Quantum Mechanics: An Introduction, Third Edition
Walter GreinerThe text is divided into five volumes: Quantum Mechanics I - An Introduction, Quantum Mechanics II - Symmetries, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Electrodynamics, Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions. These five volumes take the reader from the fundamental postulates of quantum mechanics up to the latest research in particle physics. Volume 1, Quantum Mechanics I - An Introduction, lays the foundation for the rest of the course. Starting from black-body radiation, the photo-electric effect and wave-particle duality, Greiner goes on to discuss the uncertainty relations, spin and many-body systems, then discusses applications to the hydrogen atom and the Stern-Gerlach and Einstein-de Haas experiments. The mathematics of representation theory, S-matrices, perturbation theory, eigenvalues and hypergeometric differential equations are presented in detail, with 84 fully and carefully worked examples and exercises to consolidate the material. Volume 2 presents a particularly appealing and successful theme in advanced quantum mechanics - symmetries. After a brief introduction to symmetries in classical mechanics, the text turns to their relevance in quantum mechanics, the consequences of rotation symmetry and the general theory of Lie groups. The Isospin group, hypercharge, SU (3) and their applications are all dealt with in depth before a chapter on charm and SU (3) leads to the frontiers of research in particle physics. Almost a hundred detailed, worked examples and problems make this a truly unique text on a fascinating side of modern physics.