Quantum 20/20

Description

This textbook for upper-level undergraduates covers the fundamentals and incorporates key themes of quantum physics. Major themes include boson condensation and fermion exclusivity, entanglement, quantum field theory, measurement precision set by quantum mechanics, and topology.

• Makes the key themes of quantum physics accessible to undergraduates
• Covers the latest developments in aLIGO and the limits of Quantum Measurement, Higgs and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, Quantum Computing and Transmons
• Well illustrated, with simple layout and clear explanations
• Balanced between theory and experiment, with useful exercises in each chapter, lending itself perfectly as a textbook

About the Author(s)

Ian R. Kenyon, Professor, Birmingham University

Ian Kenyon is an elementary particle physicist in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, UK. He took part in the discovery of the carriers of the weak force, working at CERN for three years on the design, construction, data-taking and analysis of the UA1 experiment. Earlier he designed and constructed the optics for the Northwestern University 50cm liquid helium bubble chamber. More recently he worked at the HERA electron-proton collider on the H1 experiment. He is the author of three advanced textbooks for physics undergraduates: Elementary Particle Physics, General Relativity (also translated into Japanese) and The Light Fantastic - A Modern Introduction to Classical and Quantum Optics.

Table of Contents

1:Review of basic quantum physics
2:Solutions to Schrodinger's equations
3:Quantum statistics
4:Phonons
5:Electrons in solids
6:Semiconductors
7:Transitions
8:Field quantization
9:Entanglement
10:EPR and Bell's theorem, and quantum algorithms
11:Quantum measurement
12:Cavity quantum physics
13:Symmetry and topology
14:Superfluid 4He
15:Superconductivity
16:Gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates
17:Quantum Hall effects
18:Particle physics I
19:Particle physics II
Appendices
A Vector calculus
B Mode densities
C Density matrix
D The Bloch sphere, spin-1/2, and qubits
E Perturbation theory
F RSA encryption
G The Dirac equation
H Higgs Lagrangian
I Entangled beauty and CP violation
J The Gross-Pitaevskii equation
K Kubo's Hall conductance formula

Reviews

"A highly recommended textbook for advanced university physics students. The problem sets require thinking that evolves from the chapter's content and serve as both a learning experience and an assessment of the reader's understanding of the material. I found the mathematical description and the physical insights of the text well matched and tightly linked in a synergistic manner. The text is augmented with figures (some in colour) of actual experimental data, instruments, and Feynman diagrams. I commend the author on his comprehensive and extensive development of these modern aspects of quantum mechanics." - Barry R. Masters, Formerly Visiting Scientist, MIT