Quantum Theory and Statistical Thermodynamics: Principles and Worked Examples

This textbook presents a concise yet detailed introduction to quantum physics. Concise, because it condenses the essentials to a few principles. Detailed, because these few principles – necessarily rather abstract – are illustrated by several telling examples. A fairly complete overview of the conventional quantum mechanics curriculum is the primary focus, but the huge field of statistical thermodynamics is covered as well.

The text explains why a few key discoveries shattered the prevailing...