Basic Quantum Mechanics

Description

This textbook on quantum mechanics has been designed for use in two-semester undergraduate courses. It describes the basic concepts of quantum mechanics, explains the use of the mathematical formalism and provides illustrative examples of both concepts and methods. Although the aim is to enable students to master the use of quantum mechanics as a tool, the author also discusses the meaning of quantum concepts. To this end the book contains a variety of relevant examples, worked out in considerable detail, as well as a substantial number of pertinent problems and exercises. The latter will be extremely helpful, if not essential, for gaining a deep understanding and command of the subject. This book is based on the author's thirty years experience of teaching the subject. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Introduction (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 1-18 The Schroedinger Equation (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 19-30 Some Simple Systems (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 31-61 Physical Observables as Operators (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 63-83 Basic Principles of Quantum Mechanics (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 85-106 Time Evolution (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 107-120 Some More Simple Systems (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 121-159 Angular Momentum (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 161-171 Eigenstates of the Angular Momentum (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 173-182 Spin (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 183-201 Addition of Angular Momenta (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 203-215 Motion in Three Dimensions (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 217-231 Central Potentials (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 233-254 Systems of Particles (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 255-272 Atoms (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 273-295 Molecules (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 297-304 Particle Interactions with EM Fields (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 305-321 Approximation Methods (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 323-367 Symmetries (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 369-395 Scattering (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 397-439 Quantum Behavior (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 441-456 Quantization of EM Fields (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 457-470 Matter–Radiation Interaction (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 471-482 The Path Integral Formulation of QM (Kyriakos Tamvakis)....Pages 483-491 Back Matter ....Pages 493-516