1 Quantum Principles and Particles

1. Perspective and Principles Failure of classical mechanics Stern-Gerlach experiment Idealized Stern-Gerlach results Classical model attempts Wave functions for two physical outcome case Process diagrams, operators, and completeness Further properties of operators Operator reformulation Operator rotation Bra-ket notation/basis states Transition amplitudes Three magnet setup example - coherence Hermitian conjugation Unitary operators Matrix representations Matrix wave function recovery Expectation values Wrap up Problems 2. Free Particles in One Dimension Photoelectric effect Compton effect Uncertainty relation for photons Stability of ground states Bohr model Fourier transform and uncertainty relations Schrdinger equation Wave equation example Dirac delta functions Wave functions and probability Probabilty current/momentum equation Time separable solutions Completeness for particle states Particle operator properties Time evolution and expectation values Problems 3. Some One-Dimensional Solutions to the Schrdinger Equation Introduction The infinite square well The finite potential barrier The harmonic oscillator The attractive Kronig-Penney model Scattering, bound states Problems

4. More About Hilbert Space Introduction and notation Inner and outer products Hermitian conjugation Operator-matrix analogy Hermitian operators and eigenkets Schmidt orthogonalization process Compatible Hermitian operators Uncertainty relations and incompatible observables Simulataneously measurable operators Unitary transformations and change of basis Coordinate displacements and unitary transformation Heisenberg picture of time evolation Constants of the motion Free Gaussian wavepacket in Heisenberg picture Potentials and Ehrenfest theorem Problems 5. Two Static Approximation Methods Introduction Time independent perturbation theory Example of perturbation theory JWKB semiclassical approximation Use of JWKB approximation in barrier penetration Use of JWKB approximation in bound states Problems 6. Generalization to Three Dimensions Cartesian basis states Wavefunctions in three dimensions Position/momentum eigenket generalization Example: three dimensional infinite square well Spherical basis states Orbital angular momentum operator Effect of angular momentum on basis states Energy eigenvalue equation and angular momentum Complete set of observables for radial Schrdinger equation Specification of angular momentum eigenstates Angular momentum eigenvector equation The spherical harmonics as angular momentum eigenvectors Completeness and other properties of shperical harmonics Radial eigenfunctions Problems 7. The Three Dimensional Radial Equation Recap of the situation The free particle, V(r) = 0 The infinite spherical well

3 The "deuteron" The Coulomb problem The confined Coulombic problem Appendix A Problems 8. Addition of Angular Momenta General angular momentum eigenstate properties Combining angular momentum for two systems Explicit example of adding two spin 1/2 systems Explicit example of adding angular momentum 1 and 1/2 Hydrogen atom and the choice of basis states Hydrogen atom and perturbative energy shifts Problems 9. Spin and Statistics The connection between spin and statistics Building wavefunctions with identical particles Particle occupation basis More on Fermi-Dirac statistics Interaction operator and Feynman diagrams Implications of detailed balance Cubical enclosures and particle states Maxwell-Boltzmann gas Bose-Einstein gas Fermi-Dirac gas Problems