Quantum Mechanics Demystified [Paperback]

David McMahon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0071455469 | ISBN-13: 978-0071455466 | Edition: 1

Fun format makes this complex subject easy to grasp solutions to typical problems that are explained in full detail. It is perfect for self-study or class supplement. It is great for quick review or help prepare for the Physics qualifying exam. Learn quantum mechanics at warp speed! Now anyone can master the basics of quantum mechanics - without formal training, unlimited time, or a genius IQ. In "Quantum Mechanics Demystified", physicist (and student-savvy author) David McMahon provides an effective and illuminating way to learn the essentials of quantum mechanics.With "Quantum Mechanics Demystified", you master the subject one step at a time - at your own speed. This unique self-teaching guide is filled with solved examples throughout, and offers problems to try at the end of each chapter to pinpoint weaknesses. A final exam serves to reinforce concepts covered in the entire book. This fast and entertaining self-teaching course makes it much easier to - master serious quantum mechanics in easy-to-follow steps.This book cuts through the jargon and learn how to do quantum mechanics using worked examples. It helps reinforce learning and pinpoint weaknesses with questions at the end of each chapter and a comprehensive final exam. Learn about Schrodinger's equation, one dimensional scattering, Hilbert space, and the density operator. Find extensive explanations of spin and angular momentum, vector spaces, matrix mechanics, the harmonic oscillator, and the hydrogen atom. Perform better on qualifying or placement exams. Take a 'final exam' and grade it yourself! Clear enough for beginners, but challenging enough for those who already know something about advanced physics, "Quantum Mechanics Demystified" is the best self-teaching tool you can find!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

• Fun FORMAT makes this complex subject EASY to GRASP
• SOLUTIONS to typical problems are EXPLAINED in full DETAIL
• Perfect for SELF-STUDY or CLASS supplement
• Great for quick REVIEW or help PREPARE for the Physics Qualifying EXAM

LEARN QUANTUM MECHANICS AT WARP SPEED!
Now anyone can master the basics of quantum mechanics -- without formal training, unlimited time, or a genius IQ. In Quantum Mechanics Demystified, physicist (and student-savvy author) David McMahon provides an effective and illuminating way to learn the essentials of quantum mechanics.

With Quantum Mechanics Demystified, you master the subject one step at a time -- at your own speed. This unique self-teaching guide is filled with solved examples throughout, and offers problems to try at the end of each chapter to pinpoint weaknesses. A final exam serves to reinforce concepts covered in the entire book.

This fast and entertaining self-teaching course makes it much easier to --

• Master serious quantum mechanics in easy-to-follow steps
• Cut through the jargon and learn how to do quantum mechanics using worked examples
• Reinforce learning and pinpoint weaknesses with questions at the end of each chapter and a comprehensive final exam
• Learn about Schrodinger's equation, one dimensional scattering, Hilbert space, and the density operator
• Find extensive explanations of spin and angular momentum, vector spaces, matrix mechanics, the harmonic oscillator, and the hydrogen atom
• Perform better on qualifying or placement exams
• Take a "final exam" and grade it yourself!

Clear enough for beginners but challenging enough for those who already know something about advanced physics, Quantum Mechanics Demystified is the best self-teaching tool you can find!

About the Author

David McMahon (Albuquerque, NM) works as a researcher in the national labs on nuclear energy. He has advanced degrees in physics and applied mathematics and has written several titles for McGraw-Hill.

Product Details

• Paperback: 393 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (November 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071455469
• ISBN-13: 978-0071455466
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Nuclear Physics > Atomic & Nuclear Physics

More About the Author

I am is the author of Linear Algebra Demystified, Quantum Mechanics Demystified, Relativity Demystified, and A Beginner's Guide to Mathematica. He holds advanced degrees in physics and mathematics and works as a consultant at Sandia and Los Alamos National laboratories. He has worked on space nuclear propulsion, the ITER fusion project, optics, and quantum information theory. More information about my books including sample text can be found at http://www.davidmcmahonbooks.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Simple to understand, but WAY too many mistakes, April 27, 2006

By 

C. Diaz (EB, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quantum Mechanics Demystified (Paperback)

If this book didn't have LITERALLY at least one mistake on every page, I'd give it 5 stars. As it is, I have to spend half my time correcting the book. You should see how many things I've crossed out in mine. And the mistakes aren't just using p instead of rho (although there are plenty of those). Some fundamental equations that you need to know are given incorrectly. I'm only about 3 chapters through, but I can tell you that one of the answers to a problem in the Chapter 2 quiz is just plain wrong. (Number 7 - While dp/dt does equal 0, j(x,t) does not) You MUST have a strong grasp of physics and diffy q's to be able to get through this book. I'm giving it 3 stars as opposed to less because I find that I actually do end up with a good grasp of the material I just read, so it seems to be working.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Devil in the Details, February 16, 2006

By 

dradd00 "dradd00" (Lake Elsinore, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quantum Mechanics Demystified (Paperback)

This is a book unlike any other I could describe. The clarity and conciseness are to be highly commmended. The material is some of the clearest I've seen on this subject. It begins topics at a point that don't leave one feeling like there is a lot of hand waving going on and yet is not overly verbose either. Short of five stars because there are COUNTLESS silly errors in both the worked out problems and the included quizzes.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nugget of gold, December 20, 2005

By 

Working physicist - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quantum Mechanics Demystified (Paperback)

The glutted market for books on quantum mechanics populates a phase space where quality, utility, clarity vary greatly along with scope and breadth. This little book surprised me when I saw it. I purchased it and immediately worked through it and I was impressed. This author seems to establish a whole new paradigm, one based upon practical pedagogy. Instead of trying to impress the reader by showing he can solve complicated problems, the author impresses the readers that they can solve the problems. There is a consistency and uniformity to the presentation. Central concepts are reinforced through repetition. How I wish I had this volume when I went back to graduate school. After you complete the volume, you find that you have a tight grasp on the basic concepts of quantum mechanics. The author has impressed with his ability to convey the rudiments so clearly. I have tried to put my finger on his specific innovations. One that springs to mind is his presentation of the Bessel functions which have been hashed and rehashed. Here the author separates the functions into odd and even parity states. So by nudging us to a different vantage point, we gain a fresh perspective. This book will not replace the venerable Schaum's outline as a collection of practise problems; instead it is a book that students can use to teach themselves. I recommend this book at any time: before a first quantum physics course, during the course, between undergraduate and graduate physics, and as a refresher. Quantum Mechanics Demystified is a nice teaching aid that builds confidence. I hope that the other will attempt to work his magic on a follow-up volume on advanced quantum theory and yet one more volume on quantum field theory.