I will present material on aspects of quantum theory and then we will use that to discuss real world objects. Each session will be typically half presentation and the rest discussion. Mathematical detail will be minimised. Here is a summary of the kind of things we will discuss (detail will evolve):
1. Introductory talk on Quantum Mechanics Original motivations: black body radiation, the photoelectric effect Discussion: Quantum nature of light
2. Talk: Uncertainty Principle, Schrodinger Equation, Spin Discussion: The Stern-Gerlach experiment
3. Talk: Early 1900s - what we know about atoms, fermions and bosons, the Pauli Exclusion Principle Discussion: Hydrogen atom, larger atoms, periodic table
4. Talk: Schrodinger equation incompatible with special relativity Discussion: How to move to a Lorentz invariant formulation, the Dirac equation
5. Talk: Young's fringes, De Broglie waves Discussion: Wave nature of matter
6. Talk: clues about the nucleus, Rutherford's experiment (proton), Chadwick discovery of the neutron, Binding energy Discussion: the nucleus.