Lecture 1 Date : 13/10/2003

Realm of quantum mechanics :

TV set

(LED)

TV understand E.M Wave

electrical signal (I.R.)
Remote control

Translation from IR wave into electric signal is done using quantum mechanics.

* Laser
* Lots of semiconductors properties is based on Q.M.
* MRI : Magnetic resonnance imaging which is based on NMR (Nuclear magnetic nesonnance)
Which is a quantum property
* Astronomy:
Finger prints of stars : "atomic spectrum"
The detector indicates Sodium

Star Yellow
Earth

Detector
*Photoelectric effects
EM Photosensitive plate

EM wave : It carries energy Function of color Frequency

Starting with a given frequency , no reaction is observed to occur in the photosensitive plate.
Varying the frequency, we start to detect an electric signal.

Classical Potential well

 Function of frequency
Electron

Total energy that could be absorbed by the electron = absorption rate X time
Classically , one would expect that for any frequency there should be a "transition" during
a time interval set by the considered frequency.
Experiment : below a given frequeny , no transition is observed no matter how long we wait.
I.e. there should exist a new physics : quantum mechanics

Color 1
a minimum quanta of energy
= hν
Frequency ν1
Motto : Take it or leave it
hν hν
> hν min < hν min
it is not possible to absorb two photons

* Heat capacity Thermometer

(to measure temperature)
Gas
Volume = constant

Quantity of heat

Quantity of heat exchanged

Rate = = heat capacity = Cv
Temperature difference
= number of moles X molar heat capacity
=ή x Cv
Property of the substance
Diatomic gas : (H2)
Classical Kinetic theory => 7 R Universal gas constant
Cv =
2
Experiment :
Cv/R

7/2 Classical

5/2 QM

3/2 experimental
QM

Temperature in °K
100 1000

Black body
Perfect radiation absorber and emitter
e.g any enclosure with a hole in it

Ultraviolet catastrophe :
Classically : Energy radiated ~ Frequency ν

ν ∞
Energy ∞

Quantum mechanics
Photon energy = hν

8πν2 hν
Energy radiated =
C 3
e
hν/kt
-1
ν ∞
Energy 0

Conclusions : Classical mechanics should be replaced by something else to describe

mentioned phenomenae
* New tools should be developed
* Dynamical equations