Quantum Mechanics and Why You Should Be Able To Understand It

Quantum mechanics and the theory of special relativity are two of the most revolutionary and important theories in physics. While both have been successful in describing the behavior of the universe on their own, combining them together has led to some remarkable insights and new discoveries.

Special relativity, developed by Albert Einstein in 1905, describes how the laws of physics are the same for all observers moving at a constant velocity relative to each other. One of the key ideas in special relativity is that the speed of light is always the same, regardless of the motion of the observer or the source of light.

Quantum mechanics, on the other hand, was developed in the early 20th century to describe the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. It is a probabilistic theory, meaning that it cannot predict the exact outcome of a measurement, but rather gives the probability of different outcomes.

When quantum mechanics and special relativity are combined, the resulting theory is known as quantum field theory (QFT). QFT describes how particles and fields interact with each other, and has been incredibly successful in predicting the behavior of particles in high-energy physics experiments.

One of the main challenges in combining quantum mechanics and special relativity is the concept of locality. Locality is the idea that an event can only influence its immediate surroundings, and cannot have an instantaneous effect at a distance. This concept is crucial in special relativity, where the speed of light is the maximum speed at which information can travel.

However, in quantum mechanics, particles can be entangled, meaning that the properties of one particle are correlated with the properties of another, even when they are separated by large distances. This violates the principle of locality, and has led to much debate and research in the field of quantum mechanics.

Another interesting aspect of combining quantum mechanics and special relativity is the concept of particles and antiparticles. According to special relativity, every particle has a corresponding antiparticle with the same mass but opposite charge. When particles and antiparticles meet, they can annihilate each other, releasing energy.

In quantum mechanics, particles are described by wavefunctions, which can have positive or negative energy solutions. When the theory of special relativity is included, these solutions correspond to particles and antiparticles, respectively. This has led to the prediction of new particles, such as the positron, which was discovered in 1932.

In conclusion, the combination of quantum mechanics and the theory of special relativity has led to some remarkable insights and discoveries in physics. Quantum field theory has been incredibly successful in predicting the behavior of particles in high-energy physics experiments, and has challenged our understanding of the fundamental principles of the universe. As research in this field continues, it is likely that we will gain even more insights into the workings of the universe at the most fundamental level.