Classical dynamics and its quantum analogues (Q1142048): Difference between revisions

The book treats classical mechanics in detail, and also some topics in quantum mechanics with the aim of showing similarities between both theories. It is written in the physicist's style, including many computational details, but it is neither mathematically rigorous nor does it use modern mathematical concepts. With respect to classical mechanics, the book is fairly self-contained, including most of the conventional topics, often with more details than in standard textbooks. However, the reader is supposed to have a basic knowledge of classical mechanics. The discussions of classical mechanics and quantum mechanics are interwoven; especially, the book starts with an elementary description of classical approximation. The reader should have much more prior knowledge of quantum mechanics to profit from the discussion of the latter. For example, transition between the Schrödinger and Heisenberg picture, and the problems concerned with measurements and probabilistic interpretation are not even mentioned. Despite of the title, the analogy between classical and quantum systems is not carried very far; especially, there is no comparison of examples. Each subsection is concluded with problems, 387 in total number, which partly are very difficult. The following topics in classical mechanics are treated: Oscillating systems are discussed in detail, including enharmonic ones and normal coordinates of coupled systems, but dissipative forces are not considered. The Lagrange equations using generalized coordinates are derived, but constraints are not explicitly treated. The variational principles of Hamilton and Maupertuis are discussed. Hamilton's equations (including the description of charged particles in electromagnetic fields), canonical transformations and Poisson brackets are studied. The Hamilton-Jacobi equation is investigated in considerable detail. Strategies for finding solutions are discussed. Classical perturbation theory is treated. One of the recurrent examples is planetary motion. The non-relativistic Kepler problem is examined in detail. Further, deviations of the force law, the special and general relativistic case, and perturbations by another planet are investigated, including numerical results. In a comparatively short manner, the rigid body is treated, studying Eder's equations and the precession of the axis of the Earth. Also, a brief discussion of some continuous systems is given, considering mainly the example of a string with fixed ends. Four descriptions are given, namely in Lagrangian or Hamiltonian form, and referring to the position function of the string or to its Fourier decomposition. In quantum mechanics, the following topics are treated: Unitary and hermitian operators are discussed parallel to canonical transformations and their infinitesimal versions. The relation of Poisson brackets to quantum mechanical commutators is given, showing that in general the correspondence is not exact. Quantum mechanical perturbation theory is treated parallel to the classical one. It is briefly sketched how Feynman path integrals lead to the Schrödinger equation. Schrödinger's variational principle is given. The quantum theory of rigid bodies (including an introduction to spinors) is treated parallel to the classical one. (Quasi) classical approximations are studied in detail. Ehrenfest's theorem is proven, and the Hamilton-Jacobi equation is shown to arise from the Schrödinger equation. Geometrical optics as the analogous approximation to wave optics is treated in parallel. Fermat's principle is discussed, and ray optics in a gravitational field is sketched. The historical development of quantum mechanics is investigated. In particular, the ``old quantum theory'' is treated, i.e. the theory centered around Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization conditions. It is described how Heisenberg's matrix mechanics arose from the former theory.