Teaching

PHY 401 — Quantum Mechanics I 

Fall 2026 | University at Buffalo

PHY 401 is an upper-level undergraduate course introducing the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. The course develops the wave-mechanical description of microscopic systems, explores fundamental quantum phenomena, and introduces the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics, including angular momentum and spin.

Textbook

David J. Griffiths and Darrell F. Schroeter, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition, Cambridge University Press (2018).

Course Topics

Foundations: Wave-particle duality, wave functions, Schrödinger equation, probability, expectation values, and uncertainty principles.

One-Dimensional Systems: Infinite and finite square wells, harmonic oscillator, wave packets, and quantum tunneling.

Quantum Formalism: Operators and observables, eigenstates, Hilbert space, Dirac notation, and quantum measurement.

Three-Dimensional Systems: Hydrogen atom, orbital angular momentum, spin-1/2 systems, and addition of angular momenta.

Teaching Approach

The course emphasizes physical intuition, reasoning, and analytical problem solving. Lectures combine blackboard derivations, worked examples, and conceptual discussions. Weekly pre-lecture questions and problem sets encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of quantum mechanics and apply its principles to unfamiliar problems.

Course Materials: Available to enrolled students through UB Learns (Brightspace).