Hi all!

 

I have recently finished studying the Open University module on quantum mechanics, SM358.

 

Unfortunately, Open University science courses (for all their many advantages) are rather maths shy and although this is designated as an 'SM' (science/maths) module, it left something to be desired as regards to mathematics.

 

Specifically (the things I am aware of), it skirted around Hilbert space without ever explicitly mentioning it. No coverage of projection operators or tensor products, no density matrix and no decoherence. No mention of matrix mechanics in general (spinors for spin-1/2 were covered).

 

I am looking for books, ebooks or other resources that can take me forward and, perhaps, prepare me for the study of quantum field theory.

 

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

I am looking for books, ebooks or other resources that can take me forward and, perhaps, prepare me for the study of quantum field theory.

 

Unless you are going to get into the mathematics of quantum mechanics in a big way, preparation for quantum field theory should really include a lot of special relativity, group theory, Lie algebras and classical field theory.

Unless you are going to get into the mathematics of quantum mechanics in a big way, preparation for quantum field theory should really include a lot of special relativity, group theory, Lie algebras and classical field theory.

Thanks. Getting into the mathematics 'in a big way' is indeed my ultimate intention (and I'm not expecting to do it overnight ).

 

I have been doing this for two years already and, in addition to the QM module, have completed MST209 (some field stuff, div, grad, curl) and M208 (some group theory) and worked through a number of texts on special relativity. I am interested in mathematics for its own sake too (taking Number theory and mathematical logic (M381) and Complex analysis (M337) in 2011).

 

My interest in the mathematics accounts for a certain amount of frustration with the QM module (which was 'level 3', i.e. third year degree module) as it was fairly obviously avoiding some mathematical concepts (although most people who took the course were complaining that it was too mathematical).

 

What I'm really looking for, at this stage, is something to fill in the holes.

My interest in the mathematics accounts for a certain amount of frustration with the QM module (which was 'level 3', i.e. third year degree module) as it was fairly obviously avoiding some mathematical concepts (although most people who took the course were complaining that it was too mathematical).

 

I am not surprised by this. My experience with undergraduate quantum mechanics was similar.

 

A book I like is Quantum Mechanics by F. Schwabl. It contains some a more modern way of thinking and covers some more abstract material. Dirac's book I also found useful, The principles of quantum mechanics. Though don't read the bits about QFT! We have come a long way since the book was written.

 

If you are looking for the mathematics behind quantum mechanics then you are interested in functional analysis and C*-algebras .

 

 

What I'm really looking for, at this stage, is something to fill in the holes.

 

Good luck.