What is Quantum Physics?

, , Leave a comment

What is Quantum Physics?
The early 20th century was the time when the study of quantum physics made an impact for further development. Scientists made a discovery that laws governing the macroscopic objects do not operate in smaller microscopic levels in the same manner. To define quantum physics, one must understand the behavior of both matter and energy. This understanding must not be just at the molecular, atomic and nuclear but up into the smallest microscopic levels.

Quantum was derived from Latin, which means ‘how much’. The word refers to distinct units of matter and energy, which are calculated and examined in this field of study, which is quantum physics. Scientists explain that both space and time have also the smallest potential values even though both may appear continuous.
Quantum physics is also known or sometimes called quantum mechanics or quantum field theory. Like many other scientific study, quantum field theory have several subfields or sub branches. Oftentimes, this subfields are mistakenly referred to as the same as quantum mechanics. However, the fact is quantum physics is actually the mother of all these subfields or quantum disciplines.

There are several famous scientists that are responsible for the development of quantum physics. However, the founding of the study is credited to Max Planck. This is due to his paper, 1900, which is all about blackbody radiation. On the other hand, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schroedinger, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg and some others are the ones who did the development of the field. Many find it ironic as Albert Einstein was disproving and modifying quantum mechanics before. Einstein had some critical issues with the field of study for several years.

In the field of quantum mechanics, everything that is examined was actually influenced by the physical processes that take place. Quantum mechanics describe the universe as a series of probabilities. In quantum tunneling, matter is said to possess the ability to move from one point to another without disturbing the superseding space. Every matter moves across cosmic vastness instantly such as information. However, as mentioned earlier, larger matters and smaller microscopic matters use different laws or principles.
In studying the field of quantum physics, one would come across the term quantum optics. This area of quantum physics deal with the study of the behavior of light or photons. The study of quantum optics has a different level of observation. In this branch, the behavior of each photon has effects on the lights’ outcome. This was exactly the opposite of what Isaac Newton calls classical optics. The discovery of the laser is attributed to the study of quantum optics.

Later in the year 1940, Richard Feynman, Sinitro Tomonage, Julian Schwinger, and many others developed quantum electrodynamics or QED. The study focuses on how photons and electrons interact. With QED, predicting the dispersion of photons and electrons are precise to eleven decimal places.
In studying quantum physics, one would encounter the term unified field theory. The theory attempts to bring together quantum physics to theory of relativity, which was developed by Albert Einstein. The theory aims to combine the different elementary forces of physics.

Tea Time Quiz

[forminator_poll id="23176"]
 

Leave a Reply