Mastering Quantum Mechanics

This textbook is meant for students who have had some prior exposure to quantum mechanics and want to move to the next level. It aims to support those who are a little behind while providing a new perspective for more advanced students.

Covering material for a two-semester or three-quarter course, it offers a comprehensive background for further specialized and advanced studies in atomic, nuclear, particle, and condensed matter physics. Since some prior exposure to quantum mechanics is assumed, the most basic topics are treated briefly but with a higher perspective. The book begins with Mathematical Foundations and Basics of Quantum Mechanics. A lot of interesting physics can be explained with One-Dimensional Problems. Subsequent chapters delve into Angular Momentum, Quantum Problems in Higher Dimensions, and Identical Particles. The text then introduces Approximation Methods for Time-Independent Problems, as well as Time-Dependent Quantum Mechanics. The final chapters explore advanced topics, including Electromagnetic Radiation, Scattering Theory, and Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Zoltan Papp is a Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach. He earned his diploma in physics from the University of Debrecen, Hungary, in 1981, followed by a PhD in physics from the Institute of Nuclear Research in 1986. In 1993, he was awarded the title of Candidate of the Physical Sciences by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. His research career began in 1981 as a research assistant in theoretical nuclear physics at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Debrecen. He held postdoctoral and research positions in Germany and Hungary and served as a senior research scientist at the Institute of Nuclear Physics until 2003. He was also a guest professor multiple times at the University of Graz, Austria. He joined California State University, Long Beach in 2000 as a senior lecturer and became a tenured professor in 2007. His work focuses on theoretical nuclear physics, and he has contributed extensively to the field through both research and teaching.