Quantum mechanics Definition and 994 Threads

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, quantum technology, and quantum information science.
Classical physics, the description of physics that existed before the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, describes many aspects of nature at an ordinary (macroscopic) scale, while quantum mechanics explains the aspects of nature at small (atomic and subatomic) scales, for which classical mechanics is insufficient. Most theories in classical physics can be derived from quantum mechanics as an approximation valid at large (macroscopic) scale.Quantum mechanics differs from classical physics in that energy, momentum, angular momentum, and other quantities of a bound system are restricted to discrete values (quantization), objects have characteristics of both particles and waves (wave-particle duality), and there are limits to how accurately the value of a physical quantity can be predicted prior to its measurement, given a complete set of initial conditions (the uncertainty principle).
Quantum mechanics arose gradually from theories to explain observations which could not be reconciled with classical physics, such as Max Planck's solution in 1900 to the black-body radiation problem, and the correspondence between energy and frequency in Albert Einstein's 1905 paper which explained the photoelectric effect. These early attempts to understand microscopic phenomena, now known as the "old quantum theory", led to the full development of quantum mechanics in the mid-1920s by Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Werner Heisenberg, Max Born and others. The modern theory is formulated in various specially developed mathematical formalisms. In one of them, a mathematical entity called the wave function provides information, in the form of probability amplitudes, about what measurements of a particle's energy, momentum, and other physical properties may yield.

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  1. cemtu

    Quantum Mechanics Hydrogen Atom Expectation Value Problem

    I can not solve this problem: However, I have a similar problem with proper solution: Can you please guide me to solve my question? I am not being able to relate Y R (from first question) and U (from second question), and solve the question at the top above...
  2. Wan Anavan

    A Simple angular momentum analysis question (check my solution please)

    is my solution correct?
  3. cemtu

    Quantum Mechanics hydrogen atom eigenfunction problem

    This is a general property of eigenvectors of Hermitian operators. State functions are a particular class of vector, and it is easiest to work in the general formalism (I am hoping to show how ket notation makes qm easier, not just do standard bookwork at this level). Suppose O is a Hermitian...
  4. A

    A Superluminal origin of Quantum Mechanics

    A relativistic origin of QM is proposed in https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/ab76f7 It is proposed that lorentz transformation that include superluminal observers (whether those observers exist or not) explain the indeterministic behavior of QM. Not only that, it also would...
  5. U

    I Quantum Mechanics Particle in a Box

    I need help .I did not A) E < V0 for T =? (passing coefficient ) B) E = V0 for T = ? C ) E > V0 for T =? A
  6. L

    A Potential step at a Barrier in Quantum mechanics

    In quantum mechanics in books authors discuss only cases ##E<V_0## and ##E>V_0##, where ##E## is energy of the particle and ##V_0## is height of the barrier. Why not ##E=V_0##? In that case for ##x<0## \psi_1(x)=Ae^{ikx}+Be^{-ikx} and for ##x\geq 0## \psi_2(x)=Cx+D and then from...
  7. C

    I Definition of a Degenerate Subspace (QM)

    I was learning about Degenerate Perturbation Theory and I encountered the term 'Degenerate Subspace', I didn't really understand what it meant so I came here to ask - what does it mean? will it matter if i'll say 'Degenerate space' instead of 'Degenerate Subspace'? and subspace of what? (...
  8. G

    B Adjoint Operation in Shankar's "Principles of Quantum Mechanics

    In R Shankar text on “principles of quantum mechanics’ discussing the adjoint operation, 1.3.8 shows that a|V> => <V|a*. Then 1.3.9 then states that <aV| = <V|a*. Is this a typo error?
  9. Adwit

    I Rotation problem in Quantum Mechanics

    How do "sinϕ - cosϕ sinϕ" become 0 ?
  10. P

    QHO: Time dependant expectation value of the potential energy

    Summary:: Linear Quantum harmonic oscillator and expectation value of the potential energy (time dependent) Hello, I have attached a picture of the full question, but I am stuck on part b). I have found the expectation value of the <momentum> and the <total energy> However I am struggling with...
  11. sneakycooky

    The relationship b/w infrared, temperature, and electron excitation

    Homework Statement:: 1. Does the increase in kinetic energy in (for example) water that results from increasing its temperature result from electron excitation (i.e. increasing electron energy levels) or simply increasing their velocity or vibration amplitude/frequency? 2. If excitation is...
  12. Quantum Entanglement: Spooky Action at a Distance

