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

這本教科書以大學三年級/四年級的水平介紹量子力學。它的獨特之處在於不僅描述了量子理論，還介紹了五個實驗室，探索了量子力學的現代方面。這些實驗室包括“證明”光包含光子，單光子干涉和局部實在性的測試。

本書首先介紹了偏振的經典理論，然後描述了偏振的量子理論。兩者之間的類比最大程度地減少了學生在初次接觸量子力學時可能遇到的概念困難。此外，由於這些實驗室涉及研究光子，使用光子偏振作為典型的量子系統，使實驗室工作能夠與課程緊密結合。

偏振代表了一個二維的量子系統，因此量子力學的介紹使用了二維的狀態向量和算符。這使得學生在轉向更複雜的系統之前，能夠對相對簡單的系統的數學感到舒適。在描述偏振之後，本書繼續描述自旋系統、時間演化、連續變量系統（如一維盒子、諧振子、氫原子等）和微擾理論。

本書還包括一些在本科教材中常常缺少的章節：量子測量、納糾、量子場論和量子信息。這些內容不僅與本書中描述的實驗室相關，還與其他最近的實驗相關。其他涵蓋的主題，通常不會出現在本科教材中的有相干性、互補性、混合態、密度算符和相干態。

附加資料包括有關實施實驗室的更多細節，包括零件清單和運行實驗的軟件。一些實驗的計算機模擬也可用。教師可以獲得章節末問題的解答手冊。

特點：

- 唯一一本包含本科生可以進行的實驗室的量子力學教科書
- 以光子偏振作為典型的二維量子系統來描述量子力學，使得教材和實驗室能夠緊密結合
- 包括討論量子測量、納糾、量子場論和量子信息的章節

目錄：

前言

符號表

1. 數學預備知識

2. 偏振的經典描述

3. 量子狀態

4. 算符

5. 測量

6. 自旋-1/2

7. 角動量和旋轉

8. 雙粒子系統和納糾

9. 時間演化和薛定諾方程

10. 位置和動量

11. 波動力學和薛定諾方程

12. 諧振子

13. 三維波動力學

14. 時間獨立微擾理論

15. 時間相依微擾理論

16. 量子場

17. 量子信息

實驗室：

入門

實驗前

重要的實驗室安全提示

實驗室1：自發參量下轉換

實驗室2：證明光子的存在

實驗室3：單光子干涉

實驗室4：量子狀態測量

實驗室5：測試局部實在性