What's the matter with waves? : an introduction to techniques and applications of quantum mechanics / William Parkinson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Parkinson, William A. (Physical chemist), author.

Contributor:

Morgan & Claypool Publishers, publisher.

Institute of Physics (Great Britain), publisher.

Series:

IOP (Series). Release 4.

IOP concise physics

Series on wave phenomena in the physical sciences

[IOP release 4]

IOP concise physics, 2053-2571

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wave mechanics.

Quantum theory.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (various pagings) : illustrations (some color).

Distribution:

Bristol [England] : IOP Publishing, [2017]

Other Title:

Introduction to techniques and applications of quantum mechanics.

Place of Publication:

San Rafael [California] : Morgan & Claypool Publishers, [2017]

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader, EPUB reader, or Kindle reader.

text file

Biography/History:

Bill Parkinson obtained his PhD from the University of Florida's Quantum Theory Project in 1989, where he had the great fortune of rubbing elbows with the world's leading experts in computational chemistry during some of the field's most formative years. After postdoctoral positions at Odense University (now Syddansk Universitet, the University of Southern Denmark) and Texas A&M, he joined the faculty of Southeastern Louisiana University in 1991. His pastimes and passions include yard work, biking, volleyball, the beach, and Pittsburgh Steeler football.

Summary:

Like rocket science or brain surgery, quantum mechanics is pigeonholed as a daunting and inaccessible topic, which is best left to an elite or peculiar few. This classification was not earned without some degree of merit. Depending on perspective; quantum mechanics is a discipline or philosophy, a convention or conundrum, an answer or question. Authors have run the gamut from hand waving to heavy handed in the hope to dispel the common beliefs about quantum mechanics, but perhaps they continue to promulgate the stigma. The focus of this particular effort is to give the reader an introduction, if not at least an appreciation, of the role that linear algebra techniques play in the practical application of quantum mechanical methods. It interlaces aspects of the classical and quantum picture, including a number of both worked and parallel applications. Students with no prior experience in quantum mechanics, motivated graduate students, or researchers in other areas attempting to gain some introduction to quantum theory will find particular interest in this book.

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Motion in matter

3. Vibrating matter

4. Rotating matter

5. Translating matter

6. Quantum translation

6.1. Stationary state wavefunctions

6.2. Unconstrained one-dimensional translation

6.3. One-dimensional translation in a box

6.4. Multi-dimensional translation in a box

7. Interpreting quantum mechanics

7.1. The probability density

7.2. Eigenvectors and basis sets

7.3. Projection operators

7.4. Expectation values

7.5. The uncertainty principle

8. Quantum rotation

8.1. Circular motion : the particle on a ring

8.2. Spherical motion : the particle on a sphere

9. Quantum vibration

9.1. Harmonic oscillation

9.2. Anharmonicity

10. Variational methods

10.1. Prologue

10.2. The variational principle

10.3. Determining expansion coefficients

11. Electrons in atoms

11.1. Rotational motion due to a central potential : the hydrogen atom

11.2. Properties of the hydrogen atom solutions

11.3. Electron spin

11.4. Populating many-electron atoms

11.5. Many-body wavefunctions

11.6. Antisymmetry

11.7. Angular momentum in many-electron atoms

12. Perturbation theory

12.1. Rayleigh Schrödinger perturbation theory

12.2. Applications of perturbation theory

12.3. The resolvent operator

12.4. Techniques for solving the sum over states equations

13. Electrons in molecules

13.1. The simplest molecular model : a one-electron diatomic

13.2. The hydrogen molecule

13.3. Practical information regarding calculations

13.4. Qualitative molecular orbital theory for homonuclear diatomics

13.5. The Hückel method

Appendices.

A. Physical constants and units

B. Calculus and trigonometry essentials.

Notes:

"Version: 20171201"--Title page verso.

"A Morgan & Claypool publication as part of IOP Concise Physics"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF title page (viewed on January 11, 2018).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781681745770

9781681745794

OCLC:

1019445706

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.