The Physics of Quantum Mechanics

The Physics of Quantum Mechanics aims to give students a good understanding of how quantum mechanics describes the material world. It shows that the theory follows naturally from the use of probability amplitudes to derive probabilities. It stresses that stationary states are unphysical mathematical abstractions that enable us to solve the theory's governing equation, the time-dependent Schroedinger equation. Every opportunity is taken to illustrate the emergence of the familiar classical, dynamical world through the quantum interference of stationary states. The text stresses the continuity between the quantum world and the classical world, which is merely an approximation to the quantum world. The connections between observables, operators and transformations are clearly explained and the standard commutation rules derived from the properties of spacetime. A chapter is devoted to entanglement, quantum computation, density operators and their role in thermodynamics, and the measurement problem. Scattering phenomena, including the origin of radioactivity, are handled early on in the accessible context of one dimension, and at the end of the book with some rigour in three dimensions. Hydrogen and helium are discussed in some detail and it is shown that quantum mechanics enables us to understand the structure of the periodic table without engaging with the complexities of many-electron atoms. Dirac notation is used from the outset and students are trained to move easily from one representation to another, choosing whichever representation is best suited to a particular problem. The mathematical prerequisites are no more than simple vector algebra, Taylor series expansion and the use of integrating factors to solve linear first order differential equations. Rigorous algebraic methods are preferred to the solution of partial differential equations. "Binney and Skinner's introductory book on quantum mechanics approaches the subject in a unique way, starting from the matrix representation of quantum physics rather than using the more traditional representation using differential equations. They show many problems that can be tackled using both representations and put them in such a text side-by-side. 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 Oxford1. 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