PHYS 252

PHYS 252-Spring 2004

Modern Physics

Lecture Notes

Lecture 1: modern physics, our topics, our books, their authors

Lecture 2: interference for waves and electrons

Lecture 3: wavelength and momentum

Lecture 4: photoelectric effect

Lecture 5: uncertainty principle

Lecture 6: size of the atom, spectral lines

Lecture 7: combining probability amplitudes

Lecture 8: crystal diffraction

Lecture 9: identical particles

Lecture 10: bosons

Lecture 11: black-body radiation

Lecture 12: Bose-Einstein condensation and superconductivity

Lecture 13: fermions, spin

Lecture 14: dependence of amplitudes on space and time

Lecture 15: different components of spin

Lecture 16: combinations of states

Lecture 17: different bases

Lecture 18: review for test

Lecture 19: two-state systems

Lecture 20: tunneling

Lecture 21: ammonia molecule in an electric field

Lecture 22: masers and lasers

Lecture 23: symmetry and positronium decay

Lecture 24: the EPR "paradox"

Lecture 25: conductors, insulators and semi-conductors

Lecture 26: diodes and transistors

Lecture 27 (Part 1); Lecture 27 (Part 2): the Michelson-Morley experiment (by Fowler)

Lecture 28: special relativity

Lecture 29: length contraction and time dilation

Lecture 30: Lorentz transformations

Lecture 31: mass-energy, addition of velocities

Lecture 32: relativistic momentum

Lecture 33: relativistic energy; review for second midterm

Lecture 34: general relativity

Lecture 35: curved spacetime; black holes

Lecture 36: the expanding universe

Lecture 37: Schrodinger equation

Lecture 38: the Hubble constant

Lecture 39: the cosmic microwave background, dark matter and energy