The actual survey specified “can solve the Schrodinger equation for a hydrogen atom”.
Right, sorry, I forgot that qualifier since the time I took the survey. It does imply more familiarity with the underlying math than the simplest possible cases. Still, I recall that when I was at that level, I was untroubled by the foundational issues, just being happy to have mastered the math.
Although it is not exactly synonymous with “understands quantum mechanics”, you would expect them to be highly correlated
I wonder if there is a way to test this assertion. One would presumably start by defining what “understands quantum mechanics” means.
When I was learning to solve the hydrogen atom, they didn’t even talk about the foundational issues, just waved it off with some wave-particle duality nonsense. But still, it seems like as good a criterion as you’re going to get, unless you want to ask if people have a Master in Physics (Quantum).
Right, sorry, I forgot that qualifier since the time I took the survey. It does imply more familiarity with the underlying math than the simplest possible cases. Still, I recall that when I was at that level, I was untroubled by the foundational issues, just being happy to have mastered the math.
I wonder if there is a way to test this assertion. One would presumably start by defining what “understands quantum mechanics” means.
When I was learning to solve the hydrogen atom, they didn’t even talk about the foundational issues, just waved it off with some wave-particle duality nonsense. But still, it seems like as good a criterion as you’re going to get, unless you want to ask if people have a Master in Physics (Quantum).
I suppose that a better question would be related to the EPR paradox, but I’m not sure what academic course would cover it.