First Passage Problems - Classical and Quantum - Lecture 1

Explore the fundamental concepts of first passage problems in both classical and quantum systems in this advanced lecture from the Bangalore School on Statistical Physics-XVI. Learn about the mathematical frameworks and physical principles underlying first passage phenomena, which describe the time it takes for a random process to reach a specific state or boundary for the first time. Discover how these problems manifest differently in classical stochastic processes versus quantum mechanical systems, examining the key differences in their formulations and solutions. Gain insights into the applications of first passage theory across various fields of physics, from diffusion processes and random walks to quantum tunneling and decoherence. Understand the theoretical foundations that bridge statistical mechanics with modern research frontiers, as presented by Abhishek Dhar from ICTS-TIFR Bengaluru as part of this pedagogical series designed to connect masters-level knowledge with cutting-edge research topics in statistical physics.