Department of Physics, University of
Utah
Course Number: Physics 7550 (3)
Course Title: Physical Applications of Group
Theory
- REPRESENTATIVE TEXTBOOK
- Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics, Tinkham, 1964, ISBN 07-064895-6. This
is the text used by the writer of this course description. Tinkham only has applications to atoms,
molecules, and solids. The book is thin, hardbacked and very expensive. As of 2/25/1999 the
online price found was $115 new and $93 used.Group Theory and its Physical Applications in
Physics; Inui, Tanaba, and Onodera; 1990; ISBN 3-540-60445-6. This book's coverage is very
similiar to that of Tinkham. Gale Dick has a copy. The book is paperback, and was found with
prices $73 new and $ 59 used. Symmetry in Physics, Elliott and Dauber, 1979, ISBN Vol. 1
0-19-520455-7, Vol. 2 0-19-520456-5. Zeev Vardeny used this text, and liked it very much.
The texts are in paperback, and they cover both Coulomb and High Energy Physics. The broader
coverage is either a curse or a blessing depending on one's viewpoint. The book was not found
online.
- COURSE DESCRIPTION
- Assumed symmetries of a physical problem place powerful limits on the allowable solutions
of that problem. The mathematics of group theory providea set of tools for determining these
constraints. In this course the appropriate mathematics will be developed and applied to a variety
of mostly quantum mechanical.
- PRE-REQUISITE
- Physics 7220 or equivalent
- OTHER COMMENTS
- The topics listed below are very much tied to the course as taught from Tinkham's book.
See the table of contents of this book for the details of the topics listed below. The past history of
this course has been strongly tied to Coulomb physics, but in the new semester format there is no
reason some time could not be devoted to elementary particle physics.
- MANDATORY TOPICS
- Topic 1:
- Abstract Group, 1- week
- Topic 2:
- Theory of Group Representations, 2- weeks
- Topic 3:
- Physical Applications of Group Theory, 2+ weeks
- Topic 4:
- Full Rotation Group and Angular Momentum with emphasis on Tensor Operators, the
Wigner-Eckhart Theorem, Time Reversal Symmetry, and Kramer's Theorem, 2+ weeks
- Topic 5:
- Solid State Theory, 2+ weeks
- OPTIONAL TOPICS
- Topic 1:
- Quantum Mechanics of Atoms, 2 weeks
- Topic 2:
- Molecular Quantum Mechanics, 2 weeks
- Topic 3:
- Symmetry Restrictions on the Tensors that describe the Physical Properties of Crystals, 1-
week. This subject combines Group Theory material and other symmetry based approachs. Basic
references are: S. Bhagavantom, Crystal Symmetry and Physical Properties, Academic Press
Fausto Fumi, Acta Cryst. 5, 44 (1952); Fausto Fumi, Acta Cryst. 5, 691 (1952)
- Topic 4:
- The group SU2 and SU3 with application to Elementary Particle Physics, time for the topic
is open ended. reference: Elliot and Dauber Vol. 1, p. 213 ff.
- Links to exisiting web page for this course:
- Currently does not exist.
-
Prepared by William Ohlsen (3/3/99)