Irreversibilities in Quantum Mechanics (Fundamental Theories of Physics, 113)

The problem of irreversibility is ubiquitous in physics and chemistry. The present book attempts to present a unified theoretical and conceptual framework for the description of various irreversible phenomena in quantum mechanics. In a sense, this book supplements conventional textbooks on quantum mechanics by including the theory of irreversibilities. However, the content and style of this book are more appropriate for a monograph than a textbook. We have tried to arrange the material so that, as far as possible, the reader need not continually refer elsewhere. The references to the literature make no pretense of completeness. The book is by no means a survey of present theoretical work. We have tried to highlight the basic principles and their results, while the attention has been mainly paid to the problems in which the author himself has been involved. The book as a whole is designed for the reader with knowledge of theoretical physics (especially quantum mechanics) at university level. This book is based on the courses of lectures given at the Chemistry Department of Tel-Aviv University. This book presents a unified theoretical and conceptual framework for the description of various irreversible phenomena in quantum mechanics. The general theory of irreversible processes is applied to specific physical models and situations such as energy and electron transfer processes, tunnelling in condensed media, superradiance, etc. Special attention is given to memory effects in relaxation processes and dissipationless states in dissipative systems. A separate chapter is devoted to the problem of irreversibility in quantum measurements. Audience: This book will be of interest to postgraduate students and specialists in quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and chemical physics. The work may serve as a complementary text for quantum mechanics courses. "This book presents a unified theoretical and conceptual framework for the description of various irreversible phenomena in quantum mechanics. The general theory of irreversible processes is applied to specific physical models and situations such as energy and electron transfer processes, tunnelling in condensed media, superradiance, etc. Special attention is given to memory effects in relaxation processes and dissipationless states in dissipative systems. A separate chapter is devoted to the problem of the irreversibility in quantum measurements." "This book is of interest to postgraduate students and specialists in quantum mechanics, statistical physics and chemical physics. The work may serve as a complementary text for quantum mechanics courses."--Jacket Quantum-Theoretical Basis. Density Matrix....Pages 1-23 Quantum Theory of Relaxation Processes....Pages 24-63 Interaction with Phonons and Molecular Vibrations....Pages 64-105 Interaction with Photons....Pages 106-133 Memory Effects in Relaxation Processes, Exact Solutions....Pages 134-171 Quantum Measurement and Irreversibility....Pages 172-203 The nature of the phenomena occurring at the atomic level is very different from the nature of the phenomena of the macrocosm.