Schedule

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Monday
Aug 26
2024

Introduction to Wave Equations

Introduction to the Wave Equation

Reading

Please familiar yourself with basic undergraduate quantum mechanics by this time. I recommend Chapters 12, 13 of “Free Energy“.

Wednesday
Aug 28
2024

Diffraction of Matter

How matter can diffract just like light through a grating.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 1

Friday
Aug 30
2024

One-dimensional Wave Mechanics

The wavefunction solution to the flat potential surface.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 2

Wednesday
Sep 04
2024

Flat Potential Wavefunctions

How to solve differential equations and the flat potential wavefunctions.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 2

Friday
Sep 06
2024

Particle in a Finite Box

How to solve the particle in a finite box.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 2

Monday
Sep 09
2024

Scattering Resonances

The Double Delta function potential trap.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 2

Friday
Sep 20
2024

The Particle in a Ring

2D quantum mechanics and the particle in a ring problem.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 4.1

Monday
Sep 23
2024

The Particle in a Sphere

The 3D Schrodinger equation as applied to the particle in a sphere problem.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 4.1

Wednesday
Sep 25
2024

The Hydrogen Atom

How hydrogenic wavefunctions are applied to describe other atoms.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 4.2

Friday
Sep 27
2024

Exam 1

Exam 1 answer key is here.

Monday
Sep 30
2024

Introduction to Dirac Notation

Intro to Dirac Notation via the Stern-Gerlach experiment.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 3.6.2

Wednesday
Oct 02
2024

Dirac Notation: The Outer Product

How to use the resolution of the identity in various proofs.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 3.6.2

Friday
Oct 04
2024

Dirac Notation: Operators

Introduction to operators as described using Dirac Notation

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 3.6.2

Wednesday
Oct 09
2024

Operators as Matrices Pt. II

More on the representation of operators in a basis.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 3

Friday
Oct 11
2024

Spin States and Operators

How to define spin states and operators

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 4.4.1 and 4.4.2

Wednesday
Oct 16
2024

The Uncertainty Principle

How to derive the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 3.5

Monday
Oct 21
2024

Continuous States

Representation in position and momentum.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 3.6.3

Friday
Oct 25
2024

Perturbation Theory

Non-degenerate Perturbation theory.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 7

Monday
Oct 28
2024

Degenerate Perturbation Theory

An example of perturbation theory, and what to do with perturbation theory when you have degenerate states.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 7

Wednesday
Oct 30
2024

Angular Momentum Review

A review of angular momentum operators.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 4.3

Friday
Nov 01
2024

Exam 2

Download the answer key here.

Wednesday
Nov 06
2024

Clebsch-Gordan Tables

Linear combinations of wavefunctions.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 4.4.3

Friday
Nov 08
2024

Introduction to Time Evolution

Gaussian Wavepackets and the Time Evolution Operator

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 6.8

Wednesday
Nov 13
2024

Time Evolution of States

The Schrodinger frame of time evolution and an example of spin precession

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 6.8

Friday
Nov 22
2024

The Split Operator Method

How to use the split operator method to time evolve a wavefunction.

Matlab for the Physical Scientist

Monday
Dec 02
2024

The Variational Method

The variational method for calculating energies.

Griffiths, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" Chapter 8