This excellent, clear textbook is intended for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. The authors applied their pedagogical experience to present the unique material in an original formulation based on geometric concepts that forms a transition from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics. Their detailed derivations of wave mechanics, Poisson brackets, and the harmonic oscillator are rare in textbooks. The physical implications of various formulations are discussed in great detail; from SchrÓ§dinger’s wave mechanics to Feynman’s path integrals. Their exposition of unique physical insights together with their detailed mathematical expression is most welcome. Each chapter contains problem sets and there are references and an index. The chapter on experimental foundations of quantum theory is replete with rare physical explanations and insights. The various approximation methods are presented in a unified approach as are the modern pictures of quantum mechanics. This textbook provides a good introduction to the tomographic picture which allows classical and quantum descriptions to compared.
Review by Barry R. Masters, Fellow of AAAS, OSA and SPIE.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or OSA.