Primer of Quantum Mechanics

By Marvin Chester

Book Overview

This treatment of the fundamental theoretical underpinnings of modern physics fuses the mathematical machinery of quantum mechanics with the philosophical world-view embedded within it. Designed to teach students ''how to think about the subject.'' the text clarifies concepts through physical imagery, allowing students to grasp the mathematics of quantum mechanics in its broader philosopical framework. A very desirable feature of the book, not found in other undergraduate texts, is the author's use throughout of the accepted language of contemporary physics: the Dirac notation. Includes approximately 200 problems, most with solutions.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471009148
• ISBN13: 9780471009146
• Release Date: June 1987
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 2.7"

Customer Reviews

Really UNDERSTAND Dirac bra and ket

This superb book will help you actually understand the Dirac notation and vector formalism. You need a good practical knowledge of Fourier analysis and some comfort with complex numbers. A truly superb introduction to the non-schrodinger formalism.

Gem of a book!

What a wonderful gem of a book this is! It is written with grace and eloquence and yes with a bit of passion for the subject as well! It probably cannot be used as a stand alone textbook since it lacks the rigour and depth of standard textbooks. However, it is a perfect adjunct to any QM class. The book uses the Dirac notation from the beginning, much like the books by Townsend, Shankar and Sakurai (a couple of these are graduate level books). As such it will not follow the typical undergraduate's class experience if books such as Griffins are used. As with most books the problems are an integral part of the book and of your education. For the most part these are not untractable and hints and solutions are given for some. If you are planning on taking QM in the fall then you have enough mathematics to tackle this on your own (perhaps the summer prior to the first QM class). And if one puts the effort much can be gained from this little book. Also, since Dover is the publisher the price is not unreasonable.

Primer of Quantum Mechanics

A good and relatively easy introduction to Dirac notation for quantum mechanics. Very suitable for self study--I have worked through all of it, including all the problems. Most of the problems are an integral part of the text, but there are solutions to many and hints for many of the others. Should be suitable also for an undergraduate text in quantum mechanics. As an example of his method, Chester treats EPR in a general and apparently original manner, i.e. he uses neither the formulation in the EPR paper nor Bohm's--in most treatments the latter is most common (and certainly easiest to apply to experimental tests). I found the chapter on indistinguishable particles particularly helpful. Using simple examples, the author provides a clear introduction to the topic. Somewhat weak in the area of matrix mechanics; using Dirac notation in that section seems forced. There is a number of typographical errors, which are not serious however.

Excellent book that complements a standard course text

This book approaches Quantum Mechanics in a non-standard and refreshing way. It starts with notation immediately! It builds the subject in a conceptual fashion, and so is an excellent complement to a standard course text, which will develop the topic in a historical progression.