Bookstore

This new edition of the unrivalled textbook introduces the fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics such as waves, particles and probability before explaining the postulates of quantum mechanics in detail. In the proven didactic manner, the textbook then covers the classical scope of introductory quantum mechanics, namely simple two-level systems, the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, the quantized angular momentum and particles in a central potential. The entire book has been revised to take into account new developments in quantum mechanics curricula.



The textbook retains its typical style also in the new edition: it explains the fundamental concepts in chapters which are elaborated in accompanying complements that provide more detailed discussions, examples and applications.



* The quantum mechanics classic in a new edition: written by 1997 Nobel laureate Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and his colleagues Bernard Diu and Franck Laloe

* As easily comprehensible as possible: all steps of the physical background and its mathematical representation are spelled out explicitly

* Comprehensive: in addition to the fundamentals themselves, the book contains more than 350 worked examples plus exercises



Claude Cohen-Tannoudji was a researcher at the Kastler-Brossel laboratory of the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris where he also studied and received his PhD in 1962. In 1973 he became Professor of atomic and molecular physics at the College des France. His main research interests were optical pumping, quantum optics and atom-photon interactions. In 1997, Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, together with Steven Chu and William D. Phillips, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research on laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms.



Bernard Diu was Professor at the Denis Diderot University (Paris VII). He was engaged in research at the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics and High Energy where his focus was on strong interactions physics and statistical mechanics.



Franck Laloe was a researcher at the Kastler-Brossel laboratory of the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris. His first assignment was with the University of Paris VI before he was appointed to the CNRS, the French National Research Center. His research was focused on optical pumping, statistical mechanics of quantum gases, musical acoustics and the foundations of quantum mechanics.

Quantum Mechanics 2e - Volume I: Basic Concepts, Tools, and Applications

WAVES AND PARTICLES: INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS



Electromagnetic Waves and Photons



Material Particles and Matter Waves



Quantum Description of a Particle;



Wave Packets



Particle in a Time-Independent Scalar Potential



Complements



THE MATHEMATICAL TOOLS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS



One-Particle Wave Function Space



State Space. Dirac Notation



Representations in the State Space



Eigenvalue Equations. Observables



Two Important Examples of Representations and Observables



Tensor Product of State Spaces



Complements



THE POSTULATES OF QUANTUM MECHANICS



Introduction



Statement of the Postulates



The Physical Interpretation of the Postulates



The Physical Implications of the Schroedinger Equation



The Superposition Principle and Physical Predictions



Complements



APPLICATION OF THE POSTULATES TO SIMPLE CASES: TWO LEVEL SYSTEMS AND SPIN 1/2 SYSTEMS



Spin 1/2 Particle: Quantization of the Angular Momentum



Illustration of the Postulates in the Case of a Spin 1/2



General Study of Two-Level Systems



Complements



THE ONE DIMENSIONAL HARMONIC OSCILLATOR



Introduction



Eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian



Eigenstates of the Hamiltonian



Complements



GENERAL PROPERTIES OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM IN QUANTUM MECHANICS



Introduction: The Importance of Angular Momentum



Commutation Relations Characteristic of Angular Momentum



General Theory of Angular Momentum



Application to Orbital Angular Momentum



Complements



PARTICLES IN A CENTRAL POTENTIAL. THE HYDROGEN ATOM



Stationary States of a Particle in a Central Potential



Motion of the Center of Mass and Relative Motion for a System of Two Interacting Particles



The Hydrogen Atom



Complements