To see what's happening week by week, (with assignments, readings, handouts, etc), please visit our weekly calendar!!

 

Lectures:	MWF 2-250 P.M. Duane G130 (one floor above ground level).
Instructor:	Daniel Bolton (daniel.bolton@colorado.edu) Duane F-1033 (10th floor of the Physics tower) (303) 492-7368
2nd Professor:	Leo Radzihovsky (radzihov@colorado.edu) Duane F-623  (6th floor of the Physics tower) (303) 492-5436
Staff:	LA: Jacob Moss (jacob.a.moss@colorado.edu)
Office hours:	Tue 4-6 PM. Duane G126 (just west of our lecture hall) Prof. Radzihovsky will also hold an office hour on Mon from 3-4 pm in his office. Or, other times by appointment, just email!   We enjoy visiting and talking with you about physics.
Tutorials:	Every Friday, from 3-3:50 PM in G2B60.   Everyone is welcome, even if you have not signed up.
Exams:	See Exam Information for dates, times, and more
More info:	See "Modules" link for much more information. Also, CU's official (but general) syllabus information.

 

Introduction: PHYS 3220, Quantum Mechanics 1, is the first semester of our two-semester sequence of junior-level quantum mechanics (QM), the foundation and explanatory framework of much of modern physics. We will cover the basic ideas of QM, starting with the context of spins. This introduces the formalism and postulates of QM (and, keeps the math simple-ish!) so we can focus on the meaning and framework of Quantum Mechanics. We will discuss, all along the way, the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Part way through the term we shift to solutions of Schrödinger's equation in 1 dimension, and then solutions of Schrödinger's equation in 3-dimensions, in particular the hydrogen atom.

There are many things we hope you get out of this course - besides learning some of the most interesting physics around, we also plan to master problem-solving skills, mathematical techniques, conceptual understanding, and the interplay between quantum mechanics and other areas of physics and the real world.

Required Prerequisites: PHYS 2170 (or 2130), 2210, and 3210 (Mechanics 1 & 2, minimum grade C-)
Mathematically, the course involves complex numbers, linear algebra and partial differential equations.

Required purchases:
1) David H. McIntyre Quantum Mechanics A Paradigms Approach
2) iClickers, available at the bookstore, will be used every lecture

The text above (and several others, see next line) is on reserve in the Gemmill Library of Engineering, Mathematics & Physics (located in the math building, 2 buildings East of Duane).

Here are alternative textbook suggestions in case you decide you need/want a different perspective

Reading: Reading is an essential part of 3220! Reading the text before class is very important.  Lecture is to clarify your understanding, to help you make sense of the material. I will assume you have done the required readings in advance! McIntyre's text is good - and it will make a huge difference if you spend the time and effort to carefully read and follow the text.  (See our daily calendar and Prof. Pollock's lecture notes) 

Classroom Etiquette: Please turn off all cell phones when entering any classroom. Private chatter during lecture is very distracting, but it is perfectly OK to interrupt the lecture by yelling “Question!” Questions in lecture are always good, and are strongly encouraged! (If you're interested in CU policies on classroom behavior, click here and here (for honor code).)

Homework: there will be a homework due every Wednesday  (except exam weeks) at the start of class, turned in digitally through Canvas. Late homework can't be accepted once solutions are posted -  but, your lowest score will be dropped.  Homework is key for developing an understanding of the course material, not to mention building skills in complex physical and mathematical problem solving. They will require considerable time and personal effort this term

Online preflights: There will be a short online reading survey due every Monday at noon. This is for credit, but we will not grade you for correctness, just for participation. It's easy to forget about this (coming after the weekend), please make an effort to get this in every week. (We will excuse one if you do forget). These give you a chance to provide feedback and ask us questions. It lets us gauge what's confusing and what needs extra attention in the coming week's lectures! 

Help Sessions: Help sessions/office hours are to facilitate your learning. I encourage attendance - plan on working in small groups, our role will be as learning coach. Sessions focus on homework, but we will not be explicitly telling anyone how to do the problems (how would that help you learn?) We strongly encourage you to start all problems on your own.  If you come to help sessions cold, the value of homework to you will be greatly reduced. 

Tutorials: Friday after class - these are optional sessions where we will work through exercises in small groups, focusing on both conceptual and computatational aspects that we know to be particularly challenging. You do NOT have to sign up for PHYS 3221 to come, just join us. If you can't come, materials are available on our calendar.

