Introductory Quantum Mechanics: A Traditional Approach Emphasizing Connections with Classical Physics

by Paul R. Berman

Overview

This book presents a basic introduction to quantum mechanics. Depending on the choice of topics, it can be used for a one-semester or two-semester course. An attempt has been made to anticipate the conceptual problems students encounter when they first study quantum mechanics. Wherever possible, examples are given to illustrate the underlying physics associated with the mathematical equations of quantum mechanics. To this end, connections are made with corresponding phenomena in classical mechanics and electromagnetism. The problems at the end of each chapter are intended to help students master the course material and to explore more advanced topics. Many calculations exploit the extraordinary capabilities of computer programs such as Mathematica, MatLab, and Maple. Students are urged to use these programs, just as they had been urged to use calculators in the past. The treatment of various topics is rather complete, in that most steps in derivations are included. Several of the chapters go beyond what is traditionally covered in an introductory course. The goal of the presentation is to provide the students with a solid background in quantum mechanics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783319685960
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	12/27/2017
Series:	UNITEXT for Physics
Edition description:	1st ed. 2018
Pages:	637
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Paul R. Berman is a Physics Professor at the University of Michigan. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America. Among topics he is currently investigating are microscopic theories of atom-field interactions in dielectrics, spin squeezing, storing quantum information, light scattering, collective emission, and pedagogical problems in atom-field interactions.

Table of Contents

Introduction.- Mathematical Introduction.- Free Particle Schroedinger Equation - Free-Particle Wave Packets.- Schroedinger's Equation with Potential Energy: Introduction to Operators.- Postulates and Basic Elements of Quantum Mechanics: Properties of Operators.- Problems in 1-dimension: General Considerations, Infinite Well Potential, Piecewise Constant Potentials, and Delta Function Potentials.- Simple Harmonic Oscillator - One Dimension.- Problems in 2 and 3-dimensions - General Considerations.- Central Forces and Angular Momentum.- Spherically Symmetric Potentials - Radial Equation.- Dirac Notation.- Spin.- Important Basics from Phys 453.- Perturbation Theory.- Variational Approach.- WKB Approximation.- Scattering - 1-D.- Scattering - 3-D.- Symmetries and Transformations.- Rotations - Examples.- Addition of Angular Momentum: Clebsch-Gordan Coefficients.- Vector and Tensor Operators: Wigner-Eckart Theorem.- Spin-Orbit Interactions - Hydrogen Atom with Spin in External Fields.- Time-Dependent Problems.- Approximation Techniques in Time-Dependent Problems.- Fermi's Golden Rule.

Editorial Reviews

The book is based on junior and senior level undergraduate courses … . the author discusses some open conceptual problems of quantum physics and his own position with respect to them. This makes the exposition more modern and vivid. … Almost each chapter is enriched with appendices with more advanced material.” (Yana Kinderknecht, zbMATH 1394.81001, 2018)

From the Publisher