2021 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Physics
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics（Lecture)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Katsushi Ito
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (H101) / 5-6 Thu (H101)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.Q207
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course focuses on the fundamental of quantum mechanics widely applicable to the field of science and engineering.
The aim of the course is to learn the concepts of the quantum mechanics such as the wave function and operators and to understand interesting phenomena inherent in the quantum mechanics such as the discretization of physical quantities and uncertainly in the measurements.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) explain the fundamental concepts of the quantum mechanics such as wave-particle duality and stochastic interpretation.
2) solve the Schoedinger equations for some simple systems.
3) explain the quantum phenomena such as tunnel effects, discretization of physical quantities, and uncertainty principle.
Keywords
wave-particle duality, wave function, quantum state, Schroedinger equations
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course is learned in terms of the textbooks.
To prepare for class, students should read the course schedule section and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | wave-particle duality, photoelectric effect, atom model, Planck constant |
Understand the fundamental of quantum mechanics. |
| Class 2 | wave function and stochastic interpretation, double slit experiment |
Understand the wave function and its interpretation |
| Class 3 | operator, expectation value, eigenfunction |
Understand the operator, expectation values, and eigenfunctions. |
| Class 4 | measurement and uncertainty in quantum mechanics |
Understand the uncertainty principle. |
| Class 5 | wave packet, phase velocity, group velocity |
Understand the properties of wave packet. |
| Class 6 | quantum state, steady state, bracket |
Understand quantum states and steady states, and use the bracket representation |
| Class 7 | Schoedinger equation |
Derive the Schoedinger equation |
| Class 8 | boundary condition and properties of wave function, confined state |
Understand the boundary condition and confined states |
| Class 9 | potential well, particle in a box, zero-point energy |
Solve the Schroedinger equations for a free particle in the quantum well. |
| Class 10 | motion of wave packet, motion of classical particles |
Understand the motion of wave packet, motion of classical particles |
| Class 11 | tunnel effect and its related phenomenon, beta-decay |
Understand the tunnel effect |
| Class 12 | Bohr-Sommerfeld quantum condition, Gamov's penetration factor) |
Understand the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantum condition |
| Class 13 | harmonic oscillator, raising and lowering operator |
Solve the harmonic ocsillator |
| Class 14 | coherent state, light and photon |
Understand the coherent states |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Text book specified by the instructor.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Text book specified by the instructor.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students’ course scores are based on final exams.
Related courses
- PHY.Q206 ： Analytical Mechanics
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary.