This schedule is an approximate guideline for the class.
Week 1 (August 26, 28):
Chapter 1: Intro to quantum; Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions; Postulates of quantum mechanics.
Week 2 (September 2, 4):
Chapter 2: The Schrödinger equation; Translation; Acceptable wavefunctions; Tunneling; Particle-in-a-box; Quantization.
Week 3 (September 9,11):
Chapters 2 & 3: Quantum harmonic oscillator; Particle on a ring; Particle on a sphere; Rigid rotor.
Week 4 (September 16, 18):
Chapters 3 & 4: The hydrogen atom; Angular momentum operators.
Week 5 (September 23, 25):
Chapter 4: Angular momentum eigenvalues; Angular momentum eigenfunctions; Spin.
Week 6 (September 30, October 2):
Chapter 5: Group theory; Symmetry; Crystals.
Week 7 (October 7, 9):
Mid-term exam 1 (Chapters 1-4); Chapter 6: Time independent perturbation; Variational theory.
Week 8 (October 14, 16):
Chapters 6 & 7: Time dependent perturbation theory; Einstein A and B coefficients; Atomic structure
Week 9 (October 21, 23):
Chapter 7: Atomic spectroscopy; Transition energies; Selection rules; Pauli principle; Hund’s rules.
Week 10 (October 28, 30):
Chapter 8: Born-Oppenheimer approximation; MO theory.
Week 11 (November 4, 6):
Chapters 8 & 9: Band theory; Electronic structure.
Week 12 (November 11, 13):
Veterans Day Holiday; Chapter 9: Hartree-Fock; Electron correlation.
Week 13 (November 18, 20):
Chapter 10: Absorption and emission; Raman processes. Rotational spectroscopy.
Week 14 (November 25, 27):
Mid-term exam 2 (Chapters 5-9);Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15 (December 2, 4):
Chapters 10 & 11: Vibrational spectroscopy; Anharmonicity; Selection rules; Normal modes; Electronic transitions.
Week 16 (December 9, 11):
Chapter 11: Light absorption; Franck-Condon principle; Fluorescence.
Final Exam: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 8:00 - 11:00 AM. Covers all material.
