Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics

Vladimir Aleksandrovich Fock was one of the group of brilliant physics theoreticians whose work built the magnificent edifice of quantum theory.

Forty five years have passed since he wrote the first edition of this unique course in quantum mechanics, which was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union and one of the first in the world.

Despite the 45 years, the nature of this book, the organization of the material, and the interpretation of specific topics all appear more natural today than when the book was first published. This is a feature of none but books whose authors have taken an active part in creating the subject of research and have understood it much more deeply than most of their contemporaries.

Practically every section of the course has to do with the author's own research, much of which has become an essential element of the quantum theory. This lends the course the special attraction of being basic.

As the title indicates, the book lays no claim to complete coverage of the subject. It gives only the simplest applications in addition to the basic concepts of the theory. Many of the more complex problems, such as the theories of molecules, atomic nuclei, and solids, are not included in the course.