Graduate Quantum Mechanics GR6038

Professor Norman Christ

This site provides information about this course, offered in the Spring of 2025. (Also see last semester's website.)

• Professor Christ:
  • Email: mailto:[email protected]
  • Office:  801 Pupin
  • Telephone:  212 854 3307
  • Office hours Tuesday 1:10-2:30 pm.
• Ceran Hu (Teaching Assistant):
• Email: mailto:[email protected]
• Office: 1114 Pupin
• Text books:
  • Required: Lectures on Quantum Mechanics  (Lecture Notes & Supplements in Physics), Gordon Baym, Perseus Books, ISBN: 0805306676
  • Required: Quantum Mechanics: Fundamentals, Gottfried and Yan, second edition
  • Additional text books.
  • Text books on quantum statistical mechanics, quantum computing and open quantum systems available on reserve.
• Python
  • Instructions to download Anaconda distribution
  • Material for working assignments.
• Syllabus and schedule
• Lectures:
  • 8:40-9:55 am, Monday and Wednesday
• Problem sessions: 
  • Friday from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, room 325 Pupin
• Office hours:
  • Norman Christ: 1:10-2:30, Tuesdays, room 801 Pupin
  • Ceran Hu: 12:10-1:00 pm,Thursdays, room 424 Pupin
• Notes:
  • degenerate perturbation theory
  • Wigner 3-j symbols
  • Derivation of formula for scattering cross section.
  • Derivation of the relation between the scattering cross section and the stationary state scatterinig amplitude.
  • Derivation of the index of refraction that results from scattering by a dilute collection of scattering centers.
• Homework:
  • A PDF copy of your solutions should be upload to Courseworks by the end of the day on which the problem set is due.
  • Find current and previous assignments: assignments
• Midterm exam:
  • Monday, March 31, 2025
  • Will cover material up to and including the second quantization of bosons.
  • Practice midterm posted
  • The exam will be closed book but you may bring a single formula sheet, written on both sides.
  • Midterm review session well be held on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in room 705
  • Ceran's problem session and offices hours have been moved to Saturday, March 29:
    • Problem session 10:00 am - 12:00 m in room 814
    • Office hours 1:00 - 2:00 pm in room 814.
  • Histogram of midterm scores.
• Final exam:
  • Friday, May 9, 2025, 9:00am - 12:00m, room 329 Pupin
  • Will cover material up to and including the quantization of electromagnetism.
  • Try the practice final exam.
  • The exam will be closed book but you may bring a single formula sheet, written on both sides.
  • Christ:
    • Office hours 1:10 - 2:30 pm Tuesday (5/6) 801 Pupin
    • Review session: 4:10 - 6:15 pm, Wednesday (5/7) in 329 Pupin
  • Hu:
    • Problem session 1:10 - 3:00 pm, Thursday (5/8) in room 224 Pupin.
    • Office hours 4:10 - 5:00 pm, Thursday (5/8) in room 224 Pupin.
• Grades: Grades will be determined from a weighted average of the homework (20%), the midterm exam (30%) and the final exam (50%).
• Academic integrity

Most recent update: May 3, 2025