Elementary Quantum Mechanics, Peter Fong

Interactive Quantum Mechanics under Java presents the most up-to-date approach to elementary quantum mechanics. Based on the interactive program INTERQUANTA (included on a CD-ROM and ready to run under the WINDOWS, LINUX and MACINTOSH operating systems) and its extensive 3D color graphic features, the book guides its readers through computer experiments on free particles and wave packets, bound states in various potentials, coherent and squeezed states in time-dependent motion, scattering and resonances, analogies in optics, quantized angular momentum, distinguishable and indistinguishable particles, special functions of mathematical physics. A realm for everybody who wants to work on quantum mechanical problems.

Now in its 2nd edition, Quantum Mechanics on the PC presents the most up-to-date approach to elementary quantum mechanics. It is based on the interactive program Interquanta, which runs on MS-DOS either with or without coprocessor (two separate versions included on a 3 1/2'' diskette).

This book provides an itinerary to quantum mechanics taking into account the basic mathematics to formulate it. Specifically, it features the main experiments and postulates of quantum mechanics pointing out their mathematical prominent aspects showing how physical concepts and mathematical tools are deeply intertwined.

Starting from basic principles, the book systematically covers both Heisenberg and Schrödinger realizations of quantum mechanics (in this order). The material traditionally presented in quantum textbooks is illustrated with applications which are (or will become) cornerstones of future technologies. The emphasis in the matrix formulation focus the attention on the spin, the most important quantum observable, and paves the way to chapters on quantum information (including crytography, teleportation and computation), on recent tests of quantum physics and on decoherence. Additions and changes found in the second edition include; a more friendly presentation to Hilbert spaces; more practical applications e.g. scanning tunneling microscope (potential barrier); quantum dots (single-particle states in semiconductors); lasers and masers (induced emission); real experiments that have recently provided a qualitative change in the foundations of quantum physics; and an outline of the density matrix formalism as applied to a simple model of decoherence.

In the last few years, multiscale methods have lead to spectacular progress in our understanding of complex physical systems and have stimulated the development of very refined mathematical techniques. At the same time on the experimental side, equally spectacular progress has been made in developing experimental machinery and techniques to test the foundations of quantum mechanics. In view of this progress, this volume is very timely; it is the first text totally devoted to multiscale methods as applied to various areas of physics and to the relative developments in mathematics.

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 presents a new approach to understanding the foundation of quantum physics through the "quantum wave model" hypothesis. It addresses some of the key challenges in the current quantum theory, including the conflict between quantum mechanics and relativity, and offers a comprehensive solution to many of the existing mysteries in the field. By proposing that the vacuum is a dielectric medium and quantum particles are quantized excitation waves of the vacuum, the book provides a clear physical interpretation of wave-particle duality and explains the physical basis of energy, momentum, and mass.