Course info

Course Information

Lectures & Format

Time: Wednesdays, 08:15 – 10:00 (2 × 45 minutes)

Room: F3M01

First Lecture: 9th September

Lecturer: Gábor Takács

Summary

The course gives an introduction to the foundations of quantum theory. The focus is on developing physical formalism and theoretical understanding of conceptual foundations of quantum theory. This is not a course on the interpretations of quantum theory, although it inevitably involves some philosophical aspects. The goal is to enable students to understand ongoing research and open issues in the foundations of quantum physics.

Course Outline

1. Review of standard (textbook) quantum theory
2. Hidden variables and no-go theorems
3. The EPR-Bell experiment and its ramifications
4. Consistent quantum histories
5. Some important quantum paradoxes and their resolutions
6. Open quantum systems and environmental decoherence
7. Emergence of a classical world
8. Outlook

Additional Material

Lecture Notes for the Course

Final Requirement & Grading

• Final Exam (Oral): Oral exam covering the course material, based on the List of Exam Topics.