Hello! Welcome to the real world, the world of quantum mechanics. Actually, as you will see, there is still debate amongst physicists over what reality is, and this debate is centered on our imperfect formulation of the physics of the small constituents of matter and energy that make up the entire universe and everything in it. Although the quantum mechanics theory that you will learn in this course will perhaps within the next century or so be replaced with a better theory, you should know that quantum mechanics is the most successful theory ever devised by the human mind. In fact, as weird as quantum mechanics may seem at first, orthodox quantum mechanics theory has never been wrong in decades of numerous clever, careful, creative experimental tests. Not even once!

Quantum mechanics is the subject most at the heart of physics. It has tremendous range, missing as yet mainly a good theoretical merging with the theory of gravitation. Perhaps youll be the one to carry on in the footsteps of Newton, Maxwell, Einstein, and Feynman, and formulate a robust theory of quantum gravity that stands up to any possible test. Or, at least, you should learn some good stuff! Even with its importance to philosophy, quantum mechanics is a very practical subject. It explains why atoms form molecules, and so chemistry as a discipline is built on it. It is also essential in understanding many commercially important electronic and optical devices, including lasers and photodetectors. Many students of quantum mechanics like the mathematical formalism; youll get to know better special functions and their kin.

Contacting me: Because I am now the department chairperson in Physics, my schedule varies heavily from week to week. See me after class to ask questions or to arrange a meeting time that day. Ill leave plenty of time for you to see me and get help. My office has been moved to Bannan 308. My email address is dboness@seattleu.edu and my office phone number is still (206) 296-5924 (with voice mail).

Class meetings: Lecture: M T W Th F 9:45-10:35 am in Bannan 301.

Text: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, by David J. Griffiths (Prentice Hall, 1995).

Schedule and assignments: This course is a classic, standard upper-level American university quantum mechanics course using a text that has in the past decade become the accepted standard. Because this is just a one-quarter course, we will do Part I (Chapters 1 through 5) in Griffiths, and barely touch Part II. I will add some material on experimental and technological applications of quantum mechanics. Traditionally, a course like this is used to prepare students for taking graduate-level quantum mechanics, but I see it also as good for those of you who will have this as your last formal word on the subject. (I hope that you do reading on your own, however, in the years ahead.) Assignments will be announced in lecture, so dont miss class! As a supplemental source for assignment and some relevant web links, look periodically at the course web page at http://www.seattleu.edu/scieng/phys/courses/SUPhys485Fall2001.htm. A few homework problems will be due approximately every three class days.

Exams: Two midterm exams, each with (1) an in-class closed-book and closed-note part, and (2) a take-home part. Also, one two-hour final exam (open-book and open-note). The exam dates will be announced in class when it is clear at what pace the course functions effectively.

Grade weighting: Attendance, participation, and your own reading notes-15%, Homework-25%, Midterms-40%, Final exam-20%.