SHIV NADAR UNIVERSITY

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL

I.

COURSE TITLE: QUANTUM MECHANICS I

II.

COURSE CODE: PHY305

III.

COURSE CREDITS (L:T:P) : 3:1:0

IV.

TOTAL CONTACT HOURS/ BATCH/WEEK (L:T:P) : 3:1:0

V.

NO. OF BATCHES : 1

VI.

COURSE TYPE (MAJOR/UWE/CCC/REAL/VELS/IC), PLEASE MENTION ALL

THAT APPLIES : MAJOR/UWE

VII.

PREREQUISITE/S (IF ANY) : PHY202 (Introduction to Quantum Mechanics). Also

Preferred : PHY203 (Basic Mathematical Physics) & PHY102/PHY104 (Basic
Electromagnetism), or equivalent.

VIII.

COURSE COORDINATOR/INSTRUCTOR(S) : Dr. Subhra Sen Gupta

IX.

SCHOOL/ DEPARTMENT : School of Natural Sciences/Department of Physics.

X.

DISCIPLINES TO WHICH THE COURSE MAY BE OF INTEREST : Chemistry,

Engineering (some branches), Computer Science, Mathematics.

XI.

COURSE CONTENT:

Overview
This course (Quantum Mechanics I) aims to follow up the development in Introduction
to Quantum Mechanics (PHY202) with more advanced topics in the fundamental subject
of Quantum Mechanics, like representation theory and the Schrdinger, Heisenberg and
Interaction (Dirac) pictures, Theory of Angular Momentum, and Time-Independent and
Time-Dependent Approximation Methods like Perturbation theory and the Variational
Principle. (Some advanced optional topics are marked with * in the syllabus.) It starts
with reviewing the basic concepts and surprizes in Quantum Mechanics (QM) with the
prototypical example of Photon Polarization in great detail. This course together with the
next advanced course (PHY306 : Quantum mechanics II) is based mainly on the set of
celebrated Lecture Notes in QM by Gordon Baym, which formed the subject matter of
the Graduate level QM course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and
hence would ideally prepare the students at a Graduate QM level, ready to go into
research, and ideal for students interested to go into the 4th year extension into B.Sc.
Research. It can also be of interest to certain students in Chemistry, Mathematics or some
branches of Engineering, provided they have the necessary background.

In addition to the above mentioned precursor course on Basic QM, a background in Basic
Electromagnetism and Some Mathematical Methods relating especially to Linear Algebra
would be useful, but not an absolute necessity.
Detailed Syllabus
1. Review of Fundamental Concepts : Photon Polarization
Transformation of Bases
Photon Angular Momentum
Amplitude Mechanics
Unpolarized Light
Behaviour of Photon Polarization in Matter
2. Quantum Dynamics
The Schrdinger Equation : A Discretized Approach
State Vectors
Operators for Physical Quantities
Free Particles
Properties of Hermitian Operators
Energy Eigenstates
The Harmonic Oscillator
Two Important Identities : The Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff (BCH) and the Weyl
Identities*

3. Equations of Motion for Operators

Functions of Operators
Schrdinger vs. Heisenberg Representations
Formal Iterative Solution of the General Time Development Operator

4. Orbital Angular Momentum and Central Potentials

Definition and Commutation Relations
Rotations
Differential Operator Representations
Eigenfunctions and Eigenvalues of Angular Momentum
Spherical Harmonics*
5. Spin 1/2
Matrix Representations : The Pauli Matrices and Their Properties
Rotations in Spin Space and Rotation Matrices for Spin-1/2
Including Spatial Degrees of Freedom
Spin Magnetic Moment and the Zeeman Effect
Spin Precession*

6. Stationary State (Time-Independent) Perturbation Theory & The Variational Principle

Development of the Perturbation Series
Wave Function Renormalization Constant
Degenerate Perturbation Theory
The Van der Waals Interaction*
Non-perturbative Approximation Methods : The Variational Principle
7. Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory
The Interaction Representation
Formal Solution : The Dyson Series
First Order Transitions : The Fermi Golden Rule
Harmonic Perturbations
Second-Order Transitions*

XII.

TEXT BOOK(S):

1) Lectures on Quantum Mechanics : Gordon Baym

2) Modern Quantum Mechanics : J. J. Sakurai
XIII.

RECOMMENDED BOOK(S):

1) Lectures on Quantum Mechanics : Gordon Baym

2) Modern Quantum Mechanics : J. J. Sakurai
3) Quantum Mechanics : Non-relativistic Theory (Course of Theoretical Physics, Vol.3) : L. D.
Landau & E. M. Lifshitz
4) Quantum Mechanics : Eugen Merzbacher
5) Intermediate Quantum Mechanics : H.A. Bethe and A. Jackiw
6) The Feynman Lectures on Physics (Volume III) : Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, and
Mathew Sands.
7) Principles of Quantum Mechanics : R. Shankar
XIV.

ASSESSMENT SCHEME : (Passing criteria: 34%)

Component
Weightage
Assignments/Quizzes/Class Interactions
40
Mid-semester examination
30
End-semester examination
30
(As per SNU guidelines, 75% Attendance is mandatory to appear in the exams and complete the course.)