This book is an introduction to the arrow of time in thermodynamics and cosmology, and develops a new quantum measurement theory in which the foregoing concepts play an essential role. The first chapter is an overview and "route map" and is followed by an exposition of irreversibility, the expansion of the universe and other arrows of time. The author examines the thesis that the thermodynamic arrow follows the cosmological one, and in doing so extends traditional statistical mechanics. The second part of the book presents a new theory of quantum measurement and possible experimental tests. This theory incorporates the extended statistical mechanics in an essential way. The last chapter discusses open experimental and theoretical issues. Written in a lively and accessible style, the text is liberally sprinkled with exercises. Each chapter ends with a resources section that includes notes, further reading, and technical appendices. This book will fascinate graduate students in physics, cosmology, and the philosophy of physics.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"The author has obviously enjoyed writing this thought-provoking work, and I enjoyed reading it. I can certainly recommend it to anyone interested in the problem as a worthwhile contribution. Furthermore, the author has written for a wide readership, and I can strongly recommend the book to the general physicist as an excellent way of becoming interested in the problem." David Pegg, Physics World
"...his book is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in either topic." Huw Price, Nature
"...fascinating book" Journal of Statistical Physics
"...this very readable book, written in a witty and accessible style, provides fresh insights on statistical mechanics and quantum theory." Contemporary Physics
"...his book is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in either topic." Huw Price, Nature
"...fascinating book" Journal of Statistical Physics
"...this very readable book, written in a witty and accessible style, provides fresh insights on statistical mechanics and quantum theory." Contemporary Physics
Book Description
This introduction to the arrow of time in thermodynamics and cosmology develops a new quantum measurement theory in which the foregoing concepts play an essential role. Each chapter ends with a resources section that includes notes, further reading, and technical appendices.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A valuable, thought provoking, and very dense contribution.,
By
This review is from: Time's Arrows and Quantum Measurement (Paperback)
Schulman's book is adds a valuable new take on the interpretion of quantum mechanics, and his approach is gratifyingly detailed. This book presents those details in full, in an entertaining and congenial style. Though there is a lot to be gained from this book, it is technically overwhelming in some places. For those undertaking a rigorous investigation of the possible solutions to the measurement problem, this is worth a carefull look. This is not, however, a book for the casual reader.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
In the next few pages I provide previews of the book: Section 1.1 is a statement of the main ideas. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
radiative arrow, distributed kicks, single coarse grain, correlating arrows, future conditioning, biological arrow, future boundary condition, effective transition rate, thermodynamic arrow, wave packet spreading, cat map, quantum measurement theory, absorber theory, entire wave function, macroscopic outcome, grotesque state, spin boson model, quantum measurement problem, cosmological arrow, reversibility paradox, boson modes, indistinguishable points, macroscopic characterization, microscopic states, recurrence theorem Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, World Sci, Princeton Univ, Cambridge Univ, Boltzmann H-theorem, Observation of Quantum Jumps, Columbia Univ, North Holland, Two Time Localization, Baby Universes, Bound State Excitation, Chicago Press, David Bohm, Deterministic Quantum Evolution, Illustration of Reversed Causality, Models of Wave Function Collapse, Nucleon Decay, Some Differential-Difference Equations Containing, Spin-Boson Model, The Nature of Time New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In the next few pages I provide previews of the book: Section 1.1 is a statement of the main ideas. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
radiative arrow, distributed kicks, single coarse grain, correlating arrows, future conditioning, biological arrow, future boundary condition, effective transition rate, thermodynamic arrow, wave packet spreading, cat map, quantum measurement theory, absorber theory, entire wave function, macroscopic outcome, grotesque state, spin boson model, quantum measurement problem, cosmological arrow, reversibility paradox, boson modes, indistinguishable points, macroscopic characterization, microscopic states, recurrence theorem Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, World Sci, Princeton Univ, Cambridge Univ, Boltzmann H-theorem, Observation of Quantum Jumps, Columbia Univ, North Holland, Two Time Localization, Baby Universes, Bound State Excitation, Chicago Press, David Bohm, Deterministic Quantum Evolution, Illustration of Reversed Causality, Models of Wave Function Collapse, Nucleon Decay, Some Differential-Difference Equations Containing, Spin-Boson Model, The Nature of Time New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 65
books:
See all 65 books this book cites
- Quantum Theory and Measurement (Princeton Series in Physics) by John Archibald Wheeler on 4 pages
- Quantum Mechanics: Fundamentals (Graduate Texts in Contemporary Physics) by Kurt Gottfried on page 112, page 189, and page 222
- The Physical Basis of The Direction of Time by H. Dieter Zeh on page 14, and page 114
- The Study of Time. Proceedings of the First Conference of the International Society for the Study of Time, Oberwolfach (Black Forest) - West Germany by J. T. Fraser on page 12, and page 13
- Techniques and Applications of Path Integration (Dover Books on Physics) by L. S. Schulman on page 189, and page 294
See all 65 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
