| NFYC58 | Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Physics, 5 ECTS-points /KVANTMEKANIK OCH MOLEKYLFYSIK/ Advancement level: C | |
| Aim: The course treats the history of physical ideas and concepts. A main purpose is to describe the changes in mans conception of the world that has taken place during the 20:th century by way of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.Prerequisites: Attended NFYC51, Mathematical Methods of Physics I and NFYB43 Atomic and Nuclear Physics.Supplementary courses: General qualifications for university studies.Course organization: The course is presented in lectures.Course content: The problem of change from Zeno to Galilei. What is temperature? What is entropy. The second law of thermodynamics and the arrow of time. Space, time and space-time: the experimental fact that the speed of light is the same for all observers has revolutionary consequences for our views of space, time and simultaneity. How to realise that E=mc2. Absolute space and Machs principle: from Newtons bucket to Einsteins general theory of relativity. The quantum mechanical revolution. The wave-particle dualism. Is the moon there if you do not look at it? The contributions of quantum mechanics to the eternal questions.Course literature: Alastair Rae: Quantum Mechanics 3rd ed., IOD. Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen: Can quantum-mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete, Phys. Rev. 47, 777 (1935). Bell: On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen paradox, Physics 1, 195 (1964). | ||
| TEN1 | A written examination 5p | |