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Department of Physics

PHYS2581 Foundations of Physics 2A (2011/12)

Details of the module's prerequisites, learning outcomes, assessment and contact hours are given in the official module description in the Faculty Handbook - follow the link above.  A detailed description of the module's content, together with book lists, is given below.  For an explanation of the library's categorisation system see http://www.dur.ac.uk/physics/students/library/.

Content

Quantum Mechanics

Prof C Done

24 lectures + 5 workshops in Michaelmas Term

Syllabus: Summary; Schrödinger equation, wavefunctions, wavepackets. Time dependent Schrödinger equation, conservation of probability. Expectation values and operators. Stationary states. Solutions of time-dependent SE for time-independent potentials. Linear harmonic oscillator (Hermite polynomials). Orbital angular momentum (differential operator). Eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of L2 and Lz. Legendre polynomials, spherical harmonics. Particle of sphere and rigid rotor. General angular momentum J2 and Jz (differential operators). SE in 3D (Cartesians). SE in 3D (Central potentials). Free particles, Bessel functions. 3D square well. Hydrogen atom. Time independent non-degenerate perturbation theory. Time independent degenerate perturbation theory. Variational method. Variational method for excited states.

Textbooks:

Required: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, B.H. Bransden and C.J. Joachain (Prentice Hall, 2nd Edition)

Electromagnetism

Prof D.P. Hampshire

24 lectures + 5 workshops in Epiphany Term

Syllabus: Electrostatics: The Electrostatic Field, Divergence and Curl of Electrostatic Fields, Electric Potential, Work and Energy in Electrostatics, Conductors. Special Techniques: Laplace's Equation and Uniqueness Theorems, The Method of Images, Separation of Variables, Multipole Expansion. Electrostatic Fields in Matter: Polarization, The Field of a Polarized Object, The Electric Displacement, Linear Dielectrics. Magnetostatics: The Lorentz Force Law, The Biot-Savart Law, The Divergence and Curl of B, Magnetic Vector Potential. Magnetic Fields in Matter: Magnetization, The Field of a Magnetized Object, The Auxiliary Field H, Linear and Nonlinear Media. Electrodynamics: Electromotive Force, Electromagnetic Induction, Maxwell's Equations. Conservation Laws: Charge and Energy, Momentum. lectromagnetic Waves: Waves in One Dimension, Electromagnetic Waves in Vacuum, Electromagnetic Waves in Matter, Absorption and Dispersion, Guided Waves.

Textbooks:

Required: Introduction to Electrodynamics, D.J. Griffiths (Pearson, 3rd Edition)

Revision

2 lectures in Easter Term, one by each lecturer

Teaching methods

Lectures: 2 or 3 one-hour lectures per week.

Workshops: These provide an opportunity to work through and digest the course material by attempting exercises and assignments assisted by direct interaction with the lecturers and workshop leaders. Students will be divided into four groups, each of which will attend one one-hour class every two weeks.

Problem exercises: See http://www.dur.ac.uk/physics/students/problems/