Quantum physics may appear complicated, especially if one forgets the "big picture" and gets lost in the details. However, it can become clearer and less tangled if one applies a few fundamental concepts so that simplified approaches can emerge and estimated orders of magnitude become clear. Povh and Rosina's Scattering and Structures presents the properties of quantum systems (elementary particles, nucleons, atoms, molecules, quantum gases, quantum liquids, stars, and early universe) with the help of elementary concepts and analogies between these seemingly different systems. The original German-language edition of this book was written for students preparing for their final oral examination in physics. By and large, the scope of the book in English has been essentially enlarged and thus may also be of interest for physicists in general.

Autorentext
Quantum physics may appear complicated, especially if one forgets the big picture and gets lost in the details. However, it can become clearer and less tangled if one applies a few fundamental concepts so that simplified approaches may emerge and estimated orders of magnitude become clear. Povh s "Scattering and Structures" presents the properties of quantum systems (elementary particles, nucleons, atoms, molecules, quantum gases, quantum liquids, and stars) with the help of elementary concepts and analogies between these seemingly different systems. The German version of this book was written for the students' preparation for the final oral examination in physics. By and by the scope of the book has been essentially enlarged and thus may be of interest for physicists in general

Inhalt

Photon Scattering.- Lepton Scattering.- Quasi-Elastic Lepton Quark Scattering.- The Hydrogen Atom.- Many Electron Atoms.- Hadrons.- Covalent and Ionic Bonding.- Intermolecular Forces.- Cold Neutron Scattering.- The Nuclear Force and the Deuteron.- Quantum Gases.- Quantum Liquids.- Metals.- Nuclei - Droplets of a Fermi Liquid.- Stars, Planets and Asteroids.- Elementary Particles.- The Early Universe.- Index.