One Hundred Years of Uncertainty
- Origins of Quantization
- Commutators and Uncertainty – Matrix Mechanics
- The Schrödinger equation – Wave Mechanics
- Superposition and Complementarity – Postulates of Quantum Mechanics
- The Copenhagen Interpretation – Classical and Quantum Probability
- The 1927 Solvay Conference, the Bohr-Einstein debates and Schrödinger's cat
- Hidden variables versus “Shut Up and Calculate” – John von Neuman and David Bohm
- Exclusion, Spin, Statistics and all that
- The Dirac equation
- Successes of Molecular Quantum Mechanics
- Lasers and Quantum Optics
- Transistors, Semiconductors and Superconductors
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Quantum Electrodynamics, Symmetry and development of the Standard Model
- Electron Correlation and the rise of Density Functional Theory
- John Bell's theorem – All Interpretations are Not Created Equal
- Superluminal “spooky action-at-a-distance”
- Entanglement, Qubits and Quantum Gates
- Quantum Key Cryptography and Quantum Teleportation
- Quantum Computing
Produced by N. Sukumar
Schedule: 25 April - 22 November 2025
- Introductory Episode
- Episode 1: An Act of Desperation – Max Planck and Birth of the Quantum
- Episode 2: Annum Mirabilis - the photoelectric effect
- Episode 3: The Bohr atom - the right answers for the wrong reason!
- Episode 4: A wave on Mon, Wed, Fri, a particle on Tue, Thu, Sat. - the Compton Effect and Wave-particle Duality
- Episode 5: Birth of Matrix Mechanics - every progress paid for by a sacrifice
- Episode 6: A grandeur unsurpassed in theoretical physics - Wave Mechanics
- Episode 7: Classical and Quantum probabilities - The Superposition principle
- Episode 8: 5 Theorems of Linear Algebra
- Episode 9: Probabilistic Interpretation and Postulates of Quantum Mechanics
- Episode 10: Origin of Quantization
- Episode 11: The Uncertainty Principle and Complementarity
- Episode 12: Atomic Orbitals
- Episode 13: Indistinguishability, Spin, Statistics and Quantum Electrodynamics
- Episode 14: Approximation Methods for Many Electron Systems
- Episode 15: Born-Oppenheimer approximation and Potential Energy Surfaces
- Episode 16: Theories of Chemical Bonding
- Episode 17: Beyond Born-Oppenheimer, spontaneously broken symmetry and Berry phase
- Episode 18: The Bohr-Einstein debates, EPR paradox and Schrödinger’s cat
- Episode 19: Mean field theories and beyond - Electron correlation
- Episode 20: Phonons, Excitons and Quantization of the Radiation Field
- Episode 21: Feynman Diagrams for Quantum Electrodynamics and Quantum Field Theory
- Episode 22: Diagrams for Coupled Cluster
- Episode 23: Introduction to Density Functional Theory
- Episode 24: Exchange-correlation hole and Kohn-Sham DFT
- Episode 25: Jacob's Ladder of density functionals
- Episode 26: Introduction to Symmetry and Group Theory in Quantum Mechanics
- Episode 27: Character Tables and Selection Rules
posted by N. Sukumar | 11:51 PM
10 Comments:
For further reading (Episodes 1 and 2):
1. Max Jammer, "The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics" (American Institute of Physics, 1989).
2. Bernard d'Espagnat, "Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Mechanics" (Addison-Wesley, 1989).
3. Abraham Pais, "Subtle is the Lord: The Science and Life of Albert Einstein" (Oxford University Press, 1982).
For further reading (Episodes 5 and 6):
1. Max Jammer, "The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics" (American Institute of Physics, 1989).
2. N. Sukumar, Ed. “A Matter of Density: Exploring the Electron Density Concept in Chemical, Biological, and Materials Sciences” (John Wiley, 2012).
3. Venkat Venkatasubramanian, "Celebrating the Birth Centenary of Quantum Mechanics: A Historical Perspective" Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 64, 9443−9456 (2025).
For further reading (Episodes 7 and 8):
1. N. Sukumar, Ed. “A Matter of Density: Exploring the Electron Density Concept in Chemical, Biological, and Materials Sciences” (John Wiley, 2012).
2. Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton & Matthew Sands: The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol.III (Addison Wesley Longman).
3. J. N. Murrell, S. F. A. Kettle, J. M. Tedder: Valence Theory (ELBS & John Wiley)
For further reading (Episodes 13):
1. John D. Jackson, "Classical Electrodynamics" (John Wiley, 1962).
2. Claude Itzyckson & Jean-Bernald Zuber, "Quantum Field Theory" (Mc Graw Hill, 1980).
3. Paul A. M. Dirac, "The Principles of Qunatum Mechanics" (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1958)
4. Leonard I. Schiff, "Quantum Mechanics" (Mc Graw Hill, 1968).
5. Alfred Shapere & Frank Wilczek, "Geometric Phases in Physics" (World Scientific, Singapore, 1988).
6. Max Jammer, "The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics" (American Institute of Physics, 1989).
For further reading:
Episode 15:
N. Sukumar, Ed. “A Matter of Density: Exploring the Electron Density Concept in Chemical, Biological, and Materials Sciences” (John Wiley, 2012).
Episode 16:
1. J. N. Murrell, S. F. A. Kettle, J. M. Tedder: Valence Theory (ELBS & John Wiley).
2. Frank L. Pilar, Elementary Quantum Chemistry (McGraw Hill, 1968).
3. Atilla Szabo, Neil S. Ostlund, Modern Quantum Chemistry (Dover, 1989).
For further reading (Episodes 17):
1. Alfred Shapere & Frank Wilczek, “Geometric Phases in Physics” (World Scientific, Singapore, 1988).
2. N. Sukumar, Ed. “A Matter of Density: Exploring the Electron Density Concept in Chemical, Biological, and Materials Sciences” (John Wiley, 2012).
3. R. Resta, Rev. Mod. Phys. 66, 809 (1994).
For further reading (Episode 18):
1. Abraham Pais, "Subtle is the Lord: The Science and Life of Albert Einstein" (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1982.
2. Born-Einstein Letters, 1916-1955: Friendship, Politics and Physics in Uncertain Times (Macmillan Science, 2004).
3. John von Neumann, “Mathematische Begrundung der Quantenmechanik” (Springer, Berlin, 1932) translated into English by R. T. Boyer, “Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics” (Princeton University Press, 1955).
4. Max Jammer, "The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics" (American Institute of Physics, 1989).
For further reading (Episodes 21 and 22):
1. Claude Itzyckson & Jean-Bernald Zuber, "Quantum Field Theory" (Mc Graw Hill, 1980).
2. R. D. Mattuck, A Guide to Feynman Diagrams in the Many-Body Problem (Dover, NY, 1992)
3. Feynman, R. P. and A. R. Hibbs, Quantum Mechanics and Path Integrals (Dover, NY, 2005)
4. D. P. Craig & T. Thirunamachandran, “Molecular Quantum Electrodynamics” (Academic, London, 1984)
5. Richard N. Porter, “Quantum Field Theory: An introduction for Chemical Physicists” (World Scientific, 2022)
6. Paul M. Roman, “Advanced Quantum Theory: An Outline of the Fundamental Ideas” (Addison-Wesley, 1965)
7. W. P. Healey, "Non-Relativistic Quantum Electrodynamics (Academic Press, 1982)
8. Rodney J. Bartlett, “Coupled Cluster Theory: An Overview of Recent Developments” in Modern Electronic Structure Theory, Part II, Ed. David Yarkony (World Scientific, Singapore, 1995)
For further reading (on Episodes 23 and 24):
1. Robert G. Parr & Weitao Yang, "Density Functional Theory of Atoms and Molecules" (Oxford University Press, 1989)
2. N. Sukumar, Ed. “A Matter of Density: Exploring the Electron Density Concept in Chemical, Biological, and Materials Sciences” (John Wiley, 2012).
For further reading (on Episodes 26 and 27):
1. Frank Albert Cotton, "Chemical Applications of Group Theory" (John Wiley, 1963).
2. Hermann Weyl, "The Theory of Groups and Quantum Mechanics" (Dover, 1950).
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