Quantum Physics For Dummies, Revised Edition

Index

Numerics

3D free particles, 172–177, 195–197

3D harmonic oscillators, 184–187

3D Schrödinger equation, 169–172

• A •

adjoint, Hermitian

overview, 35–36

writing as bras, 28–29

amplitude, scattering

finding, 286–287

relating differential cross section and, 285–286

spinless particles, tracking, 283–284

angular momentum. See also spin

eigenstates, 131–133

eigenvalues, 133–139

finding commutators of L_x, L_y, and L_z operators, 130–131

interpreting with matrix representation, 139–146

momentum operators, 129

operators, 128–130

overview, 127–128

position operators, 129

spherical coordinate system, 146–155

annihilation operator, 94

anti-Hermitian operators, 37–38

antisymmetric wave functions

building, 246–247

identical particles, 244

swapping particles, 237–239

atoms, quantized nature of, 301. See also hydrogen atom

• B •

black-body radiation

overview, 10–11

Planck's quantization rule, 12–13

Rayleigh-Jeans Law, 12

Wien's Formula, 12

Bohr, Niels, 217

Bohr radius, 63, 217

Born approximation, 288–292

bosons, 161, 245–246

bound states, particle, 60

box potentials. See also rectangular coordinates

cubic potential, 183–184

determining energy levels, 180–181

overview, 177–180

bra-ket (Dirac) notation

abbreviating state vectors as kets, 27–28

bras and kets as basis-less state vectors, 30

multiplying bras and kets, 29

overview, 26

writing Hermitian conjugates as bras, 28–29

bras

as basis-less state vectors, 30

multiplying, 29

writing Hermitian conjugates as, 28–29

built-in angular momentum (spin) ...