Preface
Quantum mechanics is becoming more important in applied science and engineering, especially with the recent developments in quantum computing, as well as the rapid progress in optoelectronic devices. This textbook is intended for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in electrical engineering, physics, and materials science and engineering. It also provides the necessary theoretical background for researchers in optoelectronics or semiconductor devices. In the task of providing advanced instruction for both students and researchers, quantum mechanics presents special difficulties because of its hierarchical structures. The more abstract formalisms and techniques are quite meaningless until one has mastered the earlier stages in classical physics, which most engineering students are lacking.
Quantum mechanics has become an essential tool for modern engineering. This book covers topics such as semiconductors and laser physics, which are traditionally quantum mechanical, as well as relatively new topics in the field, such as quantum computation and quantum information. These fields have seen an explosive growth during the past 10 years, as quantum computing or quantum information processing can have a significant impact on today’s electronics and computations. The essence of quantum computing is the direct usage of the superposition and entanglement of quantum mechanics. The most challenging research topics include the generation and manipulation of quantum ...
