Overview

The aim of this book is to explain the basic concepts and phenomena of quantum mechanics by means of visualisation. Computer-generated illustrations in color are used extensively throughout the text, helping to establish the relation between quantum mechanics—wave functions, interference, atomic structure, and so forth—and classical physics—point mechanics, statistical mechanics, and wave optics. Even more important, by studying the pictures in parallel with the text, readers develop an intuition for such notoriously abstract phenomena as: the tunnel effect  excitation and decay of metastable states  wave-packet motion within a well  systems of distinguishable and indistinguishable particles  free wave packets and scattering in 3 dimensions  angular-momentum decomposition  stationary bound states in various 3-dimensional potentials  hybrid states  Kepler motion of wave packets in the Coulomb field  spin and magnetic resonance  Illustrations from experiments in a variety of fields, including chemistry, and molecular, atomic, nuclear, and particle physics, underline the basic as well as the practical importance of quantum mechanics. In the present, fourth edition all computer graphics are presented in full colour. It also contains additional physics topics such as hybridisation.

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9781493936953

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Reviews

From the reviews of the fourth edition: “This book is aimed at beginners in quantum mechanics who want to gain some insight into the various physical phenomena which happen at the (sub)atomic scale, and for which no daily experience is available. It will serve as a good complement to standard textbooks of quantum mechanics since it contains many carefully produced pictures to illustrate the fundamental concepts and ideas from quantum physics––highlighting in particular how the concepts and predictions of classical mechanics are altered and supplemented by wavelike behaviors.” (Gabriel Stoltz, Mathematical Reviews, May, 2013)

From the reviews of the fourth edition: This book is aimed at beginners in quantum mechanics who want to gain some insight into the various physical phenomena which happen at the (sub)atomic scale, and for which no daily experience is available. It will serve as a good complement to standard textbooks of quantum mechanics since it contains many carefully produced pictures to illustrate the fundamental concepts and ideas from quantum physics--highlighting in particular how the concepts and predictions of classical mechanics are altered and supplemented by wavelike behaviors. (Gabriel Stoltz, Mathematical Reviews, May, 2013)

Author Information

Siegmund Brandt is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Siegen, Germany.  Dr. Hans Dieter Dahmen is Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics at the University of Siegen, Germany.

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