Applied Quantum Mechanics [Hardcover]

A. F. J. Levi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052181765X | ISBN-13: 978-0521817653 | Publication Date: September 8, 2003

This book takes quantum mechanics out of the theory books and into the real world, using practical engineering examples throughout. Levi's unique, practical approach engages readers and keeps them motivated with numerous illustrations, exercises and worked solutions. Starting with some scene setting revision material on classical mechanics and electromagnetics, Levi takes the reader from first principles and Schroedinger's equation on to more advanced topics including scattering, eigenstates, the harmonic oscillator and time-dependent perturbation theory. A CD-ROM is included which contains MATLAB source code to support the text. Quantum mechanics is usually thought of as being a difficult subject to master - this book sets out to prove it doesn't need to be.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Levi's book represents a very large step in the right direction for teaching quantum mechanics to engineering students." Physics Today

"Anyone who is practically minded and is eager to learn quantum mechanics will welcome this book." Comtemporary Physics, Mr. J. Hartley, (Imperial College London)

Book Description

Written specifically for electronic and mechanical engineers and students, this book takes quantum mechanics out of the theory books and into the real world, using practical engineering examples throughout. Levi's unique, practical approach engages the reader and keeps them motivated with numerous illustrations, exercises and worked solutions. Starting with some scene setting revision material on classical mechanics and electromagnetics, Levi takes the reader from first principles and Schrödinger's equation on to more advanced topics including scattering, eigenstates, the harmonic oscillator and time dependent perturbation theory. Includes MATLAB examples on CD-ROM.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 540 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052181765X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521817653
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,239,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A window to the world of quantum mechanics for the engineer... but not completely self-contained, August 17, 2005

By 

ARP "Student of Everything" (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Applied Quantum Mechanics (Paperback)

There is no shortage of quantum mechanics text to choose from. And if I had solely relied on the majority recommendations for an introductory text, I would have certainly missed this gem.

The author is very successful presenting the recondite fundamentals of quantum mechanics in a manner accessible to material scientists and engineers. This is accomplished without losing the rigor necessary to build a strong foundation. Applications of concepts are dispersed through out the chapters and keep the reader's attention.

But by the far the best selling point of this book are the worked problems at the end of the chapters. It is my personal opinion that if a textbook fails to at least provide final answers and solution hints to presented exercises, it is not really a textbook, but a reference reserved for those who have been adequately exposed to the material before. Here all end of the chapter questions are accompanied with worked solutions. This is a rarity among all undergrad or graduate science or engineering texts. This alone makes it valuable for self-study.

To those completely uninitiated to quantum mechanics, I do not recommend this book as a sole source because it is not sufficiently self-contained. It would be best to complement it with "Introduction to Applied Quantum and Statistical Mechanics" by Hagelstein. I have yet to read "Applied Quantum Mechanics" by Kroemer, which has recieved much praise and appears to be another excellent introductory source.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars stresses important practical cases, December 16, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Applied Quantum Mechanics (Hardcover)

Levi's book differs from standard QM texts, in furnishing more of an applied bent. Directed towards those students in applied physics, materials science and engineering. For example, there is a superb chapter on electron propagation in crystals. Where we see how to describe propagation by transmission matrices. And how energy bands arise due to the periodicity of the potential seen by electrons. Of course, solid state texts also discuss this. But the treatment here of such ideas as tunnelling, and using the WKB approximation to describe that tunnelling in a semiquantitative manner, is clear and detailed. Plus, the examples focus on important heterostructures, where band gap engineering is important.

For semiconductor lasers, there is a similar treatment. With comparisons amongst the common types of laser diodes, like GaAs and InGaAsP.

The numerous problems and the copiously worked out examples are also a nice feature of the text.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical quantum mechanics book, July 10, 2008

By 

Chee Lim Cheung - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Applied Quantum Mechanics (Hardcover)

This is a very practical quantum mechanics book. It tells you how to use quntum mechanics in many practical engineering situations. The worked problems at the end of each chapter help to enliven and reenforce the learning experience. The chapters on quantum tunneling is especially good. This book is suitable for students studying applied physics, materials science, electrical, electronic, mechanical engineering.