本书主要揭示了古典力学、狭义相对论、电磁学和量子理论等这一系列学科及其相互依赖的更为复杂的知识和理论，目标是通过简明的分析，引导学生深入研究理论物理的一些棘手的领域，同时揭示每个学科的关键性理论。本书着眼于量子力学领域，首先快速回顾量子力学的基础，然后将薛定谔方程与引入费曼路径积分法的最小作用原理联系起来。接下来，给出了克莱因、戈登和狄拉克的相对论波方程。最后，将麦克斯韦电磁学方程转化为光子的波动方程，并在第一个量子化能级引入量子电动力学（QED）。

尼克·埃文斯(Nick Evans)英国人，南安普顿大学对撞机现象学博十学位，现在是南安普顿大学的教授和物理科学与工程研究生院的主任。

Preface
Acknowledgements
Author biographies
1 Non-relativistic quantum mechanics
1.1 One dimensional, time dependent Schr6dinger equation
1.2 Time independent Schr6dinger equation
1.3 Interpretation
1.4 Proof that probability is conserved
1.5 Momentum space wave functions
1.6 Heisenberg uncertainty principle
1.7 Square well example
1.8 Completeness
1.9 Orthogonality
1.10 The 3D Schr6dinger equation
1.11 Wave function collapse and all that
Appendix A. Time independent perturbation theory
A.1 Example: perturbed square well
Appendix B. Orbital and spin angular momentum
2 Path integral approach to quantum mechanics
2.1 Proposal for the quantum mechanical amplitude
2.2 The classical limit
2.3 Wave functions
2.4 Deriving the Schr6dinger equation
2.5 Path integral for a free particle
2.6 Interpreting the free particle kernel
2.7 Barrier problems
2.8 The kernel in terms of wave functions
Appendix C. Gaussian integrals
Appendix D. Scattering theory
D.1 Traditional time dependent perturbation theory
D.2 Initial response to a perturbation
D.3 Example: perturbed square well II
D.4 Fermi's golden rule
3 Relativistic quantum mechanics
3.1 Relativity review
3.2 The Klein—Gordon equation
3.2.1 Problems in the Klein Gordon equation
3.2.2 Feynman—Stiickelberg interpretation
3.3 Dirac equation
3.3.1 Continuity equation
3.3.2 Solutions to the Dirac equation
3.3.3 Spin
3.3.4 Lorentz covariant notation
3.3.5 Massless(ultra—relativistic、fermions
4 Quantum electrodynamics
4.1 Photon wave equation
4.2 Minimal substitution
4.3 Gauge invariance
4.4 QED interactions in perturbation theory
4.4.1 Summary of Feynman rules of QED
4.4.2 Electron-muon scattering
4.5 Cross sections and decay rates
4.5.1 Transition rate
4.5.2 Decay rates
4.5.3 Cross sections
4.6 More scattering processes
4.6.1 Electron-electron scattering
4.6.2 Electron-positron annihilation
4.7 Renormalization
4.8 □-2 ofthe electron
编辑手记