This textbook presents quantum mechanics at the junior/senior undergraduate level. It is unique in that it describes not only quantum theory, but also presents five laboratories that explore truly modern aspects of quantum mechanics. These laboratories include "proving" that light contains
photons, single-photon interference, and tests of local realism.
The text begins by presenting the classical theory of polarization, moving on to describe the quantum theory of polarization. Analogies between the two theories minimize conceptual difficulties that students typically have
when first presented with quantum mechanics. Furthermore, because the laboratories involve studying photons, using photon polarization as a prototypical quantum system allows the laboratory work to be closely integrated with the coursework.
Polarization represents a two-dimensional
quantum system, so the introduction to quantum mechanics uses two-dimensional state vectors and operators. This allows students to become comfortable with the mathematics of a relatively simple system, before moving on to more complicated systems. After describing polarization, the text goes on to
describe spin systems, time evolution, continuous variable systems (particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, etc.), and perturbation theory.
The book also includes chapters which describe material that is frequently absent from undergraduate texts: quantum measurement,
entanglement, quantum field theory and quantum information. This material is connected not only to the laboratories described in the text, but also to other recent experiments. Other subjects covered that do not often make their way into undergraduate texts are coherence, complementarity, mixed
states, the density operator and coherent states.
Supplementary material includes further details about implementing the laboratories, including parts lists and software for running the experiments. Computer simulations of some of the experiments are available as well. A solutions manual
for end-of-chapter problems is available to instructors.
Preface
Table of Symbols
1. Mathematical Preliminaries
2. Classical Description of Polarization
3. Quantum States
4. Operators
5. Measurement
6. Spin-1/2
7. Angular Momentum and Rotation
8. Two-Particle Systems and Entanglement
9. Time Evolution and the
Schr"dinger Equation
10. Position and Momentum
11. Wave Mechanics and the Schr"dinger Equation
12. The Harmonic Oscillator
13. Wave Mechanics in Three Dimensions
14. Time-Independent Perturbation Theory
15. Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory
16. Quantum Fields
17.
Quantum Information
Laboratories
Getting Started
Before Lab
Important Laboratory Safety Tips
Lab 1: Spontaneous Parametric Downconversion
Lab 2: 'Proof' of the Existence of Photons
Lab 3: Single Photon Interference
Lab 4: Quantum State Measurement
Lab 5: Testing
Local Realism
There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.
Mark Beck received his Bachelor's and Doctoral degrees in Optics from the University of Rochester. He has taught physics at Reed College, and is currently the Benjamin H. Brown Professor of Physics at Whitman College. His research interests include quantum optics and quantum measurement.
