Physics 120b Quantum Physics and Beyond Spring 2019

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1 Physics 120b Quantum Physics and Beyond Spring 2019 Course Homepage see course info on Canvas until class starts or go directly to the course homepage at Course Syllabus Students for this Course Students in this course are non-science majors who have a desire to read, learn and discuss exciting concepts in modern physics today and have had either a physics course in High School or an introductory college physics course. General Course Description This course will be held in a seminar-type format. The class enrollment will be limited to 20 students, to facilitate discussion of the material. Before or soon after the semester starts, please go to the link on the course homepage listed above, access the link for Quantum Questionnaire and return it to me in . The course is intended to provide a forum for learning and discussion of exciting topics in modern physics from quantum physics, Einstein s special and general relativity, gravity waves, cosmology, astrophysics, atomic/nuclear/particle physics, the Higgs Boson, extra dimensions and string theory. See a full list of topics and the class schedule in the course outline below. Prerequisites for this course are a substantial physics course in High School or an Introductory College Physics Course at any level and a desire to learn and discuss exciting new concepts in modernday physics. There is no mathematics requirement. This course fulfills requirements for a science credit, but is not a QR course. Goals The goals of this course are 1) to introduce to the student current topics in modern physics from quantum physics through today s new concepts, and 2) to provide a forum for the student to develop skills in reading, understanding, formulating a perspective and discussing thought-provoking new topics in modern science. This is done through a combination of required reading, in-class discussion of concepts and active student participation. This course should provide the student with a broader and deeper understanding of modern physics and the contemporary world. It will also instill confidence in the student to be able to read, understand and discuss new concepts in science today at a basic level, allowing for a more profound basis for understanding and future decisions about science and new technologies. Approach The classes will be a mixture of discussion and less lecture with an emphasis on topics in the reading that students identify as difficult, complicated, or of specific interest for discussion. The course will emphasize assigned reading material, identification of issues before class and participation in class discussion. The normal class meeting time will be Mondays from 3:30 5:20 PM. An optional discussion session is held weekly on Wednesday from 3:30 4:20 PM for questions, answers, and discussion. The Wednesday session is optional with the exception of possibly one or two Wednesdays (announced ahead of time) where attendance will be required. Homework: Weekly reading assignments and review prior to class of posted in-class presentation materials (slides with more detail). The goal of the reading assignments and extra materials is to familiarize the student with new concepts, to prepare for class discussion, and to

2 identify issues that need emphasis and/or discussion in class. The weekly assignments are completed by answering several questions online that are due by 10 PM on the night before class. It is essential to answer the online questions in order to receive credit for the weekly assignment. Late submissions will not be accepted. The responses to these questions will be graded and returned in a timely manner. The weekly homework (reading assignment, materials and questions) will be posted the week before class. There may be a few collaborative homework assignments during the term. Examinations & Grading: Grading will be based on the homework assignments (total 20% of grade), 2 in-class quizzes (total 20% of grade), a mid-term examination (20% of grade), a final paper (25% of grade), and participation in class (total 15% of grade). Required Books & Reading: There is no textbook for this course. Students will be required to purchase 2 popular paperback books on modern physics from which reading assignments will be made. There will also be specialized reading assignments, typically Scientific American style articles or other articles available on the web. Additional material on topics of the reading also will be posted ahead of time for reading. The books for the course will be The Moment of Creation James S. Trefil [This book may be unavailable from the publisher through the Yale Bookstore. However, there are many inexpensive copies available on EBay and Amazon.] In Search of Schroedinger s Cat John Gribbin [This book is available in paperback at Barnes & Noble and likewise online from the web.] Some copies are on 24-hour reserve at the Bass Library. Classes meet Mondays, 3:30 5:20 PM, in location to be announced. There is also an optional* 50-minute question, answer and discussion session on Wednesdays (3:30 4:20 PM). (*attendance on one or two Wednesdays may be required, and will be announced ahead of time) Professor John Harris ( , john.harris@yale.edu, Wright Lab West, Room 311) Graduate Teaching Assistant Michael Oliver (michael.oliver@yale.edu, Wright Lab West, Room 303) Office hours Will be available before class and usually for an hour after class (except when dashing to the airport), and of course by appointment (at other times).

