The physics of quantum mechanics

Publication date 5 September 2013

adiabatic theorem angular momentum harmonic oscillator hydrogen atom perturbation theory scattering theory Schrödinger equation spin step potentials

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Physics (00A79) Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to quantum theory (81-01) Foundations, quantum information and its processing, quantum axioms, and philosophy (81Pxx) General mathematical topics and methods in quantum theory (81Qxx) Groups and algebras in quantum theory (81Rxx) Quantum scattering theory (81Uxx)

Review text

This textbook has originated from lectures given by the authors. It starts with a historical sketch and introduces fundamental notions. The second chapter then discusses the necessary mathematical basics such as operators and the Schrödinger equation. It is followed by a chapter on the harmonic oscillator, which also introduces creation and annihilation operators. The fourth chapter treats the relation between symmetries and conservation laws and also provides reflections on the essence of quantum mechanics. It is followed by many examples of 1-dimensional step potentials. The chapter on composite systems briefly introduces entanglement and discusses the Bell inequalities. Its section on quantum computing is unfortunately too brief and may only serve as an appetizer. The best-covered chapter of the book is that on angular momentum, which from scratch develops the algebra, discusses the difference between orbital angular momentum and spin, introduces the spherical harmonics and applies the theory to the three-dimensional harmonic oscillator. It closes by a discussion on the combination of angular momenta. Afterwards, the hydrogen atom and motion in a magnetic field are treated in detail. A whole chapter is devoted to perturbation theory: Its stationary variant is applied to discuss some well-known phenomenology such as the linear and quadratic Stark effects, Paschen-Back effect and Zeeman effect. The time-dependent variant is used to discuss e.g. Fermi's Golden Rule. This chapter also contains some notes on the variational principle. The eleventh chapter works its way along the periodic table, introducing the statistics of identical particle and discussing the gross structure of helium in detail. In addition, it provides longer discussions on heavier elements. The adiabatic theorem is derived afterwards and briefly related to thermodynamics. The book closes with a chapter on scattering theory in three dimensions, discussing the scattering operator, the S-matrix, cross sections, partial wave expansions and applications of these tools. It is also equipped with an appendix and a very complete index.NEWLINENEWLINE Overall, the work makes a very solid appearance -- at an affordable price -- with the tremendous experience of the authors densely packed on 400 pages. With its over 200 problems (solutions to the harder ones are available online) it is well suited as an introductory textbook to quantum mechanics for undergraduate and graduate students. Its detailed index also renders it a useful reference. A great strength of the book is that almost everything is related to experimental evidence and phenomenology, yet keeping the formal correctness. A slight drawback is that rather modern developments are only touched briefly, and that a link to open quantum systems is missing.

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