Post: What Is Quantum Mechanics?

Quantum Mechanics is an awesome field in physics with many theories and problems. It has been studied for over a century, and it is the most succesful theory we have on the microscopic world. Quantum mechanics answers questions like what happens in the microscopic world and how they work such as how an electron’s state changes over time. Although there are many theories in quantum mechanics, they all share unique traits that build up this field.

The Beginning of QM

Quantum Mechanics began in the early 20th century when Max Planck suggested that particles come in discrete packets called quanta. Other theories began to develop such as the wave-particle duality. A new field was born! Quantum Mechanics isn’t an easy field where you can quickly learn everything. In fact, Richard Feynman once said “If you think you understand Quantum Mechanics, you don’t understand Quantum Mechanics.”

Quantum Superposition

It would be weird to be in multiple places or states at once. How can you be here and there at the same time? Or how can you be standing and sitting at the same time? In 1935, Erwin Schrodinger did a thought experiment to show that particles can be in more than one state at the same time. This idea was proved by the double-slit experiment showing that the electrons pass through both slits at the same time.

Wave-Particle Duality

In the 1920s, Louis de Broglie discovered that particles have wave-like properties. This suggested that particles behave like waves. So, are waves the same as particles? Waves and particles are still different things, although they act as they are the same. Thomas Young’s double-slit experiment is also a great demonstration of the wave-particle duality.

Conclusion

Quantum mechanics is vast, and not easy at all. It requires lots of focus and passion. Louis de Broglie didn’t easily discover the wave particle duality, and Erwin Schrodinger didn’t discover quantum superposition just like that, it required lots of effort. These two principles, the wave-particle duality and superposition are defined and proven by Thomas Young’s double-slit experiment, a famous experiment done in 1801.