Physics 385 Advanced Mathematical Methods in Physics
Location & Time: KPTC 103, T Th
10:30-11:50
Office hours: T 3-4 (my office RI 270)
Grader: Szilard Farkas
This is a special topics course
that is oriented around the theme of symmetry and its implementation in
physical systems; particularly quantum mechanical systems. The
background required for the course is graduate level mathematical physics and exposure to graduate level quantum mechanics.
The course grade will be based on homework assignments and perhaps a final exam or presentation.
There is no primary textbook but some references listed below.
Tentative Syllabus
Problem Sets
Assignment 1
Solutions 1
Assignment 2
Solutions 2
Assignment 3
Solutions 3
Assignment 4
Solutions 4
Assignment 5
Solutions 5
Assignment 6
Solutions 6
Assignment 7
References & Additional Sources
The implentation of symmetry
in physical systems involves group theory. There are lots of reasonable
texts on this topic. Here are a few suggestions:
Lie Algebras in Particle Physics by Howard Georgi
Group Theory and its Applications in Physics by Tetsuro Inui, Yukito Tanabe and Y. Onodera
Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics by Michael Tinkham.
There is also a new book by Ramond available online via the library system here.
There is another text on semi-simple Lie algebras by Bob Cahn that can be found at his home page or here.