User:Johnjbarton/sandbox/introduction to quantum mechanics: Difference between revisions

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{{Userspace draft|help=no|date=June 2023|extra=New content for [[Introduction to quantum mechanics]]. '''Status:''' ''addingfirst references, looking for feedback on scopedraft''.}}

= Topic list =

Published.

* What is quantum mechanics?

** A curiously exotic set of phenomena.

** theoretical model of very very tiny things.

** Major part of how the universe works.

** strangely: all of the above.

* Why is quantum mechanics difficult to understand?

** Quantum world fundamentally different (intro).

*** Invisible, Heavily mathematical, Ubiquity, Different properties.

** Invisible leads to indirect observations.

*** Indirect information: observations.

*** Submicroscopic scale.

*** Macroscopic human senses.

*** Information through interaction.

*** Interaction causes alteration:

**** Observations alter state.

**** Environment alters (decoherence).

** Indirect information leads to models leads to math.

*** Models predicting observations.

*** Numerical observations require mathematical models.

** Limitations of non-mathematical descriptions.

*** Models difficult to explain without math background.

*** Only analogies to directly observable systems.

** Limitations of mathematical description.

*** Bad data to start (unmeasurable initial conditions)

*** Observers obey QM (Heisenberg cut)

* Curiously exotic phenomena and our models of very very tiny things.

** Photo electric effect: quanta.

** Photoabsorption: bound states and quantum jumps

** Double slit: interference and matter waves.

** Single slit: interference and yes waves.

** Double slit low intensity: probability.

** Radioactive decay: probability.

** Stern-gerlach: spin

** separate measurements in coincidence: entanglement.

* A major part of how the universe works.

** Ubiquity.

** Quantum apparatus; quantum observers.

** Welcome to the edge of the known universe.