Overview

This unit provides an introduction to quantum mechanics and solid state physics, particularly those areas relevant to modern applied science.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PHY10004 Electronics and Electromagnetism

Assumed Knowledge
Students should be familiar with definite integration techniques.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify the Schrodinger equation and formulate quantum mechanical descriptions of simple physical systems (K1, K2)
  • Describe and interpret fundamental concepts of solid state physics (K1, K2)
  • Apply physical principles to the analysis of problems in basic quantum mechanics and solid state physics (K1, K2, K3)
  • Analyze experimental data and synthesize these results with your physics knowledge in order to communicate your ideas and conclusions in the form of a technical report (K2, A2)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture
2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Lab
2.00 6 weeks 12
Online
Learning activities
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
6.50 12 weeks 78
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 10 - 30% 1,2,3,4 
ExaminationIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,3 
Laboratory ReportIndividual 10 - 30% 1,2,3,4 
QuizzesIndividual 5 - 15% 1,2,3 

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:

(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and(ii) at least 40% in the final exam.Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

Quantum Mechanics:

  • Quantum phenomena, probability and wave functions
  • Time-dependent and time-independent Schrodinger equations
  • Applications of Schrodinger equation
  • Quantum states, energy levels and degeneracy
  • Reflection and transmission at a potential barrier: tunnelling, averages and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle
  • Many body quantum mechanics
  • Identical particles and Pauli exclusion principle

 

Solid State Physics:

  • Free electron theory, the Fermi-Dirac distribution and Fermi levels
  • Conductivity in metals
  • Failures of free electron model
  • Weak binding approximation
  • Forbidden energies and effective mass
  • Strong binding approximation
  • Band theory and intrinsic semiconductors
  • Crystal lattices and the reciprocal lattice
  • Phonons, thermal properties of solids and superconductivity

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.