Details of PH3102 (Autumn 2025)
| Level: 3 | Type: Theory | Credits: 4.0 |
| Course Code | Course Name | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| PH3102 | Quantum Mechanics | Siddhartha Lal |
| Preamble |
|---|
| This is a core course for undergraduate students (BS-MS and IPhD) . Basic formalism and mathematical structure of Quantum Mechanics is discussed with examples in this course. |
| Syllabus |
|---|
| Recapitulation of basic formalism: Postulates of Quantum Mechanics, state vectors,
observables, operators, measurements. State vector formalism, Hilbert space, bra-ket notation, Hermitian and unitary operators, discrete & continuous basis, position & momentum basis, change of basis. Generalized uncertainty principle, generalized Ehrenfest theorem, matrix representation of operators, matrix mechanics, time evolution operator. The density matrix formalism. Quantum dynamics: Heisenberg Schroedinger and interaction picture. A brief discussion of Schroedinger's equation in 2D and 3D central potential. Angular momentum, Stern-Gerlach experiment, orbital angular momentum, spin angular momentum, commutation relations and compatibility, matrix representation of spin and its operators, spin in an arbitrary direction, calculating probabilities. Addition of angular momentum. Clebsch-Gordon coefficients. Symmetries in QM: Parity, translational symmetry, time reversal, rotation group etc. Time independent perturbation theory. Examples could include the anharmonic oscillator, Stark and Zeeman effects, Spin-Orbit and other hyperfine interactions etc. |
| Prerequisite |
|---|
| Physics in Levels 1 and 2 |
| References |
|---|
| References:
1. Modern Quantum Mechanics J. J. Sakurai 2. Principles of Quantum Mechanics -- R. Shankar 3. Quantum Mechanics A new introduction, K. Konishi and G. Pafutti |
Course Credit Options
| Sl. No. | Programme | Semester No | Course Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP | 1 | Core |
| 2 | IP | 3 | Elective |
| 3 | IP | 5 | Not Allowed |
| 4 | MP | 1 | Not Allowed |
| 5 | MP | 3 | Not Allowed |
| 6 | MR | 1 | Elective |
| 7 | MR | 3 | Not Allowed |
| 8 | MS | 3 | Not Allowed |
| 9 | MS | 5 | Core |
| 10 | MS | 7 | Elective |
| 11 | MS | 9 | Not Allowed |
| 12 | RS | 1 | Elective |
| 13 | RS | 2 | Elective |