Physics 603 Course Information - Fall 2005
http://www.nd.edu/~bjanko/p603/phys603.htm
TEACHING
STAFF
| Name |
In charge of |
Phone |
e-mail |
Office Hours |
| Prof. B. Janko |
Lectures &
Phys. 603 overall |
1-8049 |
bjanko@nd.edu |
After class or by appt
@ 333D NSH |
| Mr. Sandor Volkan-Kacso |
Grader |
1-4088 |
svolkank@nd.edu |
TBA
@ 339c NSH |
Course Description: Physics 603, Quantum
Mechanics III
Prerequisites for PHYS 603: Quantum Mechanics
I and II (Phys 507 and 508), Methods of Theoretical Physics (Phys. 503).
Topics (approximate):
I. Identical particles and second quantization
II. Many particle quantum mechanics (Atoms, molecules, Fermi gas, BCS theory,
etc.)
III. Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-Gordon Equation, Dirac Equation
NOTE: This course could be quite
time intensive. Depending on your background, it could easily reach 3 hours
of preparation per lecture-hour, that is, 7-8 hours a week. Please
plan accordingly.
Materials: There is no particular textbook for this course, but there are
many useful books you may wish to consult. For example:
- G. Baym: Lectures on Quantum Mechanincs
- H. A. Bethe and Jackiw: Intermediate Quantum Mechanics
- J. D. Bjorken and S.D. Drell: Relativistic Quantum
Mechanics
- L.D. Landau & E.M. Lifshitz: Quantum Mechanics
- N. Nagaosa: Quantum Field Theory in Condensed Matter
- J.J. Sakurai: Advanced Quantum Mechanics & Modern
Quantum Mechanics
- L.I. Schiff: Quantum Mechanics
- M. Stone: The Physics of Quantum Fields
The web page for this course will
be updated regularly with new information and resources. Please plan to check
this regularly for announcements.
Lectures: The
lectures are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm in
118 NSH. Please consult the course schedule
for more information. Lectures will be taught somewhat interactively, with
some student involvement. Professor Janko will be available before and after
the lectures to answer quick questions.
Homework problems: One homework set approximately every 7-10 days.
The solutions must be turned in on due date. There will be penalty for late
homework solutions. No homework will be accepted after the solution set is
handed out during class. Problems should be neatly written, in the order
assigned, on 8.5 x 11 pages stapled together (no torn edges or paperclips).
You MUST explain your steps, and lead the reader through
your solution with sentences, phrases, etc., as if you would be writing a
scientific paper. A pile of formulae on a piece of paper is NOT an acceptable
style for the homework solutions.
When preparing a homework please make sure you observe
the rules (see below) for collaborative work compatible with the Honor Code
of the University. Solutions are posted on the web page after the due date,
and you are strongly encouraged to check your solutions against those posted.
Exams: The midterm is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, in class (11:00
am), and the final will be administered on Monday, December 12, 2005, between
10:30 am-12:30 pm. Exams are open book and possibly 'take-home':
your lecture notes and one textbook (from a list of books to be specified
before the exam) can accompany you during your exams. Honesty is expected
and under the honor system the primary responsibility for regulation lies
with the students (see below).
Grading
scheme: Your final grade will be
based on your overall performance in all the course related activities. The
numerical grade is calculated at the end of the semester is calculated as
a weighted average of your scores obtained during the following activities
or exams:
| Activity/Examination |
Frequency/Date |
Weight (%) |
| Class Participation |
Lectures |
See below |
| Homework |
Weekly (approximate) |
40 |
| Midterm |
In-class (75 min) or take-home, Thursday Oct. 13 |
30 |
| Final Exam |
120 min, in-class or 'take-home', Monday, December 12,
10:30 am - 12:30 pm |
30 |
- NOTE: for those with
a.) SUSTAINED class participation and b.) final numerical grade close to,
but below a borderline between two letter grades, I will give the
letter grade above the borderline.
- The exam dates and
times are fixed and will not be changed. Please plan accordingly.
- Makeups are available
ONLY for students with approved university excuses. You must notify
Professor Janko in writing BEFORE you miss a test, even for approved
University activities. (Emergencies such as sudden illness, accident,
death in the family, etc. must be documented by the University Health Center,
Counseling Center, or First Year Studies Office).
- All exams are cumulative:
you are expected to know ALL previously covered material.
The letter grade scale will
be based on the performance of the class as a whole. Please refer to the following
table to get some idea of the correspondence between the letter grade and
the expected level of performance in Physics 603.
|
Letter Grade
|
Performance
|
|
A
|
- Has a firm understanding of all concepts covered in class,
- Has a global understanding of the interconnected nature of
laws and principles learned during the entire semester,
- Can solve most problems, new or similar to those discussed
in class and in homework.
|
|
B
|
- Has a firm understanding of most concepts,
- Recognizes some relationships between laws and principles learned
in different chapters,
- Can solve most problems that are similar to those discussed
in class/homework, and some of the new problems,
|
|
C
|
- Has a reasonable understanding of most concepts,
- Recognizes some relationships between laws and principles learned
in the same chapters,
- Can solve only problems that are similar to those discussed
in class/homework,
|
|
D
|
- Has a limited understanding of some concepts,
- Recognizes only a few relationships between laws and principles
learned in the same chapters,
- Can solve only the simplest problems,
- Attends all lectures, makes genuine efforts to complete all homework
problems
|
|
F
|
- Little or no understanding of the concepts and phenomena,
- Routinely misses lectures, and/or homework assignments.
|
Honor Code: As a
precondition for your admission to the University of Notre Dame, you agreed
to abide by the University's Academic Code of Honor. Specifically, you pledged
not to receive or give unauthorized aid on a exam, quiz, lab report, or homework
assignment. While collaboration is encouraged in class and during the discussion
sessions, please make sure you observe the following rules:
- During homework preparation you must
spend at least 20 minutes working alone on a particular problem before you
can seek assistance from a friend, study group, tutor, or teaching assistant.
They should ask you guiding questions or point you towards resources that
will help you discover your own solution. You cannot ask them to show
you how to completely solve the problem, nor can you accept such extensive
help.
- Under no circumstances should you copy
or even look at someone else's solution to a problem before you have submitted
your own homework, quiz, or exam for credit.
Any suspected violation of the Honor Code
will be turned over to the Departmental Honesty Committe for investigation.
Penalties can be as severe as dismissal from the University.