    Quantum Entanglement: Spooky Action at a Distance

    Fermilab's Don Lincoln describes Quantum Entanglement, and how it is different from classical statistics and hidden variables scenario.
    • ZapperZ
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    • Category: Quantum
  13. cookiemnstr510510

    Linear operators, quantum mechanics

    Hello, I am struggling with what each piece of these equations are. I generally know the two rules that need to hold for an operator to be linear, but I am struggling with what each piece of each equation is/means. Lets look at one of the three operators in question. A(f(x))=(∂f/∂x)+3f(x) I...
  14. B

    I New interpretation of quantum mechanics

    https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00120-6
  15. I

    Quantum Mechanics Infinite Potential Well -- Check Answers please

    I'm self studying so I just want to ensure my answers are correct so I know I truly understand the material as it's easy to trick yourself in thinking you do! A particle of mass m is in a 1-D infinite potential well of width a given by the potential: V= 0 for 0##\leq## x ##\leq## a =...
  16. S

    A According to Wilczek, how does quantum mechanics arise?

    According to Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek, the universe emerges from a Grid. This was proposed in his book "The Lightness of Being: Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces". He also likes the idea that the universe emerged from a state of "nothingness" (or rather, a quantum vacuum) where...
  17. S

    I Did Schrödinger himself take his "Cat Experiment" seriously?

    In 1935, Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger was looking at a concept called a "superposition." Superposition is when two waves meet and overlap and interact, which can lead to different results based on the circumstances. The concept can be seen in the regular-sized world as well, in...
  18. L

    A Unitary representations of Lie group from Lie algebra

    In Quantum Mechanics, by Wigner's theorem, a symmetry can be represented either by a unitary linear or antiunitary antilinear operator on the Hilbert space of states ##\cal H##. If ##G## is then a Lie group of symmetries, for each ##T\in G## we have some ##U(T)## acting on the Hilbert space and...
  19. D

    A Understanding Harmonic oscillator conventions

    I don't quite understand how he got the line below. By using discrete time approximation, we can get the second order time expression. But i don't see how by combining terms he is able to get such expression.
  20. S

    A What is von Neumann's branching of possible worlds?

    In the Many Worlds Interpretation's wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation), it says, at the "Reception" part: "(...) On the other hand, the same derogatory qualification "many words" is often applied to MWI by its critics, who see it as a word game which...
  21. aiswariya

    Quantum Video lecture suggestion for Sakurai quantum mechanics Textbook

    hello! I've been trying to read through Sakurai's Modern quantum mechanics textbook ( My goal is to finish the first 3 chapters and understand the Dirac formulation of QM specifically) but I find myself stumbling at many places. Are there any video lectures on the internet that follows this text...
  22. S

    Degeneracy of hydrogen energy levels

    I'm considering a hydrogen atom placed in an infinite potential on one side of the nucleus, i.e. ##V(x) = +\infty## for ##x < 0##. I require the wavefunctions to be odd in order to satisfy the boundry condition at ##x=0##. By parity of the spherical harmonics only states with ##l## odd are...
  23. S

    I Did Erwin Schrödinger propose that reality could be contradictory?

    Did Schrödinger believe that contradictory or inconsistent things could exist in reality?
  24. S

    I Finding the Error in Computing Spherical Tensor of Rank 0 Using General Formula

    This should be a trivial question. I am trying to compute the spherical tensor ##T_0^{(0)} = \frac{(U_1 V_{-1} + U_{-1} V_1 - U_0 V_0)}{3}## using the general formula (Sakurai 3.11.27), but what I get is: $$ T_0^{(0)} = \sum_{q_1=-1}^1 \sum_{q_2=-1}^1 \langle 1,1;q_1,q_2|1,1;0,q\rangle...
  25. B

    What is the value of the second term in the commutator for an N particle system?

