Qualitative Methods in Quantum Theory [Paperback]

Migdal (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0738203025 | ISBN-13: 978-0738203027 | Publication Date: January 15, 2000

This unique book, written by a leading Soviet theorist, is not a textbook of quantum mechanics but rather a compendium of the "tricks of the trade"-the methods that all practicing theoretical physicists use but few have set down in writing.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

About the Author

A.B. Migdal was head of the theoretical section of the I. V. Kurchatov Atomic Energy Institute, a professor at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, and a member of the Academy of Sciences in Russia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 437 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738203025
• ISBN-13: 978-0738203027
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Qualitative Methods in Quantum Theory, October 15, 2000

By 

Gennady Kovalev (North Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Qualitative Methods in Quantum Theory (Paperback)

How many times in your life have you looked at the physical formula and thought perplexedly: "What does it mean?" Remember the first time you looked at the formula E=mc2? If you are a curious freshman or even a hoary professional the question, "How did he get this result?", comes up. Now you are close to looking on the other side of the coin, at something wonderful, something fascinating. You are about to reveal the workshop of the theoretical physicists! To be honest with you, I did not see the English translation of this book, but long time ago I read the original Russian book, "Qualitative Methods in Quantum Theory", by A. B. Migdal, and still keep it on my desk. There were about two dozen students during the semester who attended his lecture/seminar of similar name, "Qualitative Methods in Theoretical Physics." Those lecture/seminars were informal, quite unusual, unlike where lectures when a professor smoothly narrates a well-known subject. He worked on a blackboard before the audience. The subjects were the different aspects of quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and nuclear physics, with numerous examples from modern and classical physics and mathematics. We watched all movements of his mind when he discoursed some interesting problem and derived a result using several different methods. He told us, "Don't be afraid to make mistakes. The secret is to be able to find them." Sometimes he interrupted his work with a note about an analogy between an art and science: "In sculpture, as well as in theoretical physics, you have to know where you can disregard", or "Solving a real difficult problem is the rarest phenomenon, like falling in love". The book summarizes his experience as a practical physicist and is a great collection of treasures that you can not find anywhere else. This book is the greatest resource if you want to know "the secrets" of theoretical physics. You will know about model and scale estimations and the great importance of symmetry principals, analytic properties of the physical world, the WKB approximation, variety of perturbation theories, etc.,.. Also, if you aspire to be a practical physicists or engineer, you will learn how to use these principles to get your own results. It seems to me this book is unlike his other books because it summarizes the most valuable results of his life's work.