Re: Quantum physics study - Where to begin?

In article <pan.2005.12.03.18.36.34.498540@xxxxxxxxx>,
nasaiya <Acerebrum@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Hi,
>I am very interested in studying quantum physics but i don't really know
>where to start. Most of it seems to be over my head but i believe its
>because i just don't have the proper background information. Is an
>advanced knowledge of regular physics important? What other prerequisites
>are needed to fully understand?
>
>I'm not able to take a colledge course so i'm looking for a good place to
>begin say here or on the internet.
>Any thoughts?
>


People will say, and for reasonable cause, that quantum mechanics is
founded on a good understanding of classical mechanics (including the
Hamilton and Lagrangian), linear algebra, calculus and partial
differential equations.

An intimidating list. And it's all important, eventually. But I'm not
convinced that's the only way to introduce the subject, and certainly not
the best way for someone with little of the background knowledge.

Although introductory texts rarely say much about this, the big change
from classical to quantum physics is the representation of state going
from a vector in a phase space to a vector in a Hilbert space. That step
does away with determinism and defines the wavefunction and the
interpretation of it. When that much is grasped, all else can be thought
of as how to apply quantum mechanics, with Schroedinger's equation as the
F=ma for the theory. Once it's understood how the wavefunction is
interpreted, all intuition about wave mechanics, e.g. water waves or light
waves, can be translated to the quantum realm. You don't have to be able
to actually find the hydrogen energy eigenfunctions given naught but a
pencil and blank paper before you can claim some understanding of what
quantum mechanics is all about. But you do have to know what an
eigenfunction is.

But the textbooks are filled with differential equations, wave
mechanics, Bessel functions, and so on. It's too bad, really, because I
think the student is forced to wade through a lot of material before he
gets to what is essential about the theory. The closest I know of to the
approach I described is the discussions of quantum logic in essays on
quantum computing.

--
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of
the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they
are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism
and exposing the country to danger." -- Hermann Goering
.

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