Quantum Physics: A Fundamental Approach to Modern PhysicsThis brilliantly innovative textbook is intended as a first introduction to quantum mechanics and its applications. Townsend's new text shuns the historical ordering that characterizes so-called Modern Physics textbooks and applies a truly modern approach to this subject, starting instead with contemporary single-photon and single-atom interference experiments. The text progresses naturally from a thorough introduction to wave mechanics through applications of quantum mechanics to solid-state, nuclear, and particle physics, thereby including most of the topics normally presented in a Modern Physics course. Examples of topics include blackbody radiation, Bose-Einstein condensation, the band-structure of solids and the silicon revolution, the curve of binding energy and nuclear fission and fusion, and the Standard Model of particle physics. Students can see in quantum mechanics a common thread that ties these topics into a coherent picture of how the world works, a picture that gives students confidence that quantum mechanics really works, too. The book also includes a chapter-length appendix on special relativity for the benefit of students who have not had a previous exposure to this subject.Translation into Chinese. |
Common terms and phrases
allowed energies baryon beam splitter binding energy bosons calculate charge clock commutator complex numbers conservation constant corresponding cross section decay density derivative detector determine differential equation distance double-slit experiment E₁ eigenvalue electromagnetic electron emitted energy eigenfunctions energy eigenvalues energy levels example excited Fermi energy Feynman diagram Figure fission given ground-state ħ² Hamiltonian harmonic oscillator helium atoms hydrogen atom indicated in Fig interactions intrinsic spin kinetic energy laser lepton light linear Lzop magnetic field mass meson mirror molecules neutrino neutrons nuclear nucleons nucleus obtain operator orbital angular momentum path phase photomultiplier photon physics position potential energy probability amplitude quantum mechanics quark radiation reaction reference frame reflection region rest frame result scattering Schrödinger equation shown in Fig shows slit solution speed superposition temperature term uncertainty valence band velocity wave function wave packet wavelength zero