Quantum theory is one the most important and successful theories of modern physical science. It has been estimated that its principles form the basis for about 30 per cent of the world's manufacturing economy. This is all the more remarkable because quantum theory is a theory that nobody understands. The meaning of Quantum Theory introduces science students to the theory's fundamental conceptual and philosophical problems, and the basis of its non-understandability. It does this with the barest minimum of jargon and very little mathematics in the main text. Readers wishing to delve more deeply into the theory's mathematical subtleties can do so in an extended series of appendices. The book brings the reader up to date with the results of new experimental tests of quantum weirdness and reviews the latest thinking on alternative interpretations, the frontiers of quantum cosmology, quantum gravity and potential application of this weirdness in computing, cryptography and teleportation.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This lucid account offers an excellent starting point for readers who wish to gain some understanding of the strangeness of quantum mechanics."--Science
About the Author
Dr James Baggott 199 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading RG6 5UP 07775 940 256 0118 9212 134 jim@logosconsulting.co.uk The author has written many popular science articles for newspapers (Independent, Daily Telegraph) and popular science magazines such as New Scientist. He has also appeared on a couple of radio programmes dealing with quantum theory (the last time for a series aired on BBC Radio 4 in late 1999).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The many theories theory,
By U Dream (Colton, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Measure: Modern Physics, Philosophy, and the Meaning of Quantum Theory (Paperback)
Two thumbs up (in superpostion)! By far the best overview of Quantum theory that I've read thus far (out of 10 books). The author doesn't pick and choose from the competing interpretations of QT to advance an agenda, (philosophical, social, political, or scientific). QT development is presented in its historical context with all the resistance that accompanies new theories. Alternatives to the orthodox Copenhagen interpretation are fairly presented. All the mathematics are thankfully placed in appendices at the end of the book. Still, some of the text explaining experimental setup and reasoning was too technical for me, but I grasped the gist of the "interpretation." The meaning of QT is still being debated. The many interpretations articulated in the many theories designed to explain microphysics phenomena essentially boil down to 2 competing metaphysical postions: the "anti-realist" Copenhagen interpretation (Heisenberg, Bohr, Pauli) and the "realist" hidden variables interpretation (Einstein, Schrodinger, Bohm, etc.). This is obviously an oversimplification, but I can confidently now state that I understand that I don't understand Quantum Theory.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well written, and makes the math clear.,
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This review is from: Beyond Measure: Modern Physics, Philosophy, and the Meaning of Quantum Theory (Paperback)
Jim Baggott has done a great job of going through non-relativistic, with a smattering of relativistic, quantum mechanics. In the book's appendices there are clear, and concise mathematical explanations of the basic framework of quantum mechanics that anyone, with a working knowledge of algebra, should have no problems with. The book doesn't just deal with the physics of quantum mechanics, but also touches on the philosophical interpretations of what it may mean. It does all of this in an accessible way, without getting over-technical, and without getting airy fairy. This book always remains grounded in science, and I would recommend it to any lay person interested in learning more about quantum mechanics, and especially to college students taking courses in quantum mechanics. And for that matter, I think post-graduates will find this book an interesting, and rewarding read too.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quantum Theory Explained With Minimal Mathematical Effort,
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This review is from: Beyond Measure: Modern Physics, Philosophy, and the Meaning of Quantum Theory (Paperback)
I have spent many hours in several college libraries skimming books on quantum mechanics. I have found most books are either too heavy with mathematics or too short in explanation. "Beyond Measure" is just the right mix. I now understand the basic principles, and the math (placed appropriately in the appendix) is not overly complex. I recommend this book to any undergraduate student considering his/her first course in quantum mechanics.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
A scientist in the late nineteenth century could be forgiven for believing that the major elements of physics were built on unshakeable foundations and effectively established for all time. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
measurement eigenstates, individual quantum particle, analyser orientations, projection amplitudes, photon box experiment, oriented polarizing filter, micromaser cavities, composite state vector, classical unit vectors, quantum theory prediction, observing interference effects, polarization analysers, idler photons, projection probabilities, complementary observables, arbitrary state vector, projection probability, entangled photons, local hidden variable theory, underlying physical reality, rubidium atom, linear polarization states, horizontally polarized light, vertically polarized light, microwave photon Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Cambridge University Press, Physical Review, Princeton University Press, Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Oxford University Press, University of Chicago Press, Vienna Circle, Max Born, John Wheeler, David Bohm, Scientific American, Little Brown, Paul Ehrenfest, Roger Penrose, Anton Zeilinger, Karl Popper, Max Planck, Murray Gell-Mann, Richard Feynman, Stephen Hawking, The Library of Living Philosophers, Abner Shimony, Carus Publishing Company New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
A scientist in the late nineteenth century could be forgiven for believing that the major elements of physics were built on unshakeable foundations and effectively established for all time. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
measurement eigenstates, individual quantum particle, analyser orientations, projection amplitudes, photon box experiment, oriented polarizing filter, micromaser cavities, composite state vector, classical unit vectors, quantum theory prediction, observing interference effects, polarization analysers, idler photons, projection probabilities, complementary observables, arbitrary state vector, projection probability, entangled photons, local hidden variable theory, underlying physical reality, rubidium atom, linear polarization states, horizontally polarized light, vertically polarized light, microwave photon Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Cambridge University Press, Physical Review, Princeton University Press, Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Oxford University Press, University of Chicago Press, Vienna Circle, Max Born, John Wheeler, David Bohm, Scientific American, Little Brown, Paul Ehrenfest, Roger Penrose, Anton Zeilinger, Karl Popper, Max Planck, Murray Gell-Mann, Richard Feynman, Stephen Hawking, The Library of Living Philosophers, Abner Shimony, Carus Publishing Company 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 8
books:
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- Werner Heisenberg: A Bibliography of His Writings (Berkeley papers in history of science) by David Cassidy on page 107, and Back Matter
- Werner Heisenberg : A Bibliography of His Writings, Second, Expanded Edition by David C. Cassidy on page 107, and Back Matter
- Encounters with Einstein by Werner Heisenberg on page 35, and Back Matter
- Quantum Optics by Marlan O. Scully on page 189
- Albert Einstein: And the Frontiers of Physics (Oxford Portraits in Science) by Jeremy Bernstein in Back Matter
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