Dirac The Principles of Quantum Mechanics

Reviews from the First Edition:
"An excellent text … The postulates of quantum mechanics and the mathematical underpinnings are discussed in a clear, succinct manner." (American Scientist)

This book, the first in a two-volume set, provides an introduction to the fundamentals of (mainly) non-relativistic quantum mechanics. This first volume chiefly focuses on the essential principles, while applications and extensions of the formalism can be found in volume 2. Including but also moving beyond material that is covered in traditional textbooks on quantum mechanics, the book discusses in detail current issues such as interaction-free quantum measurements or neutrino oscillations, as well as fundamental problems and epistemological questions, such as the measurement problem. A chapter on the postulates of quantum mechanics rounds off this first volume.

The book considers foundational thinking in quantum theory, focusing on the role the fundamental principles and principle thinking there, including thinking that leads to the invention of new principles, which is, the book contends, one of the ultimate achievements of theoretical thinking in physics and beyond.

Intended for beginning graduate students, this text takes the reader from the familiar coordinate representation of quantum mechanics to the modern algebraic approach, emphsizing symmetry principles throughout. After an introduction of the basic postulates and techniques, the book discusses time-independent perturbation theory, angular momentum, identical particles, scattering theory, and time-dependent perturbation theory. It concludes with several lectures on relativistic quantum mechanics and on many-body theory.

Intended for beginning graduate students, this text takes the reader from the familiar coordinate representation of quantum mechanics to the modern algebraic approach, emphsizing symmetry principles throughout. After an introduction of the basic postulates and techniques, the book discusses time-independent perturbation theory, angular momentum, identical particles, scattering theory, and time-dependent perturbation theory. It concludes with several lectures on relativistic quantum mechanics and on many-body theory