Atomic orbits and harmonic oscillators

Advanced Quantum Mechanics (Fall, 2013)

Lecture Playlist

  1. Review of quantum mechanics and introduction to symmetry

  2. Symmetry groups and degeneracy

  3. Atomic orbits and harmonic oscillators

  4. Spin

  5. Fermions: a tale of two minus signs

  6. Quantum field theory

  7. Quantum field theory 2

  8. Second quantization

  9. Quantum field Hamiltonian

  10. Fermions and the Dirac equation

October 7, 2013

Professor Susskind uses the quantum mechanics of angular momentum derived in the last lecture to develop the Hamiltonian for the central force coulomb potential which describes an atom.  The solution of the Schrödinger equation for this system leads to the energy levels for atomic orbits.  He then derives the equations for a quantum harmonic oscillator, and demonstrates that the ground state of a harmonic oscillator cannot be at zero energy due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Topics: 
  • Angular momentum multiplets
  • Coulomb potential
  • Central force problem
  • Atomic orbit
  • Harmonic oscillator
  • Heisenberg uncertainty principle