Quantum mechanics is considered successful due to its ability to make highly accurate predictions that are consistent with experimental observations in a wide range of phenomena. While it is true that quantum mechanics provides probabilistic predictions rather than deterministic outcomes, these probabilities have been extensively tested and confirmed through experiments.
Here are some aspects that highlight the success of quantum mechanics:
Atomic and Subatomic Physics: Quantum mechanics accurately describes the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding phenomena such as the behavior of electrons in atoms, the emission and absorption of light, and the structure of the periodic table.
Wave-Particle Duality: Quantum mechanics successfully explains the wave-particle duality of matter and energy. It describes how particles such as electrons and photons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties depending on the experimental setup. This duality has been experimentally confirmed through various experiments, such as the double-slit experiment.
Quantum Interference: Quantum mechanics predicts and explains phenomena like interference and diffraction. It accounts for the constructive and destructive interference patterns observed when waves or particles interact, providing a deep understanding of phenomena like Young's double-slit experiment or diffraction gratings.
Quantum Entanglement: Quantum mechanics describes the phenomenon of entanglement, where two or more particles become linked in such a way that their properties are inseparably correlated. Quantum entanglement has been experimentally verified in numerous tests and is the basis for technologies like quantum cryptography and quantum computing.
Quantum Field Theory: Quantum mechanics forms the foundation for quantum field theory, which describes the behavior of fundamental particles and their interactions. Quantum field theory has been successfully applied in high-energy particle physics, explaining phenomena observed in particle accelerators and providing a theoretical framework for the Standard Model of particle physics.
While quantum mechanics introduces probabilistic predictions, these probabilities have been consistently confirmed by experiments. The theory's success lies in its ability to accurately describe and predict the behavior of particles and fields at the quantum level, leading to technological advancements and a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of the universe.