Physics 143a Topics:

Midterm 1:

  1. The Schrödinger equation: The Schrödinger equation; the uncertainty principle.
  2. One-dimensional systems: Free particle; particle in a box; the simple harmonic oscillator; potential wells; scattering and tunneling.

Midterm 2:

  1. Principles of quantum mechanics: States and operators; Hilbert space; probability and measurement; position and momentum representations.
  2. Three-dimensional systems: The Schrödinger equation in three dimensions; central potential; orbital angular momentum; the hydrogen atom.
  3. Angular momentum: Spin; general angular momentum; addition of angular momentum; Clebsch-Gordon coefficients.

Final:

  1. Many-particle systems: Identical particles; bosons and fermions.
  2. Perturbation theory: Time-independent perturbations; Zeeman effect; fine and hyperfine structures of the hydrogen atom; time-dependent perturbations*; two-level systems*.
  3. * Quantum information: EPR paradox; Bell inequality; quantum computation.