Quantum Mechanics

An Introduction

Thomas Banks

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781482255065
• eBook ISBN: 9780429796999
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Chemistry
• Index: Chemistry

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

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Author
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Two State Systems: The Ammonia Molecule
• Chapter 3 Quantum Mechanics of a Single Particle in One-Dimensional Space I
• Chapter 4 Quantum Mechanics of a Single Particle in One-Dimensional Space II
• Chapter 5 The Harmonic Oscillator
• Chapter 6 Review of Linear Algebra and Dirac Notation
• Chapter 7 Rotation Invariance and the Hydrogen Atom
• Chapter 8 Scattering Electrons on a Nucleus
• Chapter 9 Charged Particles in a Magnetic Field
• Chapter 10 The Meaning of Quantum Measurement and the Emergence of a Classical Reality
• Chapter 11 Sketch of Atomic, Molecular, and Condensed Matter Physics
• Chapter 12 Quantum Statistical Mechanics
• Chapter 13 Perturbation Theory: Time Independent
• Chapter 14 Perturbation Theory: Time Dependent
• Chapter 15 The Adiabatic Approximation, Aharonov–Bohm, and Berry Phases
• Chapter 16 Scattering Theory
• Chapter 17 The JWKB Approximation
• Chapter 18 The Variational Principle
• Chapter 19 The Feynman Path Integral
• Chapter 20 Quantum Computation?
• Chapter 21 L’Envoi: Relativistic Quantum Field Theory
• Appendix A Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
• Appendix B The Dirac Delta Function
• Appendix C Noether’s Theorem
• Appendix D Group Theory
• Appendix E Laguerre Polynomials
• Appendix F Summary of Dirac Notation and Linear Algebra
• Appendix G Answers to Selected Problems
• Bibliography
• Index