Molecular Quantum Chemistry

Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Objectives

Familiarization of graduate students of Chemistry Department with terms and concepts necessary for modern Physical Chemistry and relevant research.

Prerequisites

Elementary knowledge of quantum theory, basic knowledge of classical mechanics, a lot of mathematics and effort.

Syllabus

Introduction to quantum measurements – Stern-Gerlach experiment, spin. Vector spaces and Dirac formalism. Matrix representations of operators, bras and kets. Translation operator and time-evolution operator. Quantum dynamics. The Schrödinger versus the Heisenberg picture. Schrödinger’s equation. Interpretations of the wave function. The WKB approximation. Propagators and Feynman path integrals. Gauge transformations.