Quantum Mechanics: Special Chapters

Quantum Mechanics -- Special Chapters is an important additional course for third-year students. Starting with the quantization of a free electromagnetic field and its interaction with matter, it discusses second quantization and interacting quantum fields. After re-normalization problems and a general treatment of nonrelativistic quantum field theory, these methods are applied to problems from solid-state physics and plasma physics: quantum gas, superfluidity, plasmons, and photons. The book concludes with an introduction to quantum statistics, the structure of atoms and molecules, and the Schrödinger wave equation formulated by Feynman path integrals. 72 fully and carefully worked examples and problems consolidate the material.

Written for:


Students in physics and mathematics

Table of contents

1. Quantum theory of a free electromagnetic field 2. Interaction of an electromagnetic field with matter 3. Noninteracting fields 4. Interacting quantum fields 5. Renormalization problems 6. Nonrelativistic quantum field theory 7. Superfluidity 8. Pair correlations among fermions and bosons 9. Quasi-particles in plasmas and metals 10. Fundamentals of quantum statistics 11. Structure of atoms 12. Elementary structure of molecules 13. Feynman's path integral formulation of the Schrödinger's wave mechanics