Courses
PHYS 342: Modern Physics
PHYS 342 is a three-credit course for students who are required by their academic major to take a course in Modern Physics. The course provides an introduction to the physical principles underlying topics in Modern Physics. The course is aimed at science/engineering students with a solid calculus background.
Course Overview
After thousands of years of effort, mankind has developed a quantitative intuition on how the world works. To be sure, mistakes have been made along the way -- it turns out the Earth isn't flat and it is not the center of the universe -- but ultimately due to the experimental method, a testable picture of the natural world has evolved. Slowly but surely, scientists have gained an understanding that has culminated in the laws of motion, electricity, magnetism and thermodynamics. Most of the time, it all makes sense.
This understanding of the natural world was challenged by a number of baffling experiments performed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. To explain the outcome of these experiments, a new branch of physics - quantum mechanics - was invented to uncover the rules of matter at atomic length scales. It turns out, the rules are quite different at the bottom than at the top.
The development of quantum mechanics has led to some truly astounding theories. For instance, it was discovered that particles act both as waves and as point masses. The simple process of observing was found to influence the way a particle behaves. Positions of particles were governed by probabilities rather than precise coordinate locations. Although quantum mechanics makes logical sense mathematically, it more often than not defies intuition. Nonetheless, quantum theory has led to many revolutionary inventions over the past century and promises many more in the years to come.
The practice of quantum mechanics is far reaching and quantum theory provides the rules that govern matter "at the bottom". Quantum theory provides a foundation that can be applied to such diverse topics as the design of nanoscale transistors, electron transport in molecular wires, lasers, nuclear reactors and quantum computers. Knowledge of quantum mechanics forms the foundation of many scientific and engineering disciplines that include nanotechnology, condensed matter physics, quantum chemistry, computational physics, nanophotonics, structural biology and advanced electronic design.
The path we will follow is not easy; we will not provide an easy, breezy survey of topics with little attention to detail. With access to modern information technology, you can achieve such a broad survey by reading the countless web pages devoted to quantum phenomena. Instead, we will discuss the big picture – both from a classical and quantum viewpoint - as well as covering relevant details, which are presented in a lecture format. Predictions of theory are compared to experiments whenever possible. Each topic is covered with an attention to detail designed to achieve real understanding. Background information is routinely provided to help you recall relevant topics that are typically discussed in introductory courses in Physics.
The rules we will uncover may seem strange and contradictory, but they ultimately provide a consistent picture of how electrons behave at atomic length scales and how light interacts with matter. The behavior may seem paradoxical, but as Richard Feynman has eloquently proclaimed “A paradox is just a conflict between reality and what you think reality ought to be.”
Target Audience
This PHYS 342 course in modern physics is intended to provide engineering undergraduate students with a firm base from which they can extend their understanding of the quantum world.
Prerequisites
A good working knowledge of integral and differential calculus is assumed. An introductory course in differential equations would be helpful. A prior survey course in Physics, similar to those taken during the first two years at a college or university, is assumed. A prior course in Electricity and Magnetism, as well as an introductory course in Thermodynamics would be helpful.
A nanoHUB.org account is required.
Course Outline
Unit |
Topic |
Unit |
Topic |
|||||||||
| Unit 01 | Review of Classical Models, Birth of Modern Physics | Unit 09 | Statistical Laws of Nature | |||||||||
| Unit 02 | Schrӧdinger Eq. in one dimension | Unit 10 | Quantum statistics and Crystalline Solids | |||||||||
| Unit 03 | Schrӧdinger Eq. in 1 d (continued) | Unit 11 | Electron states in periodic solids | |||||||||
| Unit 04 | Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle | Unit 12 | Special Relativity | |||||||||
| Unit 05 | Schrӧdinger’s Eq. in 2 and 3 dimensions: the H atom | Unit 13 | Special Relativity | |||||||||
| Unit 06 | H atom: Angular momentum and radiation | Unit 14 | Advanced Topics | |||||||||
| Unit 07 | Multi-electron atoms; Pauli’s Exclusion Principle | Unit 15 | Nuclear Structure and Decay | |||||||||
| Unit 08 | Rules of Probability | Unit 16 | Nuclear Reactions: Fission and Fusion | |||||||||
On-line Study Aids
- Prerecorded video lectures distilling the essential concepts of modern physics in an 8 week summer course.
- Online quizzes to quickly assess understanding of material after each video lecture.
- Homework problems designed to improve your understanding of the course material.
- An online forum, hosted by nanoHUB. Students taking the course for credit at Purdue will be able to ask questions on-line and interact with one another.
Registration
Fall Semester, 2015