Introduction Apparatus Besides a large number of cross-references,we also list the following tools: (1)The book contains 200 figures among drawings,photographs,and graphs,distributed in all chapters (a sample of color figures can be found on the book's website).We graphic very imporant aspect of figure captions are particularly accurate and often self-contained (2)The book contains an extensive bibliography (almost 600 entries,most of which are papers,and other publications. (3)The book contains full,accurate,and comprehensive indices(table of contents,subject index,author index,list of figures,list of tables,list of abbreviations,list of symbols list of boxes.list of theorems.)toether withasummary of the main concepts at the end of each chapter. Readers This book is addressed to people who want to learn quantum mechanics or deepen their knowledge of the subject.The requirement for understanding the book is a knowledge of calculus ectorial a mechanics The book isprimarily intended for third-and fourth-year physics.However,it may also be used for other curricula(such as mathematics,engineer- ing.chemistry.computer sciences.etc.)Furthermore.it may well be used as a reference book for graduate students,researchers.and practitioners who want a rapid ac cess to spe cific topics.To this purpose the extensive indices and lists are of great help.It may even serve as an introduction to specific areas(quantum optics,entanglement,quantum informa- tion,measurement theory)for experienced professionals from different fields of physics Finally,the book may prove useful for scientists of other disciplines who want to learr something about quantum mechanics Acknowledgements We would like to thank Enrico Beltrametti,Michael Heller,Artur Ekert,and Willem de Muynck for a critical reading of part of the manuscript.We would also like to warmly thank all those persons-friends,colleagues,teachers,students-who helped and influenced us in the writing of the book Finally,we dedicate this book to our families for their continual support and love,and for tolerating our many absences during the completion of the book. 4 Introduction Apparatus Besides a large number of cross-references, we also list the following tools: (1) The book contains 200 figures among drawings, photographs, and graphs, distributed in all chapters (a sample of color figures can be found on the book’s website). We consider this graphic support a very important aspect of our exposition. In this context, figure captions are particularly accurate and often self-contained. (2) The book contains an extensive bibliography (almost 600 entries, most of which are quoted in the text) and a “Further reading” section at the end of each chapter. Name of authors in italics in citations refer to books, those in roman text refer to journals, papers, and other publications. (3) The book contains full, accurate, and comprehensive indices (table of contents, subject index, author index, list of figures, list of tables, list of abbreviations, list of symbols, list of boxes, list of theorems, definitions, and so on) together with a summary of the main concepts at the end of each chapter. Readers This book is addressed to people who want to learn quantum mechanics or deepen their knowledge of the subject. The requirement for understanding the book is a knowledge of calculus, vectorial analysis, operator algebra, and classical mechanics. The book is primarily intended for third- and fourth-year undergraduate students in physics. However, it may also be used for other curricula (such as mathematics, engineer￾ing, chemistry, computer sciences, etc.). Furthermore, it may well be used as a reference book for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners, who want a rapid access to spe￾cific topics. To this purpose the extensive indices and lists are of great help. It may even serve as an introduction to specific areas (quantum optics, entanglement, quantum informa￾tion, measurement theory) for experienced professionals from different fields of physics. Finally, the book may prove useful for scientists of other disciplines who want to learn something about quantum mechanics. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Enrico Beltrametti, Michael Heller, Artur Ekert, and Willem de Muynck for a critical reading of part of the manuscript. We would also like to warmly thank all those persons – friends, colleagues, teachers, students – who helped and influenced us in the writing of the book. Finally, we dedicate this book to our families for their continual support and love, and for tolerating our many absences during the completion of the book.