Books recommended for quantum physics?

[Mikey16]

Hi!
I'm an undergraduate student studying mechanical engineering with some numerical knowledge of astrophysics. If I want to start learning quantum physics by myself, which books should I start reading?
Thanks!

 

[Nugatory]

Hi!
I'm an undergraduate student studying mechanical engineering with some numerical knowledge of astrophysics. If I want to start learning quantum physics by myself, which books should I start reading?
Thanks!

What's your math background?

There are some threads that you might find helpful in the "Science and math textbooks" section (where this thread has just been moved).

If you aren't looking to really learn QM, but just to acquire a mathematically literate layman's understanding of what it's about, you could try Giancarlo Ghirardi's "Sneaking a look at God's cards"

 

[Mikey16]

What's your math background?

There are some threads that you might find helpful in the "Science and math textbooks" section (where this thread has just been moved).

If you aren't looking to really learn QM, but just to acquire a mathematically literate layman's understanding of what it's about, you could try Giancarlo Ghirardi's "Sneaking a look at God's cards"

The most recent math knowledge I got in the uni is single variable differential equation (my intuition told me it is not enough to deal with quantum physics). But thanks anyway!

 

[smodak]

I would recommend you learn a bit of liner algebra first. Look my posts (linked below) for QM and Linear Algebra book suggestions.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/starting-books-for-quantum-mechanics.893236/#post-5620301
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/starting-books-for-quantum-mechanics.893236/#post-5639936

 

[Mikey16]

I would recommend you learn a bit of liner algebra first. Look my posts (linked below) for QM and Linear Algebra book suggestions.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/starting-books-for-quantum-mechanics.893236/#post-5620301
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/starting-books-for-quantum-mechanics.893236/#post-5639936

Thank you for recommendations!

 

[jtbell]

In US universities, many or most students get their first exposure to QM as part of an "introductory modern physics" course which is intended to follow a standard two-semester intro physics course covering classical mechanics, E&M, optics, and thermodynamics. Typical textbooks (there are others):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1118061144/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938787757/?tag=pfamazon01-20

These assume that you already know basic classical physics (energy, momentum, etc.) and some calculus. After a course like this, students move on to a full-on QM course using e.g. Griffiths.

At the first school where I taught after finishing my PhD, most of the students in this course were in fact engineers, because it was required for all electrical engineering students.

 

[Mikey16]

In US universities, many or most students get their first exposure to QM as part of an "introductory modern physics" course which is intended to follow a standard two-semester intro physics course covering classical mechanics, E&M, optics, and thermodynamics. Typical textbooks (there are others):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1118061144/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938787757/?tag=pfamazon01-20

These assume that you already know basic classical physics (energy, momentum, etc.) and some calculus. After a course like this, students move on to a full-on QM course using e.g. Griffiths.

At the first school where I taught after finishing my PhD, most of the students in this course were in fact engineers, because it was required for all electrical engineering students.

Thank you!

 

[Andreol263]

Shankar's Principle of Quantum Mechanics is a excellent book, in the first chapter he presents you the pre-requiriments like dual-vectors, Hamiltonian Formulation, Poisson Brackets, and do it VERY well, and he begins using BraKet formalism in the beginning, and isn't that hard!, but you may need some knowledge on Linear Algebra and Differential Equations(Partial too). A much better book than Griffiths one in my opinion, but let me tell you something and you have to promise that you will IN EVERY SECTION, TO THE EXERCISES!, really, even if they are plain easy, do it, or you WILL forget what you have learned very fast and get lost by the middle of the book.

 

[smodak]

Thank you for recommendations!

Considering you will be self learning, another set of good books will be by prof. Fitzpatrick. The advantage of the books is that all the problems are worked out in detail - important for self study.

HTML Versions:
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/qm/Quantum/index.html - Graduate
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/qmech/Quantum/Quantum.html - undergraduate

They are available for free from lulu in pdf format.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-fi...uate-level-course/ebook/product-20962346.html - graduate level
http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-fitzpatrick/quantum-mechanics/ebook/product-17502148.html - undergraduate level

Amazon has the graduate version printed and the ug printed version is available from lulu.

I have not read the books in detail, but I have gone through a fair amount and I like the books. In my opinion the graduate version is actually easier to read than the ug version and written in a more modern way.

 

[Henga]

If you want to learn by yourself then I would like to recommend The following Quantum Physics For Dummies book. It is a complete reference for the beginners which will take one to the advanced level. This book contains the basic to advanced terms related to Quantum Physics which will help you to understand the difficult topics of it. This book also provides a lot of examples which makes it easy to solve the tough mathematical equations. From what Quantum Physics can do to the structure of atoms, gases and beyond, this book is a made easy solution for all. In addition this book is also compatible with the regular classroom courses.