<p>Hi all, curious if an EE would benefit from taking quantum mechanics? I’m interested in photonics, accelerators, and other physics-y disciplines. In my EE curriculum, we’re only required to take “Modern Physics” which does cover a bit of QM but only about 4 weeks worth. </p>
<p>For intensive E&M fields within EE, does knowing QM help at all? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Most things that a ‘normal’ EE would do is in the classical realm, no quantum really. A lot of engineers end up getting into some cool physics stuff in nanotech, superconductivity, just a lot of solid state physics. If you’re planning to do some of that, then yeah it’ll help somewhat but you ought to know that most of these things are still being researched so you probably would want to get a Ph.D.</p>
<p>The Modern Physics course taken by Engineering majors is a survey course to introduce you to some of the main concepts of 20th century Physics developments. Its coverage of QM is greatly simplified and far less mathematically rigorous than the two semester sequence that Physics majors take. It is very theoretical and unlikely to have many applications in Engineering.</p>
<p>If you have a very strong background in Math (I realize that some Engineering majors are just as proficient in Math as any Physics major) and are taking the class with the idea of learning in great depth about one of the fundamental theories underlying Modern Physics I think you could benefit from taking it. If you take it with the idea that it will have significant applications to Engineering you would probably be disappointed.</p>