Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Lecture 1
Overview
Course Introduction and Administration
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 1
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Professor:
Yong P. Chen, Prof. of Physics and ECE
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (765) 494-0947
Office: PHYS 74
Office Hour: You are welcome to talk to me after class,
or in my office Wednesdays 10:30-11:30am whenever I am around,
or email me to make an appointment.
Research:
(mostly) experimental:
Condensed matter/nano physics;
AMO/quantum physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/quantum
TA:
Mr. Zhen Hua
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (765) 337-6746
Office: PHYS 105
Office Hour: Thursdays 2-4pm
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 2
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
PHYS342: Modern Physics
Offering:
Fall 2016; cr. 3
Lectures: MWF 9:30-10:20 in PHYS 333
Prerequisites:
PHYS 241 or 272(H) [electromagnetism, which also assumes you know classical mechanics e.g. PHYS 172]
Math: we assume you are familiar with calculus, knows about vectors and matrices, and basic probability (some
knowledge of differential equations also helpful, but will mostly be taught in the class)
Description:
“Modern physics is the physics of extremes. From systems at the extremely small (atoms, nuclei, fundamental
particles) to the extremely large (the Universe). From systems of the extremely fast (relativity) and extremely
massive (neutron stars, black holes), to systems of the extremely hot (thermonuclear reactions) and extremely
cold (superconductivity). This is the physics course you have been waiting for.”
Course Website:
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 3
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Course Web: www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
(Announcements, lecture notes, handouts, homework and solution etc.)
E-learning/discussion website: http://perusall.com/
(supplemental reading materials; outside-class discussions; upload & sharing files/essays/posts
etc. please visit and sign up --- access code: CHEN-1298)
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 4
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Textbook -- Required: John Morrison,
Modern Physics for Scientists and
Engineers, 2nd ed. (Academic Press 2015)
• Available from Amazon, online, Purdue book store.. Etc.
• NOT (yet) available from perusall.com for Fall 2016
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 5
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Additional books on Modern Physics
Recommended/optional:
Ken Krane’s Modern Physics 3rd ed.
[advanced] John Walecka, “Introduction to Modern Physics:
Theoretical Foundations” (2008)
An older classic -- Robert Eisberg & Robert Resnick “Quantum
Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles” (1985)
Additional:
Randy Harris’s Modern Physics (2007):
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36652349/Harris-Randy-Modern-Physics-2E-PDF
Modern Physics by Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses & Curt A. Moyer
Modern Physics from A to Z, by James W. Rohlf
Older classic:
AP French’s “Introduction to Quantum Physics” & “Special Relativity” (MIT introductory physics
series)
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 6
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Additional Learning Resources
Course website/notes from other universities:
http://budker.berkeley.edu/Physics132/
http://riedo.gatech.edu/Teaching/Modern_Physics/web_page.htm
http://physics.syr.edu/courses/PHY361.05Fall/syllabus.html
http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/~joanna/Lectures/PHY-251-252/PHY251/
http://uw.physics.wisc.edu/~rzchowski/phy107/index.htm
http://www.physics.wisc.edu/undergrads/courses/spring2013/241/
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/EducationIssues/ModernPhysics/index.html
Similar “modern physics” is also taught as “quantum physics” in some universities, eg.
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-04-quantum-physics-i-spring-2006/lecture-notes/
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Syllabus & Schedule
Lecture
1
2
3
4
5*
6
7
8
9
10*
11*
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34*
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Final Exam
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Date
8/22 M
8/24 W
8/26 F
8/29 M
8/31 W
9/2 F
9/5 M
9/7 W
9/9 F
9/12 M
9/14 W
9/16 F
9/19 M
9/21 W
9/23 F
9/26 M
9/28 W
9/30 F
10/3 M
10/5 W
10/7 F
10/10 M
10/12 W
10/14 F
10/17 M
10/19 W
Topic
Overview; Course Introduction & Administration
Introduction (Wave) I.1
Introduction (Overview of Quantum Physics) I.2
Wave-Particle Duality Ch. 1
Schroedinger Equation Ch. 2
Schroedinger Equation Ch. 2
No Class (Labor Day)
Schroedinger Equation Ch. 2
Operator & Waves Ch. 3
Operator & Waves Ch. 3
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Quiz 1 (covers Module 1)
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Many-electron Atom Ch. 5
Many-electron Atom Ch. 5
Many-electron Atom Ch. 5
