Advanced Quantum Mechanics.

signed

Second edition of this classic set of lectures, signed by Dyson on the title. Loosely inserted into this copy is the Cornell bookstore invoice recording that it was ordered in March 1961 by the previous owner, J.G. Ireland of Emmanuel College Cambridge, whose name is written on the title.

Freeman Dyson (1923-2020) was one of the most original and eclectic thinkers of the 20th century. As a young research fellow he demonstrated the equivalence of the Feynman and Tomonoga-Schwinger theories of quantum electrodynamics, paving the way for the three men to be awarded the Nobel Prize. Though Dyson himself never won a Nobel, he had a huge influence on science and popular culture, contributing 'to five fields of mathematics and 11 fields of physics, as well as to theoretical biology, engineering, operations research, literature and public affairs' (Royal Society biographical memoir, 2022).

These highly regarded lectures were presented in autumn 1951 during the single year in which Dyson was a professor at Cornell before joining the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton. Most notably they include a section on Feynman diagrams, which Dyson was the first to understand and appreciate, and which he presented in a way that made them more accessible to other physicists, paving the way for their acceptance by figures such as Oppenheimer.

Second edition, signed by the author on the title; mimeographed text, perfect bound and wire-stitched; equations and diagrams within the text, ownership inscription of J.G. Ireland in blue ink on the title, with loosely inserted Cornell bookstore invoice, two rectangular spots to the title and final leaf from removed book tickets or tape, slightly affecting the following leaves as well, otherwise contents clean; original blue wrappers printed in black, spine faded and with a short closed tear at the head, wrappers a little rubbed and creased, very good condition, 213pp.