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Module

PHY1025 : Introductory Quantum Mechanics

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Jerry Hagon
  • Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

To introduce the principals of the quantum behaviour of particles and form a basis for a formal instruction of quantum mechanics at later stages.

Outline Of Syllabus

Black body radiation; the photoelectric effect,; the instability of the atom; the Compton effect.
Discovery of Planck’s constant and quantization of energy.
Wave-particle duality. de Broglie waves, electron diffraction.
Spectra of hydrogen and other one-electron atoms.
The Rutherford and Bohr models of the atom.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
The Schrödinger equation (non-relativistic).
Bound states and the potential well problem including the infinite square potential well.
Atomic structure: quantum numbers of hydrogen including spin.
Quantum tunnelling.
Applications of quantum mechanics in atomic, nuclear and particle physics.

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable