MIT 8.04 Quantum Physics I, Spring 2013 (2013)

This course covers the experimental basis of quantum physics. It introduces wave mechanics, Schrödinger's equation in a single dimension, and Schrödinger's equation in three dimensions. Created by MIT OpenCourseWare .


Average Course Length

37.5 hours


Skill Level

Intermediate



Pick a lesson


1: Introduction to Superposition
2: Experimental Facts of Life
3: The Wave Function
4: Expectations, Momentum, and Uncertainty
5: Operators and the Schrӧdinger Equation
6: Time Evolution and the Schrödinger Equation
7: More on Energy Eigenstates
8: Quantum Harmonic Oscillator Part I
9: Operator Methods for the Harmonic Oscillator
10: Clicker Bonanza and Dirac Notation
11: Dispersion of the Gaussian and the Finite Well
12: The Dirac Well and Scattering off the Finite Step
13: Scattering Take 2
14: Resonance and the S-Matrix
15: Eigenstates of the Angular Momentum
16: Eigenstates of the Angular Momentum II
17: Central Potentials Take 2
18: "Hydrogen" and its Discontents
19: Identical Particles
20: Periodic Lattices Part 1
21: Periodic Lattices Part 2
22: Metals, Insulators, and Semiconductors
23: More on Spin
24: Entanglement — QComputing, EPR, and Bell
25: Experiment 2: Effective Mass