Quantum theory is the theoretical basis of modern physics that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level.The nature and behavior of matter and energy at that level is sometimes referred to as quantum physics and quantum mechanics.
In 1900, physicist Max Planck presented his quantum theory to the German Physical Society. Planck had sought to discover the reason that radiation from a glowing body changes in color from red, to orange, and, finally, to blue as its temperature rises. He found that by making the assumption that energy existed in individual units in the same way that matter does, rather than just as a constant electromagnetic wave - as had been formerly assumed - and was therefore quantifiable, he could find the answer to his question. The existence of these units became the first assumption of quantum theory.
Planck wrote a mathematical equation involving a figure to represent these individual units of energy, which he called quanta. The equation explained the phenomenon very well; Planck found that at certain discrete temperature levels (exact multiples of a basic minimum value), energy from a glowing body will occupy different areas of the color spectrum. Planck assumed there was a theory yet to emerge from the discovery of quanta, but, in fact, their very existence implied a completely new and fundamental understanding of the laws of nature. Planck won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his theory in 1918, but developments by various scientists over a thirty-year period all contributed to the modern understanding of quantum theory.
The two major interpretations of quantum theory's implications for the nature of reality are the Copenhagen interpretation and the many-worlds theory. Niels Bohr proposed the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory, which asserts that a particle is whatever it is measured to be (for example, a wave or a particle), but that it cannot be assumed to have specific properties, or even to exist, until it is measured. In short, Bohr was saying that objective reality does not exist. This translates to a principle called superposition that claims that while we do not know what the state of any object is, it is actually in all possible states simultaneously, as long as we don't look to check.
To illustrate this theory, we can use the famous and somewhat cruel analogy of Schrodinger's Cat. First, we have a living cat and place it in a thick lead box. At this stage, there is no question that the cat is alive. We then throw in a vial of cyanide and seal the box. We do not know if the cat is alive or if the cyanide capsule has broken and the cat has died. Since we do not know, the cat is both dead and alive, according to quantum law - in a superposition of states. It is only when we break open the box and see what condition the cat is that the superposition is lost, and the cat must be either alive or dead.
The second interpretation of quantum theory is the many-worlds (or multiverse theory. It holds that as soon as a potential exists for any object to be in any state, the universe of that object transmutes into a series of parallel universes equal to the number of possible states in which that the object can exist, with each universe containing a unique single possible state of that object. Furthermore, there is a mechanism for interaction between these universes that somehow permits all states to be accessible in some way and for all possible states to be affected in some manner. Stephen Hawking and the late Richard Feynman are among the scientists who have expressed a preference for the many-worlds theory.
Although scientists throughout the past century have balked at the implications of quantum theory - Planck and Einstein among them - the theory's principles have repeatedly been supported by experimentation, even when the scientists were trying to disprove them. Quantum theory and Einstein's theory of relativity form the basis for modern physics. The principles of quantum physics are being applied in an increasing number of areas, including quantum optics, quantum chemistry, quantum computing, and quantum cryptography.
See Brian Greene's introduction to quantum theory on Nova:
Visit link:
What is quantum theory? - Definition from WhatIs.com
- The application of three-axis low energy spectroscopy in quantum physics research - Phys.Org - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Physicists breed Schrdinger's cats to find boundaries of the | Cosmos - Cosmos - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Scientists 'BREED' Schrodinger's Cat in massive quantum physics breakthrough - Express.co.uk - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Quantum Physics: Are Entangled Particles Connected Via An Undetected Dimension? - Forbes - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Quantum physics is oppressive - Patheos - Patheos (blog) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- It's widely abused as a buzzword. But can quantum mechanics explain how we think? - National Post - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Physics and Love are Super Weird and Confusing, but This Play Makes Sense of Them Both - LA Magazine - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- One step closer to the quantum internet by distillation - Phys.Org - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- UW Grad Student from Star Valley Earns Quantum Mechanics Fellowship - SweetwaterNOW.com - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- Solving systems of linear equations with quantum mechanics - Phys.Org - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Might Be Here Sooner Than You Think ... - Bloomberg - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Quantum Physics News - Phys.org - News and Articles on ... - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Chinese satellite breaks a quantum physics record, beams entangled photons from space to Earth - Los Angeles Times - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Popular Quantum Physics Books - Goodreads - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Cybersecurity Attacks Are a Global Threat. Chinese Scientists Have the Answer: Quantum Mechanics - Newsweek - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- A quantum step to a great wall for encryption - The Hindu - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- What Is Quantum Mechanics? - livescience.com - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Physicists Demonstrate Record Breaking Long-Distance Quantum Entanglement in Space - Futurism - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Viewpoint: A Roadmap for a Scalable Topological Quantum Computer - Physics - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- How Schrdinger's Cat Helps Explain the New Findings About the Quantum Zeno Effect - Futurism - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- BMW and Volkswagen Try to Beat Apple and Google at Their Own Game - New York Times - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- How quantum physics could revolutionize casinos and betting if you can understand it - Casinopedia - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Quantum thermometer or optical refrigerator? - Phys.Org - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Physicists settle debate over how exotic quantum particles form - Phys.Org - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- In 1928, One Physicist Accidentally Predicted Antimatter - Popular Mechanics - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Atomic imperfections move quantum communication network closer ... - Phys.Org - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- DOE Launches Chicago Quantum Exchange - HPCwire (blog) - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Google to Achieve "Supremacy" in Quantum Computing by the End of 2017 - Big Think - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Physicists make quantum leap in understanding life's nanoscale ... - Phys.Org - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Berkeley Lab Intern Finds Her Way in Particle Physics - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Payments Innovation - A Quantum World Of Payments - Finextra (blog) - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Why can't quantum theory and relativity get along? - Brantford Expositor - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- How quantum trickery can scramble cause and effect - Nature.com - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Telecommunications, Meet Quantum Physics - Electronics360 - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Stephen Colbert Gets a Lesson on Quantum Physics from Brian ... - Patheos (blog) - July 2nd, 2017 [July 2nd, 2017]
- Quantum physics for babies a different bedtime story - CBC.ca - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- How quantum mechanics can change computing - San Francisco ... - San Francisco Chronicle - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Physicists Use Lasers to Set Up First Underwater Quantum Communications Link - Gizmodo - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Notable Quotes on Quantum Physics Quantum Enigma - February 15th, 2018 [February 15th, 2018]
- Nothing Is Solid & Everything Is Energy Scientists Explain The World ... - April 11th, 2018 [April 11th, 2018]
- The World Of Quantum Physics: EVERYTHING Is Energy - In5D ... - April 22nd, 2018 [April 22nd, 2018]
- Nothing Is Solid & Everything Is Energy Scientists ... - May 1st, 2018 [May 1st, 2018]
- Black Holes Bolster Case For Quantum Physics' Spooky Action ... - August 29th, 2018 [August 29th, 2018]
- Physics4Kids.com: Modern Physics: Quantum Mechanics - September 29th, 2018 [September 29th, 2018]
- Quantum Theory - Full Documentary HD - November 6th, 2018 [November 6th, 2018]
- Quantum mind - Wikipedia - February 6th, 2019 [February 6th, 2019]
- The Ultimate Mystery? Consciousness May Exist in the Absence of Matter (Weekend Feature) - The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Faculty Opening, Quantum Information and Condensed Matter Experiment - Physics - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Become the physicists the world needs with the help of a physics degree - Study International News - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Imec and NUS working on chip-based quantum cryptography - Optics.org - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Strong LightMatter Coupling in Molecular and Material Engineering - Advanced Science News - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- The key to bigger quantum computers could be to build them like Legos - MIT Technology Review - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Australian universities are accused of trading free speech for cash - The Economist - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- APS Physics Career Center - Physics - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Assistant Professor of Physics, Employment - Physics - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- A new approach to quantum gravity - Tech Explorist - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- A Huge Experiment Has 'Weighed' the Tiny Neutrino, a Particle That Passes Right Through Matter - Gizmodo - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Many Worlds, But Too Much Metaphor - Forbes - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Iran to open 1st quantum physics lab in a year: AEOI head - Mehr News Agency - English Version - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing Breakthrough: New Detection Tool Uncovers Noise That Can Kill Qubits - SciTechDaily - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- A quantum computing startup that spun out of a Harvard lab just came out of stealth mode with $2.7 million in seed funding from investors like Samsung... - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Important Quantum Algorithm May Be a Property of Nature - Technology Networks - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- A New Perspective On Grover's Search Algorithm -- Quantum Physics & DNA - Analytics India Magazine - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Iran to open first quantum physics lab in a year: AEOI head - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Sean Carroll: Universe a 'tiny sliver' of all there is - PBS NewsHour - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- IBM cuts ribbon on quantum computing centre wherein a 53-qubit monster lurks - The Register - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- In 'Something Deeply Hidden,' Sean Carroll Argues There Are Infinite Copies Of You - NPR - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Physicists race to develop room-temperature quantum chips - The Next Web - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- This One Experiment Reveals More About Reality Than Any Quantum Interpretation Ever Will - Forbes - September 19th, 2019 [September 19th, 2019]
- Our world is in need of the Mahatmas teachings: Dalai Lama - Livemint - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- Quantum-inspired Beckman Institute celebration will be anything but small - Central Illinois Buzz - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- Is It a Wave or a Particle? It's Both, Sort Of. - Space.com - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- Princeton announces initiative to propel innovations in quantum science and technology - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- Precision physics with 'tabletop' experiments - Stanford University News - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- Andrea Young uncovers the strange physics of 2-D materials - Science News - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- A Scientific Explainer of What Terrence Howard Was Talking About at the Emmys - VICE - October 2nd, 2019 [October 2nd, 2019]
- China's Silicon Valley aims to become the country's top research center - Abacus - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- New Quantum-Mechanical Dissipation Mechanism Observed for the First Time - SciTechDaily - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Physicists have found quasiparticles that mimic hypothetical dark matter axions - Science News - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- The Power of Wrong Answers in Science Education - WIRED - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]