# A book on quantum mechanics supported by the high-level mathematics

I'm interested in quantum mechanics book that uses high level mathematics (not only the usual functional analysis and the theory of generalised functions but the theory of pseudodifferential operators etc, certainly the modern mathematics). If there isn't something similar please give me a reference to the book that is strictly supported by mathematics (given a set of mathematically descripted axioms author develops the theory using mathematics as a main tool).

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• "Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics" - Mackey – MBN Mar 17 '12 at 16:33
• – Qmechanic Feb 6 '13 at 20:33

1.

• E. Zeidler, Quantum Field theory I Basics in Mathematics and Physics, Springer 2006. http://www.mis.mpg.de/ezeidler/qft.html

is a book I highly recommend. It is the first volume of a sequence, of which not all volumes have been published yet. This volume gives an overview over the main mathematical techniques used in quantum physics, in a way that you cannot find anywhere else.

It is a mix of rigorous mathematics and intuitive explanation, and tries to build ''A bridge between mathematiciands and physicists'' as the subtitle says. It makes very interesting reading if you know already enough math and physics. You need a thorough knowledge of classical analysis, and some acquaintance with differential geometry and functional analysis. Apart from that, the book gives references to additional reading - plenty of references as entry points to the literature for topics on which your background is meager.

As regards to your request for high level mathematics (in the specific form of pseudo-differential operators, etc.), Zeidler discusses - as Section 12.5 - on 28 (of 958 total) pages microlocal analysis and its use, though there is only two pages specifically devoted to PDO (p.728-729), but he says there (and emphasizes) that ''Fourier integral operators play a fundamental role in quantum field theory for describing the propagation of physical effects'' - so you can expect that they play a more prominent role in the volumes to come.

But, of course, PDO are implicit in all serious high level mathematical work on quantum mechanics even without mentioning them explicitly, as for example the Hamiltonian in the interaction representation, $$H_{int}=e^{-itH_0}He^{itH_0}$$, is a PDO. Work on Wigner transforms is work on PDOs, etc..

2.

Other books using PDO, much more specialized:

• G. B. Folland, Harmonic analysis in phase space

• A.L. Carey, Motives, quantum field theory, and pseudodifferential operators

• A. Juengel, Transport equations for semiconductors

• C. Cercignani and E. Gabetta, Transport phenomena and kinetic theory

• N.P. Landsman, Mathematical topics between classical and quantum mechanics

• M. de Gosson, Symplectic geometry and quantum mechanics

• P. Zhang, Wigner measure and semiclassical limits of nonlinear Schroedinger equations

3.

Finally, as an example of a book that ''is strictly supported by mathematics (given a set of mathematically described axioms, the author develops the theory using mathematics as a main tool)'', I can offer my own book

• A. Neumaier and D. Westra, Classical and Quantum Mechanics via Lie algebras.

• Nice list, Arnold! The Zeidler is a pretty good 1. – Peter Morgan Mar 16 '12 at 14:16
• I've been looking at Zeidler since I read your post, and I like what I see in the table of contents and the previews on Springer's website. I don't have access to the full copy of the book and I'm wondering about the prerequisites. I know he talks about analysis, number theory and more, so what do I need to know? – Ryan Unger Feb 15 '15 at 18:17
• @0celo7: You need a thorough knowledge of classical analysis, and some acquaintance with differential geometry and functional analysis. Apart from that, the book gives references to additional reading, including more specialized background needed. – Arnold Neumaier Feb 24 '15 at 15:55
• Your EZeidler link should be mis.mpg.de/ezeidler/qft.html (i.e., just change your "zeidler" to "ezeidler" -- quoting from Joseph Campbell, "Computers are like Old Testament gods: lots of rules and no mercy!":) – John Forkosh Jun 17 '17 at 5:14
• @JohnForkosh: corrected – Arnold Neumaier Jun 19 '17 at 8:01

A commonly cited classic that might be appropriate for you is Reed & Simon, the set. Be prepared for sticker shock. I'm not sure if that is modern enough for you, however.

• I looked for some pages and for contents. I think there is a functional analysis book rather than a book on quantum mechanics – Appliqué Mar 15 '12 at 15:28
• The four volumes develop all the functional analysis needed for quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, but also cover a lot of the ground typical mathematical physics texts (such as the 4 volumes of Thirring) cover - and it is definitely more rigorous than Thirring, and easier to read. – Arnold Neumaier Mar 15 '12 at 15:37

There are also two books by the St.-Peterburg school which could be worth looking at:

L.A. Takhtajan, Quantum Mechanics for Mathematicians

and an older one

L.D. Faddeev, O.A. Yakubovskii, Lectures on Quantum Mechanics for Mathematics Students

Takhtajan's book is more advanced and modern: he covers inter alia supersymmetry and Feynman path integrals in addition to the standard subjects.

The material in Faddeev and Yakubovskii is more standard, but in addition to that they have e.g. some nice bits of representation theory.

Another quite advanced recent book on the subject is Quantum Theory, Groups and Representations by Peter Woit (see published version and final draft version on author's web site).