Week 1
week1ab_2015-2016.pdf
This set of slides presents the general introduction to the course, and at an introductory level it presents on which three key points quantum theory differs from classical theory
(description of a state, time-evolution, and measurement).
Week 2 (the set of slides on the postulates is here more extensive than used in week 1 and 2, we will return to them a few times in later weeks)
week2a_2015-2016.pdf
This set of slides treats the five postulates of quantum physics. The slides contain some important rules for calculations of inner products (overlap integrals), expectation values, and time evolution
(learn which integrals always must yield ZERO!).
week2b_2015-2016.pdf
These slides present the discussion of quantum double-slit interference.
Here is also web link to a short discussion of the very recent research (2012) result about the possibility to violate the
Heisenberg uncertainty relation (a little bit) when you do a series of weak measurements:
http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.100404.
In 2015, this research continued to be an active topic, see these links:
http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.160405;
http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v111/i16/e160405.
The Physics Today review paper with new experimental results from the years 2013-2015 on quantum interference with bigger and bigger molecules, that were also presented in the lecture, is available here (pdf link).
Week 3-4
week3-4_2015-2016.pdf
Slides on various topics such as the Dirac delta function, the Fourier transform and its role in quantum physics, basics of wave packets, and Dirac notation. This is part of week 3 (and must be known for the midterm exam).
Some topics on these slides were presented in week 4 (not mid term exam). These are: group velocity and phase velocity for wave packets and any wave phenomenon, and some research topics related to a particle-in-a-box system.
week3_check_minitoets.pdf
Quick check list with concepts that you must know for the mid-term exam, and mini test for
the midterm exam.
Week 5-6
week5ab_2015-2016.pdf
week6ab_2015-2016.pdf
In these weeks most was done on the black board. The main topics were atoms (orbitals in 3 dimensions), angular momentum, spin and the Stern-Gerlach experiment. The slides for week 5 that are given here list some key pages of the book, with some additional pictures of the orbitals of the hydrogen atom. The slides for week 6 that are given here summarize some rules and various notations for angular momentum. The slides nr. 12 and 13 give a good summary for how to work out the importnat topic addition of angular momentum. Slides 14 and later provide some useful material, but it is extra reading material (see disclaimer on slide 14).
Week 7
week7a_2015-2016.pdf
week7b_2015-2016.pdf
In this week, again most was done on the black board. The main topics were identical particles (see also the handout, there is a weblink at extra study material) and the harmonic oscillator (analyzed with the use of creation and annihilation operators). The two pdf links here still show the few slides that were used.
Week 8
week8ab_2015-2016.pdf
Slides on the topic known as WAVE MECHANICS. It gives the 5 rules that apply when solving the time-independent Schrodinger Equation for a potential V(x) that has a different constant value for different regions along the x-axis. Applied to bound states (particle in a box) and states that are not bound but propagating in space and then scattering at some potential barrier (gives transmission and reflection). Also about TUNNELING. And you need to know how the treatment of solid state physics (electron waves in a periodic potential) has its foundations in the quantum physics of a particle in a box.