Good introductory books in the Quantum Mechanics?

[bacte2013]

Dear Physics Forum friends,

I am a college undergraduate in US with double majors in the mathematics and computer science. I have been doing research in the theoretical computer science, and I recently got interested in the quantum cryptography. Since I cannot take any physics course until next Fall, I thought it would be a good idea to pick up a book or two on the quantum mechanics and read them as I delve more into the quantum cryptography, which I plan to do on December.

I am not looking for a serious book on the quantum mechanics (i.e. something like Rudin-PMA version) but I am looking for an introductory book that has a clear exposition. I searched the forum a bit, and I found that authors like Griffiths, Shankar, and Sakurai are frequently mentioned. However, I am not sure of their rigorousness or exposition. Could you recommend one or two introductory books? Also I see that there are books of quantum physics and quantum chemistry...Are they totally different from the quantum mechanics?

Background: I am currently taking Analysis I (Rudin-PMA), Linear Algebra with Proofs (Hoffman/Kunze & Friedberg), and Discrete Mathematics (Knuth). Unfortunately, I did not take any physics and differential-equations courses...I hope that lack of background is a serious problem for studying the quantum mechanics.

PK

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Feynman Lectures

 

[bacte2013]

Feynman Lectures

Dear Dr. Courtney,

Thank you for the recommendation. Is the "Feyman Lectures" suitable for the undergraduate students with no background in the introductory physics and differential equations? My analysis and linear algebra courses did not yet get to the differential equations. It seems that the Volume III treats the quantum mechanics. Do I need to read Volume I and II before the Vol. III?

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Dear Dr. Courtney,

Thank you for the recommendation. Is the "Feyman Lectures" suitable for the undergraduate students with no background in the introductory physics and differential equations? My analysis and linear algebra courses did not yet get to the differential equations. It seems that the Volume III treats the quantum mechanics. Do I need to read Volume I and II before the Vol. III?

You can jump tp Vol. III. Feynman's treatment does not require diff eq, and can be understood without Vol I and II. It is likely more introductory than most other books you might get.

You may also check out his videos here: http://www.richard-feynman.net/videos.htm