Quantum physics

Author: Zhao Kaihua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: From the perspective of teaching order, Quantum Physics is the fifth volume of the New Concept Physics Tutorial. The writing and reform philosophy of each volume in the series are consistent, but this volume has a greater degree of reform, emphasizing the presentation of quantum physics in the style of general physics courses. Quantum Physics starts from experimental facts and introduces concepts from specific to general, placing more emphasis on visualization and intuition rather than strict logical rigor or theoretical completeness and systematicity. In terms of mathematical tools, Quantum Physics employs Dirac notation and matrices from the very beginning, adopting a teaching system that is different from, and even inverted compared to, the traditional quantum mechanics based on partial differential equations. The book only introduces the basic concepts and framework of quantum mechanics and does not cover many fundamental and important computational methods in quantum mechanics. Therefore, physics majors must study "Quantum Mechanics" as a theoretical physics course after completing this volume of the textbook. When formulating teaching plans for physics majors, we often encounter a challenge: some important courses, such as solid-state physics and nuclear physics, need to wait for the quantum mechanics course to be offered first, forcing them to be scheduled quite late. We believe that after students read this volume of the textbook, the aforementioned courses will no longer need to wait for quantum mechanics, which will provide considerable flexibility in formulating teaching plans. Additionally, studying this volume will also greatly benefit physics majors in conducting modern physics experiments. Traditionally, the fifth part of general physics courses is "Atomic Physics," and Quantum Physics differs from atomic physics textbooks in that it abandons the long-standing domestic model of atomic physics textbooks focusing on atomic spectra and the old quantum theory of Bohr. Instead, it starts from the very beginning with the basic concepts and language of quantum mechanics, providing a relatively comprehensive introduction to various aspects of contemporary quantum physics. In addition to the traditional content of atomic physics courses, it also covers topics such as quantum resonance, potential barrier tunneling, energy bands, semiconductors, phonons and quasi-particles, superconductors, the Aharonov-Bohm effect, Josephson junctions, molecular orbitals and their hybridization, and serves as a window to briefly introduce recent advances in quantum physics such as quantum entanglement, the experimental realization of Schr?dinger's cat, the experimental verification of Bell's inequality, and quantum teleportation and quantum computing. However, in terms of course continuity, Quantum Physics only requires readers to have studied the optics part of general physics, calculus, and linear algebra. The time requirement is roughly similar to that of atomic physics courses. This book is the research outcome of the Ministry of Education's "21st Century Higher Education Teaching Content and Curriculum System Reform Plan" and is recognized as a "21st Century Curriculum Textbook," a national key textbook for the "9th Five-Year Plan," and a "9th Five-Year Plan" physics and astronomy teaching guidance textbook for higher education institutions under the Ministry of Education. The book includes six chapters and three appendices covering experimental foundations and basic principles, atoms and molecules, atomic nuclei and particles, and new developments in quantum mechanics. This book can serve as a textbook for physics majors in higher education institutions and is particularly suitable for use in training bases for physics talent cultivation. For other science and engineering majors, it is also a reference book for teachers and supplementary reading for excellent students.