Molecular Physics & Chemical Physics
Masers and Lasers Ch. 6
Laser Cooling & Trapping Ch. 6; Metrology
No Class (Fall Break)
Statistical Physics Ch. 7
Quiz 2 (covers Module 2)
Statistical Physics Ch. 7
Statistical Physics Ch. 7
10/21 F
10/24 M
10/26 W
10/28 F
10/31 M
11/2 W
11/4 F
11/7 M
11/9 W
11/11 F
11/14 M
11/16 W
11/18 F
11/21 M
11/23 W
11/25 F
11/28 M
11/30 W
12/2 F
12/5 M
12/7 W
12/9 F
TBD
Statistical Physics Ch. 7; Superfluids & Superconductors
Solid State Physics Ch. 8
Solid State Physics Ch. 8
Solid State Physics Ch. 8; Nanophysics
Semiconductors Ch. 9
Semiconductor Lasers Ch. 10
Semiconductor Lasers Ch. 10 and Quantum Photonics
Special Relativity Ch. 11
Special Relativity Ch. 11
Quiz 3 (covers Module 3)
Special Relativity Ch. 12
Relativistic Quantum Physics Ch. 12
Particle Physics Ch. 13
Particle Physics Ch. 13
No Class (Thanksgiving)
No Class (Thanksgiving)
Particle Physics Ch. 13
Particle Physics Ch. 13; String theory
Nuclear Physics Ch. 14
Nuclear Physics Ch. 14
General Relativity, Astrophysics & Cosmology
Review or Special Topics (TBD)
Covers the whole course (~1/2 from modules 1-3;
~1/2 from module 4)
Fall 2016
Module
1. Basic concepts and Quantum
Physics
2. AMO (atomic, molecular and
optical) Physics
3. Condensed Matter, Solid State
and
Nano Physics
4. Relativity and High Energy
Physics
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
[*: these (4) lectures/quizzes will be
given by guest lecturers/TAs]
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 8
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Grading: [1 pt=1% below; total 100pts or 100% plus possibly 10 extra bonus pts]
Exams (60%):
3 in-class exams: 10% each (dates: 9/16, 10/14, 11/11, covering modules 1-3 respectively);
Final exam (date/location: TBD): 30% (covering whole course)
(HW1 this week will be posted on Wed.)
Homework: 30% plus up to 5 bonus points.
Problems are normally posted on course website Mondays and due by the following Monday before 5pm in Rm 144 (drop it in the
box labeled “HW, Lab etc.”, please clearly the course name and your name on the HW; late HW will NOT be accepted). Graded
HW can be picked up from Rm 144 Tuesday afternoon of the next week or after.

Bonus points (depending on the nature and amount of work per incidence, starting from 0.5, up to 5 total) may be awarded taking initiative and
doing extra work to generalize/expand a problem/solution into a mini-project etc. [please denote/submit such “extra” work on/along your
submitted HWK for consideration]
Participation: 10% plus up to 5 bonus points.
Turn in a “participation sheet” after each class documenting your class participation (answers to quizzes etc.): 0.25% for each
class;

Bonus points (up to 5% extra): 0.25 bonus pt awarded for each good question/answer/pointing-out-an-error in class, or for bringing/giving a
written feedback (example – the most confusing points, what you like to hear/learn more etc.) [please document/note such in-class bonus
activities on the back of your participation-sheet or attach as a separate sheet attached to your participation sheet];
Policy: Typical cutoffs: >85%: A; 70-85%: B; 60-70%: C; 50-60%: D (pass). This may be subject to small adjustment according to
the actual performance of the class (so there is sufficient gap between different grades).
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 9
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
PHYSICS 342
Modern Physics (3 credits)
Lectures: MWF 9:30-10:20am
Fall 2016
Room: PHYS 333
(8/22M to 12/9F, no lectures on 09/05M, 10/10M, 11/23W, 11/25F --- total 44 lectures
– see syllabus below for details)
Lectures will use blackboards, ppt & videos
Note: lecture notes posted after lectures are mainly summaries/highlights and
supplemental information and may not contain many/all things discussed in the
lectures; it is important for you to attend the lectures and participate in the in-class
discussions/Q-As (see also grading policy below). It is also important for you to read
relevant sections in the textbook (or other assigned reading materials) before coming
to each lecture to get the most out of the lectures/discussions. Many of the discussions
in lecture ASSUME you have had at least a first reading of the basic materials, so we
can focus more on assimilating/using the materials.
 Bring some sheets of paper to the lecture.
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 10
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Traditional lectures: information transfer
 new education revolution: focuses on information assimilation
 We will combine lecturing with many small-group discussions/Q-A in classes
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 11
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Q1 --- Introduce the class: who are you?
• Take out a piece of paper ---- “participation sheet”
• Write down your answer to Q1 --- your name, class/major (e.g., U2 ECE) on
the “participation sheet”
• Form discussion groups, 3-5 students/group
• Explain your answer to your group (Introduce yourself to your group, feel
free to share what/why of your major, why you take this class etc.)
