Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Quantum mechanics and Klein-Gordon equation

In course

PHYS-415: Particle physics I

Presentation of particle properties, their symmetries and interactions. Introduction to quantum electrodynamics and to the Feynman rules. ...

Description

This lecture provides a reminder on quantum mechanics, emphasizing the wave-particle duality and the concept of wave function. It covers observables, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the Schrödinger equation for non-relativistic particles, and the Klein-Gordon equation for relativistic electrons.

Instructors (3)

Radoslav Marchevski

Lesya Shchutska

Jan Steggemann

Official source

Related concepts (19)

Schrödinger equation

The Schrödinger equation is a linear partial differential equation that governs the wave function of a quantum-mechanical system. Its discovery was a significant landmark in the development of quantum mechanics. The equation is named after Erwin Schrödinger, who postulated the equation in 1925 and published it in 1926, forming the basis for the work that resulted in his Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. Conceptually, the Schrödinger equation is the quantum counterpart of Newton's second law in classical mechanics.

Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, quantum technology, and quantum information science. Classical physics, the collection of theories that existed before the advent of quantum mechanics, describes many aspects of nature at an ordinary (macroscopic) scale, but is not sufficient for describing them at small (atomic and subatomic) scales.

Wave–particle duality

Wave–particle duality is the concept in quantum mechanics that quantum entities exhibit both particle and a wave properties according to the experimental circumstances. It expresses the inability of the classical concepts "particle" or "wave" to fully describe the behaviour of quantum-scale objects. As Albert Einstein wrote: It seems as though we must use sometimes the one theory and sometimes the other, while at times we may use either. We are faced with a new kind of difficulty.

Relativistic wave equations

In physics, specifically relativistic quantum mechanics (RQM) and its applications to particle physics, relativistic wave equations predict the behavior of particles at high energies and velocities comparable to the speed of light. In the context of quantum field theory (QFT), the equations determine the dynamics of quantum fields. The solutions to the equations, universally denoted as ψ or Ψ (Greek psi), are referred to as "wave functions" in the context of RQM, and "fields" in the context of QFT.

Matter wave

Matter waves are a central part of the theory of quantum mechanics, being half of wave–particle duality. All matter exhibits wave-like behavior. For example, a beam of electrons can be diffracted just like a beam of light or a water wave. The concept that matter behaves like a wave was proposed by French physicist Louis de Broglie (dəˈbrɔɪ) in 1924, and so matter waves are also known as de Broglie waves.

Related lectures (49)

Principles of Quantum Mechanics

Explores the principles of quantum mechanics, including discrete light properties and wave-particle dualism.

Atomic Structure: Hydrogen Spectrum and Quantum Mechanics

Explores hydrogen spectrum, quantum models, and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

Advanced General Chemistry I: Quantum Mechanics Principles

Introduces the principles of quantum mechanics, focusing on particle confinement and energy quantization.

Quantum Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications

Explores quantum mechanics fundamentals, including wave mechanics, Schrödinger equation, and Dirac equation, along with applications in decay rates and particle accelerators.

Quantum Mechanics: Principles and Wave Functions