phenomena, eg. Stern Gerlach experiment can not
be explained in the framework of classic physics
Superconductivity : again, no classical explanation

12. The Stern Gerlach Experiment

13. The Stern Gerlach Experiment
Interesting reading: Physics Today article online
Phys. Today 56(12), 53 (2003); doi: /
View online:

14. Classic Physics vs Quantum Mechanics I
Classical mechanics

15. Classic Physics vs Quantum Mechanics II
Electrodynamics
Features of classical particles and waves:
 deterministic equations
 well defined quantities
 measurements can (in principle) be
precise and non-invasive

16. Classic Physics vs Quantum Mechanics III

17. Classic Physics vs Quantum Mechanics IV
Features of systems governed by quantum physics
 wave-particle duality
 interference
 uncertainty principle (fundamental limit on measurements)
 quantization of energy levels (atomic structure)
 entanglement (Schroedinger’s cat paradox, Einstein, Podolsky
Rosen, EPR, paradox)
 quantum statistics (Pauli exclusion principle, Bose condensation)
 condensed matter (superconductivity)
Interpretation/philosophical issues
interaction of measurements on system evolution
causality, determinism

18. Historical benchmarks in the development of Quantum Mechanics

19. Historical benchmarks in the development of Quantum Mechanics