Ingénieur 1A

Quantum mechanics is probably one of the most "fertile" intellectual adventures of humanity. It has made it possible to determine the structure of nuclei, atoms, and molecules, to elucidate the nature of light, and it constitutes an essential tool for understanding modern physics, from elementary particles to stars and the Big Bang. Its economic impact is just as important: most high-tech products (electronics, lasers and optronics, nanotechnologies, telecommunications) are directly derived from quantum concepts.

The aim of the PHY_3X061_EP (ex PHY361) course is to offer to all students an introduction to quantum mechanics and some of its applications. This course will first deal with wave mechanics. After presenting the basics of the theory, we will study some one-dimensional problems, such as the movement of a particle in a square well and the harmonic oscillator. This will make it possible to identify the notion of quantum state and to introduce the general principles of quantum mechanics using the Dirac formalism. The operation of masers and quantum cryptography will serve as an illustration of these principles. This course will have close links with both the mathematics course and the probability course.

• Consult the details of the quantum mechanics course

Bibliographic reference:
Mécanique quantique by Jean-Louis Basdevant and Jean Dalibard (2002).

• détail de l'ouvrage
• Table des matières

Book available from Editions de l'Ecole Polytechnique.

Course language: French

ECTS credits: 5