Principles of Quantum Mechanics


Principles of Quantum Mechanics is a textbook by Ramamurti Shankar. The book has been through two editions. It is used in many college courses around the world.

Contents

  1. Mathematical Introduction
  2. Review of Classical Mechanics
  3. All Is Not Well with Classical Mechanics
  4. The Postulates - a General Discussion
  5. Simple Problems in One Dimension
  6. The Classical Limit
  7. The Harmonic Oscillator
  8. The Path Integral Formulation of Quantum Theory
  9. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Relations
  10. Systems with Degrees of Freedom
  11. Symmetries and Their Consequences
  12. Rotational Invariance and Angular Momentum
  13. The Hydrogen Atom
  14. Spin
  15. Addition of Angular Momenta
  16. Variational and WKB Methods
  17. Time-Independent Perturbation Theory
  18. Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory
  19. Scattering Theory
  20. The Dirac Equation
  21. Path Integrals - II
  22. Appendix

    Reviews

Physics Bulletin said about the book, "No matter how gently one introduces students to the concept of Dirac’s bras and kets, many are turned off. Shankar attacks the problem head-on in the first chapter, and in a very informal style suggests that there is nothing to be frightened of". American Scientist called it "An excellent text … The postulates of quantum mechanics and the mathematical underpinnings are discussed in a clear, succinct manner".