Re: Quantum Physics for mere humans
- From: glhansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gregory L. Hansen)
- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 00:53:38 +0000 (UTC)
In article <42543d56$0$1163$5402220f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Rene Tschaggelar <none@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Warrick FitzGerald wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I?m currently in the process of learning the basics of Quantum Physics.
>> I?m having some problems getting started, as I feel like every time I
>> follow a specific direction it just leads me to a labyrinth of new
>> information.
>>
>> Can someone please suggest a structured approach to getting started in
>> the field? Books \ Course \ Online ..
>>
>> I?m also not a very strong math person ?aka I have not done calculus at
>> all. I?m certain those that use math in the field would consider this an
>> essential skill, so I guess my question really boils down to:
>>
>> 1. How do I get a good grounding in Quantum Physics?
>> 2. Is it completely necessary to have strong math skill to get
>> anywhere in this form of study?
>
>Contrary to what others tell, QM is a bunch of concepts and
>the rest is math.
I always feel a little disheartened when someone with little physics
background asks how to learn quantum mechanics. And this is why:
>You start with a hamiltonian,
What the hell is a Hamiltonian? You need to learn classical mechanics,
first, and the freshman physics book is necessary but not sufficient.
>a differential equation that
Yep, you need the math.
>links energy and time, as well as location and impulse.
>It consists of the potential energy plus the dynamic energy.
Concepts that would be learned in the freshman physics course.
>With a lot of math you diagonalize it and get the behaviour
>of the system.
How the hell do you diagonalize something? In addition to calculus and
differential equations, let's pile on the linear algebra. And in an
important sense, quantum mechanics is all about the linear algebra, so
you're going to be hurting if you don't know it. At least I was, until I
got myself up to speed.
It's not really like learning that F=ma. The very vocabulary of quantum
mechanics derives from post-freshman physics.
>Contrary to what others tell, a lot can be visualized once
>you get familiar with it. Such that when the potential wall
>is not infinitely steep, there is a certain probability to
>have the particle in the wall itself.
Quantum mechanics is just another wave mechanics, but with an unusual
interpretation of the wave. The bad news is that wave mechanics of any
kind isn't easy. The good news is that everyone can visualize water waves
and light waves and sound waves, and they can visualize a quantum
wavefunction in a similar way with the potential standing in for the index
of refraction or the acoustical impedence or whatever.
--
"Coincidences, in general, are great stumbling blocks in the way of that
class of thinkers who have been educated to know nothing of the theory of
probabilities." -- Edgar Allen Poe
.
- References:
- Quantum Physics for mere humans
- From: Warrick FitzGerald
- Re: Quantum Physics for mere humans
- From: Rene Tschaggelar
- Quantum Physics for mere humans
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