David Tong and 100 years of quantum mechanics

Maths on the Move

Welcome to the new season of the Maths on the Move podcast!

We start the season with theoretical physicist David Tong of the University of Cambridge looking at an important milestone in the history of physics: the 100th birthday of quantum mechanics which we celebrate this year. David tells us why a new theory was needed, which of the many strange aspects of quantum mechanics is, in his opinion, the most significant, and that Erwin Schrödinger had a tendency to be grumpy.

David also tells us how quantum mechanics links to quantum field theory, the language in which all of modern physics is formulated, and reveals some mysterious connections between very different areas of physics — such as the theory of black holes and fluid mechanics. Join us in a wavy dance from the very small to the very large!

For some background and further reading and viewing see:

• David Tong's series of text books
• A ridiculously short introduction to some very basic quantum mechanics
• A brief history of quantum field theory
• Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
• Maths in a Minute: Black holes
• What is general relativity? Plus asks David Tong
• Sean Carroll's Mindscape podcast featuring David Tong