User:Johnjbarton/sandbox/introduction to quantum mechanics

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Topic list[edit]

  • What is quantum mechanics?
    • A curiously exotic set of phenomena.
    • theoretical model of very very tiny things.
    • Major part of how the universe works.
    • strangely: all of the above.
  • Why is quantum mechanics difficult to understand?
    • Quantum world fundamentally different (intro).
      • Invisible, Heavily mathematical, Ubiquity, Different properties.
    • Invisible leads to indirect observations.
      • Indirect information: observations.
      • Submicroscopic scale.
      • Macroscopic human senses.
      • Information through interaction.
      • Interaction causes alteration:
        • Observations alter state.
        • Environment alters (decoherence).
    • Indirect information leads to models leads to math.
      • Models predicting observations.
      • Numerical observations require mathematical models.
    • Limitations of non-mathematical descriptions.
      • Models difficult to explain without math background.
      • Only analogies to directly observable systems.
    • Limitations of mathematical description.
      • Bad data to start (unmeasurable initial conditions)
      • Observers obey QM (Heisenberg cut)
  • Curiously exotic phenomena and our models of very very tiny things.
    • Photo electric effect: quanta.
    • Photoabsorption: bound states and quantum jumps
    • Double slit: interference and matter waves.
    • Single slit: interference and yes waves.
    • Double slit low intensity: probability.
    • Radioactive decay: probability.
    • Stern-gerlach: spin
    • separate measurements in coincidence: entanglement.
  • A major part of how the universe works.
    • Ubiquity.
    • Quantum apparatus; quantum observers.
    • Welcome to the edge of the known universe.