    I have insertet the equations for H and P in the relation for the commutator which gives $$[H,P] = [\sum_{n=1}^N \frac{p_n^2}{2m_n} +\frac{1}{2}\sum_{n,n'}^N V(|x_n-x_n'|),\sum_{n=1}^N p_n] \\ = [\sum_{n=1}^N \frac{p_n^2}{2m_n},\sum_{n=1}^N p_n]+\frac{1}{2}[\sum_{n,n'}^N...
  26. T

    I Equal or larger/smaller versus larger/smaller in boundary conditions

    Hi everyone! This is the first time I'm posting on any forum and I'm still rather unsure of how to format so I'm sorry if it seems wonky. I'll try my best to keep the important stuff consistent! I am working on infinite square well problems, and in the example problem: V(x) = 0 if: 0 ≤ x ≤ a...
  27. S

    Invariance of a spin singlet under rotation

    I have tried doing the obvious thing and multiplied the vectors and matrices, but I don't see a way to rearrange my result to resemble the initial state again: ##(\mathcal{D_{1y}(\alpha)} \otimes \mathcal{D_{2y}(\alpha)} )|\text{singlet}\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \begin{pmatrix}...
  28. S

    I An elementary question about rotations

    Suppose I have a positive spin-##1/2## eigenstate pointing in the ##z##-direction. If I apply a rotation operator by an angle ##\theta## around the ##z##-axis the state should of course not change. However, if I write it out explicitly, I find something different: $$R_z(\theta)|\uparrow\rangle =...
  29. H

    Quantum Mechanics B.H. Bransden Textbook- Solutions Manual

    I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me where to obtain the solutions manual for Bransden and Joachin QM as I've been having a go at the problems.
  30. Boltzman Oscillation

    Solving Schrodinger's Equation for a Particle in an Infinite Box

    Firstly, since there is no condition for the z axis in the definition of the potential can I assume that V(x,y,z) = .5mw^2z^2 when 0<x<a, 0<y<a AND -inf<z<inf? If so then drawing the potential I can see that the particle is trapped within a box with infinite height (if z is the...
  31. S

    Three quantum mechanics questions (about Uncertainty p. and comp. conjugate)

    Is the last inequality correct? Should it not be ##|A|^2 \cdot 2(1+\cos{(ka)})##? How is the time calculated here? Given ##\Delta v > 10^{-34}##... How come ##mv \Delta v = \Delta (\frac{mv^2}{2})##? Where does the ##(1/2)## come from?
  32. M

    Find psi(x,t) when psi(x,0)= Ae^(-x^2/a^2) and A, a are real constants

    EQ 1: Ψ(x,0)= Ae-x2/a2 A. Find Ψ(x,0) So I normalized Ψ(x,0) by squaring the function, set it equal to 1 and getting an A I. A=(2/π)¼ (1/√a) B. To find Ψ(x,t) EQ:2 Ψ(x,t)= 1/(√2π) ∫ ∅(k) ei(kx-ωt)dk --------->when ω=(ħk2)/2m and integral from -∞ to +∞ EQ 3: ∅(k)= 1/(√2π) ∫ Ψ(x,0)...
  33. smodak

    Quantum Have You Read The World According to Quantum Mechanics?

    I started reading the book and I love it. In my opinion, even if you do not agree with the author's interpretation of quantum mechanics, it is a great read. Has anybody here tried reading it? The World According to Quantum Mechanics 2nd Edition by Ulrich MohrhoffHere are some abstracts.
  34. Quantum Alchemy

    I A question about Many Worlds and my Remote Control

    I get so many different answers to this question so maybe here someone can pin this down. When I get up in the morning and I turn on my TV, I have over 3,000 channels so is there a universe with a version of me going to each channel? If not, how do I go to one channel over the other? Can my...
  35. Quantum Alchemy

    I How does Classical Physics explain Quantum Entanglement?

    As a Computer Programmer, it's hard to wrap my head around Quantum Entanglement and non locality being explained in the context of Classical Physics. In other words, if the universe at it's core is physical where does Quantum Entanglement fit within a physical picture of reality? There's been...
  36. C

    I Question regarding a Free particle and Hilbert space (QM)

    In quantum mechanics, the Eigenfunction resulting from the Hamiltonian of a free particle in 1D system is $$ \phi = \frac{e^{ikx} }{\sqrt{2\pi} } $$ We know that a function $$ f(x) $$ belongs to Hilbert space if it satisfies $$ \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} |f(x)|^2 dx < \infty $$ But since the...
  37. Quantum Alchemy

    I Why can't there be a Universal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics?

    Why can't there be a Universal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics? If you unite Copenhagen and Many Worlds than all other interpretations will fall under the umbrella of a Universal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. The main problem with interpretations seems to be the role of the observer...
  38. Hawzhin Blanca

    A Many worlds, observer and Entropy

    According to Everett-interpretation or many world interpretation of quantum mechanics, each decision an observer makes, the world splits into two parallel universes, let’s say an observer in some point in Spacetime is tests the Schrödinger’s cat experiment, in one branch of the universe the cat...
  39. S

    A Could different outcomes have different physics in Wigner's friend?

