ECE 3740 - Introduction to Quantum Theory and Relativity

Introduction to Special Relativity: time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transforms. Introduction to classical and quantum statistics. Maxwell-Beltzman, Fermi-Diraz, Bose-Einstein, Pauli principle with emphasis on relativistic energy and momentum. The quantization of light: Planck black body radiation, the photoelectric effect and x-rays, and Bragg diffraction. Basic quantum ideas: wave-particle duality, uncertainty relations, and wave packets. Introduction to quantum mechanics: Schrodinger equation in one, two, and three dimensions. Squarewells barriers, harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen atom. Quantum properties of spin and angular momentum: Zeeman effect, Stern-Gerlach experiment, atomic and molecular structure, and covalent bonding. Multi-electron atoms and the Periodic Table. Applications to solid-state physics, particle physics, and nuclear physics per instructor and time permitting.