University of Ziane Achour Djelfa

Department of Materials Science

Quantum
Mechanics
This work is by the students:

NAAS Lazhari-Ayoub

KHOBEIZI Ahmed

TAHRAOUI Salah Eddine

i) What is Quantum Mechanics?

Simply, quantum mechanics is the study of matter and radiation in the atomic level.

ii) Why quantum mechanics have arisen?

In the early twentieth century, some experiments have produced results can not be
explained by classical physics (the physics of Galileo and Newton, and others), For example,
it was known that the electrons revolve around an atomic nucleus.

In any case, if they do it in a way similar to the rotation of the planets around the sun; the
classical physics predicts that these electrons will move in a spiral pattern to fall into the
nucleus in a fraction of a second. It is clear that this does not happen, and the only life we
know it will not be. (Chemistry depends on the interactions between electrons, and life
depends on the chemistry).

This wrong prediction with some of the other experiences that eluded interpreted classical
physics, Scientists have shown that something new should appear to explain science at the
atomic level.

iii) If classical physics is not true, why do we continue using it?

The classical physics theory is wrong, and wrong is very heavily only when dealing with very
small things (in the size of the atom, then we use quantum mechanics) or things are very
fast (near the speed of light, then we use relativity ).

As for the life of things, and that is much larger than the atom size, and much slower than
the speed of light, classical physics doing a great job, in addition to its use much easier than
all of quantum mechanics or relativity (as both require an intense amount of mathematics) .

iv) What is the Schrodinger equation?

Each quantum particle can be represented by a wave function.

In 1925 Erwin Schrödinger developed the differential equation which describes the
evolution of the wave functions.

And with the Schrodinger equation the scientists will be able to find a wave function that
solves a specific problem in quantum mechanics.

Unfortunately, it is usually impossible to create the full solution to the equation.

So we use certain assumptions in order to find an approximate answer to the problem

Quantum Mechanics 2
M1 Physics of Condensed Matter ENGLISH

Schrodinger equation:

ℏ2
− ∆𝜓(𝑟⃗, 𝑡 ) + 𝑉 (𝑟⃗). 𝜓(𝑟⃗, 𝑡 ) = 𝐸. 𝜓(𝑟⃗, 𝑡 )
2𝑚
ℏ : Planck's constant divided by the 2𝜋

𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2
∆≡ ∇² ≡ 2 + 2 + 2 ∶ laplacien Operator
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝜓(𝑟⃗, 𝑡 ): the wave function on the space and time.

𝑚: mass of the particle.

𝑉 (𝑟⃗): Potential energy affecting the particle

𝐸: energie.

v) What is the importance of quantum mechanics?

The following issues are among the most important things that can be described by
quantum mechanics, while classical physics can't:

Non-contact (Discrete) energy levels:

If you look at the spectrum of light irradiated from the active atoms (as light orange-yellow
of the sodium vapor used in street lights, or blue-white light from mercury vapor lamps),
you will notice they are made up of individual lines of different colors.

These lines represent the discrete energy levels of electrons in those activated atoms.

When the electron is in the case of high-energy then jump to the state minimum, the atom
radiate photon of light matches exactly with the energy difference of the two levels (energy
conservation).

The larger this difference; the photon is more active and approached its color to violet end
of the spectrum.

If the electrons were not restricted in a separate energy levels; the activated atom spectrum
will be connected colors scattered from red to violet with no single lines.

It's the fact that electrons can only exist in discrete energy level, which prevents them from
falling in a spiral pattern to the inside of the nucleus, as forecasts of classical physics.

This quantization of energy with some other atomic properties quantized, is what gives
quantum mechanics this name.
Quantum Mechanics 3
M1 Physics of Condensed Matter ENGLISH

Duplication of character wave - particle of light and matter:

In 1690 Christiaan Huygens put theory: that light is composed of waves, while in 1704
Newton explained that light consists of tiny particles. And it has supported experiments
both theories.

In any case, both theories could not explain all the phenomena associated with light! So the
scientists took the thinking of light a particle and a wave at the same time.

In 1923, Louis de Broglie assumed that the particle material can show wavelike properties,
and in 1927 proved (by Davisson and Germer) that electrons can behave like a wave.

How can something be a particle and wave at the same moment?

We say, it is wrong to believe that the light stream of particles moving up and down
wavelike manner.

In fact, The light and matter accost as particles, and to act as a wave is the probability of
where this particle will be.

The reason why light sometimes appears as a wave is that we note the accumulation of
many light particles distributed in probabilities of where each particle would be them.

Quantum tunnel:

This is one of the most phenomena that can be illustrated by quantum mechanics
enjoyable, and without them what they were computer chips to show up, and it was the PC
has expanded almost an entire room.

As noted earlier, the wave had the probability Where will the particle be; most of the wave
will be reflected apostate, but a small part of it will leaked through the barrier.

If the barrier is small enough that the wave that leaked will continue its flight to the other
side of it. Even if this particle does not has enough energy to pass the barrier, remains the
possibility that sneaks in a tunnel through it.

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle:

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is completely like flies in the face of classical physics.
In the end, the foundation in science is the ability to measure things accurately.
Now, quantum mechanics says that it is impossible to get those measurements perfectly!
But the Heisenberg uncertainty principle is a natural fact, It will be impossible to build a tool
to measure up to the full accuracy.

Quantum Mechanics 4