Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications

QUANTUM MECHANICS

An innovative approach to quantum mechanics that seamlessly combines textbook and problem-solving book into one

Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications provides an in-depth treatment of this fundamental theory, combining detailed formalism with straightforward practice. Thoroughly integrating close to seven hundred examples, solved problems, and exercises into a well-structured and comprehensive work, this textbook offers instructors a pedagogically sound teaching tool, students a clear, balanced and modern approach to the subject, and researchers a quick practical guide. The extensive list of fully solved examples and problems have been carefully designed to guide and enable users of the book to become proficient practitioners of quantum mechanics.

The text begins with a thorough description of the origins of quantum physics before discussing the mathematical tools required in the field and the postulates upon which it is founded. Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications is broad in scope, covering such aspects as one-dimensional and three- dimensional potentials, angular momentum, rotations and addition of angular momenta, identical particles, time-independent and -dependent approximation methods, scattering theory, relativistic quantum mechanics, and classical field theory among others. Each of these diverse areas are enhanced with a rich collection of illustrative examples and fully-solved problems to ensure complete understanding of this complex topic.

Readers of the third edition of Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications will also find:

• Two new chapters — one dealing with relativistic quantum mechanics and the other with the Lagrangian derivations of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations — and three new appendices to support them
• About 90 solved examples integrated throughout the text that are intended to illustrate individual concepts within a broader topic
• About 200 fully-solved, multi-step problems at the end of each chapter that integrate multiple concepts introduced throughout the chapter
• More than 400 unsolved exercises that may be used to practice the ideas presented

A Solutions Manual is available from the author, Prof. Nouredine Zettili, nzettili@jsu.edu, only to those instructors adopting the book, on request, offering detailed solutions to all exercises.

Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications is a comprehensive textbook which is most useful to senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students seeking mastery of the field, as well as to researchers in need of a quick, practical reference for the various techniques necessary for optimal performance in the subject.

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ISBN-13: 9781118307892

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Wiley

Publication Date: 09-13-2022

Pages: 1024

Product Dimensions: 7.20(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.60(d)

Nouredine Zettili, PhD, is Professor of Physics at Jacksonville State University, Alabama, USA. He received his MS and PhD in theoretical nuclear physics from MIT. His research interests include nuclear theory, the many-body problem, quantum mechanics, and mathematical physics.

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What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The strength of the book lies in the long list of problems and the detailed solutions that makes the book student-oriented, especially, undergraduates. Teachers of the subject can benefit from the end-of-chapter exercises for assignments." (Contemporary Physics, 11 July 2011)

"The book contains almost six hundred examples, problems and exercises, some of them fully solved. They are intended to empower students to become independent learners and adept practitioners of quantummechanics." (Mathematical Reviews, July 2010)

“Zettili provides a second edition of this textbook on quantum mechanics. The material is suitable for two undergraduate semesters and one graduate level semester.” ( Book News, September 2009)

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Table of Contents

Preface.
Origins of Quantum Physics.
Historical Note.
Particle Aspect of Radiation.
Wave Aspect of Particles.
Particles versus Waves.
Indeterminacy of the Microphysical World.
Atomic Transitions and Spectroscopy.
Wave Packets.
Concluding Remarks.
Solved problems.
Exercises.
Mathematical Tools of Quantum Mechanics.
Introduction.
The Hilbert Space and Wave Functions.
Dirac Notations.
Operators.
Representation in Discrete Bases.
Representation in Continuous Bases.
Matrix and Wave Mechanics.
Concluding Remarks.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
Postulates of Quantum Mechanics.
Introduction.
The Basic Postulates of Quantum Mechanics.
The State of a System.
Observables and Operators.
Measurement in Quantum Mechanics.
Time Evolution of the System's State.
Symmetries and Conservation Laws.
Connecting Quantum to Classical Mechanics.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
One-Dimensional Problems.
Introduction.
Properties of One-Dimensional Motion.
The Free Particle: Continuous States.
The Potential Step.
The Potential Barrier and Well.
The Infinite Square Well Potential.
the Finite Square Well Potential.
The Harmonic Oscillator.
Numerical Solution of the Schro dinger Equation.
Solved Problems.
Problems.
Angular Momentum.
Introduction.
Orbital Angular Momentum.
General Formalism of Angular Momentum.
Matrix Representation of Angular Momentum.
Geometrical Representation of Angular.
Momentum.
Spin Angular Momentum.
Eigenfunctions of Orbital Angular Momentum.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
Three-Dimensional Problems.
Introduction.
3D Problems inCartesian Coordinates.
3D Problems in Spherical Coordinates.
Concluding Remarks.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
Rotations and Addition of Angular Momenta.
Rotations in Classical Physics.
Rotations in Quantum Mechanics.
Addition of Angular Momenta.
Scalar, Vector and Tensor Operators.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
Identical Particles.
Many-Particle Systems.
Systems of Identical Particles.
The Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Solved Problems.
Problems.
Approximation Methods for Stationary States.
Introduction.
Time-Independent Perturbation Theory.
The Variational Method.
The Wentzel Kramers Brillouin Method.
Concluding Remarks.
Solved Problems.
Problems.
Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory.
Introduction.
The Pictures of Quantum Mechanics.
Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory.
Adiabatic and Sudden Approximations.
Interaction of Atoms with Radiation.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
Scattering Theory.
Scattering and Cross Section.
The Scattering Amplitude of Spinless Particles.
The Born Approximation.
Partial Wave Analysis.
Scattering of Indentical Particles.
Solved Problems.
Exercises.
The Delta Function.
One-Dimensional Delta Function.
Three-Dimensional Delta Function.
Angular Momentum in Spherical Coordinates.
Computer Code for Solving the Schro dinger.
Equation.
Index. Show More