The Story
Using a selection of key experiments performed over the past 30 years or so, we present a discussion of the strikingly counterintuitive phenomena of the quantum world that defy explanation in terms of everyday 'common sense' reasoning, and we provide the corresponding quantum mechanical explanations with a very elementary use of associated formalism. Most, but certainly not all, of the experiments we describe are optical experiments involving a very small number of photons (particles of light). We begin with experiments on the waveparticle duality of electrons, proceed to experiments on the particle nature of light and single photon interference, delayed choice experiments and interactionfree detection, then go on to experiments involving the interference of two photons, quantum entanglement and Bell's Theorem, quantum teleportation, largescale quantum effects and the divide between the classical and quantum worlds, addressing the question as to whether or not there is such a divide.
Description
Using a selection of key experiments performed over the past 30 years or so, we present a discussion of the strikingly counterintuitive phenomena of the quantum world that defy explanation in terms of everyday 'common sense' reasoning, and we provide the corresponding quantum mechanical explanations with a very elementary use of associated formalism. Most, but certainly not all, of the experiments we describe are optical experiments involving a very small number of photons (particles of light). We begin with experiments on the waveparticle duality of electrons, proceed to experiments on the particle nature of light and single photon interference, delayed choice experiments and interactionfree detection, then go on to experiments involving the interference of two photons, quantum entanglement and Bell's Theorem, quantum teleportation, largescale quantum effects and the divide between the classical and quantum worlds, addressing the question as to whether or not there is such a divide.
