A good quantum mechanics book for the self-learner?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around recommendations for self-study books on quantum mechanics. Participants express frustration with certain texts, particularly "Quantum Mechanics Demystified," which many find assumes prior knowledge and lacks thorough explanations. Instead, several participants advocate for "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by David Griffiths, praising its clarity and pedagogical approach. Other notable mentions include "Principles of Quantum Mechanics" by R. Shankar, which is considered more advanced, and "Quantum Physics" by Eisberg and Resnick, which is appreciated for its readability and problem sets. The importance of a solid mathematical foundation is emphasized, with suggestions to review calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations before diving deeper into quantum mechanics. Additionally, resources like Feynman's Lectures and online courses are recommended for supplementary learning. Overall, the consensus leans towards Griffiths as a preferred starting point for self-learners in quantum mechanics.
Moneer81
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Hi,
I am sure the topic of quantum mechanics books has been discussed many times, so excuse me if I am asking questions that already have been answered. I am trying to teach myself quantum mechanics so I am looking for a book that would take me through the subject step by step, kinda like John R Taylor's Classical Mechanics if anyone heard of it. I bought "quantum mechanics demystified" a book from the "Demystified" series because I thought it would approach the subject in a slower pace but it was very frustrating because the author made a lot of assumptions and skipped a lot of things, it is more of a review book for those who already know QM.
Any ideas?
 
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How much mathematics do you know?
 
Moneer81,

I am currently on the same quest as you, I am trying to teach myself quantum mechanics. Inha has a very important question as mathematics is the core of the subject we are attempting to teach ourselves.

What I am currently doing is learning mathematics from the "Schaum's Outline" series first reviewing college algebra, then trigonometry, then I am going to move onto calculus.

I have a few web resources that are currently helping me along as well:

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/"
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/"

I don't know if you already know introductory physics, if so then these links obviously aren't for you. I am going from scratch :) Hope this helps.
 
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griffiths.
 
I know enough mathematics I think (Calculus I, II, III, Diff eq, linear algebra) and I've had all the introductory physics and some advanced physics too.

Is Griffiths the same author of Introduction to Electrodynamics? because I wasn't a big fan of that book. Or is it written differently with more explanations and step by step instructions? I also heard that he is on the GRE committee so it might be worthwhile to get used to his questions and read his book.
 
I'd have to say that my favourite so far has been "Principles of Quantum Mechanics" by Shankar.
It reads like an up to date version of Dirac's old monograph of the same name.
 
I prefer sakurai 'modern quantum mechanics'
 
Another vote for Griffiths.

- Warren
 
Quantum Theory: Concepts and Methods by Asher Peres will help you, I think.
 
  • #10
G.F.Again said:
Quantum Theory: Concepts and Methods by Asher Peres will help you, I think.

I highly doubt that - it's a graduate level textbook that explores foundational issues in QM, it's not even comprehensive. I just ordered it yesterday in fact - it keeps getting cited by papers on entanglement, I believe it has a lot of very recent stuff in it.

the publisher said:
The first chapters introduce formal tools: the mathematics are precise, but not excessively abstract. The physical interpretation too is rigorous. It makes no use of the uncertainty principle of other ill-defined notions. The central part of the book is devoted to Bell's theorem and to the Kochen-Specker theorem. It is here that quantum phenomena depart most radically from classical physics. There has recently been considerable progress on these issues, and the latest developments have been included. The final chapters discuss further topics of current research: spacetime symmetries, quantum thermodynamics and information theory, semiclassical methods, irreversibility, quantum chaos, and especially the measuring process. In particular, it is shown how modern techniques allow the extraction of more information from a physical system than traditional measurement methods. For physicists, mathematicians and philosophers of science with an interest in the applications and foundations of quantum theory. The volume is suitable as a supplementary graduate textbook.
source
 
  • #11
Typical introductory texts on QM are -

D. Griffiths
A.P. French & E.F. Taylor
R. Shankar
S. Gasiorowicz
H. Ohanian

All are available at Amazon, or any half-decent university library.
 
  • #12
I also vote for Griffiths.
 
  • #13
I'm currently enrolled in the 3rd quarter of a year-long upper division QM sequence, we used Liboff. I do not reccomend that book. I've had a chance to read through some of Griffiths and Gasiorowicz, both of them are better than Liboff in my opinion although I prefer Griffiths. I also used Griffiths' E&M book for upper division E&M, I find his QM book to be more likable than the E&M one.

I also have a copy of Shankar, although I consider that to be more graduate level than any of the three I mentioned above. I like what I've read in it though, I'm planning on working through it over the summer.
 
  • #14
I have a strong background in mathematics. For this reason, my tastes may differ from yours. I read Dirac and liked it the best. However, it contains no exercises. I read Liboff, and liked it the least. It seems to have no unifying theme. I am currently reading Shankar and I like it very much. As Son Goku pointed out, it seems heavily influenced by Dirac's book. One theme that runs through Shankar's book is that of the propagator. Liboff mentions it on one page, but doesn't use it for anything. Also, Shankar has chapters on Feynman path integrals. I believe these two concepts are valuable for future learning. On the other hand, Liboff covers more topics. I never looked at Griffiths' book, but I gather it is more to the explanation side than the math side. Perhaps if you have time to read more than one, it would be good to start with Griffiths.

Visit my web page www.erratapage.com for errata pages on any book.
 
  • #15
Well.. i got 3 personal favorites.
Before attempting to even start the subject, one can read "Alice in quantumland". It gives one a feel of the subject... an awesome read!
After reading that, now i have started really teaching myself the subject. My method of studying is - reading schiff, keeping Feynman lectures at side.
 
  • #17
changing my opinion...
sakurai and shankar now!
 
  • #18
I vote for Griffiths. I'm currently teaching myself out of that book and I like the way its written, though you may want to get a book of problems with solutions as well, if your looking for walkthroughs for a lot of problems. The only problem with Griffith's is that he has a less than average amount of examples.
 
  • #19
Which of the above have good exercises (with answers). Just reading the stuff makes my eyes cross. I need to work through problems to really get it.
 
  • #20
I'd recommend Quantum Physics by Eisberg and Resnick. The discussions of the theory are very readable and don't assume much, and there's quite a few examples incorporated into the text. I don't know exactly how far it goes as I'm only a 1st yr undergrad myself, but it extends comfortably beyond my course in volume and depth. As far as I can tell from course handbooks etc. it covers up to about 2nd year work in good detail, with appendices extending into more advanced work like peturbation theory. Answers are provided to about half the problems (they miss out ones where e.g. the answer is a sketch.)
 
  • #21
If you are just getting started, even if you are an advanced student, be sure to read QED, the Strange Theory of Light and Matter, by Richard Feynman.

Why? Because it grounds you with an intuitive feel that is not usually so apparent in the other texts (because quantum is a mathematical model, not a physical theory). QED will take only a day (or so) to read and understand.
 
  • #22
If you look around in the Tutorial area you will find online videos of Feynman giving a QED lecture (in the 70's I think). Probably a live version of QED, the Strange Theory of Light and Matter (I have glanced at it but have not read it). I found the third book of his lectures in the library and started to read it. I will have to buy it soon.
No problems to work through though.
 
  • #23
For a padagogic intro, use Griffiths' book.
For problem solving, try Zettili's QM book. Also Tamvakis' solved problems book on QM is excellent.
I personally like Liboff, except the 14th chapter (scattering)!
 
  • #24
I strongly suggest D. Griffiths. I have now taught myself electrodynamics and quantum mechanics from his books, and I am currently self-studying with his book on elementary particles. They are great books!
 
  • #25
Modern Quantum Mechanics- J.J. Sakurai.


It requires a large commitment to mathematics; however, it doesn't waste time with a focus on a historical treatment.

Quantum Mechanics in Hilbert Spaces- Eduard Prugove?ki

I haven't had a chance to pick it up for my self; however, I hear very good things. It might not be very good as an introduction unless you are one of those that loves to start with abstraction and work your way through the painstaking process of using largely generalized processes.
 
  • #26
I like Griffiths as well, but I found that the Schaum's outline book for QM is relatively decent (several of them are, and several of them blow large chunks of donkey doo!)
 
