Quantum Mechanics
The Theoretical Minimum
by Leonard Susskind, Art Friedman · first published 2014
69% recommend31% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A bare-minimum, math-driven introduction to quantum mechanics, valued for teaching concepts through working the equations. It suits self-taught readers and those wanting a foundation before going further.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Explains the theory and associated mathematics of quantum mechanics, discussing topics ranging from uncertainty and time dependence to particle and wave states.
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…an autodidact of sorts (in that I'm as much self-taught as formally educated), but who has some awareness of "what I don't know" (and therefore doesn't sit around coming up with crackpot theories about quantum mechanics and what-not), I love this kind of stuff. One of the authors is Leonard Susskind who is pretty credible. This is a book that is serious, but succinct (as you might guess from the title). Note that…
on “What I learned as a hired consultant to autodidact physicists” ↗The post [and me, since I wrote it] recommends the video series Quantum Computing for the Determined [1]. If you're more familiar with physics than programming, Leonard Susskind's 'Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum' [2] might work better. But I agree with Scott Aaronson that learning about quantum information before learning about quantum physics is easier than the opposite direction [3]:…
on “My Quantum Circuit Simulator: Quirk” ↗…the equations governing the path of flying baseballs. We think this merits a second look. Fortunately history tells a different story. By the way, I’d highly recommend reading the outstanding book “Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum” by Leonard Susskind of Stanford. If you’ve seen a matrix before, then you’re good to go (with some effort). He walks you through the rest. As a fair warning, try to mentally…
on “Did removing lead from petrol spark a decline in crime?” ↗…http://www.johnboccio.com/research/quantum/notes/QC10th.pdf 4: http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-since-Democritus-Aar... 5: http://www.scottaaronson.com/democritus/lec1.html 6: http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-The-Theoretical-Mini...
on “Checking a Claimed BQP=NP Algorithm” ↗To be honest, the only thing that's really going to make you understand it is working the math. http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-The-Theoretical-Mini... This is Leonard Susskinds attempt at writing a book that tells you the bare minimum you need to know to really understand what's happening. (experience with calculus and linear…
on “Loophole-free Bell test ‘Spooky action at a distance’, no cheating” ↗Maybe this? https://www.amazon.com/Theoretical-Minimum-Start-Doing-Physi... and/or https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Theoretical-Leonard...
on “Mathematics for Physics (2009) [pdf]” ↗Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum --> Great book to learn about quantum mechanics and as a side effect math
on “Ask HN: Math books that made you significantly better at math?” ↗…accessible by e.g. YouTube channels: https://youtube.com/c/pbsspacetime https://youtube.com/c/SabineHossenfelder https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL701CD168D02FF56F (Susskind, The Theoretical Minimum: Quantum Mechanics) I would add the channels: https://youtube.com/user/EugeneKhutoryansky https://youtube.com/user/minutephysics and the MOOC Brilliant.org That said, I’m still definitely in the “undrergrad” level…
on “Physicist discovered an escape from Hawking’s black hole paradox” ↗Leonard Susskind's "Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum" as well as Nielsen & Chuang's "Quantum Computation and Quantum Information" are also fantastic resources. I've got both sitting here on my desk :)
on “Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?” ↗I would also have to recommend "Quantum Mechanics, The Theoretical Minimum" by Leonard Susskind, if you wish to go a little bit further into general quantum mechanics
on “Qusim.py – A toy multi-qubit quantum computer simulator written in Python” ↗Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum by Susskind Leonard could be a start.
on “Quantum Leaps, Long Assumed to Be Instantaneous, Take Time” ↗Note: Susskind has a follow up - Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18210750-quantum-mechani...
on “An Introduction to Quantum Computing, Without the Physics” ↗Awesome! By the way, there are also books that accompany the first three courses: https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Mechanics-Theoretical-GEORG... https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Theoretical-Leonard... https://www.amazon.com/Special-Relativity-Classical-Field-Th... If you get the first one, make sure to get the one titled 'Classical Mechanics' and not just 'The Theoretical Minimum'…
on “Spacetime Calculus [pdf]” ↗…corresponding code. I also used linear algebra in work with the fast Fourier transform, multi-variate statistics, and more. For more on linear algebra, I read the first part, linear algebra, of von Neumann, Quantum Mechanics. From a world class guy in linear algebra, I took an advanced course in linear algebra -- by then the course was beneath me and I led the class by a wide margin. Favorite theorem -- the polar decomposition.…
on “Too Much Calculus – Gilbert Strang (2001) [pdf]” ↗…abilities of the Jewish students. As I continued in math, I heard about several of the names of the Jewish Hungarian mathematicians in the OP: Halmos remains my favorite author. Once I got von Neumann's Quantum Mechanics and got through the first half, just some math, the physics was later, easily enough before got interrupted by other work. Von Neumann's game theory work was heavily around the saddle point result, and…
on “The Martians of Budapest” ↗