Download Emergence of Modern Science

Emergence of
Modern Science
NS 1300
Dr. Hoge
What is a quantum computer, and do I
want one?
Chapter 9 – Quantum Mechanics

The discovery that waves have discrete energy packets (called quanta) that behave in a manner
similar to particles led to the branch of physics that deals with atomic and subatomic systems
which we today call quantum mechanics.

It is the underlying mathematical framework of many fields of physics and chemistry.

The foundations of quantum mechanics were established during the first half of the twentieth
century by Werner Heisenberg, Max Planck, Louis de Broglie, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr,
Erwin Schrödinger, Max Born, John von Neumann, Paul Dirac, Wolfgang Pauli and others.

It is currently necessary to use quantum mechanics to understand the behavior of systems at
atomic length scales and smaller.

For example, if Newtonian mechanics governed the workings of an atom, electrons would rapidly travel
towards and collide with the nucleus.

However, in the natural world the electrons normally remain in an unknown orbital path around the
nucleus, defying classical electromagnetism.
From Wikipedia
Unique Features of Quantum Mechanics

Reductio ad absurdum?

Planck’s Constant (6.63 X 10-34 joule-seconds)

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty
Principle

Shrodinger’s Box Paradox

Spooky Action at a Distance
(entanglement)
Measurement Problem

Quantum Particles (quanta of energy)
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Particle Wave Duality

The Double-Slit Test
Uncertainty


Quantum Attributes (properties of quantum
particles)

Position

Spin

Velocity

Momentum
Is the Moon really there if nobody is looking?
Probability Waves

Probability Distributions

Eigenstates (such as position and momentum)

Wave Functions

Wave Function Collapse
Spooky Action at a Distance

Entanglement

Quantum teleportation


Quantum computing

Faster than light communication
Quantum Interrogation
Quantum Reality

Copenhagen Interpretation


Bohr-Einstein Debates
Multiple Universe Interpretation

Quantum Decoherence
More Probability

Quantum probability

Randomness

Chaos

Stochasticity

Emergent properties
Quiz

1. T or F, according the Heisenberg, wherever you
go, there you are.

2. T or F, according to Shrodinger, you should own a
dog instead of a cat.

3. T or F, according to Einstein, ghosts exist only at a
distance.

4. T or F, in a different reality, I’m a duck.

5. T or F, beam me up Scotty!