Quantum Mechanics: A New Introduction

Peter Enders

The Introduction provides the reader with a more detailed overview over the goal and the approach of this book, including the new features against previous publications. Special attention is paid to the importance of notions and to the relationship between classical and quantum mechanics. Another key topic is Schrödinger’s forgotten 1926 requirements to any path from classical to quantum mechanics. The approach of this book fulfills all four of them, and this will help to overcome several difficulties of interpretation. Mittelstaedt’s “reconstruction” of quantum mechanics is discussed in some detail, because there are several similarities to that approach. The Introduction concludes with the key lines along which this book is organized.

John G. Taylor

Yakir Aharonov

After a general introduction, some new developments on the more subtle predictions of Quantum Mechanics and their interpretation will be discussed. These include non-local topological effects, physics of pre- and post-selected quantum systems, and the question of observability of the Schrödinger wave itself.

Ashok Das, Adrian C. Melissinos

Duncan G. Steel

Abstract This is an introduction to the field, providing a brief discussion of why quantum physics is creating new opportunities in modern technology. Quantum has always been a part of the discussion on the behavior of semiconductors for transistors. But the measurements were on classical parameters. Now measurements are being made on quantum mechanical observables. This means that one of the most important features of quantum mechanics, namely the principle of superposition can be used to create entirely new devices. It is the principle of superposition, where a switch can be on and off at the same in a quantum system, that leads to amazing results of quantum entanglement of observables. The chapter sets the stage for the student to learn that the usual way of thinking about things in the classical world, such as the charge on a capacitor as a function of time, is no longer viable in a quantum system.