Density Matrix Theory and Applications

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

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2. Basic Concepts

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 1-34

3. General Density Matrix Theory

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 35-60

4. Coupled Systems

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 61-113

5. Irreducible Components of the Density Matrix

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 115-163

6. Radiation from Polarized Atoms. Quantum Beats

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 165-181

7. Some Applications

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 183-208

8. The Role of Orientation and Alignment in Molecular Processes

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 209-273

9. Quantum Theory of Relaxation

   • Karl Blum

   Pages 275-312

10. Back Matter

    Pages 313-343

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Written in a clear pedagogic style, this book deals with the application of density matrix theory to atomic and molecular physics. The aim is to precisely characterize sates by a vector and to construct general formulas and proofs of general theorems. The basic concepts and quantum mechanical fundamentals (reduced density matrices, entanglement, quantum correlations) are discussed in a comprehensive way. The discussion leads up to applications like coherence and orientation effects in atoms and molecules, decoherence and relaxation processes. This third edition has been updated and extended throughout and contains a completely new chapter exploring nonseparability and entanglement in two-particle spin-1/2 systems. The text discusses recent studies in atomic and molecular reactions. A new chapter explores nonseparability and entanglement in two-particle spin-1/2 systems.

• angular momentum theory
• coupled systems
• density matrix theory
• nonseparability and entanglement in two-particle
• orientation and alignment in molecular
• processes.
• quantum beats
• quantum theory of relaxation
• radiation from polarized atoms
• scattering and transition operators
• spin-1/2 systems
• theoretical atomic physics

From the reviews of the third edition:

“This book under review is of introductory nature being very useful and forming an effective foundation on the powerful density matrix formalism that was originally introduced by von Neumann to describe certain statistical concepts in the then (1927) fashionable quantum mechanics. … The author’s worthy efforts in bringing out the latest edition are quite commendable, as the work would definitely help much in the study and research in the atomic and molecular processes as well as interactions.” (Paninjukunnath Achuthan, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1242, 2012)

• , Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany

  Karl Blum

Karl Blum is Professor ath the University of Münster, Germany.

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