Physics 130 -- Quantum Mechanics

Physics 130 is a one-quarter course in Quantum Mechanics given by Michael Peskin during the Winter 2013 term at Stanford University. This is the first quarter of Stanford's two quarter undergraduate Quantum Mechanics sequence.

The course covers the foundations of quantum mechanics. It begins by discussing wave mechanics and quantized energy spectra. From this basis, the course develops the abstract description of quantum theory. This theory is applied to two-level systems, developing applications to the chemical bond and the description of electron and photon spin. The course concludes with a discussion of the notion of quantum coherence and a discussion of the interpretation of quantum theory.

General course information for Physics 130.

Syllabus and lecture notes for Physics 130.

Introduction
Jan. 7: Schrodinger's model of quantum mechanics
Jan. 9: Energy spectrum: 1-dimensional examples
Jan. 14: Energy spectrum: 1-dimensional examples (cont.)
Jan. 16: Energy spectrum: harmonic oscillator
Jan. 18: Energy spectrum: rotational symmetry
Jan. 21: (Martin Luther King Day -- no class)
Jan. 23: Energy spectrum: Hydrogen atom
Jan. 28: Energy spectra of real atoms
Jan. 30: Hilbert space
Jan. 30: Hilbert space (continued)
Feb. 6: Midterm Exam
Feb. 11: What is quantum mechanics?
Feb. 13: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
Feb. 18: (Presidents' Day -- no class)
Feb. 20: Two-level systems
Feb. 25: Angular Momentum
Feb. 27: Spin
Mar. 1: (bonus lecture) General theory of angular momentum
Mar. 4: Spin (conclusion)
Mar. 4: Quantum coherence
Mar. 6: More about quantum coherence
Mar. 11: Quantum computing
Mar. 13: Interpretations of quantum mechanics

Problem sets for Physics 130:

Problem Set 0 -- Math Diagnostic (due Jan. 10); solutions.
Problem Set 1 (due Jan. 16); solutions.
Problem Set 2 (due Jan. 23); solutions.
Problem Set 3 (due Jan. 30); solutions.
Problem Set 4 (due Feb. 13); solutions.
Problem Set 5 (due Feb. 20); solutions.
Problem Set 6 (due Feb. 27); solutions.
Problem Set 7 (due Mar. 6); solutions.
Problem Set 8 (due Mar. 13); solutions.

Exams for Physics 130:

Midterm Exam; solutions. The midterm will cover material through the Jan. 28 lecture.
Final Exam; solutions. The final will cover material through the Mar. 6 lecture.