Quantum Mechanics: An Introduction
Quantum mechanics is the study of laws of energy on the scale of atoms. This form of physics is an essential tool for understanding the behavior of physical objects. However, a fundamental difference exists between quantum mechanics and classical physics, which describes the behavior of bigger objects.
In classical mechanics, the motion of an object can be modeled mathematically. This makes predictions about what will happen very accurate on the big scale, but it does not work well when studying smaller objects, such as atoms or electrons. This is why physicists needed to develop a new set of theories, called quantum mechanics.
Discovery of Quanta: Explaining Color Change
The first important discovery in quantum mechanics was a way to explain how hot objects emit light in the form of red and white colors. This pattern of color change with temperature is a universal one, regardless of the material used to make an object. But a problem remained: why didn't this pattern of color change also occur at lower frequencies?
Max Planck, a German theoretical physicist, came up with the idea that hot objects would emit radiation in discrete packets of energy, which are called quanta. These packets of energy have different frequencies, and when they travel through an object, the amount of energy they eject depends on their frequency.
He was able to show that the energy of these quanta obeyed the laws of physics over the entire range of wavelengths. This led him to discover the so-called Planck's constant, a universal quantity with an approximate value of 6.62607 x 10-34 joule-seconds.
Probabilities and Probability Amplitudes
Another important discovery in quantum mechanics was the concept of probabilities, which are based on probability amplitudes. These amplitudes describe how likely it is that a particle will be found to have a particular property (such as position or speed) in a certain place in space.
These amplitudes are a mathematical description of where an electron may be found when scientists measure its properties using certain measurement tools. The theory says that a probability of finding an electron in a certain location can be calculated by taking the square of the absolute value of its probability amplitudes.
This information is incredibly useful because it helps scientists understand what will happen when they perform an experiment on an electron. In fact, it is so useful that researchers use probability amplitudes to predict where a molecule will be found when they take measurements on it.
Applications of Quantum Mechanics
In addition to the ability to predict where particles will be found, these amplitudes can also help scientists understand how they should be measured. For example, they can tell us that an electron should occupy a particular energy level within a semiconductor. This can help scientists understand how transistors, which store information in a computer by switching on and off in an electric field, function.
This book is a solid introduction to quantum mechanics, with a strong emphasis on mathematical development and clear explanations of the concepts behind the theory. The text is written in a style that will be especially helpful to students who are learning QM on their own. It also includes solved problems and covers Feynman path integrals more thoroughly than many other books.
