Quantum Mechanics: 1D Scattering and Central Potentials

Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Go to class Write review

This course may be unavailable.

Details

This course may be unavailable.

Go to class

Provider

edX
Pricing

Free Online Course (Audit)
Languages

English
Duration & workload

7 weeks, 12-14 hours a week
Sessions

Finished
Level

Advanced
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

In this quantum physics course you will learn the basic concepts of scattering – phase-shifts, time delays, Levinson's theorem, and resonances – in the simple context of one-dimensional problems. We discuss barrier penetration and the Ramsauer-Townsend effect. We then turn to the study of angular momentum and the motion of particles in three-dimensional central potentials. We learn about the radial equation and study the case of the hydrogen atom in detail.

This is the final course in a series which includes:

Quantum Mechanics: Wavefunctions, Operators, and Expectation Values
Quantum Mechanics: Quantum Physics in 1D Potentials
Quantum Mechanics: 1D Scattering and Central Potentials

The series is based on MIT 8.04: Quantum Mechanics I. At MIT, 8.04 is the first of a three-course sequence in Quantum Mechanics, a cornerstone in the education of physics majors that prepares them for advanced and specialized studies in any field related to quantum physics. This online course follows the on-campus version and will be equally rigorous.

After completing the 8.04x series, you will be ready to tackle the Mastering Quantum Mechanics course series on edX, 8.05x.

Syllabus

None

Taught by

Barton Zwiebach , Jolyon Bloomfield and Saif Rayyan

Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 11 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Quantum Mechanics: 1D Scattering and Central Potentials

ParrotKnight

This course is the best Quantum mechanics course that I have taken so far. The most valuable aspect of this course is that it helped me partially developed intuition in Quantum mechanics (QM). Before I took this course, I see QM as a subject that…

This course is the best Quantum mechanics course that I have taken so far.

The most valuable aspect of this course is that it helped me partially developed intuition in Quantum mechanics (QM).

Before I took this course, I see QM as a subject that I throw in some potentials and solve differential equations. There is no doubt solving Diff. Eq. is essential in Physics, but not being able to grasp some intuition on what am I doing makes it feels like QM is very dry and dull. We have a lot of materials that approached QM with math rigor, but so far only this course can make me develop some intuition. Of course, this course also takes math reasonably rigorous as well.

Apart from helping me develop some intuitions, the other aspects of this course are also at top notch. Lecture notes have an excellent thought flow and high coherent. Lecture exercises, weekly problem sets, and even exams are well crafted in the sense that they complimented what I learned from the lectures. The staffs and community TAs are active and helpful.
Niekrakhorst

Somebody famous has said (maybe john von neumann?) : "it is not so much that you get to understand hard concepts, you just get used to them by working with them often". My problem with QM always has been that I was put off by its very weirdness,…

Somebody famous has said (maybe john von neumann?) : "it is not so much that you get to understand hard concepts, you just get used to them by working with them often".

My problem with QM always has been that I was put off by its very weirdness, and I never learned to handle the concepts well in previous attempts to learn the subject.

But thanks to prof Zwiebach's Edx courses 8.04 and 8.05 (and hopefully soon 8.06) I can now well live with them, just as I learned to live with gravity's action at a distance at secondary school.

Indeed these worldclass courses are crystal clear, not least thanks to using all the mathematics needed for it from the start. The courses have a very high level of "learnability" , with all the interesting opportunities to work with the concepts and with helpful, always timely guidance from staff and TA's.
Walter Urbaniak

I found Professor Zwiebach's 8.04x sequence to be excellent. I learned more and better than from prior courses and books. Lectures and lecture notes were excellent (I hope he turns his notes into a book). End of module exercises were challenging, of…

