OSHER Quantum Mechanics Class

CLASS NOTES: http://www.public.asu.org/rjjacob/quantum.html

R J Jacob – Professor Emeritus of Physics
One Liner Notes and Brief Summary Statements

    • Quantum Physics is the study of the LAWS of Quantum Mechanics
  • Quantum Tunneling is responsible for the fusion of protons
  • Super Positioning (eg MRI) is the same object spinning in both directions at the same time
  • Light can be particles and waves at the same time
  • Principles of Scientific Communication
  • – 1. Start in the right place. Ask questions. Err on the side of caution.
  • – 2. Don’t go too far at one time. Let things soak in. Say a few things, then stop.
  • – 3. Clarity beats accuracy. (eg) egg whites bonding – bit of oil – like your hands in grease
  • – 4. Explain why it is cool.
  • Photons – Wave Particle Duality
    “Photos do not interfere with each other, they interfere with themselves”
  • – 1. Particles
  • – 2. Waves
  • – 3. Quantum Interference
  • Back and Forth: Momentum, Energy, Wavelength, Frequency
  • Quantum Mechanics Symmetries (See Angular Momentum far below)
    – Conservation of Momentum (no regard to origin)
    – Conservation of Angular Momentum (no regard to orientation)
    – Conservation of Energy (no regard to time dependency)


c = fλ – – – – f = c/λ
What he meant is demonstrated by the two waves shown at the right:
As the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases.
As the wavelength decreases, the frequency increases.
in .

Things to Research

 

Research from Class 2:

  • Research: Spooky Physics
  • The Quantum Challenge by George Greenstein – Quantum Foundations
  • Dance of the Photons by Anton Zeidinger (really good)
  • The Physics of Quantum Information – about Cryptography
  • Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics by Bell
  • Wave Functions and Probabilities
  • Read abstracts and summaries of papers
  • Subscribe to Physics Bulletin – Academy of Physics
  • Physical Review Letters – Publication
  • Wave functions – made up of compatible observable operators
  • Mathematical functions
  • Lyman, Balmer and Paschen Series
  • Q will or Q will not – Probability
  • P will or p will not
  • Will and Will Not must equal ONE
  • Priori probability – theoretical
  • posteriori – probability – empiracle / experimental
  • Classical Thermodynamics – Pressure / Temperature
  • Quantum Theory – Values of observables – Transition Rates
  • Electron changing shells – Balmer Series
  • Quantum Transitions
  • Probability of Transitions – Decay depens on initially
  • time interval – quantum decay
  • Radioactive Particles are either ON or OFF
  • Radioactive decay – a particle does not become less radioactive,
  • it simply ceases to exist at a particular timeAmpere’s Law – Electro magnetism
  • Zeeman Effect – weak field
  • 1925 San Goudsmit & George Uhlenbeck
  • 1922 – Otto Stern & Walther Gerlach
  • FERMIONS – Fermi and Duraq
  • BOSONS – Einstein and Bose
  • 1/2 SPIN – Electron, Proton, Neutron, Quark – He3 atom
  • Ingeger SPIN – Photon, Pion, Glion, Hydrogen Atom, alpha Particle
  • Fermi and Duraq – Statistics
  • Indistinguishable Particles
  •  – Classical, easily remedied.

Research from Class 3:

  • Pauli Exclusion Principle
  • Maxwell – Boltzmann Statistics
  • Atoms – Molecules – Nuclei
  • Orbit – Not shells as we learned in the 70s, but rather as wave functions.
  • Isotopes – Hydrogen, Deuterium, Tritium
  • FOUR FUNDAMENTAL FORCES OF NATURE
  • Gravity – Weak attraction – 10
  • Electromagnetic – Stronger – 10^2 (137 to be exact)
  • Weak Nuclear – Slightly stronger – 10^30
  • Strong Nuclear – Very strong – 10^40

IsoSpin Mirror Image

  • Quantum Tunneling – Probability
  • Quantum Entanglement – Diodes
  • Shrodinger’s Cat

Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Pi Meson – Look at decay and zero spin

Total spins must be zero – check out quantum cryptology.