SH2008 Introductory Modern Physics 6.0 credits

The experimental background of Modern Physics and Quantum Mechanics

The experimentel background of modern Physics. Material waves (“de Broglie waves”). Wave packets and the Heisenberg uncertainty relation. Wave-particle duality. Atomic structure. The Bohr model of the atom. Atomic energy levels. The foundations of quantum mechanics. Applications of the Schrödinger equation to simple potentials. Interpretations of wave functions. Plane wave solutions. The harmonic oscillator. Angular momentum and spin. The hydrogen atom and the periodic table. The Pauli principle. Planck’s radiation law. X-ray emission and spectra. The strucure of the nucleus. Radioactive decay. Application of phenomena such as the photoelectric effect. Quantum mechanical phenomena in the natural sciences and technology, such as tunneling, scannng microscope, the Stern-Gerlach experiment, atomic nuclei, simple molecules. Insulators, conductors and semiconductors.

After completing the course, the student should:

• Be able to explain the scientific basis of modern physics as defiened by the course content.
• Be able to contruct and perform quantum mechanical calculations of simple systems.
• Be able to apply quantum mechanical principles within the natural sciences and technology.
• Have aquired practical experience of experimental methods within modern physics.

Basic integral and diffential calculus, basic algebra and basic mechanics.

English B / English 6

Knowledges similar to SI1100, SK1100 and SI1140, SF1604, SF1602 and SF1603 and SG1130.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• INLA - Home Assignments, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• LABA - Laboration, 1.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• PROA - Project, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

No

Chong Qi

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

The course SH2008 overlaps with the subject in other courses in Modern Physics: SH1012 and SH1014. Students who finished any of these Bachelor-level courses (this includes also SH1011, SH1013, SH1009), are not recommended to enlist for the SH2008 course.