Elementary Quantum Physics

* This document provides an introduction to quantum physics for nonspecialists, with an emphasis on applications. It requires no math above simple high-school algebra and the like, but it does require a reasonable grasp of basic classical physics. Readers needing a refresher on basic classical physics should see the companion document:

• Elementary Classical Physics

[1.0] Challenges To Classical Physics

• [1.1] THE BOUNDS OF CLASSICAL PHYSICS
  
• [1.2] MAX PLANCK & BLACK BODY RADIATION
  
• [1.3] EINSTEIN & THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
  
• [1.4] THE DISCOVERY OF RADIOACTIVITY
  
• [1.5] THE RUTHERFORD NUCLEAR ATOM
  

[2.0] The Bohr Atom & The New Quantum Mechanics

• [2.1] THE BOHR ATOM
  
• [2.2] DE BROGLIE & WAVE-PARTICLE DUALITY / QUANTUM STATISTICS
  
• [2.3] WERNER HEISENBERG & MATRIX MECHANICS
  
• [2.4] THE SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
  
• [2.5] INTERPRETATION OF THE WAVE FUNCTION
  
• [2.6] THE PAULI EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE
  

[3.0] The Uncertainty Principle & Copenhagen Interpretation

• [3.1] THE HEISENBERG UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
  
• [3.2] THE COPENHAGEN INTERPRETATION
  
• [3.3] SCHROEDINGER'S CAT AND ALL THAT
  

[4.0] Quantum Chemistry

• [4.1] THE SCHROEDINGER EQUATION & THE HYDROGEN ATOM
  
• [4.2] MULTI-ELECTRON ATOMS (1)
  
• [4.3] MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF THE ATOM
  
• [4.4] CHEMICAL BONDING & QUANTUM CHEMISTRY
  

[5.0] Probing The Atom (1)

• [5.1] PROBING THE NUCLEUS
  
• [5.2] CHADWICK DISCOVERS THE NEUTRON
  
• [5.3] EXCHANGE PARTICLES / YUKAWA DESCRIBES THE STRONG FORCE
  
• [5.4] DIRAC PREDICTS ANTIMATTER
  

[6.0] Probing The Atom (2)

• [6.1] COSMIC RAYS / THE CLOUD CHAMBER / THE DISCOVERY THE POSITRON
  
• [6.2] THE DISCOVERY OF THE MUON & PION
  
• [6.3] NUCLEAR ENERGY LEVELS / LIQUID DROP MODEL
  
• [6.4] THE NEUTRINO / THE POSITRON / THE WEAK FORCE
  

[7.0] Fission, Fusion, & Synthesis Of The Elements

• [7.1] ATOMIC SYNTHESIS
  
• [7.2] NUCLEAR FISSION
  
• [7.3] THE CHAIN REACTION
  
• [7.4] THE BOMB
  
• [7.5] FUSION & SYNTHESIS OF THE ELEMENTS
  

[8.0] Atomic Technologies (1)

• [8.1] RADIOACTIVE SERIES
  
• [8.2] THE ORIGINS OF RADIOACTIVE DATING
  
• [8.3] ARTHUR HOLMES AND THE VINDICATION OF RADIOACTIVE DATING
  
• [8.4] MODERN RADIOACTIVE DATING TECHNIQUES
  
• [8.5] SHORT-RANGE DATING TECHNIQUES
  
• [8.6] APPLICATIONS OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES
  
• [8.7] FOOTNOTE: RELIABILITY OF RADIOACTIVE DATING
  

[9.0] Atomic Technologies (2)

• [9.1] NUCLEAR WEAPONS
  
• [9.2] NUCLEAR REACTORS
  
• [9.3] ATOMIC ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT
  
• [9.4] CONTROLLED FUSION
  

[10.0] Solid State Physics & Electronics

• [10.1] ORIGINS OF SOLID-STATE ELECTRONICS
  
• [10.2] ESSENTIALS OF SOLID STATE PHYSICS
  
• [10.3] SEMICONDUCTOR PHYSICS
  
• [10.4] THE PN JUNCTION / CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
  

[11.0] Superconductivity

• [11.1] THE DISCOVERY OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY / HTS
  
• [11.2] HTS FOR ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS & DEVICES
  
• [11.3] SQUIDS
  
• [11.4] JOSEPHSON JUNCTION DIGITAL LOGIC SYSTEMS
  
• [11.5] SUPERCONDUCTING IMAGING SENSORS
  

[12.0] Masers & Lasers

• [12.1] THE INVENTION OF THE MASER
  
• [12.2] THE INVENTION OF THE LASER
  
• [12.3] TYPES OF LASERS
  
• [12.4] LASER TARGETING & SIGHTING SYSTEMS
  
• [12.5] LASER GYROSCOPES
  
• [12.6] LASER RADAR & COMMUNICATIONS
  
• [12.7] LASER ENERGY WEAPONS & FUSION POWER
  
• [12.8] OTHER LASER APPLICATIONS
  

[13.0] Quantum Electrodynamics

• [13.1] QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS (QED)
  
• [13.2] THE FEYNMAN TOUCH
  
• [13.3] QED & ZERO POINT ENERGY
  

[14.0] Particle Accelerators & Detectors

• [14.1] THE INVENTION OF ATOM SMASHERS / LINACS
  
• [14.2] CYCLOTRONS & SYNCHROTRONS
  
• [14.3] THE COLLIDERS
  
• [14.4] PARTICLE DETECTORS
  

[15.0] The Particle Hunters

• [15.1] THE FIRST ATOMIC PARTICLE SYSTEM / MATTER VERSUS ANTIMATTER
  
• [15.2] DISCOVERING THE PARTICLE ZOO
  
• [15.3] THE SEARCH FOR ORDER
  
• [15.4] GROUP THEORY / THE EIGHTFOLD WAY
  
• [15.5] DISCOVERING QUARKS
  
• [15.6] QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS
  
• [15.7] THE ELECTROWEAK THEORY
  
• [15.8] THE HIGGS BOSON / EXTENDING THE QUARK MODEL
  

[16.0] Life, The Universe, & The Theory Of Everything

• [16.1] GRAND UNIFICATION / THE TOES
  
• [16.2] STRING THEORY
  
• [16.3] LOOP QUANTUM GRAVITY
  
• [16.4] QUESTIONING THE PHYSICISTS
  
• [16.5] FOOTNOTE: THE GHOST BUSTERS
  

[17.0] Quantum Computing & Cryptology

• [17.1] QUANTUM COMPUTING
  
• [17.2] QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY
  
• [17.3] QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY, NONLOCALITY, & TELEPORTATION
  
• [17.4] QUANTUM NONLOCALITY & CHALLENGES TO THE STATUS QUO
  

[18.0] Quantum Weirdness

• [18.1] THE DECLINE OF THE COPENHAGEN INTERPRETATION
  
• [18.2] ALTERNATIVES TO THE COPENHAGEN INTERPRETATION
  
• [18.3] TOO WEIRD?
  
• [18.4] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY