UCSCIPHY317.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
The Quantum World
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
- select and apply important quantum mechanical problem-solving tools/skills in a creative and systematic manner;
- work on small group projects, using numerical methods, to analyse quantum mechanical systems and present results in an oral presentation;
- apply perturbation theory to study and explain physically small differences between quantum states;
- use the knowledge and insights of quantum physics to appraise the role and impact of physics in the development of new materials and quantum computers
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Content
Title change in 2023 from Advanced Physics to The Quantum World.
Content is the same; course cannot be taken twice.
Physics plays an important role in our lives. New technologies have caused great changes in society, from the Industrial Revolution to the ‘information age’. Our modern lifestyle would cease to exist without the advances that are spin-offs of understanding physical phenomena. Quantum mechanics, the branch of physics that deals with the behaviour of matter and light at the atomic and subatomic scales, has been central to many technological developments since its discovery during the first couple of decades of the 20th century. On a different level, quantum mechanics, provided fundamental insights into the nature of physical reality, such as the Uncertainty Principle and Quantum Entanglement. These have important implications for man’s role and position in the universe.
This course offers a systematic exploration of the fundamentals of the ’Quantum World’. The role of the ‘Hamiltonian’, closely related to the energy of a physical system, is highlighted as the universal basis for such a systematic treatment of physical phenomena in the fields of classical, quantum, and statistical mechanics. A number of key system are investigated, in particular, the square well potential, the harmonic oscillator, the hydrogen atom and periodic systems. Several mathematical methods are introduced such as ladder operators and perturbation theory.
Physics plays an important role in our lives. New technologies have caused great changes in society, from the Industrial Revolution to the ‘information age’. Our modern lifestyle would cease to exist without the advances that are spin-offs of understanding physical phenomena. Quantum mechanics, the branch of physics that deals with the behaviour of matter and light at the atomic and subatomic scales, has been central to many technological developments since its discovery during the first couple of decades of the 20th century. On a different level, quantum mechanics, provided fundamental insights into the nature of physical reality, such as the Uncertainty Principle and Quantum Entanglement. These have important implications for man’s role and position in the universe.
This course offers a systematic exploration of the fundamentals of the ’Quantum World’. The role of the ‘Hamiltonian’, closely related to the energy of a physical system, is highlighted as the universal basis for such a systematic treatment of physical phenomena in the fields of classical, quantum, and statistical mechanics. A number of key system are investigated, in particular, the square well potential, the harmonic oscillator, the hydrogen atom and periodic systems. Several mathematical methods are introduced such as ladder operators and perturbation theory.
Format
The course consists of four weekly contact hours, over 15 weeks. About half of this time consists of interactive lectures. In the other half you will participate in problem solving sessions where you work in groups. Assessment comprises ongoing assignments, a mid-term and final exams. The assignments take the form of small projects undertaken in pairs or groups in which you use Python programming. You will also solve analytical problems and will receive supportive feedback on both projects and problems before they are finally graded. The final assignment grade will also include a participation component that reflects your proactive participation and collaboration with peers in the feedback process.
The course consists of four weekly contact hours, over 15 weeks. About half of this time consists of interactive lectures. In the other half you will participate in problem solving sessions where you work in groups. Assessment comprises ongoing assignments, a mid-term and final exams. The assignments take the form of small projects undertaken in pairs or groups in which you use Python programming. You will also solve analytical problems and will receive supportive feedback on both projects and problems before they are finally graded. The final assignment grade will also include a participation component that reflects your proactive participation and collaboration with peers in the feedback process.
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