How do I start learning quantum physics?

[eloheim]

Just ran into this thread. Much appreciation to the patient responders (esp. on such a long-trodden road as this one).

I thought I'd share my experience that ignorance of the maths invoked here is greatest hurdle to any exploration of physics in a field other than classical mechanics, certainly in part because the 'standard process' prescribes the two (classics phys and calculus) to be co-requisite, and the introductory (collegiate) physics material reflects this assumption of parallel development.

The flip side of this though is that the robust mathematical repertoire (from what I gather--still working on it!) mentioned in previous posts allows one broad and great access to many facets of not only modern physics but throughout the whole of science.

Unfortunately (as I found) the raw time constraints imposed by Life makes taking the years to bring one's maths up to snuff a considerable investment, and (IMHO) the biggest obstacle to picking one's own way through the physics menagerie. A few years ago I was in a similar position to that of the OP, and eventually decided that--at least in beginning--the slow-and-steady traditional path was necessary, or at least the best option available, considering all the factors. Certainly not sexy: Classical Physics I and Calculus I...

En rout to my decision, I did discover that there ARE authors interested in reformulating the educational path in physics, with less of dependence on rigidly segregated classical foundations. They usually took the perspective of relaxing the chronological (historical) progression of the standard sequence in favor of a presentation based on their own preferred unifying principle(s).

One I found is called "A Radically Modern Approach to Introductory Physics," by Raymond:

The course includes students intending to major in physics, but is not limited
to them. The idea for a “radically modern” course arose out of frustration
with the standard two-semester treatment. It is basically impossible to incorporate
a significant amount of “modern physics” (meaning post-19th century!)
in that format. Furthermore, the standard course would seem to be
specifically designed to discourage any but the most intrepid students from
continuing their studies in this area — students don’t go into physics to learn
about balls rolling down inclined planes — they are (rightly) interested in
quarks and black holes and quantum computing, and at this stage they are
largely unable to make the connection between such mundane topics and the
exciting things that they have read about in popular books and magazines.

I tried a couple of these but ultimately I felt 'neutered' without a real understanding of the mathematical sub-structure holding all of it up. Once I realized the magnitude of the undertaking (I'm talking Calc I-III+Diff EQ+a bit more, perhaps), I realized I might as well be studying what physics I can without such knowledge: namely Classical Mechanics. And 'whala:' I'm your standard undergraduate physicist!