Quantum Mechanics: Theory and Applications

by Ajoy Ghatak, S. Lokanathan

An understanding of quantum mechanics is vital to all students of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, but requires a lot of mathematical concepts, the details of which are given with great clarity in this book. Various concepts have been derived from first principles, so it can also be used for self-study. The chapters on the JWKB approximation, time-independent perturbation theory and effects of magnetic field stand out for their clarity and easy-to-understand mathematics. Two complete chapters on the linear harmonic oscillator provide a very detailed discussion of one of the most fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. Operator algebra is used to show the ease with which one can calculate the harmonic oscillator wave functions and study the evolution of the coherent state. Similarly, three chapters on angular momentum give a detailed account of this important problem. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is the excellent balance between theory and applications and the large number of applications in such diverse areas as astrophysics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, solid-state physics, and quantum well structures.

Genres: Physics, Science, Quantum Mechanics

912 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2004

About the author

Ajoy Ghatak is an Indian physicist and author of physics textbooks.Professor Ghatak has written over 170 research papers and more than 20 books. His undergraduate text on Optics has been translated to Chinese and Persian and his monograph on Inhomogeneous Optical Waveguides (coauthored with Professor Sodha) has been translated to Chinese and Russian. In 1995, he was elected Fellow of the Optical Society of America "for distinguished service to optics education and for his contribution to the understanding of propagation characteristics of gradient index media, fibers and integrated optical devices".
He received his M.Sc from Delhi University and Ph.D from Cornell University. After a short stint as a Research Associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Professor Ghatak joined the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 1966. He retired as an Emeritus Professor of Physics at IIT Delhi in 2007.

Reviews

[Xjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thick book Containing lot of material with problem set both solved and unsolved