4.81 out of 5
4.81
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The Mathematical Beauty that led to Quantum Physics

The Rise of Quantum Physics
Instructor:
Emanuele Pesaresi
61 students enrolled
English [Auto]
mathematical tricks
physical insights
history of physics
Basics of Statistical Mechanics

This course showcases the beautiful mathematics that, in the late 19th century/ early 20th century, led to the discovery of a revolutionary branch in physics: Quantum Mechanics.

Planck postulated that the energy of oscillators in a black body is quantized. This postulate was introduced by Max Planck in his derivation of his law of black body radiation in 1900. This assumption allowed Planck to derive a formula for the entire spectrum of the radiation emitted by a black body (we will also derive this spectrum in this course). Planck was unable to justify this assumption based on classical physics; he considered quantization as being purely a mathematical trick, rather than (as is now known) a fundamental change in the understanding of the world.

In 1905, Albert Einstein adapted the Planck postulate to explain the photoelectric effect, but Einstein proposed that the energy of photons themselves was quantized (with photon energy given by the Planck–Einstein relation), and that quantization was not merely a “mathematical trick”. Planck’s postulate was further applied to understanding the Compton effect, and was applied by Niels Bohr to explain the emission spectrum of the hydrogen atom and derive the correct value of the Rydberg constant.

In addition to the very useful mathematical tools that will be presented and discussed thoroughly, the students have the opportunity to learn about the historical aspects of how Planck tackled the blackbody problem.

Calculus and multivariable Calculus are a prerequisite to the course; other important mathematical tools (such as: Fourier Series, Perseval’s theorem, binomial coefficients, etc.) will be recalled, with emphasis being put on mathematical and physical insights rather than abstract rigor.

Introduction

1
Introduction

Introduction to the course, focusing on the beautiful mathematical "tricks" that were used in the late 19th / early 20th century by Planck and that led to the discovery of a new field: Quantum Physics

2
Introduction to the blackbody problem

Blackbody problem. Energy per unit volume per angular frequency.

3
Definition of blackbody

Blackbody definition.

Analysis of blackbody cavities

1
Irrelevance of Shape of the Cavity
2
Wave equation for Electromagnetic Waves
3
Solution to the Wave Equation
4
Satisfaction of Boundary Conditions
5
Number of Modes per Frequency
6
Average Energy per Mode

Quantization: Systems of Particles

1
Distribution of the Average Energy, Planck's idea
2
Systems of Particles, Binomial Coefficient
3
Number of Arrangements of the Particles into the Energy Levels
4
Sterling's Approximation
5
Preparing to maximize the Number of Arrangements

Derivation of the Average Energy per Mode

1
Maximizing the Number of Arrangements
2
Expression for the Energy per Mode
3
Planck's Mathematical Trick
4
Calculation of the Average Energy per Mode part 1
5
Calculation of the Average Energy per Mode part 2

Derivation of the Stefan-Boltzman Law

1
Classical vs Quantum
2
Energy per Volume per Wavelength and Energy per Volume
3
Planck's Integral
4
Brief Summary of Fourier Analysis
5
Parseval's Theorem

Short proof of Parseval's theorem

6
Ultraviolet Catastrophe and Energy per Unit Surface
7
Calculation of the Series 1/n^4
8
Putting Results Together
9
Deriving the Stefan-Boltzmann Law part1
10
Deriving the Stefan-Boltzmann Law part2
You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.
Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don't have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That's up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!
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3 hours on-demand video
Full lifetime access
Access on mobile and TV
Certificate of Completion
The Mathematical Beauty that led to Quantum Physics
Price:
$98.98 $79

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