Quantum Physics for Poets [Hardcover]

Leon M. Lederman (Author), Christopher T. Hill (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 2011

The Times Literary Supplement called their previous book, Symmetry and the Beautiful Universe: "[A] tour de force of physics made simple."

Quantum theory is the bedrock of contemporary physics and the basis of understanding matter in its tiniest dimensions and the vast universe as a whole. But for many, the theory remains an impenetrable enigma.

Nobel Prize laureate Leon M. Lederman and Fermi lab theoretical physicist Christopher T. Hill seek to remedy this situation by both drawing on their scientific expertise and their talent for communicating science to the general reader. In this lucid, informative book, designed for the curious, they make the seemingly daunting subject of quantum physics accessible, appealing, and exciting.

Their story is partly historical, covering the many "Eureka" moments when great scientists--Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schroedinger, and others--struggled to come to grips with the bizarre realities that quantum research revealed. Although their findings were indisputably proven in experiments, they were so strange and counterintuitive that Einstein refused to accept quantum theory, despite its great success.

The authors explain the many strange and even eerie aspects of quantum reality at the subatomic level, from "particles" that can be many places simultaneously and sometimes act more like waves, to the effect that a human can have on their movements by just observing them!

Finally, Drs. Lederman and Hill delve into quantum physics' latest and perhaps most breathtaking offshoots--field theory and string theory. The intricacies and ramifications of these two theories will give the reader much to ponder. In addition, the authors describe the diverse applications of quantum theory in its almost countless forms of modern technology throughout the world.

Using eloquent analogies and illustrative examples, Quantum Physics for Poets render even the most profound reaches of quantum theory understandable and something for us all to savor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In their second work (after Symmetry and the Beautiful Universe), co-authors Lederman, the Nobel Prize winning director emeritus of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and present director Hill treat nature as a language to be learned, taking readers on a journey from the large to the small, "to a world within our world" and giving them a primer in the language of modern science. Star Trek, Galileo, and Newton and kick things off, and the authors address competing theories of light. Is it a wave transmitted through the ether, or a beam of photons? What could be ancient history comes to vibrant life in an engaging narrative that reveals contradictory experiments that found light to be both a wave and a particle-simultaneously. This led to further anomalies, as Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger, in experiments to determine the precise location and time of an event, challenged the fundamental idea of classical physics and opened the door to probability theory. The authors give the reader a peek into the wonders of modern physics-from early "Eureka" moments to field theory and string theory-in a highly accessible introduction to third millennium science.
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Review

"Lederman and Hill, two very well known physicists, have written in a prose that speaks to the poet in all of us. A delightful and illuminating guide through the mysteries of the quantum world." --Gino Segre, department of physics and astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Faust in Copenhagen: A Struggle for the Soul of Physics.

"Niels Bohr famously said that anyone who can think about quantum mechanics without getting giddy doesn't understand the first thing about it. This book changes all that. The wit and style will make you giddy, and you will understand a lot!" --Professor Rocky Kolb, department of astronomy and astrophysics, University of Chicago

"No doubt about it, the quantum world is the weirdest place known to the human mind. With unexcelled clarity and humor, Lederman and Hill provide the best guide to this bizarre place I've ever seen." --James Trefil, Clarence J Robinson Professor of Physics, George Mason University, coauthor of Dictionary of Cultural Literacy

"Two well known experts on quantum mechanics—Hill and Lederman—have done a wonderful job in communicating its essence and logical content to a general audience. The book includes the discovery by Planck, and its philosophical development up to the modern theory of strings. Quantum mechanics departs from the classical interpretation of science motivated by basic discoveries, which culminated in philosophical and physical controversies. These topics are included in the book with anecdotal stories about the protagonists. The authors also describe modern technologies based upon quantum phenomena (including lasers and semiconductors) that have profoundly shaped the modern world." --Professor Emmanuel Paschos, Dortmund University, Germany, author of The Schemata of the Stars

