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Course module: NWI-NB016B
NWI-NB016B
Quantum Mechanics 3
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-NB016B
Credits (ECTS)6
Category-
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; Wiskunde, Natuur- en Sterrenkunde;
Lecturer(s)
PreviousNext 1
Coordinator
prof. dr. W.J.P. Beenakker
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
prof. dr. W.J.P. Beenakker
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. W.J.P. Beenakker
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. W.J.P. Beenakker
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. T.G. Budd
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2018
Period
KW3-KW4  (28/01/2019 to 01/09/2019)
Starting block
KW3
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
  • The student knows the special aspects of quantum systems comprising of identical particles
  • The student is able to perform calculations in the Fock-space of particles or quasi-particles
  • The student can deal with quantum mechanical ensembles
  • The student has the ability to perform teamwork and explain an advanced topic to fellow students 
  • The student understands the quantization aspects of electromagnetic fields (module 1)
  • The student knows the fundamental aspects of relativistic quantum mechanics (module 1)
  • The student understands the basic concepts and methods of condensed matter theory (module 2)
  • The student understands such phenomena as Josephson effect, Andreev reflection, Aharonov-Bohm effect, conductance quantization, magnetoresistance and Hall effect and can apply theory methods to describe them (module 2)
Content
This course is part of a chain of quantum mechanics courses, consisting of Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics 1a+b, 2 and 3.

During the 3rd quarter the emphasis in Quantum Mechanics 3 is on the properties of identical-particle systems. By adopting the occupation number representation, the quantum space of identical-particle systems (Fock-space) is constructed in terms of creation and annihilation operators. In this context the student will encounter new concepts such as quasi-particles and second quantization. Next the quantum-mechanical concept of mixed ensembles is introduced, which is subsequently used to derive the quantum statistics of non-interacting many-particle systems that are in thermodynamic equilibrium with a macroscopic environment. In the 4th quarter the course splits into two modules. The students are free to choose either of these modules.
Module 1 (W.J.P. Beenakker) is meant for students who are interested in the master's specialisation "Particle and Astrophysics". In this module it will be shown how the problems with the construction of a 1-particle version of relativistic quantum mechanics can be circumvented by assigning a many-particle interpretation to the relativistic wave equations. The latter is illustrated and motivated by the quantization of the electromagnetic field.
Module 2 (M. Titov) is meant for students who are interested in the master's specialisation "Physics of Molecules and Materials". This module covers the basic concepts of condensed matter theory: Bloch theorem, tight-binding models, k-dot-p Hamiltonians, spin-orbit interaction, dispersion relations, density of states, current operator, and scattering states. The following topics will be treated: the Landauer-Büttiker theory of quantum transport, the Boltzmann kinetic equation, the mean-field method and the Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity.

The students are expected to participate in one team assignment. As part of a team of 3-4 students they should prepare and present a mini-lecture on a modern/advanced quantum mechanical topic. These presentation assignments are integrated in the exercise-classes and are meant to provide added depth to a particular discussion or to introduce the students to a ground-breaking experiment that is described in Nature or Physical Review Letters.  
Test information
• Written Exam
• A Bonus may be obtained by handing in exercise class assignments.
Prerequisites
Quantum Mechanics 2
Required materials
Reader
Lecture notes: will be updated on a weekly basis and can be downloaded before each lecture
Recommended materials
Book
David J. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, Pearson Education Ltd, 2005
Book
Eugene Merzbacher, Quantum Mechanics, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2003
Book
B.H. Bransden and C.J. Joachain, Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, Pearson Education Ltd, 2000
Book
F. Schwabl, Advanced Quantum Mechanics, 3rd edition, Springer 2005
Book
D. Feng and G. Jin, Introduction to condensed matter physics, World Scientific, Singapore 2005
Instructional modes
Lecture

Tutorial

Zelfstudie

Tests
Exam
Test weight1
Test typeWritten exam
OpportunitiesBlock KW4, Block KW4

Remark
There will be a single exam that covers both modules

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Kies de Nederlandse taal