Unit 1

Brief history of birth of quantum theory:
Classical and electrical nature of matter and atoms, electrons; Black-body radiation, Photons, photoelectric effect, dual nature of electromagnetic radiation.
Line spectra, Rutherford and Bohr models of hydrogen atom and atomic spectra, Franck-Hertz experiment, generalized Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization rules, energy levels of particle in a box and simple harmonic oscillator, correspondence principle; X-ray spectrum. [9]

Unit 2

Electron diffraction, de Broglie model, wave-particle duality, Schrodinger equation, probability amplitudes and probabilities, superposition of waves, group velocity, uncertainty relations, estimation zero-point energies of simple potentials. [5]
Schrödinger equation and its properties, wave functions, superposition, normalization, expectation values, momentum and energy operators; time-independent Schrodinger equation, stationary states, energy eigenvalue equation, eigenvalues, eigenstates and quantization of energies, infinite and finite potential wells. [6]

Unit 3

Simple harmonic oscillator, vibrational levels of diatomic molecules. [4] (Refs.2)
Free particles, wave packets, potential steps and barriers, reflection, transmission and tunnelling, resonant tunnelling, scanning tunnelling microscope. [5]
Particles in two- and three-dimensional rigid boxes, and simple harmonic potentials in Cartesian coordinates. [2]

Unit 4

Angular momentum and magnetic moment, Stern-Gerlach Experiment, angular momentum quantization, angular momentum operators, Azimuthal angular momentum eigenvalues and eigenstates; uncertainty relations with position, momentum, and angular momentum. [5] (Ref.2) Schrodinger equation in central fields, Total angular momentum eigenvalues and eigenfunctions – spherical harmonics, vector model, rotational quantum states of molecules. [4] (Ref.2)

Unit 5

Spin angular momentum – states and eigenvalues, spin magnetic moment, spin-orbit coupling energy, addition of Spin and angular momentum in the vector model, Zeeman effect. [4] (Ref.2)
Hydrogen atom: Schrodinger equation in spherical coordinates; radial solutions, complete set of wave functions, classification of energy eigenstates, spectroscopic notation. [4] (Ref.2)
Many electron atoms: Identical particles, permutation symmetry, two electron systems, symmetric and anti-symmetric wave functions and spin states, Pauli principle. [2] (Ref.2)
Qualitative discussions of states of helium and many electron atoms. [2] (Ref.2)

Description: This course introduces ideas in quantum physics at an elementary level and forms the foundation for more advanced courses.

Course Outcomes:
On completion of this course, students shall be able to

1. Describe phenomena of nature that differed from classical predictions; understand the phenomena origins of quantum nature of the physical world at the atomic scale
2. Get introduced to Schrodinger theory of atomic phenomena and perform basic calculations and correlate with energy quantization; Understand the method of obtaining time-independent Schrodinger equation and eigenfunctions, and quantized energies, interpretation of wavefunctions, and postulates and describe them, and apply to simple 1D potentials, barriers.
3. Understand quantum mechanics of simple harmonic oscillators and vibrational levels of molecules.
4. Understand angular momentum, commutation relations, eigenvalues and eigenfunctions; understand Spin, eigenvalues and spin states, addition of angular momentum and spin and spin-orbit coupling in the vector model, rotational levels of molecules.
5. Understand the application of Schrodinger’s theory to Hydrogen atom and its spectrum at gross and fine levels, and spectroscopic notation.

Evaluation Pattern: As in the rules for Assessment Procedure (R.14)

Skills and Employability: The entire contents of this course, tutorials and assignments lays conceptual/theoretical foundation for application of laws of physics to problems of scientific interest and builds skills required for a career as an educator/academician in schools, colleges, universities and coaching centres, as a professional researcher in government/industrial research organizations, and as a communicator of science in general.

1. Eisberg and Resnick, Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles, 2E, Wiley India.
2. A.P. French, Introduction to Quantum Physics.
3. S. Gasiorowicz, The Structure of Matter — A Survey Of Modern Physics (Addison-Wesley, 1979)
4. Alastair I.M. Rae and J. Napolitano, Quantum Mechanics (6E, CRC Press, 2016)
5. D. Griffiths, Quantum Mechanics, 2E, Person
6. Wichmann, Quantum Physics – Berkeley Physics Course Vol 4, McGraw-Hill.
7. R.P. Feynman, Feynman Lectures in Physics, Vol. 3.