PH422: Quantum Mechanics II
Course Information

Instructor: Alok Shukla
Office: Room 221, Physics Bldg.
Phone: X-7576
E-mail: shukla@phy.iitb.ac.in
Office Hours: Feel free to drop in anytime.

Course Outline

This course is the second in the series of quantum mechanics courses, and will build upon your knowledge of quantum mechanics. I will assume that while studying Quantum Mechanics I, you have acquired a decent knowledge of partial differential equations and linear algebra, in addition to the basics of the subject. I plan to cover the following topics during the semester:

  1. Coupling of angular momenta and Clebsch-Gordon coefficients. Wigner-Eckart theorem.
  2. Approximation methods in quantum mechanics: WKB approximation, variational principle, time-independent perturbation (both non-degenerate and degenerate). Zeeman and Stark effects, Convergence of the perturbation series. Time dependent perturbation theory.
  3. Time-dependent problems in quantum mechanics: time-dependent perturbation theory. Transition, scattering probability, Fermi’s Golden Rule. Absorption and emission of radiation, Einstein coefficients. Floquet theory for time-periodic systems.
  4. Theory of potential scattering. Cross section, method of partial waves. Green’s function approach. Lippmann-Schwinger equation.

Suggested Books

We are fortunate that a large number of excellent textbooks have been written on this subject. Most of the textbooks cover the topics mentioned above quite nicely. I am listing quite a few textbooks below, and it will be good if you have a personal copy of at least one of these. Cheap Indian editions of most of these books are available.

  1. Quantum Mechanics I and II, by C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, F. Laloë, John Wiley and Sons (1977).
  2. Modern Quantum Mechanics, by J. J. Sakurai, Pearson Education Asia (1994).
  3. Quantum Mechanics (3rd edn), by E. Merzbacher, John Wiley & Sons (1998).
  4. Introductory Quantum Mechanics (4th edn), by R. Liboff, Addison Wesley (2002).
  5. Quantum Mechanics (2nd edn), by B. H. Bransden and C. J. Joachain, Prentice Hall (2000).
  6. Principles of Quantum Mechanics (2nd edn), by R. Shankar, Plenum Press (1994).
  7. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (2nd edn) by D. J. Griffiths, Prentice Hall (2004).
  8. Quantum Physics (3rd edn), by S. Gasiorowicz, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (2003).

Additionally, the books listed below are older classics, but are still a joy to read. You can find them in our library. Indian editions of the books by Feynman and Dirac are available in bookstores.

  1. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, by R. H. Dicke and JP Witke, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1960).
  2. Quantum Mechanics vols I and II, by A. Messiah, North Holland Publishing Co. (1961).
  3. Lectures on Quantum Mechanics, by G. Baym, Benjamin Cummings (1974).
  4. Quantum Mechanics (3rd edn), by L. I. Schiff, Mc Graw Hill (1968).
  5. The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, by P. A .M. Dirac, Clarendon Press, Oxford (1958).
  6. Feynman Lectures in Physics Vol III: Quantum Mechanics, by R. Feynman, R. Leighton, and M. Sands, Addison-Wesley (1964).

Attendance Requirements

IIT Bombay rules require that all students attend at least 80% of the lectures in each course. This is precisely what I also expect you to follow.

Examinations and Grading

Your final grade will be based upon your performance in the following:

  1. Quizzes (2) 10 %+10 %
  2. Midsem Exam: 30 %
  3. Final Exam: 50 %

Tutorial Sheets

  1. Tutorial Sheet 1
  2. Tutorial Sheet 1: Solution
  3. Tutorial Sheet 2
  4. Tutorial Sheet 2: Solution
  5. Tutorial Sheet 3
  6. Tutorial Sheet 4
  7. Tutorial Sheet 5