Main description:
Intended for a first year graduate course in quantum mechanics, this collection of topics can also be considered as a set of self-contained ``monographs for pedestrians'' on the Mössbauer effect, many-body quantum mechanics, kaon physics, scattering theory, Feynman diagrams, symmetries and relativistic quantum mechanics.
An unusual feature of the book is the introduction of many interesting physical problems and mathematical techniques at a much earlier level than in conventional texts. This approach enables the student to see the physical implications and useful applications of quantum theory before he has mastered the formalism in detail. It provides him with new mathematical tools at an earlier stage for use in subsequent problems. It also presents the active research physicist with a ``pedestrian'' treatment of many topics without the necessity of learning the formalism.
Review quote:
... the book is ideal for instructors and students of quantum mechanics who want to get into something a little different from the "standard" topics covered in conventional textbooks.
Physics Today
Each monograph in this excellent book is introduced by a summary and ends with a problem test. The book is recommended to graduate students and research physicists looking for a pedistrian but fairly informal treatment of these topics.
Nature
Table of contents:
Preface. Polarized Photons for Pedestrians. 1. Polarized photons and quantum theory. Momentum Transfer to Bound Systems and the Mössbauer Effect. 2. The Mössbauer effect. 3. The Mössbauer effect in a solid. 4. The Mössbauer effect and momentum transfer to bound systems. Many-Particle Qauntum Mechanics for Pedestrians (Part I). 5. Identical particles and second quantization. 6. Identical composite particles and bound systems. Kaon Decay for Pedestrians. 7. Kaon decay. Scattering Theory for Pedestrians. 8. One-Dimensional Scattering in Quantum Mechanics. The Many-Body Problem for Pedestrians (Part 2). 9. The many-body problem in quantum mechanics. 10. Pairing correlation and the BCS theory. 11. Elementary excitations in many-body systems. Feynman Diagrams for Pedestrians. 12. Feynman diagrams, propagators and fields. Symmetries, Invariance and Relativistic Quantum Mechanics for Pedestrians. 13. Introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics. 14. Invariance, symmetry transformations and conservation laws. 15. The Lorentz group. Bibliography. Index.
Intended for a first year graduate course in quantum mechanics, this collection of topics can also be considered as a set of self-contained ``monographs for pedestrians'' on the Mössbauer effect, many-body quantum mechanics, kaon physics, scattering theory, Feynman diagrams, symmetries and relativistic quantum mechanics.
An unusual feature of the book is the introduction of many interesting physical problems and mathematical techniques at a much earlier level than in conventional texts. This approach enables the student to see the physical implications and useful applications of quantum theory before he has mastered the formalism in detail. It provides him with new mathematical tools at an earlier stage for use in subsequent problems. It also presents the active research physicist with a ``pedestrian'' treatment of many topics without the necessity of learning the formalism.
Review quote:
... the book is ideal for instructors and students of quantum mechanics who want to get into something a little different from the "standard" topics covered in conventional textbooks.
Physics Today
Each monograph in this excellent book is introduced by a summary and ends with a problem test. The book is recommended to graduate students and research physicists looking for a pedistrian but fairly informal treatment of these topics.
Nature
Table of contents:
Preface. Polarized Photons for Pedestrians. 1. Polarized photons and quantum theory. Momentum Transfer to Bound Systems and the Mössbauer Effect. 2. The Mössbauer effect. 3. The Mössbauer effect in a solid. 4. The Mössbauer effect and momentum transfer to bound systems. Many-Particle Qauntum Mechanics for Pedestrians (Part I). 5. Identical particles and second quantization. 6. Identical composite particles and bound systems. Kaon Decay for Pedestrians. 7. Kaon decay. Scattering Theory for Pedestrians. 8. One-Dimensional Scattering in Quantum Mechanics. The Many-Body Problem for Pedestrians (Part 2). 9. The many-body problem in quantum mechanics. 10. Pairing correlation and the BCS theory. 11. Elementary excitations in many-body systems. Feynman Diagrams for Pedestrians. 12. Feynman diagrams, propagators and fields. Symmetries, Invariance and Relativistic Quantum Mechanics for Pedestrians. 13. Introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics. 14. Invariance, symmetry transformations and conservation laws. 15. The Lorentz group. Bibliography. Index.