1. Welcome to Quantum World!

Hello friends... Welcome to Quantum World! If you are a Quantum Freak, then you are in the right place!

Here we will discuss all kinds of topics, theories, concepts that are related to Quantum Physics! Let's start with the brief introduction to Quantum Physics or Quantum Mechanics or Quantum Dynamics, whatever you want to call!

Quantum is the finest entity of any object that you can find in this universe. Quanta (in plural) are the discrete entities filled with energy. This is a new microscopic world that lies inside an atom's fundamental particles such as electron, proton or neutron. Quanta can be released as energy packets and can be observed as well. In a atom, if there is an energy exchange or transfer of fermions or photons or bosons, then that atom can be said as quantized. For example we can say if an electron is bound to an atom, it is quantized because an unbound electron is not involved in any energy transfer. Hence it's unbound!

Quanta can be released or observed by protons, neutrons and baryons, etc. One of the important findings in quantum mechanics is that the physical characteristics of an entity varies or can be changed only by discrete amounts of energy rather than a continuously varying or arbitrary values. Doesn't this mean that there might be a common factor or a constant to support this behavior? Yes, that's what called as 'Plank Constant'.

There are varieties of quanta found, named and arranged in a matrix. Also, there are characteristics recorded for each of these quanta. They can be described in terms of the following characteristics.
1. Charge - can be one of these values -1, -1/3, 0, 1, 2/3.
2. Mass - can vary from less than 2.2 eV up to 171.2 GeV (eV is for Electron Volt)
3. Spin - can be one of these values 0, 1/2, 1. (it can be clock wise or anti-clock wise)

I am not much interested in numbers but still this would help you to have an general idea when we talk about quanta. Among these quanta, two of them differ from all others but match with each other in characteristics. Those are photon & gluon. Both of them  have zero Mass, zero Charge but 1 Spin and both of them behave as transmitters or force carriers. Having no Mass, they are can travel at the maximum possible speed! Anyway, what does then differentiate or set them apart?

Their purpose! Yes, photon mediate electromagnetic interaction while gluon mediate the strong interaction. Just like photon & gluon, every quantum has it's purpose and is involved in corresponding activities. There are theories which explain such interactions. Usually, in scientific world, most of the time, theories are formed first and are proven later but in quantum mechanics, it's the other way around. It's really interesting how finding of quanta formed these theories. All such theories are grouped together and named as Quantum Theory! Let's say Q.T in short.

Q.T. categorizes all the events that occur, in this universe, into 4 fundamental interactions and each one is supported by a theory. Now, let's get into the details. The fundamental interactions are Electromagnetic interaction, Weak interaction, Strong interaction and Gravity. Among these, only 3 of them are mathematically proven.Yes, the pending theory is nothing but the famous subject, 'Gravity'.

Mr. Albert Einstein explained Gravity in terms of his spectacular space-time curvature in his General Theory of Relativity in 1915 and he was also one of the worldly famous personalities who criticized the quantum theories. He called it as 'Quantum Spookiness'! As an attempt to define the whole universe from start to end, we need Q.T. to explain Gravity in terms of quanta and in order to complete the theory it has become a necessity for Quantum Physicists to explain Gravity in terms of Quanta.

Ultimately, the objective is to have 'An Unified Theory of Everything' about our universe!