Book on Quantum Mechanics needed

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on recommendations for books and resources on Quantum Mechanics (QM). While Cohen-Tannoudji's book is recognized as a comprehensive resource, it is not recommended as a starting point for beginners. Alternatives such as Griffiths, Baym, Messiah, Schiff, and Slater are suggested for foundational learning. Additionally, online resources including lecture notes and courses are provided for free access to QM education.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with basic Quantum Mechanics concepts
  • Understanding of Bra-Ket notation
  • Knowledge of mathematical principles relevant to QM
  • Access to online educational platforms for supplementary learning
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "Griffiths Quantum Mechanics" for introductory material
  • Explore "Schaum's Outline of Quantum Mechanics" for quick reference
  • Investigate online courses at "http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/qm1/" and "http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/qm2/"
  • Study "Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics" for advanced understanding of Dirac notation
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators in Quantum Mechanics, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of quantum theory through structured resources and textbooks.

QuantumReg
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
Hi All!

Does anyone know about some books on QM over the net?
I know there is Cohen Tannoudji's book, which is some kind of a bible in this topic, but for now I only want to feed my interest and to call up my knowladge in QM. I have been learning it at the university though, but that was a long time ago. So what I need is some kind of a hardcore tutorial. Does something like this even exist for free on the net, or do I have to buy the Cohen Tannoudji book instead?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks guys!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There are many QM textbooks available; Cohen-Tannoudji is not the book I'd start with, if I were you. There are some gentler books available, like Griffiths.

- Warren
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Jiman
Is it available on the net, or only in book stores?
 
i want one copy of Cohen-Tannoudji .who has it? i will be grateful!
 
I also want a copy of Cohen Tannoudji book, but yet I haven't found one :(
 
Last edited:
Amazon sells the 2 volume set for 181.00 dollars
 
Here are links to a couple of courses online...

http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/qm1/

http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/qm2/

http://zopyros.ccqc.uga.edu/~kellogg/docs/rltvt/rltvt.html

http://vergil.chemistry.gatech.edu/

I agree with chroot, Griffiths is a good start, although I have said many times before on these forums that I personally do not care for it. At this point in time, there really isn't a better text out there, some of the older texts could be consulted. The Schaums outline in Quantum Mechanics is really good and I am considering the purchase to have a qm book on my desk at work for quick consultation. Cohen-Tannoudji is not the text to start with at all, over the years I have found it to be more palatable but I know a whole bunch more now that I did in grad school. The more you know about qm, the more you will like it but I felt that I was not getting the eduaction I needed when using Cohen-Tannoudji. I would suggest Baym, Messiah, Schiff or Slater, not in that order. Schiff is the best out there by far if you can get it, I have 2 copies and they get used all the time. Slater is dated but readable, Messiah is a classic and Baym has been used in more than one school I looked at for grad school. Another choice is go with Yarivs' Quantum Electronics, it has a decenbt amount of qm and leads directly into the application of it. It was refreshing to re-read it a few years after grad school.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
you can get messiah from dover for about $20 or so. that's a pretty good choice if you can't afford the $180 for example.
 
  • #10
i prefer shankar; his treatment is reasonably mathematical and very clear.
 
  • #11
These two notes look quite good! Thanks Rach3!
Anyway, I prefer the Bra-Ket notation (I learned QM using this stuff)...
Does anyone know about some good lectures online which uses this?
 
  • #12
The two notations are complementary. You could do wave mechanics with position eigenkets, but it would be an excess. It's extremely easy to translate: e.g., a wavefunction \psi(x) is simply a state with representation

| \psi \rangle = \int dx \, \psi(x) | x \rangle

in the position eigenket basis. (This means \hat{X}\left|x\rangle=x\left|x\rangle). The eigenkets correspond to Dirac delta functionals as wavefunctions; the expansion above is the same as saying

\psi(x)=\int dy \, \psi(y) \delta (y-x).

We don't gain anything by being more abstract!

(and translating the other way, \psi(x)=\langle x | \psi \rangle).

I think Townsend's textbook starts off with a detailed introduction to ket notation, in the context of spin-1/2 particles. It's based on Sakurai's (graduate) textbook, so it's probably more thorough with Dirac notation than Griffiths.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
Replies
28
Views
4K
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
6K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
3K