Is Griffiths a Good Choice for Advancing in Quantum Mechanics Self-Study?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the suitability of various textbooks for self-studying advanced quantum mechanics, particularly in the context of transitioning from undergraduate to graduate-level material. Participants explore options for further study, including quantum field theory and relativistic quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant is nearing the end of their undergraduate quantum mechanics course and seeks recommendations for self-study textbooks, mentioning Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics and Merzbacher's Quantum Mechanics as part of their graduate curriculum.
  • Another participant questions the choice of textbooks and suggests covering additional topics like scattering theory, which they believe is essential for understanding quantum field theory.
  • A participant mentions using Griffiths and Bransden and Joachain's Quantum Mechanics, indicating that they may continue with Bransden and Joachain for further study.
  • Several participants recommend various textbooks, including G. Baym's Lectures on QM and Schiff's text, noting their readability and clarity compared to Merzbacher.
  • One participant expresses a negative opinion about Mandl's textbook, labeling it as "terrible." They also inquire about the quality of Griffiths' text for advanced study.
  • Links to additional resources and books are shared, with some participants expressing concerns about pricing and production quality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the best textbook for self-study in advanced quantum mechanics. Participants express differing opinions on the effectiveness of various texts, including Griffiths, Merzbacher, and others, indicating a range of preferences and experiences.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific topics such as scattering theory and second quantization, but there is no agreement on the necessity of covering all topics for a comprehensive understanding of quantum mechanics. Some participants express personal preferences based on their learning experiences, which may not apply universally.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for undergraduate students transitioning to graduate-level quantum mechanics, educators seeking textbook recommendations, and self-learners exploring advanced quantum topics.

eep
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Hi,
I'm getting to the end of my final undergraduate course on quantum mechanics, which basically covered time dependent/independent perturbation theory and the fine structure of atoms. As I still have some time until graduate school, I'd like to continue studying quantum mechanics on my own and I'm not quite sure what's next. I'm guessing quantum field theory or relativistic quantum mechanics is the "next step" and I was wondering what textbooks would be recommended for self-study. The graduate courses use Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics for the first semester, which seems to be the same material covered in my undergrad courses, but probably at a more advanced level, and then Merzbacher's Quantum Mechanics and some other books for reference for the second semester, which looks like it covers creation/annihilation operators and relativistic quantum mechanics.
 
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What textbook did you use? Why not cover the stuff (I'm guessing is) in the rest of the book, like scattering theory. You need to know stuff like cross-section for QFT.
 
Well we're finishing up the semester with scattering theory and superconductivity. We used a combination of Griffiths, and Bransden and Joachain's Quantum Mechanics. B&J seems to cover some of the topics I mentioned - maybe I'll just work through that.
 
Merzbacher is a standard, well-respected text, but I never found it easy to learn from. I much preferred G. Baym, Lectures on QM, for readability and for a nice way of presenting concepts. Schiff is another standard text, some complain it's too mathematical but the sections I've read have been clear and readable. Maybe it's because I've used it as a supplement rather than primary text. All three will take you through grad level QM.
 
by the way, there is a book "Advanced Quantum Mechanics" from Sakurai (not Modern QM). does anyone has experience with it?
 
Dont get Mandl ! Terrible

Is Griffiths good?
 

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