8.04 | Spring 2016 | Undergraduate

Quantum Physics I

Video Lectures

Part 1: Basic Concepts

lec # topics
Lecture 1: An overview of quantum mechanics.
L1.1 Quantum mechanics as a framework. Defining linearity (17:46)
L1.2 Linearity and nonlinear theories. Schrödinger’s equation (10:01)
L1.3 Necessity of complex numbers (07:38)
L1.4 Photons and the loss of determinism (17:20)
L1.5 The nature of superposition. Mach-Zehnder interferometer (14:30)
Lecture 2: Overview of quantum mechanics (cont.). Interaction-free measurements.
L2.1 More on superposition. General state of a photon and spin states (17:10)
L2.2 Entanglement (13:07)
L2.3 Mach-Zehnder interferometers and beam splitters (15:32)
L2.4 Interferometer and interference (12:26)
L2.5 Elitzur-Vaidman bombs (10:29)
Lecture 3: Photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and de Broglie wavelength.
L3.1 The photoelectric effect (22:54)
L3.2 Units of h and Compton wavelength of particles (12:39)
L3.3 Compton Scattering (22:34)
L3.4 de Broglie’s proposal (10:39)
Lecture 4: de Broglie matter waves. Group velocity and stationary phase. Wave for a free particle.
L4.1 de Broglie wavelength in different frames (14:53)
L4.2 Galilean transformation of ordinary waves (12:16)
L4.3 The frequency of a matter wave (10:23)
L4.4 Group velocity and stationary phase approximation (10:32)
L4.5 Motion of a wave-packet (08:58)
L4.6 The wave for a free particle (14:35)
Lecture 5: Momentum operator, Schrödinger equation, and interpretation of the wavefunction.
L5.1 Momentum operator, energy operator, and a differential equation (20:33)
L5.2 Free Schrödinger equation (09:56)
L5.3 The general Schrödinger equation. x, p commutator (17:58)
L5.4 Commutators, matrices, and 3-dimensional Schrödinger equation (16:12)
L5.5 Interpretation of the wavefunction (08:01)
Lecture 6: Probability density and current. Hermitian conjugation.
L6.1 Normalizable wavefunctions and the question of time evolution (16:50)
L6.2 Is probability conserved? Hermiticity of the Hamiltonian (20:42)
L6.3 Probability current and current conservation (15:14)
L6.4 Three dimensional current and conservation (18:13)
Lecture 7: Wavepackets and uncertainty. Time evolution and shape change time evolutions.
L7.1 Wavepackets and Fourier representation (12:23)
L7.2 Reality condition in Fourier transforms (09:11)
L7.3 Widths and uncertainties (19:13)
L7.4 Shape changes in a wave (16:56)
L7.5 Time evolution of a free particle wavepacket (09:44)
Lecture 8: Uncovering momentum space. Expectation values and their time dependence.
L8.1 Fourier transforms and delta functions (13:58)
L8.2 Parseval identity (15:50)
L8.3 Three-dimensional Fourier transforms (06:04)
L8.4 Expectation values of operators (28:15)
L8.5 Time dependence of expectation values (7:37)
Lecture 9: Observables, Hermitian operators, measurement and uncertainty. Particle on a circle.
L9.1 Expectation value of Hermitian operators (16:40)
L9.2 Eigenfunctions of a Hermitian operator (13:05)
L9.3 Completeness of eigenvectors and measurement postulate (16:56)
L9.4 Consistency condition. Particle on a circle (17:45)
L9.5 Defining uncertainty (10:31)

Course Info

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As Taught In
Spring 2016
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Lecture Videos
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Lecture Notes