Discovering the Quantum: hobby projects reveal quantum mysteries

Modern electronics brings key experiments from the history of quantum mechanics within reach of the keen hobbyist, the science teacher, and the project group in a high school physics lab. This book details practical projects which demonstrate the wave-particle duality of light, energy quanta, particle spin, quantum tunneling and the quantum eraser. From these principles, the theory is developed, retracing the history of the various discoveries and insights, leading up to the present moment, where we stand at the dawn of the quantum computing era. Foreword......Page 6 List of Hobby Projects......Page 8 1. The Paradox......Page 9 2. Light as Waves......Page 11 2.1 – The Double Slit......Page 18 3. Light as Particles......Page 23 3.1 – The Photoelectric Effect......Page 24 3.2 – Critique of the Photon......Page 35 3.3 – Single Photons......Page 39 3.4 – Counterfactuals......Page 44 4. Interpretation......Page 47 5. Physics in the 19th Century......Page 54 5.1 – The Hydrogen Spectrum......Page 55 5.2 – Electricity and Magnetism......Page 58 5.3 – Electromagnetic Waves......Page 69 6. The Nuclear Atom......Page 78 6.1 – The Bohr Atomic Model......Page 80 6.2 – The Franck-Hertz Experiment......Page 83 6.3 – The Old Quantum Theory......Page 88 7. Spin......Page 90 7.1 – The Stern-Gerlach Experiment......Page 93 7.2 – Atomic Clocks......Page 97 7.3 – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance......Page 100 8. A Hobby NMR Project......Page 107 Polarizing the Spins......Page 108 Synchronizing the Spins: the B1 Field......Page 111 The Amplifier......Page 114 Noise......Page 117 Setting up the Equipment......Page 120 Signals at Last!......Page 121 Magnetic Field Homogeneity......Page 125 The Small-Sample, Twin-Coil Design......Page 128 8.1 – Recommendations......Page 131 9. Waves and Particles......Page 134 9.1 – Wave Mechanics......Page 139 9.2 – Tunneling......Page 150 10. Matrix Mechanics......Page 155 11. Entanglement and other Weirdness......Page 164 11.1 – Delayed Choice......Page 172 11.2 – Quantum Eraser......Page 175 12. Relativity......Page 180 12.1 – Clocks and Measuring Rods......Page 186 12.2 – Real or Relativistic?......Page 190 12.3 – Space, Time and Simultaneity......Page 195 12.4 – Presentism, Eternalism & Freewill......Page 202 12.5 – General Relativity......Page 208 12.6 – Relativity versus the Quantum......Page 214 13. Quantum Field Theory......Page 219 14. Quantum Informatics......Page 234 15. Making Sense of Quantum Mechanics......Page 245 15.1 – Superposition of States......Page 250 15.2 – Role of the Observer......Page 252 15.3 – Decoherence......Page 254 15.4 – Wave Packets......Page 256 15.5 – The Quantum Field Perspective......Page 258 16. Summation......Page 267 Footnotes:......Page 271 Foreword 6 List of Hobby Projects 8 1. The Paradox 9 2. Light as Waves 11 2.1 – The Double Slit 18 3. Light as Particles 23 3.1 – The Photoelectric Effect 24 3.2 – Critique of the Photon 35 3.3 – Single Photons 39 3.4 – Counterfactuals 44 4. Interpretation 47 5. Physics in the 19th Century 54 5.1 – The Hydrogen Spectrum 55 5.2 – Electricity and Magnetism 58 5.3 – Electromagnetic Waves 69 6. The Nuclear Atom 78 6.1 – The Bohr Atomic Model 80 6.2 – The Franck-Hertz Experiment 83 6.3 – The Old Quantum Theory 88 7. Spin 90 7.1 – The Stern-Gerlach Experiment 93 7.2 – Atomic Clocks 97 7.3 – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 100 8. A Hobby NMR Project 107 Polarizing the Spins 108 Synchronizing the Spins: the B1 Field 111 The Receiver Coil 114 The Amplifier 114 Noise 117 Setting up the Equipment 120 Signals at Last! 121 Magnetic Field Homogeneity 125 The Small-Sample, Twin-Coil Design 128 8.1 – Recommendations 131 9. Waves and Particles 134 9.1 – Wave Mechanics 139 9.2 – Tunneling 150 10. Matrix Mechanics 155 11. Entanglement and other Weirdness 164 11.1 – Delayed Choice 172 11.2 – Quantum Eraser 175 12. Relativity 180 12.1 – Clocks and Measuring Rods 186 12.2 – Real or Relativistic? 190 12.3 – Space, Time and Simultaneity 195 12.4 – Presentism, Eternalism & Freewill 202 12.5 – General Relativity 208 12.6 – Relativity versus the Quantum 214 13. Quantum Field Theory 219 14. Quantum Informatics 234 15. Making Sense of Quantum Mechanics 245 15.1 – Superposition of States 250 15.2 – Role of the Observer 252 15.3 – Decoherence 254 15.4 – Wave Packets 256 15.5 – The Quantum Field Perspective 258 16. Summation 267 Footnotes: 271