Graduate Quantum Mechanics GR6038

Professor Norman Christ

This site provides information about this course, offered in the Spring of 2026. (Also see last semester's website.)

• Professor Christ:
  • Email: mailto:[email protected]
  • Office:  801 Pupin
  • Telephone:  212 854 3307
  • Office hours Tuesday 2:30-3:30 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 9:30 - 10:50 in room 307 Pupin
• Office hours:
  • Norman Christ: 2:24-3:45, room 801 Pupin
  • Ceran Hu: TBD,Thursdays, room 424 Pupin
• Notes:
  • Fermi's golden rule
  • Thomas-Fermi atom
  • Damped simple harmonic oscillator
  • Perturbative S matrix approach to scattering
  • Stationary state scattering
  • Dilute_medium_propagation
  • Quantum treatment of light
• 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
  • Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in class.
  • The exam will cover material up to and including the discussion of the Coulomb gas.
  • The exam is closed book but a two-sided formula sheet can be used.
  • A practice midterm exam has been posted
  • We'll have a review session on Monday, March 23 in room 705 Pupin at 7:00 pm.
  • Ceran will hold a second review session on Tuesday, March 24, also in room 705 Pupin at 6:00 pm
• Final exam
  • Friday, May 8, 2026, in room 329 from 9:00 m to 12:00 m
  • The exam is closed book but a two-sided formula sheet can be used.
  • We'll have a review session on Wednesday, May 6 in room 214 Pupin at 5:25 pm.
  • We'll have a second review session on Thursday, May 7 in room 329 Pupin at 4:10 pm.
  • Try the practice final exam.
  • The exam will include the quantum treatment of light but not the details of the radiative decays of atoms.
• 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 6, 2026