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Syllabus:

Grading: Homework 35%, Quizzes 10%, 2 In-class Tests 30%, Final Exam: 25%.

Thresholds: 90%= A, 87%=A-, 83%=B+, 80%= B, 77%=B-, 73%=C+, 70%=C
67% C- ,63%=D+, 60%=D, 57%=D-, 50%=F.

Curriculum in brief: "Mathematical and physical foundations of quantum theory in terms of wave and matrix mechanics. Applications to properties of atoms and solids."

"Student learning outcomes": acquire a basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and its applications. Develop/hone your 'applied' mathematical skills, particularly complex numbers, multidimensional integrals and linear algebra. And, using those skills, be able to tackle challenging quantum mechanics problems.

There will be a lot of homework for this course, mostly based on the textbook questions with *'s next to them. The only way to learn quantum mechanics is to spend time working on your homework (solving additional textbook problems that are not assigned will pay off). QM requires a mastery of technical mathematics skills and the only way to learn these skills is through practice. In other words, expect several hours of homework a week. I encourage you to work together, but don't copy answers because plagiarism = bad (and you won't learn as much as your conspirator/s). In an answer I expect to see full working's, without lines skipped. Homework is due at 12pm on the day due. Late homework will be docked 50% if submitted on the same day.

The quizzes are as has been done before in phys410 by Prof. Johnson: 10 minutes in length at the start of class, and mostly conceptual. I may ask, for example, for you to write down the Schrodinger equation, or perhaps sketch the harmonic oscillator ground state wavefunction or perhaps. They are unannounced and are closed books, closed notes. I will give 12-13 quizzes, roughly one a week, and your 2 or 3 worst automatically won't count. Quizzes cannot be made up (except for special circumstances, such as a long illness).

As part of the quizzes, I will also be assigning one 1927 Solvay conference person to you, and designate a class that you can present a verbal biography of their life, at the start of class, under 2 minutes total length. The mark for this is the same as a quiz (this can only be performed at a later time with appropriate medical certificate).

There will be two in-class tests. The first will probably be Wednesday, 12th October, and the second will probably be Wednesday, 16th November. Tests are open book, open notes, and each will cover roughly the material of the previous 5-6 weeks.

Final exam: open book, will cover everything, Wednesday 21st December 8am-10am in P-149.