Earth Science: Physics and Technology – Physics – Quantum Mechanics
Quantum physics investigates the behavior and conformity of matter in the atomic and subatomic realm. The basis of this physics theory—with the physicist Max Planck (1858-1947) as its originator—was largely established during the first half of the 20th century.
Quantum mechanics is regarded as one of the most important foundations of modern physics.
Earth Science: Physics and Technology – Physics – The New Physics
In 1890 almost all mysteries in physics appeared to be solved. In fact, the future Nobel Prize winner Max Planck was advised against studying physics, ostensibly because there was nothing new to be discovered.
Although physics was believed to be almost completely understood, there were unanswered questions relating to the frequency distribution of thermal radiation given off by an object. Although James C. Maxwell had resolved the basic equations of the nature of electromagnetic radiation, these failed to describe this behavior.
In 1900, Max Planck succeeded after he hypothesized that light and thermal radiation is given off in individual portions only. He referred to these light packages as “quanta,” without being aware that he had given a name to a revolution in physics.
In 1905 Albert Einstein explained the “photoelectric effect” with the aid of Planck’s light quanta, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921. Shortly thereafter, it was realized that an atom could only be stable when its electrons moved in “quantized orbits” around the nucleus.
With Planck’s quantum hypothesis, it was possible to achieve what previously seemed impossible: to predict the behavior of light, electrons, atoms, and molecules.
Probability waves
The basic assumptions of the quantum theory have radical consequences: it is generally impossible to indicate precisely the energy or location of a particle: one can only make probability statements.
These probabilities are given by means of wave functions, and are able to resolve the wave-particle controversy of the light theory: the light quanta are particles, but in order to be able to indicate the probability of their position, one has to consider the nature of their wave behavior.
The quantum vacuum
Further developments in quantum mechanics, such as quantum field theory and quantum electrodynamics, revealed that there was no absolute vacuum. Within the realm of the quantum theory, particles and photons are constantly created out of nothing and then immediately disintegrate.
These “ghost particles” or neutrinos have tiny, but measurable effects, which-for instance—could provide problems in the future for those who build microchips.
DOUBLE SLIT EXPERIMENT
A bathtub is quite suitable for experiments with waves. When a piece of wood is dipped into water at regular intervals, this will create moving wave fronts. When these waves encounter a wall with two slots, an interference pattern will develop on the other side.
In 1961. such a double split experiment was: used to discover the probability waves of electrons and in 2002, physicists selected this experiment as the most beautiful in physics.