A First Introduction to Quantum Physics

Kok, Pieter

ISBN 10: 3319922068 / ISBN 13: 9783319922065

Verlag: Springer Verlag, 2018

Beschreibung

243 pages. 9.25x6.25x0.50 inches. In Stock. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 3319922068

Bibliografische Details

Titel: A First Introduction to Quantum Physics

Verlag: Springer Verlag

Erscheinungsdatum: 2018

Einband: Paperback

Zustand: Brand New

Über diesen Titel

Inhaltsangabe:

<P>IN THIS UNDERGRADUATE TEXTBOOK, THE AUTHOR DEVELOPS THE QUANTUM THEORY FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES BASED ON VERY SIMPLE EXPERIMENTS: A PHOTON TRAVELLING THROUGH BEAM SPLITTERS TO DETECTORS, AN ELECTRON MOVING THROUGH A STERN-GERLACH MACHINE, AND AN ATOM EMITTING RADIATION. FROM THE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THESE EXPERIMENTS FOLLOWS A NATURAL MATHEMATICAL DESCRIPTION IN TERMS OF MATRICES AND COMPLEX NUMBERS. THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK EXAMINES HOW EXPERIMENTAL FACTS FORCE US TO LET GO OF SOME DEEPLY HELD PRECONCEPTIONS AND DEVELOPS THIS IDEA INTO A MATHEMATICAL DESCRIPTION OF STATES, PROBABILITIES, OBSERVABLES, AND TIME EVOLUTION USING PHYSICAL APPLICATIONS. THE SECOND PART OF THE BOOK EXPLORES MORE ADVANCED TOPICS, INCLUDING THE CONCEPT OF ENTANGLEMENT, THE PROCESS OF DECOHERENCE, AND EXTENSION OF THE QUANTUM THEORY TO THE SITUATION OF A PARTICLE IN A ONE-DIMENSIONAL BOX.&NBSP;HERE, THE TEXT MAKES CONTACT WITH MORE TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS. THE REMAINING CHAPTERS DELVE DEEPLY INTO THE IDEA OF UNCERTAINTY RELATIONS AND EXPLORE WHAT THE QUANTUM THEORY SAYS ABOUT THE NATURE OF REALITY. THE BOOK IS AN IDEAL AND ACCESSIBLE INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS, WITH MODERN EXAMPLES AND HELPFUL END-OF-CHAPTER EXERCISES.</P>

Reseña del editor:

In this undergraduate textbook, the author develops the quantum theory from first principles based on very simple experiments: a photon travelling through beam splitters to detectors, an electron moving through a Stern-Gerlach machine, and an atom emitting radiation. From the physical description of these experiments follows a natural mathematical description in terms of matrices and complex numbers. The first part of the book examines how experimental facts force us to let go of some deeply held preconceptions and develops this idea into a mathematical description of states, probabilities, observables, and time evolution using physical applications. The second part of the book explores more advanced topics, including the concept of entanglement, the process of decoherence, and extension of the quantum theory to the situation of a particle in a one-dimensional box. Here, the text makes contact with more traditional treatments of quantum mechanics. The remaining chapters delve deeply into the idea of uncertainty relations and explore what the quantum theory says about the nature of reality. The book is an ideal and accessible introduction to quantum physics, with modern examples and helpful end-of-chapter exercises.