Quantum Book

[Winzer]

What Goldstein is to Classical Mechanics, who/m is to Quantum Mechanics?

[marcusl]

Schiff.

[George Jones]

What Goldstein is to Classical Mechanics, who/m is to Quantum Mechanics?

I don't know if there is such a book.

Modern Quantum Mechanics by J. J. Sakurai,

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Quantum-Mechanics-Revised-Sakurai/dp/0201539292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228998371&sr=1-1,

is often used as a grad text, but I prefer Quantum Mechanics: A Modern Development,
by Leslie Ballentine,

http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Development-Leslie-Ballentine/dp/9810227078/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228998506&sr=1-1.

See

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=276701.

[marcusl]

While these are excellent books, arguably better to learn from than Schiff's, they aren't the best answer to the poster's question. Goldstein:
a) was the classic American grad text for generations
b) had virtually no competition in its heyday
c) was eventually joined by numerous other excellent texts
d) now seems dated in many areas of presentation and in breadth of coverage
and now, because of c and d
e) is no longer the first choice for classes nor is necessarily the best to learn from.

I claim that only Schiff's Quantum Mechanics text mirrors all of these traits.

If you want the best book, then that's another thread!

[Daverz]

Is it really true that modern grad students are no longer tortured with Goldstein? Next you'll tell me they don't have to face the horrors of Jackson, either.

[marcusl]

Well, maybe it was partly wishful thinking. A quick survey shows that Princeton doesn't use Goldstein, but MIT and Harvard do.

Jackson, on the other hand, is universal (and maybe always will be?)

[will.c]

We used Jose and Saletan... If you want torture, these are your guys.

Oh, and to be on topic, I suppose Schiff probably is the answer to the question as stated. I can't wait for Mahan's quantum book to come out, though.

[George Jones]

I can't wait for Mahan's quantum book to come out, though.

It will be out in a few weeks,

http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Nutshell-Gerald-Mahan/dp/0691137137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229265395&sr=1-1,

http://press.princeton.edu/TOCs/c8965.html.

[Dr Transport]

Another text to consider is Messiah.....

[Winzer]

Thanks guys