Classical mechanics
- L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, Mechanics.
The greatest textbook for classical mechanics. But some calculations are not practical for beginner.
- H. Goldstein, Classical Mechanics.
Much ‘formal’ text compare to the Landau’s one. One of the strong point of this book is that it gives insight for quantum mechanics.
Classical electrodynamics
- D. J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics.
Easy to read.
- J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics.
Clear. But in my opinion, too ‘analytic’.
Quantum mechanics
- R. Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics.
Wonderful textbook for beginner.
- J. J. Sakurai, J. Napolitano, Modern Quantum Mechanics.
Clear, well-established.
- L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics: Non-Relativistic Theory
Only Landau can write this book.
Statistical mechanics
- D. V. Schroeder, An Introduction to Thermal Physics.
Nice introduction. But some concepts are too ‘introductory’.
- K. Huang, Statistical mechanics.
Clear, well-established.
Optics
- B. E. A. Saleh, M. C. Teich, Fundamentals of Photonics
Practical, easy, and nice encyclopedia.
Atomic physics
- C. J. Foot, Atomic Physics.
Nice introduction. In my opinion, it is better that use more ‘quantum mechanical approach’.
- C. Cohen-Tannoudji, J. Dupont-Roc, G. Grynberg, Atom-Photon Interactions: Basic Process and Applications.
No jump in logic. Not easy but a masterpiece.
- G. Grynberg, A. Aspect, C. Fabre, Introduction to Quantum Optics: From the Semi-classical Approach to Quantized Light.
One of the French-style (It means, there is no jump in logic. Is it Cohen-Tannoudji’s style?), great introduction.