Where can I get a free online QM textbook?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding free online textbooks for quantum mechanics (QM). Participants express their challenges in locating suitable resources that are both introductory and comprehensive, while also sharing various suggestions and links to potential materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in finding a free QM textbook that is both accessible and detailed, noting their background in calculus and matrix math.
  • Another participant doubts the availability of free QM textbooks but suggests "Introductory Quantum Mechanics" by Liboff as a suitable option, recommending further study of mathematics.
  • A suggestion is made to look for lecture notes from introductory QM courses available on university websites.
  • Links to specific resources are provided, including a QFT textbook that some participants argue is not appropriate for beginners, and other resources that may still be too advanced.
  • Additional links to HTML modules and a library of resources are shared, with some participants agreeing on their relevance.
  • One participant mentions Robert B. Griffiths' "Consistent Quantum Theory" as a potentially useful resource, highlighting its explanatory depth compared to other suggested texts.
  • Another participant points to Gerardus t'Hooft's website for additional courses and materials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the availability of suitable free QM textbooks, with multiple competing views on the appropriateness of suggested resources. Some resources are deemed too advanced for beginners, while others are recommended as potentially helpful.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the level of difficulty of the resources shared, and there is a lack of clarity on the specific mathematical prerequisites for each suggested textbook.

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I'm wondering if anyone here might know were I could download a free quantum mechanics textbook. So far I havn't had much luck looking for one has the few ones I found were too hard. Websites I find that discuss QM are ethier too short and don't go into much detail, or their too advanced. I'm looking for something that's introductory but covers a lot. I'm familiar with calculus up to curl and divergance and I'm starting to learn some matrix math. Does anyone know of some QM textbooks on the web?
 
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I don't know any free QM textbooks and i doubt that they're any. The easiest QM textbook i have seen is "Introductory Quantum Mechanics" by Liboff, the math required is only up to the vector and multi-variable calc level. I think it would be suitable for you. I guess the only thing you can do now is to learn more math !
 
Maybe you should look for some intro to qm course's lecture notes. I know there's a lot of those online at different universities' web pages.
 
Chronos said:
You can try here, it's the only freebie I know of:
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9912205
I hope you have broadband...

That's not a QM textbook, it's a QFT textbook meant for people going into quantum gravity. We tried having a discussion thread about that book here, and it didn't go very far (this with a group of people who have already taken QFT!).

The following are much closer to the level he is looking for:

http://xxx.lanl.gov/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0004/0004072.pdf by Haret Rosu

But this too is aimed at graduate students. I don't know of any online resource on the level of, say, Brehm and Mullin or Eisberg and Resnick.

edit:

You can also try these HTML modules:

Quantum Mechanics I
Quantum Mechanics II
 
Last edited by a moderator:
blah said:
I'm wondering if anyone here might know were I could download a free quantum mechanics textbook. So far I havn't had much luck looking for one has the few ones I found were too hard. Websites I find that discuss QM are ethier too short and don't go into much detail, or their too advanced. I'm looking for something that's introductory but covers a lot. I'm familiar with calculus up to curl and divergance and I'm starting to learn some matrix math. Does anyone know of some QM textbooks on the web?

Try also Robert B. Griffiths' "Consistent Quantum Theory" at http://quantum.phys.cmu.edu/CQT/

It has more explanations than Rosu's book (interesting, this name is certainly romanian though he-or his ancestors-might be also from the republic of Moldova) and covers in depth the so called 'consistent histories' interpretation of QM (also labeled 'Copenhagen done right' for it seeks to solve the measurement problem of the orthodox CI).
 
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metacristi said:
It has more explanations than Rosu's book (interesting, this name is certainly romanian

Yes, I've been waiting a long time for him to put out his book in English. There is a Romanian copy at the arXiv, too.
 

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