Study Programmes 2016-2017
PHYS0211-3  
Quantum Mechanics
Duration :
30h Th, 30h Pr
Number of credits :
Bachelor in engineering5
Master in physical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
John Martin
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
This course is an introduction to quantum mechanics, a theory that has been developed in the early 1900's to describe physical processes on the microscopic scale. Covered topics :
  • fundamental ideas of quantum mechanics
  • mathematical basis
  • postulates, Schrödinger equation
  • Heisenberg inequalities, Ehrenfest theorem
  • harmonic oscillator
  • angular momentum
  • spin
  • many-body systems
  • hydrogen atom
These topics will be illustrated by examples relevant to the engineer.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
After the completion of this course, the student will be able to :
  • apprehend the internal machinery of quantum theory
  • carry out predictive calculations on simple quantum systems
  • illustrate fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics on actual examples
  • identify situations for which the use of quantum mechanics is essential
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Advanced course of mathematical analysis (Fourier transform, function spaces, ...).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course consists of ex cathedra lectures supported by derivations on the blackboard.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
See "Planned learning activities and teaching methods".
Recommended or required readings :
Suggested book: Mécanique quantique, J.-L. Basdevant and J. Dalibard, Eds de l'Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France), 2002, ISBN 2-7302-0914-X A pdf version of the slides will be available on myULg (eCampus).
Assessment methods and criteria :
A written test covering theory (50%) and exercices (50%) will be organized in January and August.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
John Martin Physics Department, I.P.N.A.S., B15, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège (BELGIUM) Tel. : +32 4 366 28 64 - Fax : +32 4 366 28 84 email : jmartin@ulg.ac.be Lionel Podlecki Physics Department, I.P.N.A.S., B15, Sart Tilman, Tel. : +32 4 366 36 94 email : lionel.podlecki(N.Huet@ulg.ac.be)@ulg.ac.be(N.Huet@ulg.ac.be)