Provides comprehensive coverage of all the fundamentals of quantum physics. Full mathematical treatments are given. Uses examples from different areas of physics to demonstrate how theories work in practice. Text derived from lectures delivered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Preface
Learning Aids for Quantum Physics
1 Simple models of the atom
Introduction
The classical atom
The electrical structure of matter
The Thomson atom
Line spectra
Photons
The Rutherford-Bohr atom
Further predictions of the Bohr model
Direct evidence of discrete energy levels
X-ray spectra
A note on x-ray spectroscopy
Concluding remarks
Exercises
The wave properties of particles
De Broglie’s hypothesis
De Broglie waves and particle velocities
Calculated magnitudes of De Broglie wavelengths
The Davisson-Germer experiments
More about the Davisson-Germer experiments
Further manifestations of the wave properties of electrons
Wave properties of neutral atoms and molecules
Wave properties of nuclear particles
The meaning of the wave-particle duality
The coexistence of wave and particle properties
A first discussion of quantum amplitudes
Exercises
Wave-particle duality and bound states
Preliminary remarks
The approach to a particle-wave equation
The Schrodinger equation
Stationary states
Particle in a one-dimensional box
Unique energy without unique momentum
Interpretation of the quantum amplitudes for bound states
Particles in nonrigid boxes
Square well of finite depth
Normalization of the wave function
Qualitative plots of bound-state wave functions
Exercises
Solutions of Schrodinger’s equation in one dimension
Introduction
The square well
The harmonic oscillator
Vibrational energies of diatomic molecules
Computer solutions of the Schrodinger equation
Exercises
Further applications of Schrodinger’s equation
Introduction
The three-dimensional Schrodinger equation
Eigenfunctions and eigenvalues
Particle in a three-dimensional box
Spherically symmetric solutions for hydrogen-like systems
Normalization and probability densities
Expectation values
Computer solutions f
Biography
A.P. French
