Quantum Mechanics : Theory and Experiment (Hardcover)

This textbook presents quantum mechanics at the junior/senior undergraduate level. It is unique in that it describes not only quantum theory, but also presents five laboratories that explore truly modern aspects of quantum mechanics. These laboratories include "proving" that light contains photons, single-photon interference, and tests of local realism.

The text begins by presenting the classical theory of polarization, moving on to describe the quantum theory of polarization. Analogies between the two theories minimize conceptual difficulties that students typically have when first presented with quantum mechanics. Furthermore, because the laboratories involve studying photons, using photon polarization as a prototypical quantum system allows the laboratory work to be closely integrated with the coursework.

Polarization represents a two-dimensional quantum system, so the introduction to quantum mechanics uses two-dimensional state vectors and operators. This allows students to become comfortable with the mathematics of a relatively simple system, before moving on to more complicated systems. After describing polarization, the text goes on to describe spin systems, time evolution, continuous variable systems (particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, etc.), and perturbation theory.

The book also includes chapters which describe material that is frequently absent from undergraduate texts: quantum measurement, entanglement, quantum field theory and quantum information. This material is connected not only to the laboratories described in the text, but also to other recent experiments. Other subjects covered that do not often make their way into undergraduate texts are coherence, complementarity, mixed states, the density operator and coherent states.

Supplementary material includes further details about implementing the laboratories, including parts lists and software for running the experiments. Computer simulations of some of the experiments are available as well. A solutions manual for end-of-chapter problems is available to instructors.

Features

* The only quantum mechanics text tto include laboratories that can be performed by undergraduates
* Describes quantum mechanics by starting with photon polarization as a prototypical two-dimensional quantum system, which allows for integration of the the text and laboratories
* Includes chapters which discuss quantum measurement, entanglement, quantum field theory, and quantum information

Table Of Contents

Preface

Table of Symbols

1 Mathematical Preliminaries

2 Classical Description of Polarization

3 Quantum States

4 Operators

5 Measurement

6 Spin-1/2

7 Angular Momentum and Rotation

8 Two-Particle Systems and Entanglement

9 Time Evolution and the Schrodinger Equation

10 Position and Momentum

11 Wave Mechanics and the Schrodinger Equation

12 The Harmonic Oscillator

13 Wave Mechanics in Three Dimensions

14 Time-Independent Perturbation Theory

15 Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory

16 Quantum Fields

17 Quantum Information

Laboratories

Getting Started

Before Lab

Important Laboratory Safety Tips

Lab 1: Spontaneous Parametric Downconversion

Lab 2: 'Proof' of the Existence of Photons

Lab 3: Single Photon Interference

Lab 4: Quantum State Measurement

Lab 5: Testing Local Realism