Modern Physics, Phy 309

MODERN PHYSICS, PHY 309 Begins Monday, January 25th, 2016

Instructor: Asst. Prof. Ionel Popa, KEN 3180 (229-5086, e-mail: [email protected] )

Course website: Go to: http://www.uwm.edu/ and click the “e-learning and D2L” link, then follow the instructions in the attached document titled “Getting access to and getting help for a course that uses Desire2Learn” You will need to visit that website regularly, to read announcements, download lecture slides, etc.

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday, 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM. Room: KEN 1140.

Office Hours: For any questions related to the subject matter, please use my office hours, immediately after the lecture, or e-mail me to set up an appointment (at least 24 hours in advance) if, for objective reasons, you cannot attend my office hours.

Coverage: Elementary quantum physics, special and general relativity, atomic and molecular physics, solid state and nuclear physics.

Prerequisite: Physics 210(NP) or 220(NP); Math 234(C)

Required textbook: Stephen T. Thornton and Andrew Rex, “Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers” 3-rd edition, Brooks/Cole (2006). Powerpoint presentations for this textbook have been developed by Rick Trebino of the Georgia Institute of Technology; the instructor will use those presentations or adaptations therefrom.

Recommended textbook: Eugene Hecht, “Optics” 4-th edition, Pearson Education, Inc. (2002) Instructor will use adaptations of presentations originally developed by R. Trebino

Further reading: Instructor may recommend articles published in scientific journals

Exams: - A written midterm will be held during the regular lecture hours in the week starting April 04 (the exact date to be announced during the semester) - Comprehensive final exam will be held on Friday, May 13th, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM - The final exam is mandatory. You are responsible for making sure that you can attend at this time.

Homework assignment: - Two to six problems or exercises every week, due in lecture one week after. - Occasionally, homework may be assigned every other week; the number of problems may increase in such instances. - It is critically necessary that you do all of the homework, because it contributes to your grade, and chiefly because it is the main method of learning physics. - Calculus is a very important tool used in physics. It is strongly advised that you review basic calculus as early as possible, and within the first two weeks of the semester.

Grading formula: 1. Homework (20 %) 2. Class participation (20%); you should make sure to attend the lecture, ask questions, and answer instructor's queries. 3. Written midterm exam (30%) 4. Written final exam (30%) If everyone does well on homework assignments and participates in class, the results of the final exam will only be used for adding bonus points to your final

Phy 309, Modern Physics, Spring 2016 1 grades; you will be informed at the end of the class if that is the case. However, attending the final exam remains mandatory.

Communication: In addition to direct communication with the Instructor during lectures and office hours, you must also visit the course website and check your e-mail periodically for latest postings. It is your responsibility to make sure that e-mails reach you if sent to the e-mail address you provided when enrolling for this class.

Provisional course outline (It may be revised during the semester to match actual material coverage in class)

Week Dates Topic Reading

1 Jan 25-29 Overview—the revolutions of 20th century physics ThoRex Ch 1

2 Feb 1-5 Waves: the wave equation, plane waves, phase Lecture notes; Hecht velocity; Maxwell's equations and light waves 2.1-2.8, 3.1-3.3

3 Feb 7-12 Absorption and the refractive index; The Fourier Lecture notes; Hecht transform 3.5

4 Feb 15-19 Lecture notes; ThoRex The birth of modern physics; Special relativity I Ch 1 & 2

5 Feb 22-26 Special Relativity II and III ThoRex Ch 2

6 Feb 29 – Mar 4 Introduction to the "old" quantum mechanics ThoRex Ch 3

7 Mar 7-11 Structure of the atom ThoRex Ch 4

8 Mar 14-18 Spring Brake

9 Mar 21-25 The new quantum mechanics I ThoRex Ch 5

10 Mar 28-Apr 01 The "new" quantum mechanics II ThoRex Ch 6 Midterm exam All of the above

11 Apr 04-08 Quantum mechanics treatment of the hydrogen atom ThoRex Ch 7

12 Apr 11-15 Atomic physics ThoRex Ch 8

13 Apr 18-22 Molecules and solids; Statistical physics, blackbodies ThoRex Ch 9 & Ch 10; and lasers Lecture notes

14 Apr 25-29 Nuclei; Nuclear interactions ThoRex Ch 12 & Ch 13

15 May 02-06 General relativity; Cosmology ThoRex Ch 15

16 May 09 Review for the final exam All of the above

Phy 309, Modern Physics, Spring 2016 2 Supplementary Information Cellular phones and other recording devices The use of cell phones and/or other recording devices is not allowed during class. Students with disabilities Notice to these students should appear prominently in the syllabus so that special are provided in a timely manner. http://www4.uwm.edu/sac/

Religious observances Accommodations for absences due to religious observance should be noted. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S1.5.htm

Students called to active military duty Accommodations for absences due to call-up of reserves to active military duty should be noted. Students: http://www4.uwm.edu/current_students/military_call_up.cfm Employees: http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S40.htm

Incompletes A notation of "incomplete" may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond the student's control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work. https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S_31_INCOMPLETE_GRADES.pdf Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment) Discriminatory conduct will not be tolerated by the University. It poisons the work and learning environment of the University and threatens the careers, educational experience, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S_47_Discrimina_duct_Policy.pdf Academic misconduct Cheating on exams or plagiarism are violations of the academic honor code and carry severe sanctions, including failing a course or even suspension or dismissal from the University. http://www4.uwm.edu/osl/dean/conduct.cfm

Complaint procedures Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic unit or department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or academic unit in which the complaint occurred or to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy. https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S_47_Discrimina_duct_Policy.pdf Grade appeal procedures A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the established procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course resides or in the case of graduate students, the Graduate School. These procedures are available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S28.htm Other The final exam requirement, the final exam date requirement, etc. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S22.htm

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