Physics 3220 Quantum Mechanics

Instructors: Steven Pollock, Oliver DeWolfe, and Steve Goldhaber

orbital
The wavefunctions of the hydrogen atom are the foundation upon which atomic, molecular, and chemical physics are built. The image above shows the radial and angular dependence for n=30, l=20, m=10. There are many helpful tools available for visualizing hydrogen orbitals. Have a look here and here.
(And, if you miss the cartoon, visit here )

Post semester:

Dec 18: Course grades available on CU-Learn (my Grades). Final exam histogram available on exam info link.

Dec 16 Final exam solutions posted on CU-Learn


Week 15 (Dec 8-Dec 12): More spin

Dec 11: Solutions to HW 13 now posted at CULearn.

Dec 7: A typo in HW 13 has been corrected: the upper limit on the sum over l in equation 2 should be n-1, not infinity. (Of course, the states with l > n-1 don't exist anyway!)

Week 14 (Dec 1-Dec 5): Spin

Dec 4: Solutions to HW 12 now posted at CULearn.

Dec 3: HW 13 now posted. This is the last problem set!

Two things to note about HW 13:

1. The first problem is to go participate in two surveys about the course. You get credit just for participating, regardless of your answers. For your convenience, here are the links to the surveys: Survey 1 Survey 2

2. The last problem is extra credit. If you choose to do it, it can make up lost points in your past HW, up to 3% of your total HW grade.

Week 13 (Nov 17-Nov 21): hydrogen atom and spin

Nov 19: HW12 is now posted. It is due in TWO WEEKS on Wednesday, Dec 3 at the usual time. Enjoy Thanksgiving break!

Nov 18: Here is the histogram for the second midterm:

histogram

Exams will be handed back in class on Wednesday, Nov 19.

Nov 17: This week's homework can be handed in as late as Thursday, Nov 20 at noon in either Prof. DeWolfe's or Prof. Pollock's mailbox, to avoid conflict with the E&M II exam.

Week 12 (Nov 10-Nov 14): angular momentum and hydrogen

Nov 12: HW 11 is posted on the assigments page (due in a week).
2nd midterm is Thursday November 13, from 7:15pm-9:15pm. I updated the exam info page slightly, you can now find our crib sheet there (the one that will come with the exam) if you 'd like to look at that in advance!

Nov 7: HW 10 solutions are posted, exam 2 info is on the exam link.

Some relevant old links:
Sample Mathematica notebook in our "useful and interesting links" page (or here. )
Have you tried the PhET simulations ?

Click here for old main page notes from weeks 1-5 , and weeks 6-8, and weeks 9-11

We welcome your comments on the class and this website. Send them to steven.pollock at colorado.edu or oliver.dewolfe at colorado.edu