No label defined (Q4350163)

This is the third edition of an introductory course in quantum mechanics. It consists of two parts. The first part gives elementary principles of quantum mechanics and one-dimensional applications. The second part is devoted to three-dimensional problems. The book contains a traditional description of quantum mechanics based on a simplified mathematical background. In comparison with the older editions some new topics are included, e.g. problems in relativistic quantum mechanics. Several topics in particular with links to solid state physics are revised. In some more detail, the content of the book is the following. Part I. Short introduction to features in classical mechanics relevant for quantum mechanics, historical overview of quantum theories, postulates in quantum mechanics and mathematical tools, superposition and commutation relations, one-dimensional Schrödinger equations e.g. for the harmonic oscillator, potential barriers, and WKB-methods; Feynman-path integrals, some problems in two dimensions such as particles in two-dimensional boxes or the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Finally periodic potentials with links to solid state physics are considered. Part II. This is the advanced part of the book with more realistic models of quantum theories in three dimensions. They are based on the spectral analysis of the angular momentum operator. The following problems are explained: free particles in different coordinates, charged particles in mangetic fields, hydrogen atom, Thomas-Fermi theory, spin problems, transfer matrices. Then the theory is used for several applications in atomic and molecular physics, solid-state physics, nuclear physics, quantum statistics and relativistic problems. Besides other topics in this context it is described: the Pauli principle and the periodic table, hydrogen-like atoms, superconductivity, structure of semiconductors (density of states), Klein-Gordon and Dirac equation. Time-dependent and time-independent perturbation theory is used e.g. for the Stark effect or interactions between the atoms and radiation. Also the fundamentals of scattering theory are given. The book seems to be useful for beginners to get a first insight in quantum mechanics. The mathematics is given on a formal level. Readers interested in theoretical or mathematical physics should consult further textbooks in this field. The list of symbols and the index is very useful. Unfortunately there is no list of references. A reference is given on the page where it is cited. Some parts of the appendix may be useful for the daily work of a physicist. For instance there is a list of physical constants and equivalence relations, a list of relations in differential calculus on \(\mathbb{R}^3\), or a list of representations for the \(\delta\)-distribution.