    Summary: Could different outcomes have different physics in Wigner's friend? Physicist Eugene Wigner said that consciousness was fundamental for physics and that laws of physics existed because of it. He said that "consciousness can change the usual laws of physics" He also proposed the...
  40. I

    Time Derivatives of Expectation Value of X^2 in a Harmonic Oscillator

    I can show that ##\frac{d}{dt} \langle \psi (t) \vert X^2 \vert \psi (t) \rangle = \frac{1}{m} \langle \psi (t) \vert PX+XP \vert \psi (t) \rangle##. Taking another derivative with respect to time of this, I get ##\frac{d^2}{dt^2} \langle \psi (t) \vert X^2 \vert \psi (t) \rangle = \frac{i}{m...
  41. nsypgorz

    Quantum Alternative Undergraduate Quantum Mechanics book

    Hi everyone, was just wondering what people think is a good undergraduate QM book is as opposed to Griffiths. I've read through it, and I have looked and many people say it is good for people who've never been exposed to QM before, but when it comes to solving problems I struggle a lot, and...
  42. C

    A Spin change of Fermions and quantum energy spectrum

    Okay i was reading abrikosov's book and he said since in QM spin only changes by integer values boson excitiation happens one at a time and fermion ALWAYS appears or disappears in pairs. but isn't change from a spin up to spin down 1/2 to -1/2? or i had the wrong convention which |1/2| shouldve...
  43. warhammer

    Question on Quantum Physics- Probability of finding a particle

    I calculated the complex conjugate of both the given wavefunctions. For ψ1: ∫re^((-2)mod(r)x)dx=1 with upper limit ∞ & lower limit -∞. I replaced the upper and lower limit after breaking down the function inside integration as follows- r*∫e^(2rx)dx from -1/r to 0 and r*e∫e^(-2rx)dx from 0 to...
  44. NightHaWk

    Understanding Exponential Terms in Quantum Mechanics Problem

    So I am trying to understand and solve the problem mentioned in the title.I found a solution online: https://physics.bgu.ac.il/COURSES/QuantumMechCohen/ExercisesPool/EXERCISES/ex_9011_sol_Y09.pdf The problem is, I can't understand this step : I relly can't find out how the two expontential...
  45. S

    I What did Omnès mean with this?

    Summary: What did Omnès mean with this? I found an old article by Roland Omnès which analyzes the EPR paradox and offers a solution to it (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0375960189900182). At some point, the article says: "Some macroscopic systems do not satisfy the...
  46. W

    I Notion of a "clock" in Quantum Mechanics

    Suppose the unitary operator ##e^{-\frac{i}{\hbar}\hat{H}t}## acts on ##|\psi (0) \rangle##, does it make sense for one to think of the time-evolved state as some sort of time-keeping device? If not, why? If so, is such a notion useful? Thanks in advance!
  47. M

    A rather weird form of a coherent state

    As far as I know we can express the position and momentum operators in terms of ladder operators in the following way $${\begin{aligned}{ {x}}&={\sqrt {{\frac {\hbar }{2}}{\frac {1}{m\omega }}}}(a^{\dagger }+a)\\{{p}}&=i{\sqrt {{\frac {\hbar }{2}}m\omega }}(a^{\dagger }-a)~.\end{aligned}}.$$...
  48. S

    Bra-ket of uncertainty commutator (Sakurai 1.18)

    It's easy to show that ##[\Delta A, \Delta B] = [A,B]##. I'm specifically having issues with evaluating the bra-ket on the RHS of the uncertainty relation: ##\langle \alpha |[A,B]|\alpha\rangle = \langle \alpha |\Delta A \Delta B - \Delta B \Delta A|\alpha\rangle## The answer is supposed to be...
  49. A

    Studying Self-studying plan for modern science

    Hey guys, I want to build a strong and straight plan for my next years of studying and once finish I am able to do something on my own and come up with crazy ideas and actually test them, build some awesome algorithms, all that cool stuff, but I'm kinda stumble so it would be nice if someone...
  50. A

    I Mechanical system with de Broglie-like features

    Hello, I am curious if I have this correct and if it has a name. A thin walled cylinder is spinning on its axis along its length in a closed system. It begins to draw itself in converting its invariant mass to kinetic energy. In polar coordinates ##E=\gamma_\theta m c^2, L=\gamma_\theta m...
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