Assignments

Assignments will be set and marked for assessment purposes and issued approximately once a week. The best four assignments [unless agreed otherwise] in each half of the course (i.e. 4+4) will be selected to contribute to the assignment grade. At least 11 assignments will be issued. Given the teaching constraints the assignments will often contain more problems than the will have to be submitted. Solutions will be provided to all of them

Informal group discussion regarding the assignment problems is encouraged, but students should present their own solutions and should explicitly acknowledge those they have worked with on the assignment. Do not hesitate to seek help if you are having difficulties with the assignment problems.

Extension Requests: Given the importance we place on assignments as a key aid to learning we expect assignments to be submitted on time. In turn, we undertake to return your assignments (provided they were submitted on time), marked and with feedback within two weeks of their due date. This will allow us to provide you feedback in time to aid your ongoing learning through the course.

If for any reason a student is unable to submit an assignment by the due date, the student should contact the relevant staff member as soon as possible, explain the situation, and request an extension. Extensions will only be considered if requested with valid reasons prior to the due date. Delay of the submission delays publication of the solutions

Mid-session examination

There will be two 50 minute mid-session exams. There is some flexibility in setting the test times and the selected material. Please use the iLearn discussion forum to make suggestions for alternative times. Weight of each test is 15%.

Students can prepare their own hand written summary notes to take into the test. The summary notes and the test script will be collected and assessed to ensure the notes were independently prepared. Summary notes are limited to one A4 sheet (both sides).

End-of-session examination

There will be a 3 hour end-of-session exam to be held in the University Examination Period.

This will be a closed-book examination. All the necessary physical and mathematical formulas will be provided. You should have a scientific calculator for use during the final examination. Note that calculators with text retrieval are not permitted for the final examination.

You are expected to present yourself for the final examination at the time and place designated in the University examination timetable (https://iexams.mq.edu.au/timetable). The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled during the supplementary exam period. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

A recommended textbook is:

• "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by David Griffiths (any edition)

Knowledge of the basic elements of classical analytical mechanics (particularly the Hamiltonian formalism) is helpful, but not mandatory. A lecture notes will be posted on iLearn.

A recommended textbook for atomic physics will be announced during semester.

Supplementary textbook on quantum mechanics and atomic physics: 

• "Introductiory Quantum Mechanics" by R. L. Liboff (any edition)

Lecture materials, additional reading and assignments will be posted to iLearn.

Classes will be mixed lectures and tutorials.

The schedule of topics to be covered is as follows:

• State vectors
• Linear operators
• Measurements
• Time evolution, tensor products
• The Schrodinger equation, free particles and infinite wells
• Harmonic oscillator
• Angular momentum
• Hydrogen atom: Schrodinger equation
• Spin
• Addition of angular momentum
• Approximated solutions and perturbation theory
• Optical transitions in hydrogen atoms
• Multi-electron atoms: helium
• Fine structure, chemical properties, optical transitions
• External fields, Zeeman effect