• Return to yourself
• Update/revise your answer (presumably not for Q1)
• (optional) write down something you shared/want to share with the
group/class, for example, why you are taking this class
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 12
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
What is “modern physics”? --- after “classical physics
• Brief History of Classical Physics
• Before “classical physics”, from Greek era
• Development of Classical physics from 1600-1900
[many pre-classical-physics notions overthrown by new
Logic reasoning + experiments]
• Mechanics (phys 172): Galileo, Newton, …
• Electromagnetism (phys 272): Faraday, Hertz, Maxwell…
• Thermodynamics/statistical mechanics
• “modern” physics after 1900s
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
(included in this course)
8/22/2016
Slide 13
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
• Four major knowledge foundation of today’s physics
curriculum
• 3 of them also foundation of classical physics
• Quantum physics foundational to modern physics
Mechanics
Electromagnetism
Quantum Physics
Thermodynamics/statistical
physics
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
(included in this course)
• Quantum mechanics
• Quantum electrodynamics (QED)
• Quantum statistics
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 14
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Two pillars of modern physics:
relativity & quantum mechanics
more “quantum”
• How small is “small”??
more
“relativistic”
Large
(Macroscopic)
Small
(Microscopic)
Slow
Classical/Newtonian
mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Fast
(special) relativity
Relativistic quantum
mechanics  quantum field
theory (QFT)
(close to c~300,000,000 m/s)
(included in
this course)
• How fast is “fast”?
 Also about new understanding of space-time
PHYSICS 342
Purdue University
Fall 2016
Prof. Yong P. Chen ([email protected])
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 15
Modern Physics
www.physics.purdue.edu/phys342/
Lecture
1
2
3
4
5*
6
21
Date
8/22 M
8/24 W
8/26 F
8/29 M
8/31 W
9/2 F
9/5 M
9/7 W
9/9 F
9/12 M
9/14 W
9/16 F
9/19 M
9/21 W
9/23 F
9/26 M
9/28 W
9/30 F
10/3 M
10/5 W
10/7 F
10/10 M
10/12 W
Topic
Overview; Course Introduction & Administration
Introduction (Wave) I.1
Introduction (Overview of Quantum Physics) I.2
Wave-Particle Duality Ch. 1
Schroedinger Equation Ch. 2
Schroedinger Equation Ch. 2
No Class (Labor Day)
Schroedinger Equation Ch. 2
Operator & Waves Ch. 3
Operator & Waves Ch. 3
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Quiz 1 (covers Module 1)
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Hydrogen Atom Ch. 4
Many-electron Atom Ch. 5
Many-electron Atom Ch. 5
Many-electron Atom Ch. 5
Molecular Physics & Chemical Physics
Masers and Lasers Ch. 6
Laser Cooling & Trapping Ch. 6; Metrology
No Class (Fall Break)
Statistical Physics Ch. 7
22
23
24
10/14 F
10/17 M
10/19 W
Quiz 2 (covers Module 2)
Statistical Physics Ch. 7
Statistical Physics Ch. 7
7
8
9
10*
11*
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34*
35
PHYSICS
36
37
10/21 F
Statistical Physics Ch. 7; Superfluids & Superconductors
10/24 M
Solid State Physics Ch. 8
10/26 W
Solid State Physics Ch. 8
10/28 F
Solid State Physics Ch. 8; Nanophysics
10/31 M
Semiconductors Ch. 9
11/2 W
Semiconductor Lasers Ch. 10
11/4 F
Semiconductor Lasers Ch. 10 and Quantum Photonics
11/7 M
Special Relativity Ch. 11
11/9 W
Special Relativity Ch. 11
11/11 F
Quiz 3 (covers Module 3)
11/14 M
Special Relativity Ch. 12
342
PurdueRelativistic
University
2016
11/16 W
QuantumFall
Physics
Ch. 12 Prof. Yong P.
11/18 F
Particle Physics Ch. 13
Summary and Next
Module
1. Basic concepts and Quantum
Physics
• Lecture 1:
• Course Instruction & Policy:
review Lec 1 notes and course
website, esp. Syllabus
• Food of thought: “what is
modern physics about”? “what
are some big pictures/ideas”?
“why study modern physics”
2. AMO (atomic, molecular and
optical) Physics
• Next Lecture (2): basic ideas
such as particle and wave,
scale and unit, quantum
physics
• Read (before lecture): Chapter
Intro.1 of textbook (Morrison)
• Also study Appendix C (Matlab) if
you are not familiar with Matlab
3. Condensed Matter, Solid
State and
Nano Physics
4. Relativity and High Energy
Chen ([email protected])
Physics
Lecture 1
8/22/2016
Slide 16