Quantum Cookbook

Quantum mechanics is an extraordinarily successful scientific theory. But it is also completely mad. Although the theory quite obviously works it leaves us chasing ghosts and phantoms; particles that are waves and waves that are particles; cats that are at once both alive and dead; lots of seemingly spooky goings-on; and a desperate desire to lie down quietly in a darkened room. <em>The Quantum Cookbook</em> explains why this is. It provides a unique bridge between popular exposition and formal textbook presentation written for curious readers with some background in physics and sufficient mathematical capability. It aims not to teach readers how to <em>do</em> quantum mechanics but rather helps them to understand how to <em>think</em> about quantum mechanics. Each derivation is presented as a 'recipe' with listed ingredients including standard results from the mathematician's toolkit set out in a series of easy-to-follow steps. The recipes have been written sympathetically for readers who - like the author - will often struggle to follow the logic of a derivation which misses out steps that are 'obvious' or which use techniques that readers are assumed to know.<br>