Advanced Quantum Mechanics 2025

This is a Lecture Course for the Summer Term 2025 at the Master Programme of the University of Cologne.

Lecturer: Silvia Pappalardi, Exercises: Maksimilian Usoltcev, When: Tuesadays. (08-09.30) and Wednesdays (12-13.30) (HSIII)

"Now we know how the electrons and light behave. But what can I call it? If I say they behave like particles I give the wrong impression; also if I say they behave like waves. They behave in their own inimitable way, which technically could be called a quantum mechanical way. They behave in a way that is like nothing that you have ever seen before.

[...] It will be difficult. But the difficulty really is psychological and exists in the perpetual torment that results from your saying to yourself, 'But how can it be like that?' which is a reflection of uncontrolled but utterly vain desire to see it in terms of something familiar."

R. FEYNMAN 1965

Keysone / Getty Images

Content:

The course will cover:

Multipartite systems
Second quantization
Quantization of the electromagnetic field
Relativistic quantum mechanics

Previous expected knowledge:

Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics.

Practical information:

Information sheet
Please register on KLIPS 2.0 to attend the course.

(Everyone who cannot register on KLIPS: please communicate the full name, matriculation number, and exercise group preference, to be added manually to the lecture course and the exercise group.)

Course information, announcements, and discussions are on Slack: AQM SoSE2024.
Register by emailing Maksimilian Usoltcev.

Lecture materials:

The lectures are based on a linear combination of the following notes:

David Gross's Lecture Notes
Sebastian Diehl's Lecture Notes (you have to be connected to the uni network VPN, see here)
see also Rosch and Altland's notes
Recorded lectures available on ILIAS.

Exercises:

Weekly exercises are provided.
Register in Klips or contact Maksimilian Usoltcev if you have issues.
The first exercise sheet is posted on April 8 and due by April 13 (24:00).
Exercises can be solved in groups of up to three students. Submit one sheet per group with all names.
For questions, contact Maksimilian Usoltcev.

0. Sheet 0 (Not handed in)

Sheet 1 (Due: Sunday, April 13 at 24:00)
Sheet 2 (Due: Sunday, April 20 at 24:00)
Sheet 3 (Due: Sunday, April 27 at 24:00)
Sheet 4 (Due: Sunday, May 4 at 24:00)
Sheet 5 (Due: Sunday, May 11 at 24:00)
Sheet 6 (Due: Sunday, May 18 at 24:00)
Sheet 7 (Due: Sunday, May 25 at 24:00)
Sheet 8 (Due: Sunday, June 1 at 24:00)
Sheet 9 (Due: Sunday, June 8 at 24:00)
Sheet 10 (Due: Sunday, June 22 at 24:00)
Sheet 11 (Due: Sunday, June 29 at 24:00)
Sheet 12 (Due: Sunday, July 6 at 24:00)
Sheet 13 (Due: Sunday, July 13 at 24:00)