- to make the student familiar with the principal experimental results who led to the reformulation of physics needed in order for atomic phenomena to be adequately described;
- to introduce students to the concept wave function and to Schroedinger's equation;
- to provide those mathematical tools needed to solve some problems concerning simple quantum systems (potential well, harmonic oscillator);
- to provide a quantum interpretation about the behaviour of some complex systems (like for instance
hydrogen-like atoms, spin, field quantization, band theory, effective mass)
- to introduce students to the concept wave function and to Schroedinger's equation;
- to provide those mathematical tools needed to solve some problems concerning simple quantum systems (potential well, harmonic oscillator);
- to provide a quantum interpretation about the behaviour of some complex systems (like for instance
hydrogen-like atoms, spin, field quantization, band theory, effective mass)
teacher profile teaching materials
- Black body radiation
- Planck's formula
- The photoelectric effect
- The Compton effect
- Rutherford's atomic model
- Bohr's quantum theory
- De Broglie's waves
Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics
- Basic probability theory
- Schroedinger equation and wave function
- Probabilistic interpretation of the wave function
- Measurement problem and collapse of the wave function
- Stern-Gerlach and Young’s experiments
- Physical quantities and operators
- Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions
- Stationary states
- Principle of superposition
- Uncertainty principle
Applications to unidimensional problems
- The potential well
- The harmonic oscillator
- The potential barrier and tunnel effect
Several-particles systems
- Identical particles: Fermi–Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics
- classical limit and Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics
- Electrons in a crystal: Bloch's theorem
- Quantum entanglement
- EPR paradox and Bell’s theorem
- Fundamentals of qubits and quantum computation
Programme
The crisis of the classical physics- Black body radiation
- Planck's formula
- The photoelectric effect
- The Compton effect
- Rutherford's atomic model
- Bohr's quantum theory
- De Broglie's waves
Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics
- Basic probability theory
- Schroedinger equation and wave function
- Probabilistic interpretation of the wave function
- Measurement problem and collapse of the wave function
- Stern-Gerlach and Young’s experiments
- Physical quantities and operators
- Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions
- Stationary states
- Principle of superposition
- Uncertainty principle
Applications to unidimensional problems
- The potential well
- The harmonic oscillator
- The potential barrier and tunnel effect
Several-particles systems
- Identical particles: Fermi–Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics
- classical limit and Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics
- Electrons in a crystal: Bloch's theorem
- Quantum entanglement
- EPR paradox and Bell’s theorem
- Fundamentals of qubits and quantum computation
Core Documentation
1) D. J. Griffith, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics"Reference Bibliography
2) B.H. Bransden and C.J. Joachain, "Quantum Mechanics" 3) M. A. Nielsen and I. L. Chuang, “Quantum computation and quantum information”Type of delivery of the course
Face-to-face teachingAttendance
Attendance is optional but highly recommended.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test, which includes open-ended problems and open-ended theory questions, and of an oral interview.