PHYS 454Quantum Theory 2
Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2025–26.
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
The Hilbert space of states, observables, and time evolution. Feynman path integral and Greens functions. Approximation methods. Co-ordinate transformations, angular momentum, and spin. The relation between symmetries and conservation laws. Density matrix, Ehrenfest theorem, and decoherence. Multiparticle quantum mechanics. Bell inequality and basics of quantum computing.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it50% easy100% useful
From 9 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Kempf's notes are absolutely fantastic and if you put in the work to read them and do all the exercises, this course will be extremely rewarding. I found there was no overlap between this course and PHYS 434 if anyone is wondering. If you had to choose one, I would suggest taking this course since it builds up concepts like density matrices, entanglement entropy, mixed/pure states etc from scratch, which I didn't see at all in PHYS 434. These are all relevant topics to modern QM research, so if anyone is looking to get into a quantum or quantum adjacent field, this is the course to take.
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Very interesting course! You'll basically derive the whole framework of quantum mechanics starting with classical mechanics. This course isn't super hard. I strongly recommend taking this AND Phys 434; they complement each other well and whenever there's overlap between the two courses, they present the material differently.
Sep 2018 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
14 posts and comments in 13 threads mention PHYS 454, November 2016 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.
Fall 2024
4th Year PHYS Electives 2 points, 0 comments
u/Patience_is_aVirtue: “… There are a few options out there such as PHYS 434, 442, 454, 468, and 490. I am just wondering if anyone has taken these. If so, how was your experience? Did you like the course? …”
Winter 2023
What’s been your easiest and hardest year so far? 10 points, 16 comments
u/TheRealArjun: “… AMATH 373, CS 436, CS 467, ECE 459, PMATH 332 4A - ECE 222, ECE 351, PHYS 434, PHYS 442, PHYS 454, PHYS 475 WT5 - ECE 350, ECE 454, Coop 5 4B is looking bad and its only been one month...”
Fall 2022
Phys 434 and Phys 454 (Quantum Phys 3 and Quantum Theory 2) 2 points, 3 comments
u/Suitable_Address_546: “What is the difference between the two courses. Is one easier/harder than the other or do they overlap a bunch. Would love to hear any opinions on either course!”
Spring 2022
Has anyone taken PHYS 454 and PHYS 484 at the undergraduate level? 0 points, 0 comments
Winter 2022
What is the hardest course you took in waterloo 29 points, 66 comments
u/the_garden_waste: “PHYS 476, PHYS 454”
Fall 2020
Easiest 4th Year Phys courses? 8 points, 5 comments
“help a brother out (your top 3 pls)”
u/Island_Man89: “… Phys 454 - Quantum Theory 2: I had achim Kemf for this. Probably one of the most brilliant professors I’ve ever had at UW. If he is teaching this course, I would highly recommend. The lessons teach you everything you need to know for the assignments. …”
Spring 2020
New Educational YouTube Channel 1 point, 1 comment
“Hi everyone! Me and a few of my friends have recently started an educational YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHTovJYcpwC-KREEvenaYg) focused on university level STEM courses. …”
u/MoistGochu: “Can you make one for Quantum Theory 2? PHYS 454/AMATH 473”
Winter 2020
Any upper year physics majors I can talk to? 4 points, 10 comments
“I'm in 1B chemical physics, and as much as I want to be a physicist, I'm worried that I'm not cut out for this course load. …”
u/KaliumNa: “I'm not chemical physics, but I'll tell you what I know from my experience from physics and astrophysics. …”
u/KaliumNa: “… As an example, I took PHYS 454 last term and there are a few algebraic proofs that you need to solve, however, there were far more questions that were algebraic plug-n-chug, where each question poised new questions and techniques to solve (it's like playing baseball, but the …”
Fall 2019
AMATH 473 vs PHYS 454 and AMATH 475 vs PHYS 476 0 points, 7 comments
u/supermod111: “I am in mathematical physics (2A), and I was wondering what are the differences between the two courses in each pairing, since I will take one from each in 4th year. …”
u/silverotter2: “Amath 473 & Phys 454 are cross-listed, which means they’re the same course, no matter which one you’re enrolled in; same goes for the latter 2.”
Spring 2018
pure and applied sciences bird course 3 points, 2 comments
“whats the best bird course to fulfill that pure and applied sciences breadth requirement”
u/CATALUNYALLIUREEEEEE: “Phys 454”
Fall 2017
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… 358 PHYS 360A PHYS 360B PHYS 363 PHYS 364 PHYS 380 PHYS 434 PHYS 437A PHYS 437B PHYS 442 PHYS 454 PHYS 460A PHYS 460B PHYS 461 PHYS 474 PHYS 475 PHYS 490 PHYS 491 PHYS 601 PHYS 602 PHYS 603 PHYS 604 PHYS 605 PHYS 611 PHYS 701 PHYS 704 PHYS 709 PHYS 767 PHYS 768 PHYS 771 PHYS 777 …”
Fall 2016
Has anyone done a depth in physics. 2 points, 6 comments
“I kind of want to do a depth in phys but I only took 111 and 112. So the second year courses I can use for depth is restricted to are health physics, optics, magnetic/electric or quantum. …”
u/I_NoScopedUrMom: “I'm a physics major and I've commented on a similar post before; your best option for depth is quantum and optics. Do not take magnetism. …”
u/I_NoScopedUrMom: “… These courses will give you a good understanding of quantum physics (only two are amath): AMATH 250, AMATH 373, PHYS 234, PHYS 334, PHYS 454 (crosslisted with AMATH 473). …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2025–26The archived entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them
Calendar versions
Undergraduate Calendar
- 2020–21
- 2021–22
- 2024–25
- 2025–26 requisites changed (shown here)
- 2019–20 and earlier on ucalendar