The basic pillar of modern science
2025/03/01 Rezabal Astigarraga, Elixabete - EHUko Kimika Teorikoko taldekidea Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
In the last century, quantum mechanics has profoundly transformed the way we understand our environment. Born as an attempt to respond to the difficulties of classical physics in explaining atomic phenomena, it immediately flourished and created a sophisticated theoretical framework that regulates the behavior of matter and energy. The contribution of the young German physicist Werner Heisenberg was a milestone in the development of modern quantum mechanics. In 1925, he published an article that differed significantly from classical physics. He proposed a "quantum mechanics" based on observable quantities, such as energy and transients, to set aside unobservable concepts such as electron orbits. Although he initially chose this approach for practical reasons, it soon brought about a radical change in the way atomic phenomena were understood and explained. This work is precisely what the United Nations has chosen to set a date for the birth of quantum mechanics.
The contributions of Schrödinger, Bohr, Jordan, Born and others followed, and by 1927, the theory of quantum mechanics was complete. The so-called Copenhagen interpretation prevailed to understand this new theory. The basic principle of this interpretation is that quantum mechanics provides only probabilities of finding particles in certain situations or locations. Moreover, the observer, in making the measurement, changes and determines the state or location of the particle, so that our ability to reveal what happens inside the atom is completely limited.
It is clear that this interpretation has profound philosophical implications, and although it succeeded in explaining a wide range of concepts, it also sparked lively debates among physicists. The world of quantum mechanics is dominated by probability, uncertainty and the role of the observer, which inevitably led to a profound change of thought. It was also a huge challenge for the founders of quantum mechanics to accept and assimilate these new concepts.
Despite philosophical controversies, quantum mechanics advanced rapidly; it solved more and more practical problems. It provided new insights into the nature of chemical bonding, exposed radioactive decay, and revolutionized understanding of the behavior of electrons in solids and led to advances in materials
science and electronics.
Looking ahead, quantum mechanics will play a vital role in responding to the challenges ahead. In quantum computing, for example, taking advantage of the principles of superposition and entanglement, researchers are dedicated to building computers capable of solving problems that cannot be solved with classical computers. Even in basic physics, the deepest mysteries of the universe are being studied, addressing the nature of dark matter and energy. Time will tell us whether it is possible to develop a theory that unites quantum mechanics with general relativity.
One hundred years later, today we can say that quantum mechanics is the basic pillar of modern science. Beyond the concrete and microscopic world of scientists, quantum mechanics invites us all to question what we observe in our daily lives and to propose a completely different way of understanding reality.
