CHEM 6676 Physical Chemistry: Principles and Applications
Quantum mechanics is one of the most profound intellectual achievements in modern science. It provides a fundamentally new framework for understanding atoms, molecules, and chemical phenomena through a mathematical language and physical intuition that are drastically different from classical mechanics. Although its abstract formalism can appear challenging at first, this course guides students through the underlying mathematical structure to develop new physical intuition. Topics include Hilbert spaces, operator algebra, quantum dynamics, angular momentum, approximation methods, and many-electron systems, with applications to modern chemistry and materials science.
Course overview
- Department
- Chemistry
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Both
- Offered
- Every Fall
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- Recommended pre-requisites are undergraduate-level linear algebra, multivariable calculus, and physical chemistry.
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.99 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.43 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Junwei L Bao | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 7–9 hrs/week | 6 of 6 |
| Fall 2024 | Junwei L Bao | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 10+ hrs/week | 13 of 18 |
| Fall 2023 | Junwei L Bao | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 of 15 |
| Fall 2022 | Junwei L Bao | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 10+ hrs/week | 5 of 5 |
| Fall 2021 | Junwei L Bao | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 7–9 hrs/week | 5 of 9 |