Unit name | Advanced Quantum Physics |
---|---|
Unit code | PHYSM3416 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Gradhand |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites | |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Physics |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The course examines advanced topics in Quantum Physics which have a central role in modern theoretical physics. These include advanced concepts of wave packet propagation and spreading, including Feynman’s path integral formulation, elementary ideas of scattering theory, and the semi classical WKB method and its implications. The concepts of adiabatic evolutions are developed further to introduce gauge invariance, coupling to magnetic fields, including implications for Landau levels, quantum Hall and Josephson effects, the Aharonov Bohm effect and a brief discussion of Berry's geometric phase. The theory of quantum spin is extended with advanced methods for representing spins (eg Bloch sphere) and a complete discussion of addition of angular momenta using Clebsch Gordan algebra, with physical applications including as LS coupling and Zeeman splitting.
Students will be able to:
The unit will be taught through a combination of
Summative assessment
Written timed, open-book examination (80%)
Coursework (20%)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYSM3416).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.