Quantum Mechanics for Pedestrians 2: Applications and Extensions

Description

This book, the second in a two-volume set, provides an introduction to the basics of (mainly) non-relativistic quantum mechanics. While the first volume addresses the basic principles, this second volume discusses applications and extensions to more complex problems. In addition to topics dealt with in traditional quantum mechanics texts, such as symmetries or many-body problems, it also treats issues of current interest such as entanglement, Bell’s inequality, decoherence and various aspects of quantum information in detail. Furthermore, questions concerning the basis of quantum mechanics and epistemological issues which are relevant e.g. to the realism debate are discussed explicitly. A chapter on the interpretations of quantum mechanics rounds out the book. Readers are introduced to the requisite mathematical tools step by step. In the appendix, the most relevant mathematics is compiled in compact form, and more advanced topics such as the Lenz vector, Hardy’s experiment and Shor’s algorithm are treated in more detail. As an essential aid to learning and teaching, 130 exercises are included, most of them with solutions. This revised second edition is expanded by an introduction into some ideas and problems of relativistic quantum mechanics. In this second volume, an overview of quantum field theory is given and basic conceptions of quantum electrodynamics are treated in some detail. Originally written as a course for students of science education, the book addresses all those science students and others who are looking for a reasonably simple, fresh and modern introduction to the field. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxiii Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 One-Dimensional Piecewise-Constant Potentials (Jochen Pade)....Pages 3-28 Angular Momentum (Jochen Pade)....Pages 29-42 The Hydrogen Atom (Jochen Pade)....Pages 43-54 The Harmonic Oscillator (Jochen Pade)....Pages 55-64 Perturbation Theory (Jochen Pade)....Pages 65-77 Entanglement, EPR, Bell (Jochen Pade)....Pages 79-98 Symmetries and Conservation Laws (Jochen Pade)....Pages 99-115 The Density Operator (Jochen Pade)....Pages 117-130 Identical Particles (Jochen Pade)....Pages 131-148 Decoherence (Jochen Pade)....Pages 149-167 Scattering (Jochen Pade)....Pages 169-181 Quantum Information (Jochen Pade)....Pages 183-202 Is Quantum Mechanics Complete? (Jochen Pade)....Pages 203-217 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics (Jochen Pade)....Pages 219-233 Back Matter ....Pages 235-586