Quantum Mechanics, Fifth Edition

by Rae; Alastair I. M.

• ISBN13: 9781584889700
• ISBN10: 1584889705
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2007-09-19
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

For more than 25 years, Alastair Rae's Quantum Mechanics has been one of the most highly regarded textbooks in this area. From elementary atomic physics and mathematics, to angular momentum and time dependence, to relativity and quantum computing, the text shows how cutting-edge research topics of quantum mechanics have been applied to various disciplines.Retaining the clarity of its predecessors, this fifth edition presents revised and updated material throughout the text. It offers a clear exposition of fundamental ideas, additional worked examples of the application of quantum mechanics principles to a range of physical problems, and more information on modern quantum information technology. This text was one of the first to include a substantial discussion of the conceptual and philosophical implications of quantum mechanics, which has been revised and extended in the fifth edition. Other topics covered include one- and three-dimensional Schrödinger equations, angular momentum, time-independent perturbation theory, time dependence, scattering, and relativity.Cementing its reputation as an exceptional introductory textbook, Quantum Mechanics, Fifth Edition fully covers the concepts of quantum mechanics taught in an undergraduate physics course and provides the foundation necessary for other specialized courses.

Table of Contents

Preface to Fifth Edition	p. xi
Preface to Fourth Edition	p. xiii
Preface to Third Edition	p. xv
Preface to Second Edition	p. xvii
Preface to First Edition	p. xix
Introduction	p. 1
The Photoelectric Effect	p. 2
The Compton Effect	p. 3
Line Spectra and Atomic Structure	p. 5
De Broglie Waves	p. 6
Wave-Particle Duality	p. 9
The Rest of this Book	p. 12
Problems	p. 13
The one-dimensional Schrodinger equations	p. 15
The Time-Dependent Schrodinger Equation	p. 15
The Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation	p. 19
Boundary Conditions	p. 20
The Infinite Square Well	p. 21
The Finite Square Well	p. 25
Quantum Mechanical Tunnelling	p. 29
The Harmonic Oscillator	p. 36
Problems	p. 41
The three-dimensional Schrodinger equations	p. 43
The Wave Equations	p. 43
Separation in Cartesian Coordinates	p. 45
Separation in Spherical Polar Coordinates	p. 48
The Hydrogenic Atom	p. 57
Problems	p. 64
The basic postulates of quantum mechanics	p. 67
The Wave Function	p. 68
The Dynamical Variables	p. 69
Probability Distributions	p. 75
Commutation Relations	p. 81
The Uncertainty Principle	p. 84
The Time Dependence of the Wave Function	p. 89
Degeneracy	p. 91
The Harmonic Oscillator Again	p. 94
The Measurement of Momentum by Compton Scattering	p. 97
Problems	p. 100
Angular momentum I	p. 103
The Angular-Momentum Operators	p. 104
The Angular Momentum Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions	p. 105
The Experimental Measurement of Angular Momentum	p. 109
A General Solution to the Angular Momentum Eigenvalue Problem	p. 112
Problems	p. 118
Angular momentum II	p. 121
Matrix Representations	p. 121
Pauli Spin Matrices	p. 124
Spin and the Quantum Theory of Measurement	p. 127
Dirac Notation	p. 130
Spin-Orbit Coupling and the Zeeman Effect	p. 132
A More General Treatment of the Coupling of Angular Momenta	p. 140
Problems	p. 147
Time-independent perturbation theory and the variational principle	p. 149
Perturbation Theory for Nondegenerate Energy Levels	p. 150
Perturbation Theory for Degenerate Levels	p. 156
The Variational Principle	p. 166
Problems	p. 170
Time dependence	p. 173
Time-independent Hamiltonians	p. 174
The Sudden Approximation	p. 180
Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory	p. 182
Selection Rules	p. 187
The Ehrenfest Theorem	p. 191
The Ammonia Maser	p. 192
Problems	p. 195
Scattering	p. 199
Scattering in One Dimension	p. 199
Scattering in Three Dimensions	p. 205
The Born Approximation	p. 207
Partial Wave Analysis	p. 211
Problems	p. 221
Many-particle systems	p. 223
General Considerations	p. 223
Isolated Systems	p. 224
Noninteracting Particles	p. 226
Indistinguishable Particles	p. 227
Many-Particle Systems	p. 230
The Helium Atom	p. 235
Scattering of Identical Particles	p. 241
Problems	p. 242
Relativity and quantum mechanics	p. 245
Basic Results in Special Relativity	p. 245
The Dirac Equation	p. 246
Antiparticles	p. 255
Other Wave Equations	p. 257
Quantum Field Theory and the Spin-Statistics Theorem	p. 257
Problems	p. 262
Quantum information	p. 263
Quantum Cryptography	p. 264
Entanglement	p. 268
Cloning and Teleportation	p. 269
Quantum Computing	p. 274
Problems	p. 284
The conceptual problems of quantum mechanics	p. 285
The Conceptual Problems	p. 285
Hidden-Variable Theories	p. 287
Nonlocality	p. 294
The Quantum Measurement Problem	p. 305
The Ontological Problem	p. 320
Problems	p. 321
Index	p. 323
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