what is the important topic to study before quantum mechanics?
Hello Aspirant,
I hope you are doing well.
In order to study elementary quantum mechanics you must ideally have an understanding of the following mathematical ideas: Complex numbers. Partial and Ordinary differential equations. Integral calculus I-III.
Firstly, start by learning basic physics (Newtonian mechanics, electromagnetism, etc.),before learning quantum mechanics. Then, some mathematics like calculus I-III [single and multivariable with differentiation and integration], differential equations [ODEs], linear algebra and Fourier analysis.
Some resources:
- Wikipedia
- MIT Open CourseWare (OCW) http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/find-by-topic/
- Use an online textbook (or an actual tangible one, if you can), like this one (for an intro): http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys270/Jenkins/Griffiths_EPR_BellInequality_Excerpt.pdf
- http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL701CD168D02FF56F & here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL84C10A9CB1D13841
I hope this helps.
Good Luck
Hi,
Hope you are doing well!
Some important topic to study before quantam mechanics are:
- You should learn solution of Linear second order ODEs with constant coefficients,Special functions : Associated Legendre functions, Laguerre polynomials, Hermite polynomials,series solution method etc.
- You can study notion of linear vector spaces, linear transforms between vector spaces, linear functionals, basic and dimension of vector spaces from linear Algebra,Fourier transformation.
- In order to know the connection between classical and quantum mechanics you can have an idea on Hamiltonian formalism of classical mechanics and the Poisson bracket structure.
- You should study separation of variables, Helmholtz equation, general solution construction of PDEs.
- You can also study old quantum theory and Energy quantization.
Hope it helps.
All the best for your future.
