FALL 2015 MSE 221 QUANTUM PHYSICS OF MATERIALS

GENERAL INFORMATION
Pre-requisite: Phys 150, Phys 151 (concurrent), MATH 240 (concurrent)
I.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Mahadevan Khantha
Senior Lecturer, MSE
khantha@seas.upenn.edu

221 LRSM
215-898-2913

II.

TEXT
Eisberg & Resnick, Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles,
Second Edition, Wiley, 1985
This course will cover Chapters 1 through 7 and selected sections from Chapters 11
through 13. Additional articles will be supplied as needed.

III.

COURSE FORMAT
Three lectures per week (M, W, F: 10:00 am 10:50 am) LRSM AUD
Office hours (221 LRSM): Wednesday: 11:00 am 12:00 noon
Friday:
11:00 am 12:00 noon
Please make appointments to see me at other times and days.

IV.

DESCRIPTION
This course develops the background in basic physics required to understand the behavior of
electrons in atoms, molecules and solids. Beginning with experiments and ideas that led to the foundation
and postulates of Quantum Mechanics, the behavior of an electron in simple potential wells is treated. The
electron in a harmonic oscillator well and the Coulomb potential of a hydrogen atom are treated next.
Paulis exclusion principle and generalization to multi-particle systems are introduced. The Fermi energy,
density of states and free electron band structure will be introduced. Many state-of-the-art materials
analysis techniques will also be demonstrated throughout the course.
Topics to be covered
Introduction
Breakdown of Classical Physics
Classical theory of Thermal Radiation
Plancks theory of Thermal Radiation
Photoelectric effect (Application to photoemission spectroscopy)
Compton Effect
Dual nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
Application to X-ray diffraction
Matter Waves
Wave-Particle Duality

Time-independent Schrdinger equation

Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions
Solutions of Time-independent Schrdinger
equation Free particle
Step potential
Barrier potential (Application to Scanning tunneling
microscopy)
Square well
One electron atom
Exclusion Principle
Multi-electron atom

The Uncertainty Principle

Consequences of Uncertainty
Nuclear Model of Atom
Rutherford and Bohr
Atomic Spectra (Applications to optical
spectroscopy)
Schrdinger equation
Born Interpretation
Expectation values

V.

Free Electron Theory

Multiple Square Wells
Band Theory
Consequences of Band Theory
Semiconductors and Insulators
Application to solid state devices
Review

HOMEWORK, QUIZ, EXAMS

There will be approximately eleven homework sets, two midterm tests and a final exam.
Homework will be assigned approximately every week and is a very important part of this course.
It will be posted on canvas on Fridays and will be due in class on the following Friday. While
group discussions are permitted in solving the homework problems and help can be obtained
either from the instructor or from the TAs during recitations, office hours, by e-mail or by prior
appointment, everybody is encouraged to solve the problems individually. Please show all work
and explain your reasoning to questions. Use appropriate units in calculations. Recitations will be
used to go over homework problems and discuss the course material. Solutions to the homework
sets will be posted on canvas after the homework sets are turned in.

VI.

GRADING POLICY
Homework: 10%
I Mid Term: 30%
II Mid Term: 30%
Final exam: 30%
The homework will be awarded 0 points if it is not turned in, if it is incomplete or if it is mostly
incorrect. If nearly 50% of the homework is done correctly and all problems are attempted, it will
be awarded 0.5 points. If all problems are attempted and the homework is mostly correct with few
errors, a full score of 1 point will be awarded.

NEVER HESITATE TO ASK FOR HELP

VII.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Mr. Jason Woo
Mr. Prashant Ramesh
Ms. Ariel Shaulson
Recitations:

TBA

Chapter

Lecture
Date

Topics

8/26/15

Introduction to MSE 221. Birth of Quantum

Mechanics. Blackbody radiation; spectral energy
density; Wiens displacement law; Rayleigh- Jeans
formula; ultraviolet catastrophe.
Lecture cancelled. TA led discussion of recitation
times and recap of relativistic equations.
Wiens displacement law; Rayleigh- Jeans formula;
ultraviolet catastrophe; Plancks theory.
Plancks Quantum postulate; Plancks formula and
Plancks constant.
Implications of Plancks postulate; Stefan-Boltzmanns
constant; Applications of Plancks formula big bang
theory, COBE measurement; specific heat of
crystalline solids.

1. Thermal Radiation and

Plancks postulate
8/28/15
8/31/15
9/2/15
9/4/15

2. Photons Particle-like
properties of radiation

3a. Wavelike properties of

particles (Part I)

4. Bohrs model of the atom

3b. de Broglies postulate:

Wavelike properties of particles
(Part II)

9/7/15 and
9/9/15

Photoelectric effect

9/11/15 and
9/14/15
9/16/15
9/18/15

Compton effect

9/21/15

X-ray production; Bremsstrahlung

Pair production and pair annihilation; positron
emission tomography
Attenuation of X-rays

9/23/15

Diffraction and interference

9/25/15

Classes suspended.

9/28/15
9/30/15

Double slit interference; delayed choice experiment

Atomic spectra; Bohrs postulates. Quantization of
angular momentum

10/02/15
10/05/15
10/07/15

Energy levels of the hydrogen atom and its stability

I Mid Term (Topics 1 and 2)
Frank-Hertz experiment; Bohrs correspondence
principle

10/09/15

Fall Break -- No class

10/12/15
10/14/15
10/16/15
10/19/15

Heisenbergs uncertainty principle; Bohr microscope

Lasers (chapter 11-7)
Wave packets; phase and group velocity
Gaussian wave packet and uncertainty principle

5. Schroedingers theory
of Quantum Mechanics

10/21/15

Time-dependent Schroedingers equation (TDSE);

Interpretation of wave function and properties

10/23/15

Postulates of QM; Observables, operators; stationary

states
The infinite square well
Eigenvalues and time independent Schroedingers
equation (TISE)
Superposition and transition states
Qualitative bound state eigenfunctions for onedimensional potentials

10/26/15
10/28/15
10/30/15
11/02/15

11/04/15
11/06/15

Qualitative bound state eigenfunctions for onedimensional potentials

Qualitative solutions (Continued) harmonic oscillator
and barrier penetration

II Mid Term

11/09/15

Chapters 4, 3b, and up to infinite square well in 5

6. Solutions of timeindependent
Schroedingers equation
(TISE)

11/11/15

Step potential; reflection and transmission coefficients

11/13/15

Finite potential barrier qualitative solutions

11/16/15

Resonance transmission; Scanning tunneling

microscopy

11/18/15

Harmonic oscillator

11/20/15

3D infinite well; degenerate states

7. One electron atoms

11/23/15
11/25/15
11/27/15
11/30/15

Coulomb potential and hydrogen atom

Review
Thanksgiving Break
Quantum numbers, energy eigenvalues, degeneracy

8 & 9. Spin and multi

electron atoms

12/02/15

Electron spin; Stern-Gerlach experiment; identical,

indistinguishable particles

11. Quantum Statistics

12/04/15

Fermions, bosons, Pauli exclusion principle

13. Band Structure

Reading Days

12/07/15
12/09/15

Fermi energy; free electron gas; band structure

Review

12/14/15

Final Exam (9:00 11:00 am)

Chapters 5 and 6 Contd