Bohmian Mechanics: The Physics and Mathematics of Quantum Theory (Fundamental Theories of Physics) (Hardcover)

~ Detlef Dürr (Author), Stefan Teufel (Author)

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Product Description

Bohmian Mechanics was formulated in 1952 by David Bohm as a complete theory of quantum phenomena based on a particle picture. It was promoted some decades later by John S. Bell, who, intrigued by the manifestly nonlocal structure of the theory, was led to his famous Bell's inequalities. Experimental tests of the inequalities verified that nature is indeed nonlocal. Bohmian mechanics has since then prospered as the straightforward completion of quantum mechanics. This book provides a systematic introduction to Bohmian mechanics and to the mathematical abstractions of quantum mechanics, which range from the self-adjointness of the Schrödinger operator to scattering theory. It explains how the quantum formalism emerges when Boltzmann's ideas about statistical mechanics are applied to Bohmian mechanics. The book is self-contained, mathematically rigorous and an ideal starting point for a fundamental approach to quantum mechanics. It will appeal to students and newcomers to the field, as well as to established scientists seeking a clear exposition of the theory.

About the Author

Detlef Dürr studied physics in Münster, Germany, where he obtained his PhD in physics in 1978. After four post-doc years at Rutgers in the group of Joel Lebowitz working with Sheldon Goldstein, he was awarded a Heisenberg fellowship (1985-1989), during which he joined forces with Sheldon Goldstein and Nino Zanghì to develop the statistical analysis of Bohmian mechanics - a cooperation which continues to this day. In 1989 he became professor of mathematics at the University of Munich. His research interests are non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, foundations of statistical mechanics, Bohmian mechanics and the foundations of quantum theory.

Stefan Teufel studied physics in Munich, Germany, where he was awarded his PhD in mathematics in 1998. His PhD advisor was Detlef Dürr. After one year as a post doc at Rutgers with Sheldon Goldstein he joined the group of Herbert Spohn at the Technical University of Munich. In 2004 he became lecturer in mathematics at Warwick University, UK. Since 2005 he has been full professor of mathematics at the University of Tübingen. His research interests include adiabatic and semiclassical problems in quantum dynamics, exponential asymptotics and Bohmian mechanics.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 393 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (May 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540893431
• ISBN-13: 978-3540893431
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #645,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great, June 22, 2009

By	parmenides - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)

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This is a very important contribution to physical mathematics offering multiple
insides into classical, special relativistic, statistical and quantum mechanics
of point particles. There are many reasons to read it:

(a) The authors have clearly thought deeply about physical mathematics. I was very
happy with their ability to touch upon all relevant issues including impressive
references to Parmenides and pre-socratic philosophers! You do not see often
in the literature such a complete knowledge of the roots and history of physics
and its connection with foundational philosophical issues. I have definitely
appreciated learning so many historical things from the book.

(b) The exposition is rigorous and from first principles indicating nicely
the power, elegance, attractiveness of the core ideas of physical mathematics.

(c) The authors discuss ALL relevant ideas towards the appreciation of the
structure of quantum mechanics.

Definitely a worthy read for all those with strong interest in physics
(but not laymen).

There are some minor drawbacks.

(a) Some discussions do not have the clarity of the rest of the text. Definitely
this is because the text touches upon so many crucial things and it is difficult for
a single person to master it all and offer in all cases the natural expositions;
nevertheless one has to appreciate the effort.

(b) The authors propose the long held idea in physics that there is only
matter and no fields. They do show how the fields are just a way of rewritting
nonlinearities in the matter equations. This is an interesting point of view
but has many problems that are not so critically discussed in the text.

(c) Bohmian mechanics have its own problem in justifying the nature of quantum
randomness, and I thought this was not stressed either adequately.

Nice effort that ought not be missed.