3 Physics 120b Quantum Physics and Beyond Spring 2019 Class Date General Course Outline listed with General Topics & Concepts Covered Subject to modification & updating (prior to the beginning of term & upon notice) 1. Mon-Jan 14 The Big Picture Course Overview An Introduction: The Beginning (the Big Bang), the Four Forces Split Up Inflation & Expansion of the Universe The Building Blocks of Nature, Quark Soup & Matter Formation A Few More Things You Will Learn: Quantum Mechanics & It s Implications Black Holes, Gravity, Gravitational Waves, the Higgs, String Theory.. Primer at the Beginning and just after the Big Bang Recreating conditions just after the Big Bang 2. Fri-Jan 18 The Big Bang & Universal Expansion Some Basics Doppler Effect (Red Shift) Making Matter from Energy and Vice Versa (E = mc 2 ) The Standard Model of Physics The Early Universe and Big Bang Cosmology The Cosmic Microwave Background & It s Far-reaching Implications What is Dark Matter? What is Dark Energy? 3. Mon-Jan 28 After the Big Bang, Part 1 Picking up the Pieces What Have We Learned from the Big Bang? Problems with the Big Bang Resolving Issues of the Big Bang The Big Bang and its Epochs/Eras Multiple Phases ( Freezings ) Today s remnants of Early Times What did WMAP see in the Cosmic Microwave Backgnd? The energy accounting problem of the Universe Dark Matter and Dark Energy Revisited The Inflationary Universe (quantum tunneling) & the Big Bang Gravity - the Force We Think We Know The force we want to get to know better 4. Mon-Feb 4 After the Big Bang, Part 2 New Discoveries Review Epochs of the Big Bang Critical Energy Density of the Universe Particles, Forces & Fields

4 Another View of Inflation Electromagnetic Waves Interference and Polarization Gravitational Waves The Gravity Wave Experiment (LIGO) Discovery of gravitational waves & its implications Observations of binary black hole mergers Observation of binary neutron star merger 5. Mon-Feb 11 Quantum Mechanics is the Answer In-Class Quiz Black Hole Apocalypse The Impossible Atom (and Its Nucleus) A New Theory is Needed Let there be light (quanta)! Photo-Electric Effect Black Body Radiation Ultraviolet Catastrophe 6. Mon-Feb 18 Quantum Mechanics Part 2 Exclusion and Uncertainty Bohr s Model with Quantum Orbits Particle/Wave Duality & Wave Functions Spin and the Exclusion Principle Particle-wave Duality The Uncertainty Principle Chance and Uncertainty The Schrödinger Equation Double-slit Experiment 7. Mon-Feb 25 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics & Quantum Entanglement Schroedinger vs Einstein Does the Light Go Through the Left or Right Slit? Both? Copenhagen Interpretation of QM Many Worlds Interpretation of QM Quantum Entanglement Mini-Review for Midterm Examination 8. Mon-Mar 4 More Quantum Mechanics Mid-term Examination QUANTUM DEBATE! 9. Wed-Mar 6 (3:30 5:20) SPECIAL CLASS replaces class of Mar 25 Introduction to Einstein s Special Relativity Traveling at the Cosmic Speed Limit Relative Motion (Galileo vs. Einstein) Moving Clocks and Rulers Weird Space-time Effects

5 Mon-Mar 11 Mon-Mar 18 NO CLASS (SPRING BREAK) NO CLASS (SPRING BREAK) 10. Mon-Mar 25 (NO CLASS) 10. Wed-Mar 27 - SPECIAL CLASS (3:30 4:30) Quantum Mechanics Hits the Streets! Applications of Quantum Mechanics Lasers Introduction to Quantum Computing 11. Mon-Apr 1 Intro to General Relativity More Space-time Effects A Revelation (Difference with Classical View) Einstein s General Relativity Warped Space-time Quantum Mechanics versus Gravity Bambi Meets Godzilla! Black Holes and the Fabric of the Universe A Conflict of Cosmic Proportions Is Gravity just an Illusion? 12. Mon- Apr 8 String Theory to the Rescue Untangling the Problems A Theory of Everything, Unseen Dimensions in Our World, Quarks, Particles and Universes All the Forces Re-Unified, The Clash of the Universes Wed. April 10 - INITIAL PAPER PROPOSAL DUE 13. Mon-Apr 15 String Theory, Extra Dimensions and the Multiverse Are there Extra Large Dimensions? Is there a Grand Unified Theory of Everything? In-Class Quiz 14. Mon-Apr 22 Standard Model and Higgs Standard Model, Higgs and Supersymmetry What We ve Learned and Where Do We Go from Here? The Fate of the Universe Black Holes are Everywhere The Far Out Future Wed. April 24 - FINAL PAPER PROPOSAL APPROVAL Thursday-May 2 - Final paper due

Quantum Physics and Beyond

Quantum Physics and Beyond Physics 120 Today Lesson 3: Problems with the Big Bang Cosmic Inflation Yale Physics 120 1/29/2018 John Harris 1 Physics 120 Now posted on homepage Announcements Homework 1-2 Solutions Homework 3 Reading