The Basic Physics Of Quantum Theory

Contents
Preface
1. Introduction
1.1 A new understanding of reality
1.2 A theory of particles and fields
1.3 Outline of the book
2. Newtonian Physics
2.1 Observation of the night sky
2.2 Measurement of time
2.3 Ptolemy’s model
2.4 The Copernican revolution
2.5 Newton’s laws
2.6 Work and energy
2.7 Determinism
2.8 Summary
3. Statistical Mechanics
3.1 Atoms
3.2 The laws of thermodynamics
3.3 Statistical mechanics
3.3.1 One-dimensional gas
3.3.2 Two-dimensional gas
3.3.3 Three-dimensional gas
3.3.4 Third law of thermodynamics
3.3.5 Second law of thermodynamics
3.4 Summary
4. The Concept of a Field
4.1 Action at a distance
4.2 Electricity and magnetism
4.3 Electromagnetism
4.4 Electromagnetic waves
4.5 Finite speed of fields
4.6 Summary
5. The Ultraviolet Catastrophe
5.1 A black body
5.2 Black body cavity
5.3 Standing waves and the catastrophe
5.4 Escape from the ultraviolet catastrophe
5.5 A small beginning
5.6 Summary
6. Absorption and Emission of Radiation
6.1 Photelectric effect
6.2 Einstein’s explanation
6.3 Momentum of electromagnetic radiation
6.4 Compton effect
6.5 Finite time of interaction
6.6 Uncertainty principle
6.7 Summary
7. Matter Waves
7.1 De Broglie’s hypothesis
7.2 Interference
7.2.1 Combination of waves
7.3 Waves in two or three dimensions
7.4 Quantum theory of light
7.5 Electron waves
7.6 Composite particles
7.7 The hydrogen atom
7.8 Summary
8. The Special Theory of Relativity
8.1 Speed of light
8.2 Relative speed in classical mechanics
8.3 Motion relative to source of light
8.4 Principles of special relativity
8.5 Relative speed according to Einstein
8.6 Impossible to attain the speed of light
8.7 Length is relative
8.8 Time ordering of events is relative
8.9 Duration of time is relative — time dilation
8.10 Mass increases with speed
8.11 Mass and energy
8.12 Relativity and quantum theory
8.13 Summary
9. The Geometry of Space and Time
9.1 Space time
9.1.1 World lines
9.1.2 Space-like, time-like and light-like intervals
9.1.3 Minkowski space
9.2 Feynman diagrams
9.3 Arrow of time
9.3.1 Time reversal and Feynman diagrams
9.3.2 Information carried by many photons
9.4 Summary
10. The Heart of Quantum Theory
10.1 How does one study the quantum?
10.2 Fields and states
10.3 Complex numbers in quantum mechanics
10.4 States and operators
10.5 Physical meaning of symbols
10.5.1 Creation and annihilation of photons
10.5.2 Propagation of a photon
10.5.3 Probability amplitudes
10.5.4 Addition of paths
10.6 Classical and quantum probabilities
10.6.1 Constructive and destructive interference
10.7 Summary
11. Angular Momentum and Spin
11.1 Direction of the angular momentum vector
11.2 Quantization of angular momentum
11.3 Spin of an electron
11.3.1 Stern{Gerlach experiment
11.4 Pauli exclusion principle
11.4.1 Quantum statistics
11.5 Summary
12. Quantum Theory and Relativity
12.1 Dirac theory
12.1.1 Negative energy states
12.1.2 Antiparticles
12.1.3 Zitterbewegung
12.2 Entangled states
12.3 Apparent conflict with relativity
12.3.1 Action at a distance
12.3.2 Action mediated by a field
12.3.3 Communication of information
12.4 Time ordering of measurements is relative
12.5 Feynman graph of entanglement and measurement
12.6 Summary
13. Tunneling: Quantum Magic?
13.1 Extending the boundaries of the possible
13.2 Potential barriers
13.3 Tunneling
13.4 Tunneling and alpha decay
13.5 Summary
14. The Spatial Wave Function
14.1 Probability density
14.2 Amplitude and probability
14.3 The wave function and measurements
14.4 A historical note
14.5 Summary
15. Conclusion
15.1 Summary
15.1.1 Wave and particle
15.1.2 A statistical result
15.1.3 Uncertainty principle
15.1.4 Wave functions and operators
15.1.5 Spin and statistics
15.1.6 Zitterbewegung
15.1.7 Antiparticles
15.1.8 Entanglement
15.1.9 Tunneling
15.2 The next step
Appendix A Answers to Exercises
Appendix B Bibliography
Index