  • #27
I have read Griffiths, A.P. French and Gasiowariz, and found Griffiths was the best, illuminating and clear, though sometime you may need to finish his problems to go head.
 
  • #28
Griffiths is the best book for me. It is clear and comprehensive on many levels. Griffiths not only gives you the equations and the way to use it, he talks about the concepts and explain it all very well.
Liboff is very good (but like someone else said before me, it seems like there's no unifying theme)
The Gasiorowicz's book is good if you already know QM.
The Cohen-Tannoudji is good if you're well prepared to understand QM with a very rigorous mathematical treatment of the subject. I do not recommend it for an introduction.
Sakurai is very good too, but seems to be more like a graduate textbook. But I used it to better understand the Dirac notation.
 
  • #29
Quantum Chaos, is that introductory Quantum mechanics?
 
  • #30
mustkara said:
Yes. Exactly

http://www.cocomartini.com/rainyland/product_info.php?products_id=1186"

^_^

I searched through its table of contents and saw nowhere concepts of introductory quantum mechanics.

It starts with theory of nonlinear dymanics and classical chaos. Then the semiclassical inteprentation of Quantum Mechanics and finally combining those two concepts.
 
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  • #31
Shankar, Sakurai, Dirac (must read the Master's book) and if you are interested in some examples, applications, etc, you could always look through Greiner - Quantum Mechanics - an introduction
 
  • #32
is there any opinions on ballentine? I've ended up with a copy am planning to work through
 
  • #34
thanks :smile:
 
  • #35
How is the Linus Pauling book on Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry?
 
  • #36
Mugwump101 said:
How is the Linus Pauling book on Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry?

I've skimmed through it. It's decent. A great introductory book for Quantum Mechanics applied to chemical systems is Ira Levine's Quantum Chemistry. It requires only very basic math: calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. For relativistic quantum mechanics applied to chemistry there is Relativistic Quantum Mechanics by Kenneth G. Dyall & Knut Faegri Jr.
 
  • #37
Well Landau Quantum mechanics is maby not introductionary course,but deffinetly something that have to be seen.Mesiah Quantum mechanics with its two levels maby is the best thing.Herbut Quantum mechanics cover all aspects with group theory applications,but not sure if english version is avaliable.
 
  • #38
robphy said:
These books, "Understanding [More] Quantum Physics" by Morrison,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0137479085/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0139283005/?tag=pfamazon01-20
might be a good stepping stone for the self-learner
to the more advanced QM texts.

I second this recommendation. My wife has these, and I think they are phenomenal. Reading them is like attending a course given by a truly gifted lecturer. The first book covers basics, in a way that anyone can understand. He does a much better than average job of explaining both the physics and going through the mechanics of using QM to solve problems, including pointing out pitfalls. The second book includes perturbation theory, etc., and is also very good but not quite as good as the first book.

Definitely great books for the self-learner.

jason
 
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  • #39
Well after seeing Lenard Suskinds lectures on quantum mechanics at youtube all books seems less less interesting.Also at youtube great teacher prof Balakhrishnan lectures on quantum physics are really profound introductionary course.
 
  • #40
I would very warmly recommend "Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications" by Nouredine Zettili. It is packed with solved problems and gives a very clear and gradual introduction to quantum physics. Mind you, you should still learn linear algebra in depth before doing any quantum physics.
 
  • #41
Best book.ever about Quantum Mechanics is Cohen-Tannoudji, it's for underdegree and for graduate studies. You will find it fun!
 
  • #42
I recommend Quantum Physics: A Fundamental Approach to Modern Physics by Townsend (literally brand new (2010), not to be confused with his Quantum Mechanics book). Currently using this book in my into quantum course.
 
  • #43
I can't recommend a book but I have been following this free lecture series you might find useful if you have not heard of nptel yet.

http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/video.php?courseId=1090
 
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  • #44
Is there a book teachs you only the mathematical tools before you start?
 
