Description

This monograph is written within the framework of the quantum mechanical paradigm. It is modest in scope in that it is restricted to some observations and solved illustrative problems not readily available in any of the many standard (and several excellent) texts or books with solved problems that have been written on this subject. Additionally a few more or less standard problems are included for continuity and purposes of comparison. The hope is that the points made and problems solved will give the student some additional insights and a better grasp of this fascinating but mathematically somewhat involved branch of physics. The hundred and fourteen problems discussed have intentionally been chosen to involve a minimum of technical complexity while still illustrating the consequences of the quantum-mechanical formalism. Concerning notation, useful expressions are displayed in rectangular boxes while calculational details which one may wish to skip are included in square brackets. Beirut HARRY A. MAVROMATIS June, 1985 IX Preface to Second Edition More than five years have passed since I prepared the first edition of this mono- graph. The present revised edition is more attractive in layout than its predecessor, and most, if not all of the errors in the original edition (many of which were kindly pointed out by reviewers, colleagues, and students) have now been corrected. Additionally the material in the original fourteen chapters has been extended with significant additions to Chapters 8, 13, and 14.