The Theoretical Minimum courses include a core sequence of six courses, plus a set of supplemental courses that teach additional related material.  The core sequence is currently being repeated with Statistical Mechanics being taught during Spring quarter, 2013.

 

Course Catalogue

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Supplemental courses and lectures elaborate on the topics taught in the core sequence, or provide a different perspective on the subject.

  1. Advanced Quantum Mechanics

    Fall, 2013
    Building on Professor Susskind’s previous Continuing Studies courses on quantum mechanics, this course will explore the various types of quantum systems that occur in nature, from harmonic oscillators to atoms and molecules, photons, and quantum fields.  Students will learn what it means for an... more

  2. Higgs Boson

    Summer, 2012
    This is a single lecture in which Professor Susskind explains the physics of the Higgs Boson shortly after the discovery of this famous particle was announced.  (Image credit: CMS Experiment at the ... more

  3. Quantum Entanglement

    Fall, 2006
    The old Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics associated with Niels Bohr is giving way to a more profound interpretation based on the idea of quantum entanglement. Entanglement not only replaces the obsolete notion of the collapse of the wave function but it is also the basis for Bell's... more

  4. Relativity

    Spring, 2007
    This course takes a deeper look at relativity.  Most of the course focuses on Einstein's special theory of relativity.  General relativity is introduced in the last few lectures.  (Image credit: KIPAC ... more

  5. Particle Physics 1: Basic Concepts

    Fall, 2009
    Revolutionary new concepts about elementary particles, space and time, and the structure of matter began to emerge in the mid-1970s. Theory got far ahead of experiment with radical new ideas such as grand unification and supersymmetry, but the concepts have never been experimentally tested. Now all... more

  6. Particle Physics 2: Standard Model

    Winter, 2010
    In this series Professor Susskind continues his particle physics theme, focusing on the foundations of the Standard Model, which describes the interactions and properties of the observed particles. These lectures cover the basics of group theory, symmetry, symmetry breaking, which are the natural... more

  7. Particle Physics 3: Supersymmetry and Grand Unification

    Spring, 2010
    In this set of lectures Professor Susskind continues his particle physics theme, moving on to supersymmetry, which describes the relationship between fermions and bosons.  He connects this to the concept of vacuum energy, the energy density associated with “empty” space.    Professor Susskind... more

  8. String Theory

    Fall, 2010
    In this set of lectures Professor Susskind gives an introduction to String Theory, which he describes as a mathematical framework for theories that unify all the forces of nature, including gravity.    In string theory, fundamental objects are no longer point particles; instead they are strings or... more

  9. Cosmology and Black Holes

    Winter, 2011
    In the last of course of this series, Leonard Susskind continues his exploration of string theory that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. In particular, the course focuses on string theory with regard to important issues in contemporary physics. Topics include: 1) the... more