The aim of this book is to explain the basic concepts and phenomena of quantum mechanics by means of visualization. Computer-generated illustrations are used extensively throughout the text, helping to establish the relation between quantum mechanics-wave functions, interference, atomic structure, and so forth-and classical physics-point mechanics, statistical mechanics, and wave optics. Even more important, by studying the pictures in parallel with the text, readers develop an intuition for such notoriously abstract phenomena as • the tunnel effect • excitation and decay of metastable states • wave packet motion within a well • systems of distinguishable and indistinguishable particles • free wave packets and scattering in three dimensions • angular momentum decomposition • stationary bound states in various three-dimensional potentials • Kepler motion of wave packets in the Coulomb field • spin and magnetic resonance Illustrations from experiments in a variety of fields, including chemistry, and molecular, atomic, nuclear, and particle physics, underline the basic as well as the practical importance of quantum mechanics. This third edition includes a CD-ROM with all illustrations from the book in full color, suitable for direct display or for printing out as posters or teaching aids. It also includes a new chapter on quantile motion and tunneling time, as well as some additional phenomena and examples.
