Quantum Mechanics ─ Principles and Formalism

Concentrating on principles of quantum mechanics for graduate students, this thin, yet dense volume details applications only as far as they relate to theory. The book is a republication of the work first published in 1972 by Pergamon Press, Ltd., Oxford, as volume 1 in topic 2 (Classical and quantum mechanics) of the International encyclopedia of physical chemistry and chemical physics. McWeeny (U. of Pisa, Italy) begins with Schrodinger's equations, vector spaces, and Hilbert space. After formulation of quantum mechanic's main principles, special attention is given to more difficult topics such as spin. The volume concludes with a discussion of alternative representations, and development of the Dirac transformation theory. Extensive appendices include the Schrodinger equation in generalized coordinates, the separation of partial differential equations, and the series solution of second-order differential equations. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)