Quantum mechanics demystified : [a self-teaching guide

"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."--BOOK JACKET. Read more... 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 -- 6. The mathematical structure of quantum mechanics II -- The representation of an operator -- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors -- The Hermitian conjugate of an operator -- The commutator -- Quiz -- 7. The mathematical structure of quantum mechanics III -- Change of basis and unitary transformations -- The generalized uncertainty relation -- Projection operators -- Functions of operators -- Generalization to continuous spaces -- Quiz -- 8. The foundations of quantum mechanics -- The postulates of quantum mechanics -- Spectral decomposition -- Projective measurements -- The completeness relation -- Completely specifying a state with a CSCO -- The Heisenberg versus Schrödinger pictures -- Describing composite systems in quantum mechanics -- The matrix representation of a tensor product -- The tensor product of state vectors -- The density operator -- The density operator for a completely mixed state -- A brief introduction to the Bloch vector -- Quiz -- 9. The harmonic oscillator -- The solution of the harmonic oscillator in the position representation -- The operator method for the harmonic oscillator -- Number states of the harmonic oscillator -- More on the action of the raising and lowering operators -- Quiz -- 10. Angular momentum -- The commutation relations of angular momentum -- The uncertainty relations for angular momentum -- Generalized angular momentum and the ladder operators -- Matrix representations of angular momentum -- Coordinate representation of orbital angular momentum and the spherical harmonics -- Quiz -- 11. Spin-1/2 systems -- The Stern-Gerlach experiment -- The basis states for spin-1/2 systems -- Using the ladder operators to construct Sx, Sy -- Unitary transformations for spin-1/2 systems -- The outer product representation of the spin operators -- The Pauli matrices -- The time evolution of spin-1/2 systems -- Quiz -- 12. Quantum mechanics in three dimensions -- The 2-D square well -- An overview of a particle in a central potential -- An overview of the hydrogen atom -- Quiz -- Final exam -- Answers to quiz and exam questions 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. 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. 6. The Mathematical Structure Of Quantum Mechanics Ii -- The Representation Of An Operator -- Eigenvalues And Eigenvectors -- The Hermitian Conjugate Of An Operator -- The Commutator -- Quiz -- 7. The Mathematical Structure Of Quantum Mechanics Iii -- Change Of Basis And Unitary Transformations -- The Generalized Uncertainty Relation -- Projection Operators -- Functions Of Operators -- Generalization To Continuous Spaces -- Quiz -- 8. The Foundations Of Quantum Mechanics -- The Postulates Of Quantum Mechanics -- Spectral Decomposition -- Projective Measurements -- The Completeness Relation -- Completely Specifying A State With A Csco -- The Heisenberg Versus Schrödinger Pictures -- Describing Composite Systems In Quantum Mechanics -- The Matrix Representation Of A Tensor Product -- The Tensor Product Of State Vectors -- The Density Operator -- The Density Operator For A Completely Mixed State -- A Brief Introduction To The Bloch Vector -- Quiz. 9. The Harmonic Oscillator -- The Solution Of The Harmonic Oscillator In The Position Representation -- The Operator Method For The Harmonic Oscillator -- Number States Of The Harmonic Oscillator -- More On The Action Of The Raising And Lowering Operators -- Quiz -- 10. Angular Momentum -- The Commutation Relations Of Angular Momentum -- The Uncertainty Relations For Angular Momentum -- Generalized Angular Momentum And The Ladder Operators -- Matrix Representations Of Angular Momentum -- Coordinate Representation Of Orbital Angular Momentum And The Spherical Harmonics -- Quiz -- 11. Spin-1/2 Systems -- The Stern-gerlach Experiment -- The Basis States For Spin-1/2 Systems -- Using The Ladder Operators To Construct Sx, Sy -- Unitary Transformations For Spin-1/2 Systems -- The Outer Product Representation Of The Spin Operators -- The Pauli Matrices -- The Time Evolution Of Spin-1/2 Systems -- Quiz -- 12. Quantum Mechanics In Three Dimensions -- The 2-d Square Well -- An Overview Of A Particle In A Central Potential -- An Overview Of The Hydrogen Atom -- Quiz -- Final Exam -- Answers To Quiz And Exam Questions. David Mcmahon. A Self-teaching Guide--cover. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 385) And Index. Fun format makes this complex subject easy to grasp solutions to typical problems that are explained in full detail. It is perfect for self-study or class supplement. It is great for quick review or help prepare for the Physics qualifying exam. Learn quantum mechanics at warp speed! 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. This fast and entertaining self-teaching course makes it much easier to - master serious quantum mechanics in easy-to-follow steps.This book cuts through the jargon and learn how to do quantum mechanics using worked examples. It helps reinforce learning and pinpoint weaknesses with questions at the end of each chapter and a comprehensive final exam. Learn about Schrodinger's equation, one dimensional scattering, Hilbert space, and the density operator. Find extensive explanations of spin and angular momentum, vector spaces, matrix mechanics, the harmonic oscillator, and the hydrogen atom. Perform better on qualifying or placement exams. Take a 'final exam' and grade it yourself! Clear enough for beginners, but challenging enough for those who already know something about advanced physics, "Quantum Mechanics Demystified" is the best self-teaching tool you can find! This clear, concise introduction to quantum mechanics is the perfect supplement and complement to the math-heavy texts that dominate the field. The author includes hundreds of worked examples to illustrate the processes discussed and Dirac's Method, explains how to obtain a desired result in familiar terms rather than with confusing terminology and formulas.