LECTURE SERIES

THE RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM WORLD

WED 10, 17 AND 24 SEP, AND 1 AND 8 OCT – 19:30 TO 21:30
Karl Dittrich Hall, Student Services Centre, Bonnefantenstraat 2

Prof. Marcel Merk
Professor of gravitational waves and fundamental physics, UM and research physicist at Nikhef

Have you ever wondered about the concepts of Relativity Theory and Quantum Mechanics? In this lecture series of ten 1-hour lectures on five evenings we will discuss the fundamental concepts of these intriguing physics theories in depth, but without having to go through intricate mathematics derivations. In the first two evenings we will see how basic physics ideas of symmetry lead to surprising consequences of the nature of space and time, culminating in the discovery of gravitational waves. In the following two evenings we dive into the counter-intuitive concepts of quantum mechanics phenomena and their interpretation. In the last evening relativity and quantum come together as we discuss the physics of elementary particles and the discoveries at the LHC collider at CERN. Via the physics of antimatter and the Higgs particle we address the question: How can it be that there exists a universe filled with matter in the first place? Be prepared to learn that the relativistic quantum world is fundamentally different than our macroscopic world we are used to.

The individual lectures
1. The Principle of Relativity / Lorentz Contraction and Time Dilatation (10 Sep)
2. Relativistic Paradoxes / General Relativity and Gravitational Waves (17 Sep)
3. The Early Quantum Theory / Feynman's Double Slit Experiment (24 Sep)
4. Wheeler's Delayed Choice Experiment / Quantum Reality (1 Oct)
5. The Standard Model and Antimatter / Why is there something rather than nothing (8 Oct)

Cost of the whole series
UM students €10
UM employees and students from other schools €25
Others €50