Quantum Theory of Molecules and Matter

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1

5254QTMM6Y

Owner Master Chemistry (joint degree)
Coordinator prof. dr. W.J. Buma
Part of Master Chemistry (joint degree), track Molecular Sciences, year 1Master Chemistry (joint degree), track ATOSIM, year 1

Course manual 2017/2018

Course content

  • Rotational motion and the hydrogen atom.
  • Angular momentum: operators, states, and composite systems.
  • Group theory: symmetry, calculus of symmetry, reduced representations, symmetry of functions, full rotation group.
  • Techniques of approximation: time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory.
  • Atomic spectra and atomic structure: hydrogen, helium and many-electron atoms; atoms in external fields.
  • Molecular structure: molecular orbital theory, band theory of solids.

Study materials

Literature

  • W. Atkins and R.S. Friedman, Molecular Quantum Mechanics, 5th ed ISBN 978-0-19-954142-3.

Objectives

  • Synchronize quantum mechanics knowledge and its application to atoms, molecules, solids and spectroscopy.
  • Preparation for advanced courses.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Seminar

Lectures and tutorials.

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Zelfstudie

168

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

66.66%

Tentamen

Must be ≥ 5

33.33%

Assignments (5)

The final mark of the course is based on the results of the assignments and of the written
exam in the following way:
- If the result of the written exam is less than 5 then this is the final result.
- If the result of the written exam is 5 or more, the final result is based on both the written
exam and the assignments. The weighting factor of the written exam is 2/3 and of the
assignment is 1/3.
- The result of the assignments is the average of the 5 best assignment grades. In total 7
assignments can be made.

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

Assignments

Every Wednesday an assignment will be given; every next Monday is the deadline to hand in
a solution. The next Friday this assignment is discussed.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Week Subject Literature Assignments
1   Ch. 2, 3, 4 See Assignments section
2   Ch. 2, 3, 4 See Assignments section
3   Ch. 5 See Assignments section
4   Ch. 5 See Assignments section
5   Ch. 6 See Assignments section
6   Ch. 6, 7 See Assignments section
7   Ch. 7, 8 See Assignments section
8   Ch. 8, 9  

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Recommended prior knowledge: Basic Quantum Mechanics knowledge (Ch. 1+2 from Atkins and Friedman).

Contact information

Coordinator

  • prof. dr. W.J. Buma