This text appeals to readers' intuitive grasp of the wave theory of
light, explaining how quantum mechanics arises from the diffraction and
interference experiments in the same manner of physical optics. Coherent
examples explore the quantum mechanical analog of classical quantities,
and the entire work examines the physical meanings of the theory and its
applications.
Providing a semester's worth of introductory material, this treatment
explores quantum mechanics in a balanced, integrated manner. Subjects
explored in the introductory chapters were chosen for their mathematical
simplicity. Physical applications stressed in later chapters will
prepare students for topics they are likely to encounter early in
further studies of atomic and nuclear physics.