This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the principles and applications of quantum mechanics with equal emphasis on concept building and problem solving. The book follows an integrated approach to expose the students to applications of quantum mechanics in both physics and chemistry streams. A chapter is devoted to biological applications as well, to evince the interest of the students pursuing courses in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. Such unique organization of the book makes it suitable for both Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Chemistry courses, where the common areas like molecular structure and spectroscopy are emphasized.
The book, in its second edition, continues to serve as an ideal textbook for the first-year postgraduate students of both physics and chemistry as well as for senior undergraduate students pursuing honours courses in these disciplines. It has been thoroughly revised and enlarged with the introduction of a new chapter on “Quantum Statistics and Planck's Law of Black-Body Radiation”, some important sections in various chapters and more worked-out examples.
The book helps students learn difficult concepts of quantum mechanics with simpler mathematics and intuitive language, but without sacrificing rigour. It has informal classroom type approach suitable for self-learning.
Key Features
• Gives about 200 worked-out examples and chapter-end problems with hints and answers related to different areas of modern science including biology.
• Highlights important technological developments based on Quantum Mechanics, such as electron microscope, scanning tunnelling microscope, lasers, Raman spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
• Provides adequate number of illustrations.
• Includes detailed mathematical derivations separately in Appendices for a more rigorous approach.
About the Author
RABI MAJUMDAR (Ph.D.) is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata. Earlier he was Professor and Head of the Biophysics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, where he spent most of his research career. He also served as a faculty member in the Department of Physics, University of Delhi for 15 years. In the year 2000, Dr. Majumdar was appointed CSIR Emeritus Scientist for five years in the Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta where he designed courses in the areas of Theoretical Biophysics and Computational Biology. Dr. Majumdar is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, since 1997. He was the President of the Indian Biophysical Society during 2001–2003. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, and has published more than 40 research papers in various frontline national and international journals. With more than 40 years of teaching experience in Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Chemistry and Computational Biology, Dr. Majumdar’s areas of research interest include Quantum Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics.
Table of Contents:
Preface • Acknowledgements • Table of Constants • The Periodic Table
1. Early Days of Quantum Theory and the Wave Nature of Electrons
2. The Schrödinger Equation and Operators in Quantum Mechanics
3. Particles in Potential Wells and Tunnelling through Barriers
4. The Harmonic Oscillator: A Model for Molecular Vibrations
5. The Rigid Rotator: A Model for Molecular Rotations and the Angular Momentum
6. The Hydrogen Atom: Energy Levels and Atomic Orbitals
7. The Electron Spin and Related Phenomena
8. Chemical Bonding: Molecular Orbitals and Energy Levels of Electrons in Molecules
9. Perturbation Theories and Selection Rules for Transitions
10. Elements of Molecular Spectroscopy and Lasers
11. Hybrid Orbitals in Carbon Compounds and the Planar Molecule Ethylene
12. The Huckel Molecular Orbital Theory with Applications to Polyatomic Molecules
13. Self-consistent Field Molecular Orbital Theories in Quantum Chemistry
14. Symmetry Elements of Molecules and Group Theory
15. Weak Bonds and the Molecules of Life
Appendices • References • Answers to Problems with Hints • Index
