Best Textbook for Quantum Mechanics

[TeV]

Originally posted by Dr Transport

If I had to choose, I'd take Messaih, dated as it is, you get a feeling for the structure of QM and how it is applied.

I'd second that.There are many good books on the subject but Albert Messiah's "Quantum Mechanics" is my favourite.
Highly recommended.Despite original first edition in 1961 ,it survived time challenge.Mine: 12th printing from 1991!

 

[JohnDubYa]

I find the most readable QM books to be authored by Michael Morrison, especially Understanding Quantum Physics. You can practically teach yourself the subject.

 

[Terry Giblin]

Gentlemen,

If you are looking for a book in Quantum Mechanics, you must first read a book, which took the subject of Quantum Mechanics and truly built the world in which we live. Physical Chemistry, based on the fundermental principles of Quantum Mechanics and Gravition in the real world with tests.

To study QM buy QM books, too truly understand Quantum Mechanics first read P.W. Atkins, Physical Chemistry.

And don't be afraid to ask,

"What is an electron?"

 

[JohnDubYa]

I liked Atkins, although the version I read had numerous typos. Very readable, but I didn't think his approach was all that unique. And the book chose breadth, rather than depth. So someone looking for a derivation or in-depth analysis would probably not like it.

But a good book, nonetheless.

 

[cragwolf]

I don't know if this would qualify as "best textbook for quantum mechanics" but I really liked David Bohm's book, Quantum Theory. It's dated, doesn't use the bra-ket notation, and eschews the axiomatic approach in favour of the historical apporach, but you will definitely learn a lot from it. Plus it's a cheap Dover book.

 

[Haelfix]

I'm going to vote for Griffiths as an undergrad text.

Note, first read the first 3 chapters of the Feynman's lecture for motivation. It doesn't matter if you don't get it all at first glance.

When you read Griffiths, you're going to think

'what, why do we need a hilbert space to do all this crap, what's wrong with x,y,z,t'... 'Who cares about orthornormal basis's for eigenvalues, what does that have to do with physics'.

And so on.

At that point, if you hit a stumbling block (even if you now know how to calculate things via griffiths formalism) conceptually, you can google around and get more answers, b/c now you are prepared to deal with the language people use, and things will start falling into place.

For more advanced treatments, the other books in this thread are good suggestions.

 

[einai]

Griffiths for undergrad and Sakurai for graduate.

 

[mhernan]

I don't know if this would qualify as "best textbook for quantum mechanics" but I really liked David Bohm's book, Quantum Theory. It's dated, doesn't use the bra-ket notation, and eschews the axiomatic approach in favour of the historical apporach, but you will definitely learn a lot from it. Plus it's a cheap Dover book.

I agree. . Also, it is interesting that within a year of publication D. Bohm did an about face and pubished his Implicate Order paper Phys. Rev 85, 165, 180 [1952].

 

[H-bar None]

I hadn't had QM yet but I've started to read A Primer of Quantum Mechanics, Dover Books by Marvin Chester. Forgive me, I may have gotten the title wrong.

The author jumps right into Dirac Notation, it seems a little simpler for me to understand. The problems were straightforward and solutions are in the back.

If you liked Feynmans Lectures you might want to check out What is Quantum Mechanics by LRF(Learning Research Foundation).

 

[SchrodingersCat]

I have found Griffiths to be rather good.

 

[arivero]

two ways to quantum field theory.

I am currently thinking tha there are two ways to learn QFT.

1) Aim to calculate high energy scattering theory
2) Aim to calculate the bound state splittings, ie Lamb shift.

The first way could be represented by Peskin-Shroeder. Second
path could be via unpublished Dyson lectures, then Sakurai
or other relativistic quantum mechanics plus perturbation theory.

And, it is me, or it happens that QFT is becoming fast a "lost art"? Phenomenologists do not need a great control over it, so poor manuals with a lor of formulae do the work. And string or any VHEP theorists (Very High Energy) use alternative theories beyond QFT.

 

[efaizi]

Griffiths and shankar are the best.

 

[Demystifier]

I prefer Ballentine.

 

[Demystifier]

I agree. . Also, it is interesting that within a year of publication D. Bohm did an about face and pubished his Implicate Order paper Phys. Rev 85, 165, 180 [1952].

This paper is not about Implicate Order. Implicate Order was written by Bohm much later, as a philosophy book inspired by this scientific 1952 paper.

 

[Pinu7]

1st book: Quantum Physics-Scheck or Modern Quantum Mechanics-Sakurai

2nd book(for theoretical physics): Quantum Mechanics: A Modern Development-Ballentine

2nd book(for applied physics): Quantum Mechanics-Messiah

3rd book(for theoretical/mathematical physics): Quantum Mechanics for Mathematicians-Takhajan or An Introduction to the Mathematical Structure of Quantum Mechanics: A Short Course for Mathematicians -Strocci orLectures on Quantum Theory: Mathematical and Structural Foundations-Isham or Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics-Mackey and Geometric Quantization-Woodhouse

 

[iman rasti]

hi.I have been studing physics for 5 years in iran universities. and I have bought lots of Q.M books.
but I suppose the best book belongs to Dr Noureddin zettili for his "Quantum Mechanics. Concepts and Applications" book.
I really couldn't find any problem in the book.It is full of great examples , solved problems , & exercisses.and describes the topics fully.
in one word the book is excellent.