(c) Dr Paul Kinsler. [Acknowledgements & Feedback]
This is part of an information maze -- see the index-file for the full picture.
It is often said that quantum mechanics tells us that particles also behave like waves. In fact waves and particles are just two complementary ways of describing quantum objects. "Wave" or "particle" are descriptive terms for objects, the wave-function is what the object "is". Something that looks like a particle can be described as a superposition of waves, and something that looks like a wave that can be described as a superposition of localised particles. Usually we use the description that is simplest. A "superposition" is a special combination of two or more things. Superpositions are what make quantum-computers potentially so powerful
One of the consequences of quantum theory is the uncertainty-principle.
Many things we want to describe using quantum-mechanics are not freely moving, but are attracted to or repelled by other objects. Such quantum-confinement makes things behave in a significantly different way.
The way quantum objects behave is defined by their wave-function, which is a solution of Schroedingers wave equation. The way different objects interact can be described using "matrix mechanics" (by Born and Heisenberg). However, interactions can equally well be described using the wave equation.
Quantum-mechanics has been generalised into quantum field theory, which includes the effects of special relativity. Quantum field theory explains why fermions have half-integral quantum spin, and also predicts the existence of anti-particle counterparts to normal particles.
Quantum systems can be chaotic, a situation which is described by quantum-chaos.
XINDEX: uncertainty-principle, uncertainty-principle, quantum-confine, quantum-computer, quantum-chaos, proton, polariton, photon, neutron, index-file, electron, electro-magnetic-field, boson, atom, index-file.
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XKEYWORD: quantum-mechanic
Email Feedback: Dr.Paul.Kinsler@physics.org
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