Quantum Physics?

Question

I have been curios on what it is. Can someone please tell me what it is and what kind of math is required (or needed) to do and understand Quantum Physics.

Answer 1

Calculus, differential equations, functions of complex numbers, integral transforms, matrix theory, Hilbert spaces. Also a good background on classical mechanics, including both Lagrangian and Hamiltonian theory, as well as wave mechanics and Special Relativity.

In a nutshell, Quantum Mechanics is the generalization of classical mechanics through use of complex numbers, and introduction of operators in place of physical quantities such as momentum and energy. It adds wave-like behavior to classical mechanics. As a really crude analogy to this, take the exponential function f(x) = e^x. It is a monotonically increasing function of x. However, the function f(x) = e^ix is a periodic function in the complex field. The only difference is that the imaginary number I has been incorporated. Schrodinger's quantum "wave equation" is nothing more than the classical diffusion equation, but expressed in terms of complex time instead of real time.

Answer 2

Quantum physics is the theory that all things are made up of "packets" so to speak. There is a minimum such packet for everything. Light comes in defined packets called photons. There is nothing inbetween 1 and 2 photons. You can't have 1 and a half photons for example.
Electrons can exist only at certain quantum energy states as they travel around an atom. As they jump states they can release energy in predicatble quanta. According to Quantum mechanics, everything in the universe works like this.

It is important to note that this is a theory. it's a good theory and it works very well to predict things on a small scale.. however once you start looking at huge things like solar systems, it tends to break down and make some crazy predictions that are simply not possible. That is when Einsteins theories of general and special relativity come into play. They work very well on large scales but not so well on very small scales..
And an interesting factoid, this dicotamy is the reason that scientists are still searching for the grand unified theory of everything that will work all of the time. Some believe that super string theory is the theory of everything but it has yet to be proven.

Answer 3

Hi Nuff; I personally feel, with absolutely no scientific proof, that each and every decision we make every day presents an opportunity for an alternate ( or parallel universe). I subscribe to the Robert A. Heinlein theory, Probably before your time but, a great fiction writer. Try "The Number Of The Beast" or "Stranger In A Strange Land"Good light fun reads. But time is a serious subject, and one I'm afraid I have very fixed notions upon. As I believe God created it,and holds it until, as you might say the time is right, and man must go forward only, living each moment to the fullest, as there is no going back. "The past is history, the future a mystery, we can only live in the now." But to punch a hole into an alternate universe, will probably happen one day, what happens next? Well that will be a whole different universe again. LOL Have fun with this one! Bob

Answer 4

Quantum physics evolves out of Einstein physics, which evolves out of Newtonian physics. There is something call the Uncertainty Principals associated with Quantum. In Einstein and Newton physics, everything works at our relative size, for example, if an object is at point A, and then at point B at X amount of time, we can figure where it will be at time = X + X. This is impossible in Quantum. At sub-atomic sizes, we can only know 'about' where it will be. (I tried to make it as simple as possible)
By the way, Einstein HATED Quantum. He hated that there was any uncertainty. He said, "God does not play dice with the universe."

Answer 5

Quantum physics is the "conclusion" that every energy or "matter" expression in nature comes in little pieces. Blurry pieces! When, for example, we talk about electrons we can say that all it 's mass is a solid sphere! It is a "cloud" that moves in a certain area. About the maths now: They are truly difficult.

Answer 6

I can tell you that some mathematical concepts you need to know in order to understand Quantum Theory are:

-Mechanical Statistics
-Partial Differential Equations
-Potential Theory

Answer 7

http://www.jracademy.com/~jtucek/science/what.html