Exams: There are no makeups. You may not miss any exam except for reasons beyond your control, approved by Dr. Bolton (usually a confirmed medical problem with written documentation). In the unusual case of an (at most, single) excused absence from midterms, we'll use an average of your other exams. Calculators with scientific notation are allowed and sometimes needed; however, no devices with wireless access may be used. More details will be announced at the time of the midterm - More information about Exams.

Grading: Your course grade is largely determined by a combination of your performance on exams and homework. See our exam Information for times, locations, and grading weights. Also see our Detailed course grading information for more details!

Social rules: Please see this brief discussion of classroom Norms, rules, and expectations. (Thanks for looking at it!)

Collaboration rules: We strongly encourage collaboration, an essential skill in science and engineering (and highly valued by employers.) Social interactions are critical to scientists' success - most good ideas grow out of discussions with colleagues, and essentially all physicists work as part of a group. Find partners and work on homework together.  However, it is also important that you OWN the material. I strongly suggest you start homework by yourself (and that means really making an extended effort on every problem) Then work with a group, and finally, finish up on your own -  write up your own work, in your own way. There will also be time for peer discussion during classes - as you work together, try to help your partners get over confusions, listen to them, ask each other questions, critique, teach each other. You will learn a lot this way! 

Note: While collaboration is the rule in technical work, evaluations of individuals also play an important role. Exams will be done without help from others. For all assignments, the work you turn in must, in the end, be your own: in your own words, reflecting your own understanding.
(If, at any time, for any reason, you feel disadvantaged or isolated, contact me and I can discretely try to help arrange study groups.)

Disclaimer: Announcements about changes of any kind to the syllabus will be made in class, and (usually) posted on the web, and will take precedence over previous version. You are responsible for what is said in class, whether or not you are in attendance.

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Important comment on expectations: Physics 3220 covers some material you have seen before (many of the topics stem from PHYS 2170 material) but moves to a much higher level of conceptual and mathematical sophistication. Therefore you should expect:

• a large amount of material covered quickly.
• few examples covered in lecture. Most homework problems are not similar to examples from class.
• long, hard homework problems that usually cannot be completed by one individual alone in one evening.
• challenging exams.

Physics 3220 is a challenging, upper-division physics course. Unlike more introductory courses, you are fully responsible for your own learning. In particular, you control the pace of the course by asking questions in class. We professors tend to speak quickly, and questions are important to slow down the lecture. This means that if you don’t understand something, it is your responsibility to ask questions. Attending class and the homework help sessions gives you an opportunity to ask questions. We are here to help you as much as possible, but we need your questions to know what you don’t understand.

Physics 3220 covers some of the most important physics and mathematical methods in the field. Your reward for the hard work and effort will be learning important and elegant material that you will use over and over as a physics major. Here is what we have experienced, and heard from other faculty teaching upper division physics in the past:

• most students reported spending a minimum of 10 hours per week on the homework (!!)
• students who didn’t attend the homework help sessions often did poorly in the class.
• students reported learning a tremendous amount in this class.

The course topics that we will cover in Physics 3220 are among the greatest intellectual achievements of humans. Don’t be surprised if you have to think hard and work hard to master the material.

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Below is my summary, but here are CU's most up-to date links for important syllabus information!

Disabilities: Students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities, please let Dr. Bolton know early in the semester (first two weeks) so that your academic needs may be appropriately met. You'll need to provide documentation to Disability Services Office in C4C N200 (303-492-8671), or www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

Religious Observances:  We will make a strong effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, please send an e-mail to me in the first week of classes if you anticipate a conflict. See campus policy here.

Discrimination and Sexual Harassment:  The CU policies on Discrimination and Harassment, Sexual Harassment, or Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Anyone who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, reed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about campus resources available to assist you regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained here.

Classroom Learning Environment . We all have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Please see this page on "social classroom norms"! I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun, just let me know. See the CU Class Behavior link for other University-level details.

Honor Code: We trust every individual in this class to understand and follow the CU honor code. Please respect that trust! In return, we will strive to do our best to make the class valuable and worthy of your honorable behavior! (The honor code at CU is really very cool, although the CU official wording about it is a little tough: Violations of the honor code may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion).