Aimed at graduate physics and chemistry students, this is the first comprehensive monograph covering the concept of the geometric phase in quantum physics from its mathematical foundations to its physical applications and experimental manifestations. It contains all the premises of the adiabatic Berry phase as well as the exact Anandan-Aharonov phase. It discusses quantum systems in a classical time-independent environment (time dependent Hamiltonians) and quantum systems in a changing environment (gauge theory of molecular physics). The mathematical methods used are a combination of differential geometry and the theory of linear operators in Hilbert Space. As a result, the monograph demonstrates how non-trivial gauge theories naturally arise and how the consequences can be experimentally observed. Readers benefit by gaining a deep understanding of the long-ignored gauge theoretic effects of quantum mechanics and how to measure them.

This is an introductory graduate course on quantum mechanics, which is presented in its general form by stressing the operator approach. Representations of the algebra of the harmonic oscillator and of the algebra of angular momentum are determined in chapters 1 and 2 respectively. The algebra of angular momentum is enlarged by adding the position operator so that the algebra can be used to describe rigid and non-rigid rotating molecules. The combination of quantum physical systems using direct-product spaces is discussed in chapter 3. The theory is used to describe a vibrating rotator, and the theoretical predictions are then compared with data for a vibrating and rotating diatomic molecule. The formalism of first- and second-order non-degenerate perturbation theory and first-order degenerate perturbation theory are derived in chapter 4. Time development is described in chapter 5 using either the Schroedinger equation of motion or the Heisenberg's one. An elementary mathematical tutorial forms a useful appendix for the readers who don't have prior knowledge of the general mathematical structure of quantum mechanics.

This volume has its origin in the Semigroup Symposium which was organized in connection with the 21st International Colloquium on Group Theoretical Methods in Physics (ICGTMP) at Goslar, Germany, July 16-21, 1996. Just as groups are important tools for the description of reversible physical processes, semigroups are indispensable in the description of irreversible physical processes in which a direction of time is distinguished. There is ample evidence of time asymmetry in the microphysical world. The desire to go beyond the stationary systems has generated much recent effort and discussion regarding the application of semigroups to time-asymmetric processes. The book should be of interest to scientists and graduate students

Dirac's formalism of quantum mechanics was always praised for its elegance. This book introduces the student to its mathematical foundations and demonstrates its ease of applicability to problems in quantum physics. The book starts by describing in detail the concept of Gel'fand triplets and how one can make use of them to make the Dirac heuristic approach rigorous. The results are then deepened by giving the analytic tools, such as the Hardy class function and Hilbert and Mellin transforms, needed in applications to physical problems. Next, the RHS model for decaying states based on the concept of Gamow vectors is presented. Applications are given to physical theories of such phenomena as decaying states and resonances.

From the reviews:

..".useful for experts in mathematical physics...this is a very interesting book, which deserves to be found in any physical library." (OPTICS & PHOTONICS NEWS, July/August 2005).

This book contains comprehensive reviews and reprints on dynamical groups, spectrum generating algebras and spectrum supersymmetries, and their applications in atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, and condensed matter physics. It is an important source for researchers as well as students who are doing courses on Quantum Mechanics and Advanced Quantum Mechanics.