CHM 362 Quantum Chemistry

Prerequisite: CHM 311, MAT 225 (or concurrent enrollment), PHY 218 or PHY 222 (or concurrent enrollment), OR permission of instructor

An advanced study of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. Topics include in-depth treatment of various fundamental problems in quantum mechanics (particle in a box, rigid rotor, harmonic oscillator), applications of these problems to chemical systems, atomic and molecular orbital theory and structure, spectroscopy, lasers, and statistical mechanics. The fundamental goal is to achieve a physical description of the quantum nature of matter and how this manifests itself in chemical problems. This course relies heavily on mathematical approximations to difficult differential equations and interpretation of these answers in terms of probabilities. There will be three 70-minute lectures each week.