Instructor Insights

Instructor Insights pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 8.06 Quantum Physics III as it was taught by Professor Aram Harrow in Spring 2016.

This course is a continuation of 8.05 Quantum Physics II. Topics include units, time-independent approximation methods, the structure of one- and two-electron atoms, charged particles in a magnetic field and time-dependent perturbation theory. Students research and write a paper on a topic related to the content of 8.05 and 8.06.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

  • Interpret and analyze a wide range of quantum mechanical systems using both exact analytic techniques and various approximation methods.
  • Gain an introduction to important model systems studied in contemporary physics, including white dwarf stars, two dimensional electron systems, the fine structure of Hydrogen, lasers, and particle scattering.

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

8.05 Quantum Physics II

Requirements Satisfied

CI-M

Offered

Every spring semester

 

Instructor Insights

I’ve to come to realize there are three things I need to teach related to each topic: the physical principle, the technique related to the principle, and an application of the technique.

— Aram Harrow

In the following pages, Aram Harrow describes various aspects of how he teaches 8.06 Quantum Physics III.

 

Student Information

41 students took this course when it was offered in Spring 2016.

Breakdown by Year

Mostly juniors

Breakdown by Major

Mostly physics and math majors

The Classroom

  • 8 rows of fixed furniture tablet arm chairs facing blackboards and a rectangle table.

    Room 1 of 2 Click for next classroom.

    Lecture

    Lectures were held in a classroom with a seating capacity of 143 students. The room was equipped with sliding chalkboards, wireless internet, a LCD video projector, and a sound system.

  • 4 rows of tables and chairs facing blackboards at the front of the room. Windows line the left wall.

    Click for previous classroom. Room 2 of 2

    Recitation

    Recitations were held in a classroom with blackboards and moveable tables and chairs.

 

Assessment

Grade Breakdown

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by problem sets. 25% Problem Sets
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by midterm. 15% Midterm
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by term paper. 25% Term Paper
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by final exam. 35% Final Exam

Instructor Insights on Assessment

Please see Prof. Aram Harrow’s instructor insights about providing students with feedback on their writing.

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

Lecture

3 hours per week

Met 2 times per week for 1.5 hours per session; 27 sessions total.

 

Recitation

2 hours per week

Met 2 times per week for 1 hour per session; 25 sessions total.

 

Out of Class

7 hours per week
  • Problem sets
  • Term paper
  • Exam preparation