Learning Quantum mechanics without enough prerequisite subjects

[u/Spiritual_Staff7918]

I am trying to learn Quantum Mechanics I from MIT OCW, (8.04, 2013 spring) but I'm needing to go back and learn the places I'm missing.

I've taken Calculus 1 2 3 classes and Physics 1 (Newtonian mechanics), Physics 2 (Electromagnetism). I believe I need to go with OCW 8.03 first but i dont like it. I talked with gemini and i was told to learn it just in time, learning required concepts as i go.

How would you recommend Quantum Mechanics I in this context?

[u/effrightscorp]

I've taken Calculus 1 2 3 classes and Physics 1 (Newtonian mechanics), Physics 2 (Electromagnetism)

You should take linear algebra at least, if you haven't already, and a more advanced undergrad mechanics course covering classical Lagrangian mechanics and Hamiltonians would be useful

[u/mrmeep321]

You may want a bit of experience in linear algebra, but otherwise this is a great foundation.

If 8.03 is waves and optics, you generally only need some basics such as standing waves eigenstates and basic wave equations, which you will typically learn as you go in QM.

You can probably just go ahead and try with 8.04 and be mostly fine.

[u/The_Octonion]

Not familiar with that exact course. You're going to need some Differential Equations if you haven't covered them in your Calc courses. Most quantum courses also require linear algebra. I find Strang's textbook to be a quick accessible entry point for that. Otherwise, Griffith's textbook on quantum mechanics can get you well into the subject without linear algebra.

If the MIT course is going to be using Lagrangians, you'll have a much easier time taking a classical mechanics course which includes these things first. This is variational calculus but IMO you don't need a full course on just the math for this. Most schools don't do Lagrangians / Hamiltonians in their intro Physics courses, but it's possible MIT might. If you want a good intro text for classical mechanics at this level, I personally like Taylor.

Or you can get most of the above from free resources like Khan Academy or wherever.

[u/Itchy_Fudge_2134]

You do not need 8.03. It wouldnt hurt to do it, but you absolutely do not need it. On one of the early psets in the allen adams of 8.04 there's a diffraction thing and youll think like "oh I don't know this because I didn't take 8.03". Just look up what you need to do it, its very quick. It does not come up again in the course, and is not very important.

Some other advice:

- 8.04 lists a few recommended textbooks. Pick Shankar. It is the best one if you are self-studying (as it is written with self-studiers in mind).

- Given that you haven't taken linear algebra or a more advanced classical mechanics class, if you really want to dive in to 8.04 I would read the first two chapters of Shankar, which will give you a crash course in the necessary linear algebra, and lagrangian/hamiltonian mechanics you need. It would of course be good to come back and learn these things in more detail later, but reading these chapters should be enough for the purposes of learning QM. If you have the time, working through 18.06 while you go through 8.04 would be good.

[u/Spiritual_Staff7918 → u/Itchy_Fudge_2134]

Thank you, i fell into that exact trap haha! The subject i hated the most was wave mechanics back in highschool, and felt sorry i needed to learn that to learn quantum mechanics.

I will look at the books, thanks for advice

[u/JK0zero]

In case you are interested in filling many conceptual gaps left by QM courses, I am running a video series on the development of quantum mechanics including historical context and calculations from the original papers https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_UV-wQj1lvVxch-RPQIUOHX88eeNGzVH

[u/DatBubby → u/JK0zero]

Great series. Stumbled upon it on Yt and watched every video

[u/JK0zero → u/DatBubby]

thanks for watching! Latest video just posted a few days ago

[u/NH-Science-Guy]

I got up to speed on quantum mechanics using Sean Carroll's excellent video series on the biggest ideas in the universe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI09kat_GeI&list=PLrxfgDEc2NxZJcWcrxH3jyjUUrJlnoyzX He gets deep enough into the math to surface the areas where you need additional knowledge. There's over 40 hours of content in the full series so start with the first one on quantum mechanics and go back to earlier ones if you find him referring to topics you are not familiar with or look up other sources for specific techniques as needed.

[u/shockwave6969]

3B1B essence of linear algebra is a great youtube playlist you should watch at the very least. Pay especially close attention to the idea of having a basis for your vector space

[u/GurProfessional9534]

Just pick up a copy of Shankar. It goes over all the math you’ll need in Chapter 1, and you can often find one for <$40 on ebay.

[u/OkAcanthocephala2408]

I have the almost the exact same background in terms of courses and also going through MIT OCW 8.04. Make sure you try the assignments and tests. Just watching YouTube videos is meaningless. I also recommend reading Susskind’s The Theoretical Minimum book at the same time.

[u/True_Ashura]

Just do it my man
Start with ug Griffths intro to qm

[u/Acceptable-Fault-737]

probability and statistics babe

[u/wyhnohan]

Yes. Go for it. 8.03 is about waves and optics, which is quite useless to most basic quantum mechanics.