Quantum mechanics. Theory and experiment (Q2900381)

A standard way to create a textbook on quantum physics is to present postulates and laws, to explain mathematics, needed to perform the laws in a proper way, and to illustrate the laws by results of experiments. Such theoretical approach of course allows for students to get a picture of so unbelievable and wonderful theory but often makes the things too abstract. And students are sometimes incapable to apply their knowledge in dealing with real-life devices. Mark Beck has chosen another way. First, experiment. Then analysis of its results. Then conclusions which lead to postulates and laws. The whole book brings the spirit of a physical laboratory, students get acquainted with real materials and apparatuses, can ``touch'' and ``feel'' all, that is happening, can understand deeper some basic concepts, which arise from studying some particular physical systems. Students are welcomed to strengthen their comprehension through executing the lab works, accompanying the textbook's materials, and solving problems collected at the end of each chapter.NEWLINENEWLINEThe book is intended to be an undergraduate textbook. The material is given on an elementary level and very coherently. The author explains carefully all notations and terminology, all steps in calculations and everything which could lead to misunderstanding. Moreover, the author gives some additional remarks of general character to broaden the horizons of the reader. The study of necessary mathematics is usually built in the discussions of experiments. The material is quite self-contained and only very modest preliminary knowledge -- both in mathematics and physics -- is assumed. The book contains many helpful examples, solutions of problems, figures, schemes and pictures. The laboratories are also exhibited in all details and are supported by web materials. The first four chapters give a preliminary background by introducing basic notions, their mathematical representations and operations with them; classical and quantum descriptions of polarization are presented and compared. The postulates of quantum mechanics arise only in Chapter 5 after the discussion of the process of measurement. In subsequent chapters the author discusses standard topics like spin, orbital angular momentum, position and momentum, Schrödinger equation, harmonic oscillator, perturbation theory. Moreover, special chapters are devoted to entanglement (Chapter 8, where mixed states, entangled states and local realism are discussed), to quantum fields (Chapter 16, where Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures and atom-field interactions are considered) and to quantum information (Chapter 17, where quantum cryptography, quantum teleportation and quantum computing are presented). Once again, the whole exposition is very clear and comprehensive.NEWLINENEWLINEThe book could be interesting not only for students, learning physics, and their tutors but also for mathematicians willing to make their knowledge of quantum mechanics less abstract. As for tutors -- one thing should be kept in mind: after studying quantum mechanics with the book of Mark Beck the students most likely will chose experimental physics for their future specialization rather than theoretical.