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Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg combines his exceptional physical insight with his gift for clear exposition to provide a concise introduction to modern quantum mechanics. Ideally suited to a one-year graduate course, this textbook is also a useful reference for researchers. Readers are introduced to the subject through a review of the history of quantum mechanics and an account of classic solutions of the Schrödinger equation, before quantum mechanics is developed in a modern Hilbert space approach. The textbook covers many topics not often found in other books on the subject, including alternatives to the Copenhagen interpretation, Bloch waves and band structure, the Wigner Eckart theorem, magic numbers, isospin symmetry, the Dirac theory of constrained canonical systems, general scattering theory, the optical theorem, the 'in-in' formalism, the Berry phase, Landau levels, entanglement and quantum computing. Problems are included at the ends of chapters, with solutions available for instructors at www.cambridge.org/9781107028722.
List of contents
Preface; Notation; 1. Historical introduction; 2. Particle states in a central potential; 3. General principles of quantum mechanics; 4. Spin; 5. Approximations for energy eigenstates; 6. Approximations for time-dependent problems; 7. Potential scattering; 8. General scattering theory; 9. The canonical formalism; 10. Charged particles in electromagnetic fields; 11. The quantum theory of radiation; 12. Entanglement; Index.
About the author
Steven Weinberg, geboren 1946, taucht seit seinem neunten Lebensjahr und hat als Meeresbiologe und Unterwasserfotograf die ganze Welt bereist. Er veröffentlichte zahlreiche Bücher über die Welt der Ozeane und ist durch seine populären Kolumnen für ein großes französisches Tauchmagazin bekannt.
Summary
In this fully updated second edition, which includes six brand new sections and major additions to existing topics, Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg demonstrates exceptional insight into modern quantum mechanics. Ideally suited to a one-year graduate course, this textbook is a useful reference for researchers and features end of chapter problems.
Report
'Weinberg's depth of insight and his grasp of the history of his subject made this a fascinating read. ... here is an author who knows his material inside out, and has the skill to present his knowledge, his experience and his opinions with enormous aplomb ... The attention to detail is excellent throughout. The mathematical derivations are complete enough, but occasionally the reader needs to pick up a pencil and paper to fill in a step or two. All chapters except the last are followed by carefully chosen problems. This is an excellent textbook for an advanced course on quantum mechanics. Its approach makes it particularly useful as a precursor to the study of quantum field theory.' A. H. Harker, Physics Today
