Quantum Mechanics in Nanoscience and Engineering

Quantum Mechanics in Nanoscience and Engineering covers both elementary and advanced quantum mechanics within a coherent and self-contained framework. Undergraduate students of physics, chemistry and engineering will find comprehensive coverage of their introductory quantum mechanics courses, and graduate students will gain an understanding of additional tools and concepts necessary to describe real world phenomena. Each topic presented is first motivated by an experimental technique, phenomenon or concept derived directly from the realm of nanoscience and technology. The machinery of quantum mechanics is described and reinforced through the perspective of nanoscale phenomena, and in this manner practical and fundamental questions are raised and answered. The main text remains fluent and accessible by leaving technical details and mathematical proofs to guided exercises. Introductory readers may overlook these exercises, while rigorous students can benefit from reading the guidance or solving the exercises in full to strengthen and consolidate their understanding of the material.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1. Motivation; 2. The state of a system; 3. Observables and operators; 4. The Schrödinger equation; 5. Energy quantization; 6. Wave function penetration, tunneling and quantum wells; 7. The continuous spectrum and scattering states; 8. Mechanical vibrations and the harmonic oscillator model; 9. Two-body rotation and angular momentum; 10. The hydrogen-like atom; 11. The postulates of quantum mechanics; 12. Approximation methods; 13. Many-electron systems; 14. Many-atom systems; 15. Quantum dynamics; 16. Incoherent states; 17. Quantum rate processes; 18. Thermal rates in a bosonic environment; 19. Open quantum systems; 20. Open Many-Fermion systems; Index.

About the Author :
Uri Peskin is Professor of Chemistry and a member of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute and the Helen Diller Quantum Center at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. His expertise lies in atomic and molecular physics, and scientific computing, with emphasis on quantum dynamics on the nanoscale. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California at Berkeley, and a visiting professor at Harvard and Freiburg universities. His research and teaching of quantum mechanics won him several awards, including the Yanai Prize for Excellence in Academic Education.

Review :
'As quantum effects increasingly take centre stage in chemistry, physics and materials research, it is important for researchers to have deep physical and mathematical understanding of quantum mechanics. This is a textbook for our times, with very clear explanations of both fundamental concepts and detailed extensions to a range of applications. Whether your scientific journey is from physics towards molecular sciences, from chemistry towards non-equilibrium physics, across the broad spectrum of activities that encompass nano-science or something in between, I am sure this book will be a welcome companion for your adventures.' Gemma C. Solomon, University of Copenhagen 'With its focus on real-world phenomena at the smallest scales, this truly interdisciplinary book opens the eyes of the reader to the significance of quantum theory in the natural sciences and beyond. With its many instructive illustrations and exercises the book serves as an introductory text for undergraduate students as well as a stepping stone for future practitioners at the forefront of present-day research on open and many-particle quantum systems. It also contains a lot of up-to-date material for any lecturer who wants to modernize their course.' Frank Großmann, Technische Universität Dresden 'With its clear and concise explanations and focus on the understanding of real-world phenomena, the book is successful in achieving its goals.' Anca Sala, Optics and Photonics News