Although there are many textbooks that deal with the formal apparatus of quantum mechanics (QM) and its application to standard problems, none take into account the developments in the foundations of the subject which have taken place in the last few decades. There are specialized treatises on various aspects of the foundations of QM, but none that integrate those topics with the standard material. This book aims to remove that unfortunate dichotomy, which has divorced the practical aspects of the subject from the interpretation and broader implications of the theory.The book is intended primarily as a graduate level textbook, but it will also be of interest to physicists and philosophers who study the foundations of QM. Parts of it could be used by senior undergraduates too.
Although there are many textbooks that deal with the formal apparatus of quantum mechanics (QM) and its application to standard problems, none take into account the developments in the foundations of the subject which have taken place in the last few decades. There are specialized treatises on various aspects of the foundations of QM, but none that integrate those topics with the standard material. This book aims to remove that unfortunate dichotomy, which has divorced the practical aspects of the subject from the interpretation and broader implications of the theory.The book is intended primarily as a graduate level textbook, but it will also be of interest to physicists and philosophers who study the foundations of QM. Parts of it could be used by senior undergraduates too.
Offering a detailed account of the key concepts and mathematical apparatus of quantum mechanics, this textbook is an ideal companion to both undergraduate and graduate courses. The formal and practical aspects of the subject are explained clearly alongside examples of modern applications, providing students with the tools required to thoroughly understand the theory and apply it. The authors provide an intuitive conceptual framework that is grounded in a coherent physical explanation of quantum phenomena, established over decades of teaching and research in quantum mechanics and its foundations. The book's educational value is enhanced by the inclusion of examples and exercises, with solutions available online, and an extensive bibliography is provided. Notes throughout the text provide fascinating context on the tumultuous history of quantum mechanics, the people that developed it, and the questions that still remain at its center. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
This book presents the basic concepts and methods of quantum mechanics for upper level undergraduate students, allowing them to master its application to real physical situations. A postulate-based treatment is adopted together with a gradual development of the quantum formalism of wave functions, operators, measurement and temporal evolution. Standard topics of one-dimensional and atomic motion, angular momentum and approximation methods are presented in addition to detailed discussions of many-particle systems, atomic and nuclear radiation. Appropriate mathematical tools and techniques are provided wherever necessary. The core text is supplemented by 77 worked examples, some of which address more complex issues and aspects of present-day research. The aim is to make this textbook a realistic introduction to more advanced and specialized texts. The material provides full coverage of the subject matter, 94 problems with solutions and a further 93 with answers only
The background for this book was a shift of interest among experimental physicists that began approximately 20 years ago. The shift was from quantum measurements on large ensembles of microscopic quantum objects, to experiments of very high precision on single, macroscopic objects. This shift was accompanied by developments in the “culture” of such measurements and the invention and elaboration of new experimental methods. In parallel with these experimental developments, there was a noticeable increase of theoretical interest in the foundations and interpretation of quantum theory, and even in attempts to revise its foundational principles. Although these efforts have not produced any significant changes in the fundamental structure of quantum theory, they have revealed a rather large number of “blank spots” and unsolved problems, to which the founders of quantum physics had paid no attention. A reasonable number of the blank spots have been filled in during the past decade. The reader has probably noticed that this book can be divided into two parts. In the first (chapters I―VII and XI), the authors have tried to present the modern approach to the quantum theory of measurement. This part can be regarded as a tutorial appendix to textbooks for advanced undergraduate or graduate-level courses in quantum mechanics, where little attention is usually paid to measurement theory.
The ideal text for a two-semester graduate course on quantum mechanics. Fresh, comprehensive, and clear, it strikes the optimal balance between covering traditional material and exploring contemporary topics. Focusing on the probabilistic structure of quantum mechanics and the central role of symmetries to unify principles, this textbook guides readers through the logical development of the theory. Students will also learn about the more exciting and controversial aspects of quantum theory, with discussions on past interpretations and the current debates on cutting-edge concepts such as quantum information and entanglement, open quantum systems, and quantum measurement theory. The book has two types of content: Type A material is more elementary and is fully self-contained, functioning like a separate book within the book, while Type B content is at the level of a graduate course. Requiring minimal physics background, this textbook is appropriate for mathematics and engineering students, in addition to physicists. Introducing cutting-edge topics in the field, the book features about 150 concept-checking questions, 300 homework problems and a solutions manual.
The topics of this book are the mathematical foundations of non-relativistic quantum mechanics and the mathematical theory they require. The main characteristic of the book is that the mathematics is developed assuming familiarity with elementary analysis only. Moreover, all the proofs are carried out in detail. These features make the book easily accessible to readers with only the mathematical training offered by undergraduate education in mathematics or in physics, and also ideal for individual study. The principles of quantum mechanics are discussed with complete mathematical accuracy and an effort is made to always trace them back to the experimental reality that lies at their root. The treatment of quantum mechanics is axiomatic, with definitions followed by propositions proved in a mathematical fashion. No previous knowledge of quantum mechanics is required. This book is designed so that parts of it can be easily used for various courses in mathematics and mathematical physics, as suggested in the Preface. The book is of interest to researchers and graduate students in functional analysis, who can see how closely an important part of their chosen field is linked with quantum mechanics, and also to physicists, who can see how the abstract language of functional analysis brings unity to the apparently distinct approaches employed in quantum theory.
This collection of solved problems corresponds to the standard topics covered in established undergraduate and graduate courses in Quantum Mechanics. Problems are also included on topics of interest which are often absent in the existing literature. Solutions are presented in considerable detail, to enable students to follow each step. The emphasis is on stressing the principles and methods used, allowing students to master new ways of thinking and problem-solving techniques. The problems themselves are longer than those usually encountered in textbooks and consist of a number of questions based around a central theme, highlighting properties and concepts of interest. For undergraduate and graduate students, as well as those involved in teaching Quantum Mechanics, the book can be used as a supplementary text or as an independent self-study tool.