by Chris J Isham (Imperial College)

Preface (134k)
Table of Contents (178k)
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 1.1: Scope of the Book (337k)
Chapter 1.2: A Summary of Wave Mechanics (429k)
Chapter 1.3: Beyond Introductory Wave Mechanics (311k)

This book is based on material taught to final-year physics undergraduates as part of the theoretical physics option at Imperial College. After a self-contained introduction to the essential ideas of vector spaces and linear operators, a bridge is built between the concepts and mathematics of classical physics, and the new mathematical framework employed in quantum mechanics. The axioms of nonrelativistic quantum theory are introduced, and shown to lead to a variety of new conceptual problems. Subjects discussed include state-vector reduction, the problem of measurement, quantum entanglement, the Kochen-Specker theorem, and the Bell inequalities. The book includes twenty-five problems with worked solutions.

• Introduction
• Vector Spaces
• Linear Operators
• Properties in Classical Physics
• The General Formalism of Quantum Theory
• Technical Developments
• Unitary Operators in Quantum Theory
• Some Conceptual Issues in Quantum Theory
• Properties in Quantum Physics
• Problems and Answers
• Bibliography
• Index