Basic Quantum Mechanics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 1-18

3. The Schroedinger Equation

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 19-30

4. Some Simple Systems

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 31-61

5. Physical Observables as Operators

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 63-83

6. Basic Principles of Quantum Mechanics

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 85-106

7. Time Evolution

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 107-120

8. Some More Simple Systems

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 121-159

9. Angular Momentum

   • Kyriakos Tamvakis

   Pages 161-171

10. Eigenstates of the Angular Momentum

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 173-182

11. Spin

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 183-201

12. Addition of Angular Momenta

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 203-215

13. Motion in Three Dimensions

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 217-231

14. Central Potentials

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 233-254

15. Systems of Particles

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 255-272

16. Atoms

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 273-295

17. Molecules

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 297-304

18. Particle Interactions with EM Fields

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 305-321

19. Approximation Methods

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 323-367

20. Symmetries

    • Kyriakos Tamvakis

    Pages 369-395

This textbook on quantum mechanics has been designed for use in two-semester undergraduate courses. It describes the basic concepts of quantum mechanics, explains the use of the mathematical formalism and provides illustrative examples of both concepts and methods. Although the aim is to enable students to master the use of quantum mechanics as a tool, the author also discusses the meaning of quantum concepts. To this end the book contains a variety of relevant examples, worked out in considerable detail, as well as a substantial number of pertinent problems and exercises. The latter will be extremely helpful, if not essential, for gaining a deep understanding and command of the subject. This book is based on the author's thirty years experience of teaching the subject.

• textbook quantum mechanics
• textbook QM
• textbook quantum physics
• Schroedinger equation
• Hermitian Operators
• Heisenberg inequality
• Hilbert Space
• Spherical Harmonics
• Stern-Gerlach Experiment
• Spin measurements
• Zeeman Eect
• Landau levels
• Bohm-Aharonov Eect
• WKB Method
• Berry Phase
• Born-Oppenheimer
• Stark Eect
• Wigner-Eckart theorem
• Quantization of Electromagnetic Fields
• Feynman Path Integral

“The book is helpful both for students beginning their journey into the fascinating world of quantum mechanics and for lecturers preparing courses. The student-friendly text covers in detail the usual topics in a core undergraduate course and more specialized topics in graduate courses.” (Marko Toroš, Physics Today, February, 2020)

• Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

  Kyriakos Tamvakis

Kyriakos Tamvakis is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Ioannina. A graduate of the University of Athens, Greece, he obtained his PhD at Brown University, USA, in 1978. Since then he has held several positions at CERN's Theoretical Physics Division in Geneva, Switzerland. He has been Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Ioannina, Greece, since 1982. He has published 120 articles on theoretical particle physics and cosmology. He has thirty years experience of teaching quantum mechanics.

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