I found Professor Zwiebach's 8.04x sequence to be excellent. I learned more and better than from prior courses and books. Lectures and lecture notes were excellent (I hope he turns his notes into a book). End of module exercises were challenging, often teaching through the exercises. The finals were quite challenging but worthwhile. Some problems were difficult under time stress; I found that greater insight came after a night's sleep. Jolyon Bloomfield was excellent staff: prompt, responsive, and helpful on the forum. Mark Weitzman and Jim Freericks were very helpful CTAs and put in very many hours each week. Many of our questions necessarily ranged beyond 8.04 and Jolyon, Mark, and Jim were helpful, not just saying wait till a later course. The quality of the other learners who participated on the forum was very high.
Anonymous

Fantastic first QM course This course is not easy. It seems to be exactly the course that Physics majors at MIT would be required to take. Breaking it into 3 sections is a nice approach. There are many approaches to teaching QM (from the many bo…

Fantastic first QM course

This course is not easy. It seems to be exactly the course
that Physics majors at MIT would be required to take. Breaking
it into 3 sections is a nice approach.

There are many approaches to teaching QM (from the many books
that I have acquired over the years). 8.04 on EdX is a strong mathematical
introduction to QM. The instruction assumes that one has a strong diff and int
calculus working knowledge. The linear algebra is basic and more straight forward.

The approach of building models and them solving those models works
for me. The QM models are exercises in problem construction, math, and building
a basis for more complex study.

I cannot wait to take 8.05 and 8.06 from Barton and his team. He is a very
talented and inspiring teacher.
Max Asbock

I just finished the three-course 8.04.x Quantum Mechanics series. I find this course to be outstanding. Each element in the course is solid. Barton Zwiebach's lectures are well thought out and inspiring. They are complemented by complete lecture notes. Weekly homework and lecture questions reinforce the learned material. The finals were hard, but also gave you an honest assessment or your learning. The lively discussion forum played an important role in the class. Staff and community TAs were prompt to help. This course is not easy and requires substantial investment in time and work, but it is extremely rewarding.
Guidopaoluzicusani

As of now, this sets the bar for QM introductory courses. Taken straight out of Prof. Zwiebach MIT class lectures, the course is top level under every aspect: top lectures, top exercises, top quizzes, top Forum and TA and so on. One drawback only: it is tough - it wouldn't be passed just watching the lectures; Make sure to put aside few hours a week to go through the course notes and download\buy a good QM introductory test otherwise failure is guaranteed. But it is worth the effort.
Anonymous

Before taking the course, I never imagined there is so much in QM to learn. As someone from an engineering background, with a fair enough knowledge of calculus, this course was a perfect starting point.. The course is tough, but the instructor explains everything very clearly, and the course staff provides stellar help with questions on the discussion forums...
José Antonio Vargas

This was an excellent course with a dedicated instructor and several teaching assistants.
As an important part of the physics undergraduate curriculum, it covers basic material on quantum mechanics using calculus, elementary differential equations and linear algebra.
This is probably one of the best introductions into the subject.
Michael A Scura

Thanks to Professor Zwiebach, Staff and TAs for an outstanding course. The lectures, course notes, video exercises, HW Problems and Exams were on the highest level. I've taken dozens of MOOCs and 8.04x is in the top 2 of the best (the other being 8.05x).
Highly recommended
Anonymous

This is the best online course I have taken. A lot of effort has been put in the video lectures, lecture notes, the software for submitting answers. The course is beautifully structured. There is a lot to learn in this course. Amazing!
Abanoub Mikhail

This course is awesome. I'd recommend it to who wants to understand quantum mechanics fundamentally. Believe me, It's intuitive, if I were you, I won't wast and time and start learning now.

Go to class

Taught by

Tags

Quantum Physics I (Spring 2013)

Quantum Physics II

Quantum Physics III (Spring 2018)

Quantum Mechanics I

Quantum Mechanics and Applications

Quantum Mechanics and Application

10 Best Quantum Mechanics Courses for 2024

1200+ Online Physics Free Courses

9 Best Physics Courses for 2024: Learn Physics Online

100 Top FREE edX Courses of All Time

Massive List of MOOC-based Microcredentials

Never Stop Learning.