Q&A for How to Understand Quantum Physics

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I really want to learn Quantum Mechanics. How can I learn it by myself?

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Find the most highly recommended texts on the subject at a library or bookstore, select the ones that look best to you, and attempt to read them.

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What are eigenvalues?

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Whenever we make a measurement on an observable in a particular state, the eigenvalues are the possible results of the measurement. Having an eigenvalue implies that the observable can exist in that particular state with zero uncertainty.

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Does a single electron split into multiple pseudo-particles which create a wavelike shape and then go through double slit?

Henry Sheehy

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No. Electrons cannot split, as far as we can tell. There is an analogous statement to the one which you describe, but for waves. It's called Huygens Principle. To really understand interference, think about the electron's wavefunction as a measure of its probability. It tells you where you may find the electron. Then when you measure you collapse the wavefunction to be in one of its many possibilities, and that's where you see an electron particle.

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Who invented quantum physics?

RBXII3

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Max Planck is often called "the Father of Quantum Physics." He "created" black body radiation (or the equation for it) and has an entire unitary system named after him (Planck units), which define the smallest sizes at which our current laws of physics are known to operate.

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What is the Schrodinger equation?

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It is an equation that describes how the quantum state of a physical system changes in time.

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What is the best way to understand quantum physics?

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Start from scratch. Pretend classical mechanics do not exist. Also, remember that quantum physics is not intuitive, and you will have to train your brain to think in a quantized way. As a quantum physicist, I can tell you that there will be things that you will not "get," but that doesn't mean you don't understand it. You just have to accept certain things, even if they seem wonky.

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Is quantum physics hard?

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Quantum Physics is known to be a "hard" subject in physics, mostly because it goes against our "classical" intuition. As you study quantum mechanics, you will, however, get used to it and start building up a sort of "quantum intuition."

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What is the mass of the Higgs-Boson particle?

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It is approximately 125 billion electron volts. That is so small that the particle's mass is sometimes referred to as being "imaginary" or impossible to measure. It is equal to approximately 2.2 x 10^(-25) kilogram or 0.00000000000000000000000022kg.

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