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This edition differs from the second chiefly in the addition of about tOO pages devoted to the quantum (or geometric, or Berry) phase, a subject that did not exist when this book was written. The changes in the remainder of the book consist of corrections of a small number of misprints. While it may seem that adding two chapters on the quantum phase is overemphasizing a currently fashionable subject, they actually complete the development of quantum theory as given in this book. We start with simple models, synthesizing them into complicated "molecules." With the new chap ters, we end with complicated "molecules," dividing them into simpler parts. This process of dividing a complex system into parts quite naturally gives rise to a gauge theory, of which the geometric phase is a manifestation - with consequences not only in theory, but observable in experiments. For this rea son, the geometric phase is not a mere fashion, but a discovery that will retain its importance forever and must be discussed in textbooks on quantum mechanics. I would like to acknowledge help and advice from Mark Loewe with the writing and also of the new part of the book. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to J. Anandan, M. Berry, and C.A. Mead, who have read parts or all of the new material and have provided valuable advice.
List of contents
I Mathematical Preliminaries.- II Foundations of Quantum Mechanics-The Harmonic Oscillator.- III Energy Spectra of Some Molecules.- IV Complete Systems of Commuting Observables.- V Addition of Angular Momenta-The Wigner-Eckart Theorem.- VI Hydrogen Atom-The Quantum-Mechanical Kepler Problem.- VII Alkali Atoms and the Schrödinger Equation of One-Electron Atoms.- VIII Perturbation Theory.- IX Electron Spin.- X Indistinguishable Particles.- XI Two-Electron Systems-The Helium Atom.- XII Time Evolution.- XIII Some Fundamental Properties of Quantum Mechanics.- XIV Transitions in Quantum Physical Systems-Cross Section.- XV Formal Scattering Theory and Other Theoretical Considerations.- XVI Elastic and Inelastic Scattering for Spherically Symmetric Interactions.- XVII Free and Exact Radial Wave Functions.- XVIII Resonance Phenomena.- XIX Time Reversal.- XX Resonances in Multichannel Systems.- XXI The Decay of Unstable Physical Systems.- XXII Quantal Phase Factors and Their Consequences.- XXIII A Quantum Physical System in a Quantum Environment-The Gauge Theory of Molecular Physics.- Epilogue.
Summary
This edition differs from the second chiefly in the addition of about tOO pages devoted to the quantum (or geometric, or Berry) phase, a subject that did not exist when this book was written.
Report
From the reviews of the third edition:
"The book is the third edition of a text first published in 1979. The subsequent editions, and in particular, this edition itself, has now become popular. In our opinion this book will be most useful for the students who have finished a usual university quantum mechanics course, and now want research in atomics and molecular physics. ... This book is a very clearly written advanced quantum mechanics text stressing atomic molecular, and to some extent, nuclear physics topics to illustrate the formal structure." (S S Bhattacharyya, Indian Journal of Physics, Vol. 78 (12), 2004)
"This is a successful book on quantum mechanics which is intended to be both a textbook for graduate students and a handbook for research workers. ... All that needs to be said is that if anyone reading this review is unaware of the book, one should have a good look at it in one's library and in the unlikely event of it not being in the library either, one should request the librarian to get a copy." (Chandra Shekhar Sharma, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 995 (20), 2002)
