Unit name | Advanced Quantum Physics |
---|---|
Unit code | PHYSM3416 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Gradhand |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites | |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Physics |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The course examines advanced topics in Quantum Physics which have a central role in modern theoretical physics. These include advanced concepts of wave packet propagation and spreading, including Feynman’s path integral formulation, elementary ideas of scattering theory, and the semi classical WKB method and its implications. The concepts of adiabatic evolutions are developed further to introduce gauge invariance, coupling to magnetic fields, including implications for Landau levels, quantum Hall and Josephson effects, the Aharonov Bohm effect and a brief discussion of Berry's geometric phase. The theory of quantum spin is extended with advanced methods for representing spins (eg Bloch sphere) and a complete discussion of addition of angular momenta using Clebsch Gordan algebra, with physical applications including as LS coupling and Zeeman splitting.
Students will be able to:
The unit will be taught through a combination of
Summative assessment
Written timed, open-book examination (80%)
Coursework (20%)
Advanced Quantum Physics, J.J. Sakuri, (Addison-Wesley, 1967) Quantum Mechanics and Path Integrals, Feynman and Hibbs (Dover) Selected sections from the Feynman Lectures in Physics Volumes I, II, III., Feynman, R. P.: (Addison-Wesley, 1964)