Elements of Classical and Quantum Physics

This book presents the basic elements of Theoretical Physics in a highly accessible, captivating way at the level of a university text. Mathematical methods beyond standard calculus are fully developed. The combination of a step-by-step description of all procedures, numerous examples, and original solved problems will enable the reader to gain a clear understanding of the concepts and a good problem-solving ability. The book is more concrete than the usual treatises, in that there is a constant concern for the experimental meaning of all quantities and equations. Many statements of Quantum Theory are a strong challenge to common sense and some crucial predictions have often been considered hard to believe. These are carefully examined, and deep conceptual problems such as the EPR paradox and teleportation are discussed in the book. To show the beauty and richness of the subject, the coverage also includes various topics normally neglected in books on basic theoretical physics, including: discrete quantum models and lattices (in one, two, and three dimensions), resonances, the Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect, the Auger effect, squeezed light, aspects of quantum transport, adiabatic approximation, quantum pumping, quantum numbers arising from Berry phases and Chern numbers.