Physics 521

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II

Spring 2014

Annotated Bibliography


You may well find the following references helpful. A broad spectrum of books exists on the subject of quantum mechanics; I have attempted to sort them by their level of exposition. The Science Library should have many of them; if you cannot find a book, please let me know --- I may be able to lend you my copy.

Elementary Texts

The material in these texts could have been covered, in part, in Phy 361, Modern Physics, or in Phy 228, Relativity, Optics, and Thermal Physics.

R.P. Feynman, R. Leighton, and D. Sands, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, v. III.
Weisskopf once remarked that "Physics is simple, but subtle." The Feynman lectures are simple yet do not lack in subtlety.

A.P. French and E.F. Taylor, An Introduction to Quantum Physics.
Features an expanded presentation of the material in the early chapters of Gasiorowicz.

S. Tomonaga, The Story of Spin.
Largely qualitative lectures on how spin ``spins,'' detailing the historical development of the notion of spin in quantum mechanics. Tomonaga shared the 1965 Nobel prize in physics w/ Feynman and Schwinger for his contributions to quantum electrodynamics.

A.B. Pippard, The Physics of Vibration.

Introductory Texts

S. Gasiorowicz, Quantum Physics, 2nd ed.

D. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.
The ``other'' undergraduate quantum mechanics textbook.

R.H. Dicke and J.P. Wittke, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.

R.L. Liboff, Introductory Quantum Mechanics.

L. Pauling and R. Wilson, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.
Many of the examples, rarely found elsewhere, are taken from chemistry.

More Advanced Texts

C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, and F. Lalo\"e (CTDL), Quantum Mechanics, v. I and II.

A. Messiah, Quantum Mechanics, v. I and II
A classic. Newly offered by Dover in a single-volume format for a bargain price. Tougher going than CTDL.

L.I. Schiff, Quantum Mechanics.

D. Bohm, Quantum Theory.

G. Baym, Lectures on Quantum Mechanics.

L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics, 2nd ed.

H.A. Bethe and R. Jackiw, Intermediate Quantum Mechanics, 2nd ed.

Specialized Applications (incl. Atomic Physics)
A. Migdal, Qualitative Methods in Quantum Theory.

H.A. Bethe and Salpeter, Quantum Mechanics of One and Two-Electron Atoms.

E.U. Condon and G.H. Shortley, The Theory of Atomic Spectra.

A.R. Edmonds, Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics.

M. Rose, Elementary Theory of Angular Momentum.

LAST Updated: January 14, 2014.