A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics
A**N
Excellent and Readable Undergraduate Text on QM
A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics by Townsend is in my view the best undergraduate text i have seen. The book is somewhat overlapping in sequence with Sakurai's book but is truly an undergraduate text that requires minimal prerequisites. Quantum mechanics is a difficult subject to learn given the variety of mathematical methods involved in solving problems as well as the unintuitive nature of the solutions. Modern Quantum Mechanics offers one of the most approachable introductions focusing on spin first before moving on to wave mechanics.The author covers typical topics of an undergraduate course, namely wave mechanics in 1-d and 3-d, the hydrogen atom, spin and angular momentum before moving on to perturbation theory. The author also includes short overviews of path integrals, though the coverage is minimal and discusses identical particles along with scattering in 3-D followed by short coverage of time-dependent perturbation theory and the concepts in photon emission and absorption. The book starts with a discussion of spin and really focuses on the linear algebra first. By giving the reader a solid foundation in how quantum mechanics can be understood in integer state systems, the author then moves onto infinite dimensional spaces like position and momentum. The path is non-standard but i think it provides a better foundation. The problems are all quite approachable which means the book is good for self-study. I think the problems are a bit easy compared to a hard undergraduate 1-year sequence for quantum mechanics but the coverage of each topic is understandable and quite complete. Certain topics are certainly skimmed, namely the path integral, identical particles, time-dependent perturbation theory which are covered more completely in books like Shankar, but the overall approachability of each topic i believe is better. This textbook should be used more and is a good stepping stone to read Sakurai and thus take a graduate course in quantum mechanics.Modern Quantum Mechanics by Townsend is both readable and referenceable. It is not encyclopedic but instead a very solid and approachable course for a 1-1.5 year undergraduate quantum mechanics sequence. It covers all major topics, mainly at the appropriate breadth and depth. Furthermore it is more understandable than other well used texts like Griffiths and Shankar. I certainly recommend this to those trying to learn the subject for the first time.
R**N
Excellent First Exposure to Principles of Quantum Mechanics
Finally a text book that starts with 2-State Systems! I have been teaching quantum mechanics off and on for 25 years to gifted high school students. I have experience using many other quantum texts. In John Townsend's latest edition, we finally have an excellent modern textbook that makes the mathematical and physical learning curve as gentle as possible WITHOUT CUTTING CORNERS ON THE PHYSICS. Prof. Townsend's treatment (developed over a sequence of refinements in his approach in previous texts = battle tested) enables students to engage the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and many of its emerging applications that rely on understanding few-state and composite systems. The approach is preferable to more traditional approaches because it climbs the mathematical hill starting from the gentlest point, avoiding mathematical issues and levels of abstraction that arise from infinite dimensionality in quantum systems until after basic physical principles have been introduced. The early use of Dirac notation and the clear separation of state space and matrix representations add considerable clarity for the beginning student. Townsend's approach moves students as quickly as possible to the point that they can honestly engage the fundamentals of forefront applications in quantum information , quantum computing, quantum teleportation, and other fundamental developing applications. Unlike some older texts, Townsend engages the 'spookiest' parts of quantum mechanics ( EPR, BELL Inequalities, GHZ states...) early. For this alone, he deserves extra credit! It is terribly important that physics students develop an understanding and intuition for quantum mechanics as early in life as possible and they can only do this by engaging the conceptually challenging aspects head-on but in the technically simplest context. Prof Townsend has found the sweet spot. This is THE best existing gateway text I have seen for serious physics students.
S**H
Great intro book
It's a really nice intro book for anyone in undergrad learning quantum for the first time or for refreshing your quantum knowledge for the quals. It starts withthe stern Gerlach experiment similar to sakurai but at the undergrad level
M**R
New text with damaged cover.
It is a new book but the hard cover has been pretty beat up with no signs of damage to shipping box. Most of the price difference between soft and hard cover is lost with the torn, smashed, and beaten edges of this hard cover. Good quality text, cover could be damaged before shipping.
R**R
This textbook is excellent! It should be used at absolutely every university ...
This textbook is excellent! It should be used at absolutely every university for entry to intermediate level courses on quantum mechanics. It is well written, has an excellent examples and problem sets. Everyone is talking how quantum mechanics are 'weird', 'strange' and 'impossible to comprehend', but it is obviously a lie. With proper (modern) approach everyone can understand and apply QM principles with ease. This textbook is amazing in providing support for modern QM course.
B**O
Great Intro QM book! Esp for spin
After reading and completing all the problems in the 4 chapters of this book, the concept of spin really clicked for me. That's really important for understanding relativistic QM, and the problems were challenging and rewarding. I would say the book focuses on a matrix operator approach to QM, and in Ch 6 then transitions into position-space wave functions. Great book overall.
R**L
Finally
As a graduate student preparing for a PhD entrance exam, this is the most helpful quantum mechanics book I have found. Spending 1 week reading this covered more bra-ket notation and perturbation theory than 3 semesters of undergraduate quantum at 2 different schools. Great for self teaching and wish my course had used this book instead of Griffith.
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