Quantum Mechanics on the Personal Computer [Paperback]

The most up-to-date access to elementary quantum mechanics. Based on the interactive program Interquanta and its extensive 3D colour graphic features, the course guides its readers through computer experiments covering all aspects of quantum mechanics. A wide variety of more than 250 detailed, class-tested problems, provide students with unique practical experience in using such hard-to-visualise concepts as complex amplitudes, eigenvalues, and scattering cross sections. This 3rd edition includes three program versions: one requiring a coprocessor, one that can run without it, and a third program version optimised for 32-bit processors. For lecturers and teachers looking for excellent, hands-on classroom demonstrations for their quantum mechanics course.This book is essentially an extensive user's guide for INTERQUANTA, the Interactive Program of Quantum Mechanics which we will abbreviate hence? forth as IQ. The book also contains a short summary of the different subjects of quantum mechanics treated by IQ as well as a large number of exercises. The program can be used in two ways. By working through (at least a part of) these exercises, the user of IQ explores a computer laboratory in quantum mechanics gaining experience in this abstract field by performing computer experiments. No knowledge of computer programming is required. The user only has to learn how to use some of the simple IQ commands and, in par? ticular, the extensive HELP facilities. A simpler way to use IQ is to study one or several of the ready-made demonstrations. In each demonstration the user is taken through one chapter of quantum mechanics. Short explanatory texts displayed on the screen interchange with graphics illustrating quantum? mechanical problems which are solved by the program.1. Introduction.- 1.1 Interquanta.- 1.2 The Structure of this Book.- 1.3 The Demonstrations.- 1.4 The Computer Laboratory.- 1.5 Literature.- 2. Free Particle Motion in One Dimension.- 2.1 Physical Concepts.- 2.1.lÓQ