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Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1

a World Without Einstein Series

Welcome to the bizarre micro-world of quantum mechanics. We explore Einstein's contributions to and rejection of this pillar of 20th century physics.

Click here for Broadcast.

After you have enjoyed the broadcast, get the book! All of the information presented here, and more, can be found in World without Einstein
World Without Einstein

Image #1

In the micro-world, nature is often “quantized” like steps on a staircase rather than the ramp-like behavior of our macro-world.

Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - Quantization of Energy

Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - solution to ultraviolet catastrophe

Image #2

Thermodynamics said hot bodies emit the same energy at all frequencies, but that made the total energy infinite. Planck suggested a trick to prevent the “Ultraviolet Catastrophe”: radiation must be quantized.



Image #3

Before QM, physics couldn’t explain why atoms didn’t collapse



Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - why do atoms collapse?

Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - why atoms are stable.

Image #4

Particle-wave duality explains why atoms are stable: electron orbits must contain integral numbers of wavelengths, so they can’t spiral in closer than orbit #1.


Image #5

Electrons can only occupy specific orbits with specific energies that are different for each type of atom.

Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - atoms occupy specific orbigts


Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - energy level transitions

Image #6

Atoms can emit or absorb only specific energies equal to the difference in electron energies. These sets of energies form a unique “spectrum” for each type of atom—a unique fingerprint allowing us to measure the composition of stars.



Image #7

The waves on the left each have a definite wave length and frequency, but indefinite locations—they are spread everywhere. Adding waves of different frequencies forms a wave packet with a location uncertainty dx and a frequency uncertainty df. Making dx smaller makes df be larger, and vice versa—it’s a tradeoff.

Einstein and Quantum Mechanics - Part 1 - particles as wave packets

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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