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PHYS 334Quantum Physics 2

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Physics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Formalism of quantum mechanics. Operator approach to the harmonic oscillator. Quantum mechanics in three dimensions: Hydrogen atom, angular momentum and spin. Time-independent perturbation theory. Fine structure of hydrogen. Zeeman effect. Identical particles. The variational principle. Ground state of the helium atom. Applications in atomic and molecular physics.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • AMATH250 - Introduction to Differential Equations (0.50)
      • AMATH251 - Introduction to Differential Equations (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • MATH228 - Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH227 - Calculus 3 for Honours Physics (0.50)
      • MATH237 - Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH247 - Calculus 3 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed the following:
      • Complete all of the following
        • Must have completed the following:
          • CHEM356 - Introductory Quantum Mechanics (0.50)
        • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
          • MATH114 - Linear Algebra for Science (0.50)
          • MATH115 - Linear Algebra for Engineering (0.50)
          • MATH136 - Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
          • MATH146 - Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
          • PHYS249 - Linear Algebra for Physics and Astronomy (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00168600 / 150TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 7012563117 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

69% liked it40% easy82% useful

From 45 ratings and 12 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This course is tough, especially after midterm. It was extremely difficult to figure out what to do on assignments. Also assignments are released at the end of the semester.

    Apr 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The class probably could have been easier and likable if we had some structure and got our grades back. I'm just getting more and more disappointed in this school...

    Apr 2019 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The class can be learned through reading the textbook and never show up to lecture, honestly the lecture just causes more confusion, this course did not make me care or want to learn about quantum at all, which is fine. The prof also came up with the course outline during the first lecture, which...shows how disorganized the course is

    Aug 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I did poorly, but Skill Issue on my part. I didn't love lectures, were hard to keep up with O'Donovan, but the tutorials were amazing. LOVED his style of making them marked, and allowing us to talk through them with peers, even though sometimes we didn't have enough time to finish.

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Prof. Senko was very clear with her explanations and was very knowledgeable with course material

    Aug 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

45 posts and comments in 37 threads mention PHYS 334, November 2010 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Winter 2024

Spring 2023

Fall 2022

Mathematical physics BM vs BS 2 points, 5 comments

“Hi, I'm entering my final year of high school and as such I began looking at applications for programs I want to join (mostly physics related). …”

u/jollymaker: “They are essentially the same program the only difference will be the upper-year class requirements. You also may have mathematicians teaching some of your classes compared to physicists in the …”

u/void_nemesis: “… There's only a few differences, like AMATH 271 vs PHYS 263 (classical mechanic) and PHYS 334 vs AMATH 373 (the second quantum course you take), but both sides can take the classes.”

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Spring 2022

Holy 💀 1,451 points, 465 comments

u/olezarus: “… I had a Quantum Mechanics 2 (PHYS 334) midterm exam and Statistical Mechanics (PHYS 359) midterm 10 minutes apart from each other IN PERSON. These were our first in person exam and we had two extremely hard midterms nearly back to back. …”

u/RainZhao: “Solid take and perspective. Crazy the midterm averages were that low for PHYS 334 and 359 as well. It definitely reflects an issue with the students and study habits.”

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[Recommendation] Take PHYS 468 110 points, 37 comments

“Hey, I'm teaching PHYS 468 this Fall, a course which introduces the inner workings of four types of quantum computers. I wanted to encourage people to take it. …”

u/v2missile: “I took phys 334 and I see one of its prerequisites is quantum physics 2, is this course based on 334?”

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Winter 2022

Spring 2021

Winter 2021

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar