MSP2020
Principles of Quantum Mechanics
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Nikolaos Proukakis
- Owning School: School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
To introduce and explain the principles of quantum mechanics, developing thereby a wave theory of matter.
Module Summary
Quantum mechanics is the theoretical framework used to describe the most fundamental properties of matter. It has a rich mathematical structure, and it has provided the impetus for many advances in mathematics. It also has many practical applications, including the modelling of atoms, molecules and semiconductors. Recently, quantum theory has been used extensively to model super-fluids and supercooled gases, and there are even attempts to build computers which function by the laws of quantum mechanics.
This module discusses the wave formulation of quantum mechanics in the context of the one- dimensional Schrodinger equation: this is mathematically solved in various trapped problems, including finite and infinite box and quadratic potentials, with examples including open-boundary cases. The concept of operators in quantum mechanics will be introduced through the position and momentum operators.
Outline Of Syllabus
- Reminder of Preliminary concepts: de Broglie and Planck relations and the uncertainty principle; brief introduction to distribution functions.
- Schrodinger's equation and its solutions in an infinite- and finite- height box and in a harmonic oscillator potential; simple extensions to more general potentials and quantum-mechanical tunnelling; the correspondence principle and superposition states.
- Open boundary problems, reflection and transmission coefficients.
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
Students will gain knowledge of the basic principles of quantum theory, how we formulate Schrodinger's equation and solve it in simple examples.
Intended Skill Outcomes
Students will be able to formulate and solve Schrodinger's equation for certain standard examples, and understand the principles of how to generalise this to more complex cases.
Students will develop skills across the cognitive domain (Bloom's taxonomy,2001 revised edition): remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and create.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Formal Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Example classes in which typical questions are solved |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Completion of in-course assignments |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 53 | 1:00 | 53:00 | Preparation time for lectures, background reading, coursework review |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Revision Lectures |
| Totals | 100 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on marked work.
The teaching methods are appropriate to allow students to develop a wide range of skills, from understanding basic concepts and facts, to higher-order thinking.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners.
Exams
| Component | Length (mins) | Semester | When set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination 1 | 120 | 1 | A | 85 | N/A |
Other Assessments
| Component | Semester | When set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem solving exercises 1 | 1 | M | 5 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Problem solving exercises 2 | 1 | M | 5 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Problem solving exercises 3 | 1 | M | 5 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A substantial formal unseen examination is appropriate for the assessment of the material in this module. The format of the examination will enable students to reliably demonstrate their own knowledge, understanding and application of learning outcomes. The assurance of academic integrity forms a necessary part of programme accreditation.
Examination problems may require a synthesis of concepts and strategies from different sections, while they may have more than one way for solution. The examination time allows the students to test different strategies, work out examples and gather evidence for deciding on an effective strategy, while carefully articulating their ideas and explicitly citing the theory they are using.
The coursework assignments allow the students to develop their problem solving techniques , to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; these assessments have a secondary formative purpose as well as their primary summative purpose.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/