Title: Quantum mechanics demystified /
Authors: McMahon, David
Publisher: McGraw-Hill,
Year: 2006
Subjects: Quantum theory.
Abstract: "Now anyone can master the basics of quantum mechanics-without formal training, unlimited time, or a genius IQ. In Quantum Mechanics Demystified, physicist (and student-savvy author) David McMahon provides an effective and illuminating way to learn the essentials of quantum mechanics." "With Quantum Mechanics Demystified, you master the subject one step at a time-at your own speed. This unique self-teaching guide is filled with solved examples throughout, and offers problems to try at the end of each chapter to pinpoint weaknesses. A final exam serves to reinforce concepts covered in the entire book. Book jacket."--Jacket.
Contents: 1. Historical review -- Blackbody radiation and Planck's formula -- The photoelectric effect -- The Bohr theory of the atom -- de Broglie's hypothesis -- Quiz -- 2. Basic developments -- The Schrödinger equation -- Solving the Schrödinger equation -- The probability interpretation and normalization -- Expansion of the wavefunction and finding coefficients -- The phase of a wavefunction -- Operators in quantum mechanics -- Momentum and the uncertainty principle -- The conservation of probability -- Quiz -- 3. The time independent Schrödinger equation -- The free particle -- Bound states and 1-D scattering -- Parity -- Ehrenfest theorem -- Quiz -- 4. An introduction to state space -- Basic definitions -- Hilbert space definitions -- Quiz -- 5. The mathematical structure of quantum mechanics I -- Linear vector spaces -- Basis vectors -- Expanding a vector in terms of a basis -- Orthonormal sets and the Gram-Schmidt procedure -- Dirac algebra with bras and kets -- Finding the expansion coefficients I the representation of bras and kets -- Quiz.