Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:29 GMT
Close ✕
Changes and additions to the new edition of this classic textbook include a new chapter on symmetries, new problems and examples, improved explanations, more numerical problems to be worked on a computer, new applications to solid state physics, and consolidated treatment of time-dependent potentials.
Chapter 1: The Birth of Quantum Mechanics
* Historical introduction to the development of quantum mechanics, from the blackbody radiation problem to the Bohr model.
* Example: The Rutherford scattering experiment demonstrated the wave-particle duality of electrons.
Chapter 2: The Wave Function
* Introduction to the wave function, its probabilistic interpretation, and its role in describing quantum states.
* Example: The double-slit experiment illustrates the wave nature of particles and the superposition principle.
Chapter 3: Operators in Quantum Mechanics
* Definition of operators, their eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, and their application in quantum mechanics.
* Example: The momentum operator is related to the momentum of a particle and has eigenfunctions that are plane waves.
Chapter 4: The Schrödinger Equation
* Development of the Schrödinger equation, the fundamental equation governing the evolution of quantum systems.
* Example: The Schrödinger equation can be used to calculate the energy levels of the hydrogen atom.
Chapter 5: The Measurement Problem
* Discussion of the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, including the collapse of the wave function and the role of the observer.
* Example: The Stern-Gerlach experiment demonstrates the quantization of angular momentum and the probabilistic nature of quantum measurements.
Chapter 6: The Harmonic Oscillator
* Introduction to the harmonic oscillator, a model system used to study quantum phenomena, such as quantization of energy levels.
* Example: The energy levels of a vibrating molecule can be understood using the quantum harmonic oscillator model.
Chapter 7: The Hydrogen Atom
* Analysis of the hydrogen atom using quantum mechanics, including the determination of its energy levels and wave functions.
* Example: The Balmer series of spectral lines corresponds to electron transitions between energy levels in the hydrogen atom.
Chapter 8: The Pauli Exclusion Principle and Spin
* Introduction to the Pauli exclusion principle and its implications for the properties of matter.
* Example: The spin of electrons leads to the periodic structure of the elements and the Pauli exclusion principle prevents two electrons from occupying the same quantum state.
Chapter 9: Many-Particle Systems
* Discussion of quantum mechanics for systems with multiple particles, including the application of the Schrödinger equation and the use of quantum statistics.
* Example: The Bose-Einstein condensate is a unique state of matter that occurs at very low temperatures and involves the collective behavior of bosons.
Chapter 10: Quantum Information and Communication
* Introduction to the field of quantum information theory and its applications in quantum computing, cryptography, and communication.
* Example: Quantum teleportation enables the transfer of quantum states over long distances without physically transporting the particles.
