Physics 215C (Spring 2016)

PHYSICS 215C, GRADUATE QUANTUM MECHANICS,  SRING 2016

Prof. Matthew Fisher 

email: mpaf@kitp.ucsb.edu 
Office: 2305 Kohn Hall
Lectures: Monday, Wednesday 11:00-12:15 pm, Building 387, Room 103
Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:15 pm

Find the course web site thru my personal web site:  http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/mpaf

TA/Grader: Chaitanya Murthy

email: cm@physics.ucsb.edu 
Office: 1015 Broida Hall
Office Hours: Wednesday 1-2pm (Broida 6th floor lounge)  

SYLLABUS: 

Physics 215C will be a continuation of 215B.  The hope is to finish up and elaborate on several classic topics (eg Bell's inqequality, Feynman path integral applications) before turning to some newer topics including quantum information/computing and entanglement entropy.  Finally, time allowing, the hope is to take on an even more challenging topic - the quantum transverse field Ising model a cererpiece of many-body quantum systems.  Below is a loose syllabus, subject to modification as the quarter proceeds:

TOPICS: 

  • Quantum Paradoxes: Bell's inequality and others 
  • Quantum Information and Computation 
  • Feynman path integrals (imaginary-time, instantons and tunneling)
  • Density Matrices and Entanglement
  • Quantum Ising Model and Quantum phase transitions

Textbooks: For 215C there will be no official textbook.  During each of the topics I will try to suggest  possible books/sources to read. Please pester me on this, to make sure I follow thru - thanks!

Homework:  Probably 4-5 homeworks throughout the quarter, available on the course web site.  Homework solutions also posted online.  You are encouraged to work together on the homeworks.

Exams:  None.  Unless by popular demand!

Help/feedback:  In addition to my office hours and Chaitanya's office hours, I would be happy to schedule a mutually convenient time to chat about homework or other topics (best arranged by e-mail).  I would greatly appreciate feedback on any aspect of the course, anytime throughout the quarter.  

 

Problem Sets: