Cheap Quantum Mechanics (2 vol. set) (Book) (Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu, Frank Laloe) Price

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Customer Reviews of Quantum Mechanics (2 vol. set)

The authoritative text accesible to beginners and challenging for graduates alike
A very easy introduction to quantum mechanics with supplementary topics designed to complement the basic chapters expanding the material to cover advanced topics such as phonons, etc. <
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>Mathematical formulation is gradually brought to light after the basic ideas are explored. The level of mathematical rigour is adequate with appendices as needed. A degree of vector calculus and linear algebra is presumed but more advanced topics in hilbert space, operator theory, dirac notation and tensor products are developed as needed. <
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>However, most importantly the ideas of quantum mechanics and assumptions are explicitly stated, in fact listed which was refreshing. Often introductory texts fail to bring together all the assumptions and then derive the theory leaving one bewildered. This probably has much to do with the history of quantum mechanics rather than poor literary skills. Regardless it was nice to see and much appreciated. <
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>The problems range from very easy to difficult but solvable with some effort and thought. Most importantly the problems highlight important ideas and basic calculations which serve as models to approach more difficult problems. <
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>The books cannot be read as novels and I suggest completing or at least attempting all the problems if you wish to have a solid understanding of nonrelativitic quantum mechanics. <
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>After reading the book and solving the problems you should be able to state the assumptions of quantum mechanics with experimental proof for such and be fluent in it's mathematical foundations. Consequently, you should be able to approach a solution to most problems encountered in introductory quantum mechanics. <
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>For example you should be able to quantize the appropriate classical quantity ( energy for example in the case of the harmonic oscillator ), find it's eigenvalues and eigenstates and corresponding wave equations ( where appropriate ) and then derive the mean values for various quantities and derive their time evolution etc etc. <
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>I found the book indispensable for further personal study in quantum field theory and a very useful reference for refreshing forgotten ideas. <
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>For those of you with no physics background, like myself, I suggest reading Fenymann lectures in physics vol 1-3 for a brief non-technical overview of the IDEAS of physics. I then suggest reading intro to mechanics by kleppner ( do all the problems ) and then electromagnetism by purcell ( do all the problems ). You should then delve into quantum mechanics ( you may wish to brush up on wave mechanics as well ). <
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>For those of you who disdain mathematics there are a number of quantum mechanics books " for the masses" you can read but none will give a grasp of the topic. You must overcome your fear and learn the basic ideas of mathematics. <
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>The difference is between seeing the sunset and having one described to you.

Not a very good text
This seems to be a very typical graduate level text at most universities, but I don't think it is organized very well nor is it very readable. First of all, the book is translated from French which probably did not help the formating and prose much. Second the notation used in the text seemed arcane and dated. I remember spending hours just to figure out what some of the notation was trying to convey. I think a thorough reading of Griffiths QM book would be much more advised than trying to read this book. However, all that being said, perhaps the book might be useful as a refrence as it is rather encyclopedic. In summation, find a better QM book to study from than this one.