PHYS 3740 - Introduction to Quantum Theory and Relativity

Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 2220 and MATH 2250. Introduction to Special Relativity: time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transforms. The quantization of light: Planck black body radiation, the photoelectric effect and x-rays, Bragg diffraction. Basic quantum ideas: wave-particle duality, uncertainty relations, and wave packets. Introduction to quantum mechanics: Schrodinger equation in one, tow, and three dimensions. Square well barriers, harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen atom. Spin and angular momentum: Zeeman effect, Stern-Gerlach experiment. Atomic and molecular structure, and covalent bonding. Multi-electron atoms and the Periodic Table. Introduction to classical and quantum statistics. Maxwell-Beltzman, Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein distributions, Pauli principle with emphasis on relativistic energy and momentum.