Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

* Which problems do arise within relativistic enhancements of the Schrodinger theory, especially if one adheres to the usual one-particle interpretation? * To what extent can these problems be overcome? * What is the physical necessity of quantum field theories? In many textbooks, only insufficient answers to these fundamental questions are provided by treating the relativistic quantum mechanical one-particle concept very superficially and instead introducing field quantization as soon as possible. By contrast, this book emphasizes particularly this point of view (relativistic quantum mechanics in the "narrow sense"): it extensively discusses the relativistic one-particle view and reveals its problems and limitations, therefore illustrating the necessity of quantized fields in a physically comprehensible way. The first two chapters contain a detailed presentation and comparison of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac theory, always with a view to the non-relativistic theory. In the third chapter, we consider relativistic scattering processes and develop the Feynman rules from propagator techniques. This is where the indispensability of quantum field theory reasoning becomes apparent and basic quantum field theory concepts are introduced. This textbook addresses undergraduate and graduate Physics students who are interested in a clearly arranged and structured presentation of relativistic quantum mechanics in the "narrow sense" and its connection to quantum field theories. Each section contains a short summary and exercises with solutions. A mathematical appendix rounds out this excellent textbook on relativistic quantum mechanics.

ISBN 904813644X   Pages 388 ISBN13 9789048136445 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 719 Publisher Springer   Published in Dordrecht Imprint Springer   Series title Theoretical and Mathematical Physics Format Hardback   Height (mm) 234 Publication date 01 Mar 2010   Width (mm) 156 DEWEY 530.12   Spine width (mm) 22 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

		List of Exercises
1		Relativistic Description of Spin-O Particles		1
1.1		Klein-Gordon Equation		4
1.1.1		Canonical and Lorentz-covariant Formulations of the Klein-Gordon Equation		4
1.1.2		Hamilton Formulation of the Klein-Gordon Equation		9
1.1.3		Interpretation of Negative Solutions, Antiparticles		12
		Exercises		18
1.2		Symmetry Transformations		21
1.2.1		Active and Passive Transformations		21
1.2.2		Lorentz Transformations		23
1.2.3		Discrete Transformations		24
		Exercises		29
1.3		One-Particle Interpretation of the Klein-Gordon Theory		30
1.3.1		Generalized Scalar Product		30
1.3.2		One-particle Operators and Feshbach-Villars Representation		33
1.3.3		Validity Range of the One-particle Concept		39
1.3.4		Klein Paradox		42
		Exercises		46
1.4		Nonrelativistic Approximation of the Klein-Gordon Theory		51
1.4.1		Nonrelativistic Limit		51
1.4.2		Relativistic Corrections		53
		Exercises		58
1.5		Simple One-Particle Systems		61
1.5.1		Potential Well		62
1.5.2		Radial Klein-Gordon Equation		66
1.5.3		Free Particle and Spherically Symmetric Potential Well		68
		More...

From the reviews: "The main focus of this book is the extent to which relativistic quantum mechanics can be applied. ! This textbook is written very clearly ! . a valuable asset for teaching purposes. Its main value is the detailed discussion of relativistic corrections to non-relativistic problems in quantum mechanics, which could be very useful for anyone interested in such contributions. ! the book is equally well suited as a basis for lectures, for self-study, or as a reference work for active research." (Axel Maas, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2011 m)

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