PHYSICS 501, FALL 2019

GRADUATE QUANTUM MECHANICS I

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The average grade on the final exam was 86/100.
• A solution to the final exam is posted on Box.
• You can pick up your exam in my office if you wish (although I won't be in much until January).
• You should expect to receive an email on 12/20/19 with your final exam score and letter grade.
• Thanks for a great semester!

• Homework assignments
• Handouts
• Previous Exams

GENERAL INFORMATION

Instructor:

Prof. David Vanderbilt Office: Serin E291 Email: dhv@physics.rutgers.edu Phone: 445-9049 Office hours: Fridays 3:30-4:30; also informally after class on Monday

Textbook and Syllabus:

• Principal (required) text: Principles of Quantum Mechanics (2nd Edition), by R. Shankar.

In the fall semester, we will cover Shankar Chapters 1-7 and 9-15 (see Syllabus).

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday, 4nd period (1:40-3:00pm), ARC 105. Lecture should be as interactive as possible; you are definitely encouraged to ask questions, or express what is confusing you, in the lecture. Also, I strongly recommend that you read the corresponding textbook material before lecture, so that you can come prepared to ask questions about the points that you find unclear.

Note that there will be no lecture on Wed. November 27 just before Thanksgiving (it is designated for Friday classes).

Homeworks: Since people usually "learn by doing," the homeworks are an extremely important part of the course experience. Homeworks will be assigned at intervals of 1 or 1.5 weeks; they will be graded and returned to you. See the guidelines for submitting homeworks. Homework solutions will be posted on Box.

Exams: There will be a midterm and a final. The midterm will be given in class, tentatively on October 30. The final exam is scheduled for 1:30-4:30pm on Wednesday Dec. 18 in ARC 105.

Web site: If you are looking at a paper copy of this document, it is actually a printout of the course home page located at http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/grad/501. Please bookmark this location. It will be used frequently for listing homework assignments and communicating other details about the course.

Communication: My "posted office hours" are as listed above, but you are free to see me at other times as well. If it's a quick question, just drop in; otherwise it might be advisable to phone or email ahead to make an appointment. Also, feel free to contact me by email about any aspect of the course.

Grades: To arrive at the final grade I will do a numerical calculation first (with weights of approximately 40% for homeworks, 25% for the midterm, and 35% for the final). This will then be adjusted, based on factors like class participation, to arrive at a final letter grade.

Course Policies and Student Resources: Please read here for departmental and university information on various topics including

• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Student Wellness Services
• Honor Policy