BOOK REVIEWS lntroduetion t o W a v e Mechanics
Louis Harris and Arthur L. Loeb, both of Massachusetts Institute of Teehnology. McGraw-Hill Book Co., 300 pp. Inc., New York, 1963. xvi Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $8.85.
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The over-all aim of the authors is to present a thorough introduction to the principles of non-relativistic quantum mechanics. The presentation starts out in a very thorough fashion discussing the usual pre-quantum concepts headed by the Bohr Theory. The mathematics developed in the second chapter on wave theory is basic and good reading, especially the ooncepts dealing with expansion of ortho-normal sets of functions. Chapters 3-8 contain the general postulates and interpretations of wave mechanics. Particularly well developed is the concept of the uncertainty principle. The develapment of operator techniques, width of operators, and the subsequent uncertainty principle is well done. Chapter 8 dealing with potential harriers and wells is complete but not original. The fallowing chapter dealing with the WKA approximation gives a good physical feel for the A thorough mathematics involved. development of operator techniques in wave mechanics is found in the next chapter (10) an the harmonic oscillator. The next three chapters deal with the solution of the central field problem in wave mechanics and the associated m t h e matied details encountered. The trentment is quite general in scope hut one wonders whether the student wouldn't learn more by the old fashioned technique of writing down the three dimensional Schr6dinger equation in spherical polar coordinates for the hydrogen atom and proceeding in straightforward manner to separate the variables and solve the appropriate differential equations (as in Psuling and Wilson). The next chapter (14) is on the hydrogen molecule ion and the development of the molecular orbitals for this system. An interesting development of the timedependent equations of motion in the hydrogen molecule ion gives a basis for ;t classicprl understanding of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the molecular electron in terms of beat frequencies associated with the electronic frequencies of two states in the molecule ion. The following section discusses the concept of resonance in the electronic structure uf nmleeules and then makes an ambiguous generalization of resonance to include, among other things, the ammonia molecule. It is unfortunate that after the detailed analysis given in Chapter 8 of the tunneling phenomena. that in this chapter (14) the nitrogen atom is attributed the ability to "jump through" the triangle formed by the hydrogen atoms. The following reference to the ammonia, clock is far from a penetrating and thorough analysis. The following chapters on electron spin (16) and perturbation theory (17) are adequate introductions to these topics. (Continued on page A292j
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Journal o f Chemical Education
BOOK REVIEWS As an example of perturbation theory in the harmonic oscillator one would have hoped to see a Gaussian bump in the quadradic potential function to illustrate the omnipresent tunneling phenomena observed in chemistry and physics. Unfortunately the quartic term is used which was worked out in the previously mentioned text by Pauling and Wilson. The final chapters in the hook deal with many electron atoms and the aufbau principle. I n summary the hook is generslly well written, nearly free of typographical errors, and provides same interesting, and sometimes refreshing reading. As far an permanence, however, I feel this book will only enhance the reputations of some of a number of "old" classics (listed in the Appendix af this book) such ns the Pauling and Wilson text. W. H. FLYGARE University of Illinois Urbana, lllinois Energy
Riuce Chnlmers, Hnrvard University-. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1963. xiii 280 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $5.75.
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"The main purpose of this hook is to give the reader a better appreciation of the achievements, potentialities, and limitntionsin the use of energy." The above statement from the Preface is well justified by the book's contents. The author begins with an elementary treat, ment of mechanics in which the concepts of velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, and work are developed. Generous use is made of familiar mechanical devices to give these concepts meaning. Both the verbal description and the diagrams associated wit,h these devices are well executed. The author proceeds to build on these basic elements of mechanics in his treatment of kinetic and potential energy, heat, and the conversion of heat into work. He then discusses radiation, cl~emicalenergy, eleotricd energy, and nuclear energy. The book comes to a, close witlr a general discussion of the economics of energy consumption. The book suffers several serious drawbacks when considered as a text for the nrm-scientist. Foremost is the fact bhat the author consistently tends to sacrifice depth of development in preference to encyclopedic coverage of a large number of topics related to energy. Several topics whieh could be developed more extensively are cited below: (a) Early in the book the fallowing equations related to motion are presented without derivation. Here A = acceleration, U = initial velocity, T = time. V = U A T = velacitv D = WT 1I2ATZ= distance V z- U z = S A D There is no mathematical or physical
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(Continued on page ,4294)
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journal of Chemicd Education
