Physique quantique et statistique

Particles and forces. Wave-particle duality. Schrödinger equation in one and three dimensions. Postulates and their interpretation. Orbital angular momentum. Hydrogen atom. Particle systems. Pauli principle. Spin. Structure of atoms. Molecules. Nuclei. Electromagnetic transitions. Canonical ensemble. Maxwell distribution. Fermi-Dirac statistics and Bose-Einstein. Planck distribution. Applications to atomic and molecular gas.

Technological applications: laser, diffraction grating, polarizer, quantum computing, semiconductors, tunneling microscope.

Understanding basic notions of quantum and statistical physics and being able to put them in practice to solve simple problems.

Situating the origins of quantum physics in science history and being aware of its main technological applications today.

Required and corequired courses

Cours co-requis

Courses requiring this course

Lectures and exercises.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

J.-L. Basdevant et J. Dalibard, Mécanique Quantique (Éditions de l'École Polytechnique, 2005)

J.-L. Basdevant and J. Dalibard, Quantum Mechanics (Springer, 2005)

M. Kumar, Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality (Icon Books, 2009)

M. Kumar, Le grand roman de la physique quantique (Lattès, 2011)

F. S. Crawford Jr., Ondes, Berkeley: cours de physique, volume 3 (Armand Colin, 1972)

F. S. Crawford Jr., Waves, Berkeley Physics Course, volume 3 (McGraw-Hill, 1965)

E. H. Wichmann, Physique quantique, Berkeley: cours de physique, volume 4 (Armand Colin, 1974)

E. H. Wichmann, Quantum Physics, Berkeley Physics Course, volume 4 (McGraw-Hill, 1967)

F. Schwabl, Quantum Mechanics (Springer, 2009)

C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu et F. Laloë, Mécanique quantique I et II (Hermann, 1977)

B. H. Bransden and C. J. Joachain, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (Longman, 1989)

F. Reif, Physique statistique, Berkeley: cours de physique, volume 5 (Armand Colin, 1972)

F. Reif, Statistical Physics, Berkeley Physics Course, volume 5 (McGraw-Hill, 1967)

B. Diu, C. Guthmann, D. Lederer et B. Roulet, Éléments de Physique Statistique (Hermann, 1997)

Contacts

jmspar@ulb.ac.be

Method(s) of evaluation

• Other

Other

Written exams (theoretical and practical).

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

1st session: January: multiple choice written examination (20%); June: theoretical and practical written examination (80%).

2nd session: August: theoretical and practical written examination (100%).

Language(s) of evaluation

• french