This book provides a comprehensive review of essential undergraduate physics topics, tailored specifically for first-year graduate students. Covering mechanics, electromagnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics, it offers a higher-level perspective that bridges the gap between undergraduate and graduate studies. With its particular focus on quantum mechanics, readers obtain a deeper understanding of this critical area.
The book has five chapters dealing with mechanics (two sections), electromagnetism (three sections), thermal physics (two sections), quantum mechanics (five sections), and advanced quantum mechanics (two sections). Key concepts explored in this book include the derivation of equations of motion from Lagrangian, the propagation of electromagnetic waves, free energies in thermodynamics, and the intricacies of quantum mechanics, such as angular momentum, perturbation theory, and scattering. The book's structured approach, complete with 150 exercises, encourages readers to engage actively with the material, reinforcing their knowledge and problem-solving skills. Supplementary notes provide additional depth, making this an indispensable resource for those preparing for comprehensive exams.
Ideal for first-year graduate students, this book is also a valuable reference for seasoned researchers and instructors seeking a quick refresher. Whether used as a textbook or a self-study guide, it equips readers with the foundational knowledge necessary for advanced physics courses and research. This English edition, translated, corrected, and augmented from the original Japanese, ensures accessibility to a global audience.
Hidenori Sonoda holds an honorary appointment as research associate at the University of Iowa. His work is concerned with quantum field theory, especially the exact renormalization group. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1985. After his postdoctoral experiences at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and at the physics department of Harvard University, he became an assistant professor at the physics department of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1989. He moved to Japan as an associate professor at Kobe University in 1997 and retired there in 2024.
Kayhan Ülker is a professor at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Türkiye. His work is concerned with quantum field theory with particular emphasis on its supersymmetric and/or non-commutative extensions. He received his Ph.D. in physics from Istanbul Technical University in 2002. He was a researcher at the Feza Gürsey Institute from 2003 to 2011, and served as a vice director from December 2009 to 2011 and the director in 2011. He has served in the current position since 2012, and was the director of the Design, Art, Science Platform from 2018 to 2019, the department head from 2012 to 2020 and from 2025, and a vice rector from 2013 to 2019. He was awarded the young scientist award from the Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2009.
