This course introduces the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics and its physical interpretation.The goal of the course is to allow students to gain a conceptual understanding of quantum theory and to develop the necessary mathematical skills required to solve Schrodinger's equation for several standard systems.
Quantum mechanics — central not only to physics, but also to chemistry, materials science, and other fields — is notoriously abstract and difficult. This book is a concise, explanatory book that focuses on the fundamental structure, concepts, and methods of quantum mechanics, filling the gap between introductory and advanced studies, between popularizations and technical treatises. Although physical understanding is emphasized, the mathematical sophistication necessary to achieve that understanding is also developed. A modern perspective is adopted throughout, the goal being to gain entry into quantum mechanics as used by practicing scientists. This perspective includes a focus on quantum states generally, not just wavefunctions, and a strong emphasis on Dirac notation. Many standard topics are developed, such as the Schrödinger equation, quantum states, operators, and matrix mechanics. Some non-standard topics are also discussed, such as the complex nature of quantum states, and various interpretations of the uncertainty relations. Discussion of applications is limited, and focuses on elucidating the structure of quantum mechanics.
Written for a two-semester graduate course in Quantum Mechanics, this comprehensive text helps develop the tools and formalism of Quantum Mechanics and its applications to physical systems. It suits students who have taken some introductory Quantum Mechanics and Modern Physics courses at undergraduate level, but it is self-contained and does not assume any specific background knowledge beyond appropriate fluency in mathematics. The text takes a modern logical approach rather than a historical one and it covers standard material, such as the hydrogen atom and the harmonic oscillator, the WKB approximations and Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization. Important modern topics and examples are also described, including Berry phase, quantum information, complexity and chaos, decoherence and thermalization, nonstandard statistics, as well as more advanced material such as path integrals, scattering theory, multiparticles and Fock space. Readers will gain a broad overview of Quantum Mechanics, as solid preparation for further study or research.
Written for a two-semester graduate course in Quantum Mechanics, this comprehensive text helps develop the tools and formalism of Quantum Mechanics and its applications to physical systems. It suits students who have taken some introductory Quantum Mechanics and Modern Physics courses at undergraduate level, but it is self-contained and does not assume any specific background knowledge beyond appropriate fluency in mathematics. The text takes a modern logical approach rather than a historical one and it covers standard material, such as the hydrogen atom and the harmonic oscillator, the WKB approximations and Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization. Important modern topics and examples are also described, including Berry phase, quantum information, complexity and chaos, decoherence and thermalization, nonstandard statistics, as well as more advanced material such as path integrals, scattering theory, multiparticles and Fock space. Readers will gain a broad overview of Quantum Mechanics, as solid preparation for further study or research.
This book is based on notes from the course developed and taught for more than 30 years at the Department of Mathematics of Leningrad University. The goal of the course was to present the basics of quantum mechanics and its mathematical content to students in mathematics. This book differs from the majority of other textbooks on the subject in that much more attention is paid to general principles of quantum mechanics. In particular, the authors describe in detail the relation between classical and quantum mechanics. When selecting particular topics, the authors emphasize those that are related to interesting mathematical theories. In particular, the book contains a discussion of problems related to group representation theory and to scattering theory. This book is rather elementary and concise, and it does not require prerequisites beyond the standard undergraduate mathematical curriculum. It is aimed at giving a mathematically oriented student the opportunity to grasp the main points of quantum theory in a mathematical framework.
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.