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Quantization of Non-Relativistic Classical Mechanics: Trying on New Hats

Student-Run Research Seminar

Speaker: Pat Dragon, UC Davis Mathematics
Location: 2112 MSB
Start time: Wed, Feb 24 2010, 12:10PM

Classical mechanics can be understood very well in the context of ordinary differential equations. In the physical world, we observe some phenomena which are not explained by classical mechanics (quantum tunneling, double-slit diffraction). Hence, classical mechanics is an incomplete description of physics, and better theory is required. This talk will start with an overview of the process called "quantization of a classical system", with particular focus on harmonic oscillators. We will find the representation theory of Lie algebras (and Lie groups) to be intrinsically useful in this context. Time-permitting, we will discuss a physical interpretation for decompositions of tensor-product-representations into irreducible representations.