Quantum Mechanics for Beginners

Abstract

Quantum mechanics is a highly successful yet a mysterious theory. Quantum Mechanics for Beginners provides an introduction of this fascinating subject to someone with only a high school background in physics and mathematics. This book, except the last chapter on the Schrödinger equation, is entirely algebra-based. A major strength of this book is that, in addition to the foundation of quantum mechanics, it provides an introduction to the fields of quantum communication and quantum computing. The topics covered include wave–particle duality, the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, Bohr’s principle of complementarity, quantum superposition and entanglement, Schrödinger’s cat, Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox, Bell theorem, quantum no-cloning theorem and quantum copying, quantum eraser and delayed choice, quantum teleportation, quantum key distribution protocols such as BB-84 and B-92, counterfactual communication, quantum money, quantum Fourier transform, quantum computing protocols including Shor and Grover algorithms, quantum dense coding, and quantum tunneling. All these topics and more are explained fully but using only elementary mathematics. Each chapter is followed by a short list of references and some exercises. This book is meant for an advanced high school student and a beginning college student and can be used as a text for a one semester course at the undergraduate level. However it can also be a useful and accessible book for those who are not familiar but want to learn some of the fascinating recent and ongoing developments in areas related to the foundations of quantum mechanics and its applications to quantum communication and quantum computing.