The Physics of Quantum Mechanics

Description

The Physics of Quantum Mechanics aims to give students a good understanding of how quantum mechanics describes the material world. The text stresses the continuity between the quantum world and the classical world, which is merely an approximation to the quantum world.

• Solutions manual available on request from the OUP website
• Clear, rigorous introduction to one of the central theories of physics
• Emergence of classical world from quantum world
• Modern topics such as entanglement, quantum computing
• Demonstration that QM follows naturally from use of probability amplitudes

About the Author(s)

James Binney, Head of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, and David Skinner, Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Cambridge

James Binney has degrees from the universities of Cambridge and Oxford and has studied in the Albert Ludwigs Universitaet, Freiburg i. Breisgau. After three postdoctoral years in Princeton he joined the Physics faculty at Oxford and has there taught courses ranging from first-year mathematical methods, through statistical physics, quantum mechanics, general relativity, group theory and differential geometry and physics. He researches the structure, formation and dynamics of galaxies. For this work he has received the Maxwell Medal and the Dirac Medal from the Institute of Physics, the Dirk Brouwer Award from the American Astronomical Society and the Eddington Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2000. He is joint author of Galactic Dynamics (Princeton UP 1987, 2008), Galactic Astronomy (Princeton UP 1998) and The Theory of Critical Phenomena (Oxford UP 1992).

David Skinner obtained his PhD from Oxford Physics and took postdoctoral positions in Oxford Maths, Perimeter and IAS before joining DAMTP, Cambridge. He is interested in quantum field theory, string theory and twistor theory.

Table of Contents

1:Introduction
2:Operators, measurement and time evolution
3:Oscillators
4:Transformations & Observables
5:Motion in step potentials
6:Composite systems
7:Angular Momentum
8:Hydrogen
9:Motion in a magnetic field
10:Perturbation theory
11:Helium and the periodic table
12:Adiabatic principle
13:Scattering Theory
Appendices

Reviews

This book is a deep, well-explained and beautiful text on the foundations and applications of quantum mechanics. It is eminently suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduates who wish to study the subject. Some precious jewels can be found within after building up the Dirac representation of quantum mechanics: scattering theory and condensed matter applications, for example. - Ben Allanach, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge

The extensive discussion of the physics behind the mathematical manipulations of the theory, coupled with the smooth, colloquial writing style and delightful historical footnotes makes this book somewhat unique in the field. It devotes large sections to the more modern topics of quantum computing and quantum measurement theory, which are active areas of current research. In addition, there is a copious selection of problems, at all levels of difficulty, which should prove extremely useful to anyone teaching the course. - Harold S. Zapolsky, Rutgers University

Binney and Skinners introductory book on quantum mechanics approaches the subject in a unique way ... The text is very well written for the target audience of second or third year University students in Physics, Chemistry, or certain Engineering specialties and I would highly recommend it for anyone who might be considering teaching or tutoring such a course. - Brian Todd Huffman, University of Oxford

Additional Resources

A solutions manual is available for this title. Please click here to order your copy.

A solutions manual is available for this title. Please click here to order your copy.