Definition:Quantum Mechanics

Definition

Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behaviour of matter at the smallest scale accessible to observation.

It seeks to explain and model results of experiments by assuming that certain physical quantities can exist only in integer multiples of some fixed quantum.

Also known as

Quantum mechanics is also known as quantum physics.

It is not clear whether there is actually a qualitative difference between the two terms.

Also see

• Definition:Classical Mechanics
• Definition:Relativistic Mechanics
• Definition:Statistical Mechanics

• Results about quantum mechanics can be found here.

Historical Note

Quantum mechanics was developed in the early $20$th century.

Sources

• 1978: A.P. French and Edwin F. Taylor: An Introduction to Quantum Physics ... (previous) ... (next): Preface
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): classical mechanics (Newtonian mechanics)
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): mechanics
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): quantum mechanics
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): classical mechanics (Newtonian mechanics)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): mechanics
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): quantum mechanics
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): quantum mechanics