Quantum Mechanics (book)

Quantum Mechanics

Author	Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu [fr] and Franck Laloë
Original title	Mécanique quantique
Language	French
Subject	Quantum mechanics
Published	1973 (Vol. I and II) 2017 (Vol. III)
Publisher	Collection Enseignement des Sciences
Publication place	Paris, France

Quantum Mechanics (French: Mécanique quantique), often called the Cohen-Tannoudji, is a series of standard ungraduate-level quantum mechanics textbook written originally in French by Nobel laureate in Physics Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu [fr] and Franck Laloë; in 1973. The first edition was published by Collection Enseignement des Sciences in Paris, and was translated to English by Wiley.[1]

The book was originally divided into two volumes. A third volume was published in 2017.[2]

The book structure is notable for having an extensive set of complementary chapters, introduced along with a "reader's guide", at the end of each main chapter.[1]

Table of contents

Vol. 1

• I. Waves and particles. Introduction to the ideas of quantum mechanics
• II. Mathematical tools of quantum mechanics
• III. The postulates of quantum mechanics
• IV. Applications of the postulates to simple cases: Spin-1/2 and two-level systems
• V. The one dimensional harmonic oscillator
• VI. General properties of angular momentum in quantum mechanics
• VII. Particle in a central potential: the hydrogen atom

Vol. 2

• VIII An elementary approach to the quantum theory of scattering by a potential
• IX. Electron spin
• X. Addition of angular momenta
• XI. Stationary perturbation theory
• XII. An application of perturbation theory: The fine and hyperfine structure of the hydrogen atom
• XIII. Approximation methods for time-dependent problems
• XIV. Systems of identical particles
• Appendices

Vol. 3

• XV. Creation and annihilation operators for identical particles
• XIV. Field operator
• XVI. Paired states of identical particles
• XVII. Review of classical electrodynamics
• XIX. Quantization of electromagnetic radiation
• XX. Absorption, emission and scattering of photons by atoms
• XXI. Quantum entanglement, measurements, Bell's inequalities
• Appendices

Reception

Bernd Crasemann writing for the American Journal of Physics praised the book for its clarity and its unusual structure that introduces the reader to intermediate topics.[1] According to him, the "gems" of the book are the complements related to atomic, molecular, and optical physics; condensed matter physics and nuclear physics.[1] The book has also been suggested as a complement to simplified introductory books in quantum mechanics.[3]

Experimental physicist and 2022 Nobel laureate in Physics Alain Aspect, has frequently mentioned that the book was a revelation early in his career, helping him better understand the research papers of quantum mechanics and the work of John Stewart Bell.[4][5][6]

See also

• Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, an undergraduate text by David J. Griffiths
• Modern Quantum Mechanics undergraduate book by J. J. Sakurai
• List of textbooks on classical mechanics and quantum mechanics

References

1. Crasemann, Bernd (1979-07-01). "Quantum Mechanics". American Journal of Physics. 47 (7): 662. Bibcode:1979AmJPh..47..662C. doi:10.1119/1.11749. ISSN 0002-9505.
2. "Quantum Mechanics, Volume 3: Fermions, Bosons, Photons, Correlations, and Entanglement | Wiley". Wiley.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
3. Harshman, Nathan L. (2019-03-01). "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3rded.)". American Journal of Physics. 87 (3): 237–239. doi:10.1119/1.5089754. ISSN 0002-9505.
4. "Alain Aspect, prix Nobel de physique 2022". CNRS Le journal (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
5. Haït, Jean-François (2022-10-04). "Alain Aspect, prix Nobel de physique 2022 : "La deuxième révolution de la physique quantique ne fait que commencer"". Sciences et Avenir (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
6. "The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 2024-09-26.