This textbook is the result of many years of teaching quantum and statistical mechanics, drawing on exercises and exam papers used on courses taught by the authors. The subjects of the exercises have been carefully selected to cover all the material which is most needed by students. Each exercise is carefully solved in full details, explaining the theory behind the solution with particular care for those issues that students often find difficult, or which are often neglected in other books on the subject. The exercises in this book never require extensive calculations but tend to be somewhat unusual and force the solver to think about the problem starting from first principles, rather than by analogy with some previously solved exercise.
In order to equip hopeful graduate students with the knowledge necessary to pass the qualifying examination, the authors have assembled and solved standard and original problems from major American universities – Boston University, University of Chicago, University of Colorado at Boulder, Columbia, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, MIT, Princeton, Rutgers, Stanford, Stony Brook, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison – and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. A wide range of material is covered and comparisons are made between similar problems of different schools to provide the student with enough information to feel comfortable and confident at the exam. Guide to Physics Problems is published in two volumes: this book, Part 2, covers Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics; Part 1, covers Mechanics, Relativity and Electrodynamics. Praise for A Guide to Physics Problems: Part 2: Thermodynamics, Statistical Physics, and Quantum Mechanics: "... A Guide to Physics Problems, Part 2 not only serves an important function, but is a pleasure to read. By selecting problems from different universities and even different scientific cultures, the authors have effectively avoided a one-sided approach to physics. All the problems are good, some are very interesting, some positively intriguing, a few are crazy; but all of them stimulate the reader to think about physics, not merely to train you to pass an exam. I personally received considerable pleasure in working the problems, and I would guess that anyone who wants to be a professional physicist would experience similar enjoyment. ... This book will be a great help to students and professors, as well as a source of pleasure and enjoyment." (From Foreword by Max Dresden) "An excellent resource for graduate students in physics and, one expects, also for their teachers." (Daniel Kleppner, Lester Wolfe Professor of Physics Emeritus, MIT) "A nice selection of problems ... Thought-provoking, entertaining, and just plain fun to solve." (Giovanni Vignale, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri at Columbia) "Interesting indeed and enjoyable. The problems are ingenious and their solutions very informative. I would certainly recommend it to all graduate students and physicists in general ... Particularly useful for teachers who would like to think about problems to present in their course." (Joel Lebowitz, Rutgers University) "A very thoroughly assembled, interesting set of problems that covers the key areas of physics addressed by Ph.D. qualifying exams. ... Will prove most useful to both faculty and students. Indeed, I plan to use this material as a source of examples and illustrations that will be worked into my lectures." (Douglas Mills, University of California at Irvine)
A thorough understanding of statistical mechanics depends strongly on the insights and manipulative skills that are acquired through the solving of problems. Problems on Statistical Mechanics provides over 120 problems with model solutions, illustrating both basic principles and applications that range from solid-state physics to cosmology. An introductory chapter provides a summary of the basic concepts and results that are needed to tackle the problems, and also serves to establish the notation that is used throughout the book. The problems themselves occupy five chapters, progressing from the simpler aspects of thermodynamics and equilibrium statistical ensembles to the more challenging ideas associated with strongly interacting systems and nonequilibrium processes. Comprehensive solutions to all of the problems are designed to illustrate efficient and elegant problem-solving techniques. Where appropriate, the authors incorporate extended discussions of the points of principle that arise in the course of the solutions. The appendix provides useful mathematical formulae.
The material for these volumes has been selected from the past twenty years' examination questions for graduate students at University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, MIT, State University of New York at Buffalo, Princeton University and University of Wisconsin.
This topical and timely textbook is a collection of problems for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in state-of-the-art material and device applications in quantum mechanics. Most problem are relevant either to a new device or a device concept or to current research topics which could spawn new technology. It deals with the practical aspects of the field, presenting a broad range of essential topics currently at the leading edge of technological innovation. Includes discussion on: Properties of Schroedinger Equation Operators Bound States in Nanostructures Current and Energy Flux Densities in Nanostructures Density of States Transfer and Scattering Matrix Formalisms for Modelling Diffusive Quantum Transport Perturbation Theory, Variational Approach and their Applications to Device Problems Electrons in a Magnetic or Electromagnetic Field and Associated Phenomena Time-dependent Perturbation Theory and its Applications Optical Properties of Nanostructures Problems in Quantum Mechanics: For Material Scientists, Applied Physicists and Device Engineers is an ideal companion to engineering, condensed matter physics or materials science curricula. It appeals to future and present engineers, physicists, and materials scientists, as well as professionals in these fields needing more in-depth understanding of nanotechnology and nanoscience.
This volume is a comprehensive compilation of carefully selected questions at the PhD qualifying exam level, including many actual questions from Columbia University, University of Chicago, MIT, State University of New York at Buffalo, Princeton University, University of Wisconsin and the University of California at Berkeley over a twenty-year period. Topics covered in this book include the basic principles of quantum phenomena, particles in potentials, motion in electromagnetic fields, perturbation theory and scattering theory, among many others.This latest edition has been updated with more problems and solutions and the original problems have also been modernized, excluding outdated questions and emphasizing those that rely on calculations. The problems range from fundamental to advanced in a wide range of topics on quantum mechanics, easily enhancing the student's knowledge through workable exercises. Simple-to-solve problems play a useful role as a first check of the student's level of knowledge whereas difficult problems will challenge the student's capacity on finding the solutions.
Statistical mechanics is concerned with defining the thermodynamic properties of a macroscopic sample in terms of the properties of the microscopic systems of which it is composed. The previous book Introduction to Statistical Mechanics provided a clear, logical, and self-contained treatment of equilibrium statistical mechanics starting from Boltzmann's two statistical assumptions, and presented a wide variety of applications to diverse physical assemblies. An appendix provided an introduction to non-equilibrium statistical mechanics through the Boltzmann equation and its extensions. The coverage in that book was enhanced and extended through the inclusion of many accessible problems. The current book provides solutions to those problems. These texts assume only introductory courses in classical and quantum mechanics, as well as familiarity with multi-variable calculus and the essentials of complex analysis. Some knowledge of thermodynamics is also assumed, although the analysis starts with an appropriate review of that topic. The targeted audience is first-year graduate students and advanced undergraduates, in physics, chemistry, and the related physical sciences. The goal of these texts is to help the reader obtain a clear working knowledge of the very useful and powerful methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics and to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the more advanced texts.
Many students find quantum mechanics conceptually difficult when they first encounter the subject. In this book, the postulates and key applications of quantum mechanics are well illustrated by means of a carefully chosen set of problems, complete with detailed, step-by-step solutions. Beginning with a chapter on orders of magnitude, a variety of topics are then covered, including the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics, Schrödinger's equation, angular momentum, the hydrogen atom, the harmonic oscillator, spin, time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, the variational method, multielectron atoms, transitions and scattering. Throughout, the physical interpretation or application of certain results is highlighted, thereby providing useful insights into a wide range of systems and phenomena. This approach will make the book invaluable to anyone taking an undergraduate course in quantum mechanics.
