Theoretische Physik 3, Quantenmechanik
Instructors: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matthias NeubertShortname: Theorie 3 Physik
Course No.: 08.128.130
Course Type: Vorlesung/Übung
Requirements / organisational issues
Students should be familiar with mathematical methods and formalisms as taught in the lecture courses "Mathematical Methods and Calculus" and "Mathematics for Physicists", as well as the material covered in the courses Theoretical Physics 1 and 2.First lecture: Monday, October 19, 2026
Tutorials start in the week following the first lecture.
FInal exam: T.B.A.
Anwesenheitspflicht
It is strongly recommended to attend the course in person and take lecture notes. You should work independently through the problem sets to fully comprehend the material discussed in class.Recommended reading list
The course material is based on the following textbooks:D.J. Griffiths: “Quantenmechanik” (Pearson)
K. Gottfried, T.-M. Yan: “Quantum Mechanics: Fundamentals” (Springer)
Additional recommended books are:
A. Messiah: “Quantenmechanik 1+2” (de Gruyter)
J.J. Sakurai: “Modern Quantum Mechanics” (Addison Wesley)
F. Scheck: “Theoretische Physik 2 – Nichtrelativistische Quantentheorie” (Springer)
L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifschitz: “Lehrbuch der Theoretischen Physik 3” (Harri Deutsch)
Contents
In your first course on Quantum Mechanics you are exposed to a new layer of reality, which is unfamiliar from everyday experience. The course "Theoretical Quantum Mechanics" provides you with the physical concepts and mathematical methods required to understand the fascinating world of the micro cosmos.
The course contains the following chapters:
1. Basic concepts of quantum mechanics
- Beyond classical physics - Matter waves, wave packets - The Schroedinger equation - Expectation values, operators and observables - Equations of motion, commutators
2. One-dimensional problems in wave mechanics
- Potential steps and wells - Harmonic oscillator - Systems of orthogonal functions
3. The formalism of quantum mechanics
- Representations of quantum mechanics - Hilbert spaces, Dirac notation - Linear operators - Measurements and expectation values - Uncertainty relation - Schroedinger and Heisenberg picture
4. Angular momentum in quantum mechanics
- Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the angular momentum operator - central potentials
5. The Hydrogen atom
- Centre-of-mass and relative motion - Radial equation - Balmer formula - Quantum numbers - Zeeman effect
6. Spin
- Stern-Gerlach experiment - Eigenstates and matrix representation of the spin operator - Rotations of spinors - Spin wavefunction - Magnetic moment of particles with half-integer spins
7. Approximations
- Time-independent perturbation theory - Application: fine-structure of the H-atom - Addition of angular momenta; Clebsch-Gordan coefficients
8. On the interpretation of quantum mechanics
- Measurements and wave function; Schroedinger's cat - Bell's inequality - The EPR paradox; entanglement - quantum cryptography
Dates
| Date (Day of the week) | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10/19/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 10/21/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 10/26/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 10/28/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/02/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/04/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/09/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/11/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/16/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/18/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/23/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/25/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 11/30/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 12/02/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 12/07/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 12/09/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 12/14/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 12/16/2026 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 12/21/2026 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/06/2027 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/11/2027 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/13/2027 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/18/2027 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/20/2027 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/25/2027 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 01/27/2027 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 02/01/2027 (Monday) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 02/03/2027 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |
| 02/10/2027 (Wednesday) | 12:15 - 13:45 | 00 421 N 6 1341 - Naturwissenschaftliches Institutsgebäude |