Description
This authoritative, advanced introduction provides a complete, modern perspective on quantum mechanics. It clarifies many common misconceptions regarding wave/particle duality and the correct interpretation of measurements. The author develops the text from the ground up, starting from the fundamentals and presenting information at an elementary level, avoiding unnecessarily detailed and complex derivations in favor of simple, clear explanations. He begins in the simplest context of a two-state system and shows why quantum mechanics is inevitable, and what its relationship is to classical mechanics. He also outlines the decoherence approach to interpreting quantum mechanics.
Distinguishing features:
- Provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of quantum mechanics, including a core understanding of the behavior of atoms, molecules, solids, and light.
- Utilizes easy-to-follow examples and analogies to illustrate important concepts.
- Helps develop an intuitive sense for the field, by guiding the reader to understand how the correct formulas reduce to the non-relativistic ones.
- Includes numerous worked examples and problems for each chapter.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Two State Systems - The Ammonia Molecule
3 Quantum Mechanics of a Single Particle in One Dimensional Space I
4 Quantum Mechanics of a Single Particle in One Dimensional Space: II
5 The Harmonic Oscillator
6 Review of Linear Algebra and Dirac Notation
7 Rotation Invariance and the Hydrogen Atom
8 Scattering Electrons on a Nucleus
9 Charged Particles in a Magnetic Field
10 The Meaning of Quantum Measurement and the Emergence of a Classical Reality
11 Sketch of Atomic, Molecular and Condensed Matter Physics
12 Quantum Statistical Mechanics
13 Perturbation Theory: Time Independent
14 Perturbation Theory: Time Dependent
15 The Adiabatic Approximation, Aharonov-Bohm and Berry Phases
16 Scattering Theory
17 The JWKB Approximation
18 The Variational Principle
19 The Feynman Path Integral
20 Quantum Computation?
21 L' Envoi : Relativistic Quantum Field Theory
22 Appendix A: Interpretations of QM
23 Appendix B : The Dirac Delta Function
24 Appendix C - Noether's Theorem
25 Appendix D : Group Theory
26 Appendix E: Laguerre Polynomials
27 Appendix F: Summary of Dirac Notation and Linear Algebra
28 Answers to Selected Problems
