RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM MECHANICS

Major
Physics
Quarter
Spring
Year
2019
Course Number
PHYSICS CS 140, Section 1
Enrollment Code
39768
Instructor(s)
Date & Time
Tuesday & Thursday 11:00am- 12:15pm
Location
BLDG 494, Room 164B

Course Description

This course will develop the wave function description of relativistic quantum mechanics as originally formulated by P.A.M. Dirac. The energies considered will be below the threshold for electron positron pair creation. Thus, there will be no need to use relativistic quantum field theory.

The list of topics to be covered:
Relativistic wave equations. Klein-Gordon equation. Dirac Equation. Spinors. Lorentz Invariance of the Dirac equation. The motion of a free electron. Motion in an electromagnetic field. Existence of the spin. Antimatter, theory of the positron, the Dirac sea. The Hydrogen atom, exact energy levels. Spin-orbit coupling

Required Text

P. A. M. Dirac, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics (4th revised edition) Oxford University Press

Optional Text

James D. Bjorken, Sidney D. Drell, LSC Relativistic Quantum Mechanics McGraw-Hill