Classes meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11:00 - 11:50 am, in Physics 0058.
Office hours:  Monday and Wednesday, noon - 1 pm, Room A417,  Zaffarano Physics Addition.

Course Web site:  http://www.public.iastate.edu/~prell/physics480-2005/index.html

Grading Scheme:
Problem Sets:      20 %
Midterm Exams I and II:    20 % each [example exam (midterm exam from last year)]
Final Exam:          40 % [example exam (final exam from last year)]

Instructor:  Prof. Soeren Prell
My research is in experimental elementary particle physics.  I am a member of the BABAR collaboration at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, an international, 600-person collaboration studying fundamental differences between the way matter and antimatter evolve in time (CP violation). I have been on the faculty at Iowa State University since Fall 2002. I have taught Physics 480 last fall. This is my second semester teaching Physics 480.

 
Campus Location:  Room A417, Zaffarano Physics Addition
Telephone: 294-3853
E-mail:  prell@iastate.edu
Office hours:  Monday and Wednesday,  noon - 1 pm, Room A417,  Zaffarano Physics Addition.

Grader:  Chengwu Tao
Email:  ctao@iastate.edu

Required Textbook:  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (second edition), David J. Griffiths, Prentice Hall, 2004.
In the Fall semester, we will cover Chapters 1 through 4 and 6. For an approximate schedule and homework problems see here.
This book will also be the text for the first part of Physics 481 next spring. There will be additional supplements for Physics 481.

Other Recommended Textbooks for Reference:
I highly recommend that you read other quantum mechanics texts to get a different perspective on the same material.  You should peruse several of the textbooks listed below to find the style that suits you best.  We will sometimes use supplementary material from the second book in the list (Cohen-Tannoudji), especially in Physics 481.

• The Feynman Lectures in Physics, Volume III, Feynman, Leighton and Sands.
• Quantum Mechanics, Cohen-Tannoudji, Diu and Laloe.
• Introductory Quantum Mechanics, Richard L. Liboff, 3rd ed., QC174.12.L52
• Quantum Physics, Stephen Gasiorowicz, 2nd ed.,  QC174.12.G37 1996
• Modern Quantum Mechanics, Jun J. Sakurai,  Rev. ed.,  QC174.12.S25 1994

A better understanding of the mathematical methods used in Quantum Mechanics can be obtained from books such as the ones listed below.

• Essential Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Arfken & Weber
• Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, Boas, 2nd ed., QA37.2 B59, 1983

You are encouraged to look up complicated integrals in integral tables or use a computer to solve them.

1. "Mathematica" software is installed on the computers in room 53 for you to use. If you are unfamiliar with Mathematica the basic commands are described e.g. at  http://www.case.edu/artsci/math/hurley/mma/mathematicacribsheet.html
2. "Table of Physical Constants" (from the Particle Data Group web site): http://pdg.lbl.gov/2005/reviews/consrpp.pdf
3. Table of Basic Integrals:  http://www.math.unb.ca/sections/integrals/
4. "The Integrator" web page from Mathematica:  http://integrals.wolfram.com/ (an alternative to mathematical tables of integrals)
5. Look-up Table of Integrals:  http://torte.cs.berkeley.edu:8010/tilu
6. Pocket Book of Integrals and Mathematical Formulas (Third Edition), by Ronald J. Tallarida (Amazon Price: $25.00)

Disabilities

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact me early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Resources (DR) office, located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076, 515-294-6624.

Page Author:  Soeren Prell
Last Significant Update:  August 9, 2005