  • #45
we have get so many choices,I am really confused...I mean is there any physics professor of physics in the forum that can tell us what is the best? and when do you know you've get it?...because if there is an other way,I wil go directly to String Theory,but relativity and Quantum Mechanics are the basic tools...thanks for everyone,and we wait for an answer
 
  • #46
totentanz said:
we have get so many choices,I am really confused...I mean is there any physics professor of physics in the forum that can tell us what is the best? and when do you know you've get it?...because if there is an other way,I wil go directly to String Theory,but relativity and Quantum Mechanics are the basic tools...thanks for everyone,and we wait for an answer

I don't know about the other recommendations, but at least for mine, it was assigned by a prof. and I liked it. The prof. probably assigned it because they thought it was "the best" for intro quantum. So, by asking if there's a prof. that will tell you which is "the best," you aren't going to get any better answers since often students only know about texts assigned or recommended by a prof., so the students' recommendation of what is "the best" is really a trickle down of what a prof. thought was "the best."

As for the just learning the mathematical tools for QM, on an elementary level you'll need differential equations and linear algebra. At higher levels you'll need partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, perturbation theory, path integration, etc. Most of this is taught in upper level undergrad physics classes. How much you need depends on how far into QM you want to go. In my mind, a "math tools for QM" book without any QM is not worth reading; you won't learn the context of what you're doing in relation to the math or the physics. You're better off just learning the math from a QM book or a regular math text.

If you just want to go straight into string theory, there are popular science books which will introduce you to the subject. If you want the full technical details of string theory, you'll probably need much more knowledge of physics than intro qm and relativity. I don't know any more about string theory than what's in popular shows on the Science Channel, so I can't say for sure what all the math/physics it requires.
Probably of interest to you: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-251-string-theory-for-undergraduates-spring-2007/
 
  • #47
rhombusjr said:
I don't know about the other recommendations, but at least for mine, it was assigned by a prof. and I liked it. The prof. probably assigned it because they thought it was "the best" for intro quantum. So, by asking if there's a prof. that will tell you which is "the best," you aren't going to get any better answers since often students only know about texts assigned or recommended by a prof., so the students' recommendation of what is "the best" is really a trickle down of what a prof. thought was "the best."

As for the just learning the mathematical tools for QM, on an elementary level you'll need differential equations and linear algebra. At higher levels you'll need partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, perturbation theory, path integration, etc. Most of this is taught in upper level undergrad physics classes. How much you need depends on how far into QM you want to go. In my mind, a "math tools for QM" book without any QM is not worth reading; you won't learn the context of what you're doing in relation to the math or the physics. You're better off just learning the math from a QM book or a regular math text.

If you just want to go straight into string theory, there are popular science books which will introduce you to the subject. If you want the full technical details of string theory, you'll probably need much more knowledge of physics than intro qm and relativity. I don't know any more about string theory than what's in popular shows on the Science Channel, so I can't say for sure what all the math/physics it requires.
Probably of interest to you: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-251-string-theory-for-undergraduates-spring-2007/

Thanks for your answer,but what I want to say is that I am really confused,I started with "QM Demystified" and I think is a good book and it make the proble part of the cours and when you solve them by your own,you feel wonderful...but days ago someone in the forum told me that it is the worst choice...and I started over again with Griffiths...what do you think?
 
  • #48
totentanz said:
Thanks for your answer,but what I want to say is that I am really confused,I started with "QM Demystified" and I think is a good book and it make the proble part of the cours and when you solve them by your own,you feel wonderful...but days ago someone in the forum told me that it is the worst choice...and I started over again with Griffiths...what do you think?

I can't say that I've read "QM Demystified" or Griffiths, so I can't give an opinion on either. I have found Griffiths E&M book to be quite good, so his QM text shouldn't be a bad choice. In general I would be wary of Demystified books, I've heard professors give many recommendations for supplementary texts for various classes and I've never ever heard of a "Demystified" or "For Dummies" type of book recommended. Speaking of recommendations, one that comes up over and over again is Feynman's Lectures on Physics. Its a three volume set and the the 3rd one focuses on QM. Its definitely one that you want to look at.
 
  • #49
I quite like 'Quantum Reality: Theory and Philosophy' by Jonathan Allday. Covers the basics with UK High School level Maths.
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781584887034;jsessionid=f87EFAqvnf1-tQwo+Gog7w**
 
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  • #50
thanks rhombusjr
 

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