What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum Physics

What Every Dog Should Know

About Quantum Physics

I like cheese

Chad Orzel

http://dogphysics.com/

2x p

~20 Nobel Prizes

For quantum pioneers

Schrödinger’s Dog

Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles behave

like waves. Does this mean I

have wave nature?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31514171@N00/161879717/

Peak + Peak =

=

=

Peak + Valley =

Bigger Peak

Nothing

Double Slit

Pattern depends on distance from slits

Get alternating pattern of “bright” and “dark” stripes

Electron Experiment

Image and video from Hitachi:

http://www.hitachi.com/rd/research/em/doubleslit.html

Send electrons at two slits in a barrier:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

File:Fullerene-C60.png

Fig. 7 in the paper, "Quantum interference experiments with large molecules,"

by Nairz, Arndt, and Zeilinger (Am. J. Phys 71, 319 (2003)).

Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles behave

like waves. Does this mean I

have wave nature?

Can I use my wave

nature to help me catch bunnies

and squirrels?

http://www.fotopedia.com/en/Solar_System

Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles can pass

right through obstacles as if

they weren’t there. Can I use

this to get through the fence to

the yard next door?

Height

Pro

bab

ilit

y

Gro

und

Temperature Needed for Fusion: 15,000,000,000 K

Temperature of the Sun: 10,000,000 K+

+

+n

+n

+n

+n

+n

Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles can pass

right through obstacles as if

they weren’t there. Can I use

this to get through the fence to

the yard next door?

So, I should just dig

a hole under the fence, then?

Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says cats are both alive

and dead at the same time. I’ve

always known they were

undead zombie monsters! Now

my humans will have to believe

me!

Electron Experiment

Image and video from Hitachi:

http://www.hitachi.com/rd/research/em/doubleslit.html

Send electrons at two slits in a barrier:

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jgeist/omg/ZombieCat.jpg

Dear DogPhysics:

I am a retired quantum

physicist, and I have discovered an

ingenious quantum technique that

is worth one hundred billion dollars

($100,000,000,000). I will happily

give you 50% of this if you will

provide me with access to your

bank accounts…