Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Quantum mechanics
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== Applications == {{Main|Applications of quantum mechanics}} Quantum mechanics has had enormous success in explaining many of the features of our universe, with regard to small-scale and discrete quantities and interactions which cannot be explained by [[Classical physics|classical methods]].{{refn|name= feynmanIII |group=note|See, for example, [[the Feynman Lectures on Physics]] for some of the technological applications which use quantum mechanics, e.g., [[transistor]]s (vol '''III''', pp. 14β11 ff), [[integrated circuit]]s, which are follow-on technology in solid-state physics (vol '''II''', pp. 8β6), and [[laser]]s (vol '''III''', pp. 9β13).}} Quantum mechanics is often the only theory that can reveal the individual behaviors of the subatomic particles that make up all forms of matter (electrons, [[proton]]s, [[neutron]]s, [[photon]]s, and others). [[Solid-state physics]] and [[materials science]] are dependent upon quantum mechanics.<ref name=marvincohen2008>{{cite journal |last=Cohen |first=Marvin L. |title=Essay: Fifty Years of Condensed Matter Physics |journal=Physical Review Letters |year=2008 |volume=101 |issue=25 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.250001 |url=http://prl.aps.org/edannounce/PhysRevLett.101.250001 |access-date=31 March 2012 |bibcode=2008PhRvL.101y0001C |pmid=19113681 |page=250001}}</ref> In many aspects, modern technology operates at a scale where quantum effects are significant. Important applications of quantum theory include [[quantum chemistry]], [[quantum optics]], [[quantum computing]], [[superconducting magnet]]s, [[light-emitting diode]]s, the [[optical amplifier]] and the laser, the [[transistor]] and [[semiconductor]]s such as the [[microprocessor]], [[medical imaging|medical and research imaging]] such as [[magnetic resonance imaging]] and [[electron microscopy]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Matson |first1=John |title=What Is Quantum Mechanics Good for? |url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/everyday-quantum-physics/ |magazine=Scientific American |access-date=18 May 2016}}</ref> Explanations for many biological and physical phenomena are rooted in the nature of the chemical bond, most notably the macro-molecule [[DNA]].
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)