"Quantum Physics for Poets is like sitting down to dinner with two very enthusiastic, amusing, and down to earth physicists who can't wait to tell you about the strange ways of electrons that are so puzzling that Einstein, Schroedinger, and Heisenberg devoted their lives to sorting out what these strange creatures do. They tell you about baseballs knocked out of the park and water waves hitting boats; they bring up black holes and string theory, an occasional transistor and a bit of chemistry...all while scribbling little pictures on the table cloth and even (as the title promises) reciting poetry. The math stays squarely within the domain of percentages—not more, and the whole thing quietly builds up your understanding without that horrible moment in most popular science books where careful, even glacial exposition on the ground suddenly launches into space at Mach 10, leaving the reader behind. Here, Lederman and Hill stay with you all the way through—and by the time dessert rolls around, quantum cryptography actually sounds pretty enticing." --Peter Galison, Joseph Pellegrino, University Professor, Harvard University

"[A]n engaging narrative...a peek into the wonders of modern physics—from early "Eureka" moments to field theory and string theory—In a highly accessible introduction to third millennium science." --Publishers Weekly

"[A] sparkling and articulate new account of how the quantum revolution changed 20th century science — and, as a further delight, how physics and poetry can speak the same language." --Chicago Tribune

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 338 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (January 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616142332
• ISBN-13: 978-1616142339
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Quantum Theory

More About the Author

Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Laureate (Batavia, IL), is Resident Scholar at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Director Emeritus of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Pritzker Professor of Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, the author of the highly acclaimed The God Particle, the editor of Portraits of Great American Scientists, and a contributor to Science Literacy for the Twenty-First Century. Dr. Lederman and coauthor Christopher T. Hill are also the coauthors of Symmetry and the Beautiful Universe.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasic, But Not for the Initiated February 8, 2011

By Keith H. Bray

Format:Hardcover

I cannot believe that this very fine book lacks a review. Perhaps the title conjures up the idea that this is a book on quantum physics and poetry--like the recent book on quantum physics and music. This is absolutely untrue and the only poetry is the poetic writing style in which this book was penned. That is not to say there that there are no poems in the contents, but these are minimal and are akin to introductory remarks like a quote for an opening chapter. I would dare say that, almost like reading a piece of good fiction, Lederman's book has a poetic flow that makes is difficult to set down. I made it a quest to finish this book before setting my sights on another book, like Briane Greene's newly released book which is still untouched on my book shelf.

Mr. Lederman (and Christopher Hill) have inflected a fantastic introductory and popular level text into the fray of many such books. There are only 10 chapters, but what makes this introductory text stand out from others is the extensive writings on familiar matters such as Thomas Young's famous 2-slit experiment. I promise the reader that, unless they are physicists, they will be introduced to a host of new insights, concepts and unexpected materials related to very familiar themes that have been glossed over in previous books. The chapters on quantum physics and chemistry are priceless and rarely highlighted in preceding books.

Like all books that are within 300-pages, the contents cannot be exhaustive. However, all of the major elements of classical and the new physics are represented. This book is not for the physicist--unless they would use it as a supplement in an introductory class on quantum physics. The matters within the books contents (which are accessible on Amazon) are meant for those interested in reading introductory level books in order to grasp some themes that may not be so easily grasped. Let me reiterate: this book ensures that so such sin will occur. You will not have to read between any lines to understand the most important and fundamental concepts of quantum physics. I apologize for the brevity of this review and will leave the work to other readers to lay out more extensive reviews. After purchasing (and you can confirm this on my personal website) hundreds of books on these matters, this book is an absolute standout.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best introduction to quantum physics June 7, 2011

By Louis Weltzer

Format:Hardcover

I am not a scientist, but over the years I have read a number of books like The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism and Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics and Quantum Reality: Beyond the New Physics that present the enigma that is quantum physics to a more general audience. This book is, in my opinion, easier to read and a more more in-depth treatment of this subject than any of those other excellent books. Lederman and Hill present the material in a manner that is scholarly, practical, literary and sometimes humorous. As a relatively short overview, Quantum Physics for Poets spares the lay reader most of the mathematics that is the the heart of theoretical physics, but readers may access the authors' website ([...]) where "appendices" presenting more complete discussions of various topics in classical and quantum physics may be read or downloaded. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest at all in the field of quantum physics.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - even for poets March 21, 2011

By Dr. Goetz K. Oertel

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Lederman demonstrates his insight into the workings of quantum theory by finding analogies that can only be described as brilliant. The few poets I know might not learn enough to explain the subject to others - but they should get an appreciation for the comprehensiveness of quantum theory in its realm - and perhaps for the beauty that lies in perfection, the exceptional precision with which even experiments that were designed to invalidate or at least challenge quantum theory turned out instead to prove it correct. Poets, laymen, and physicists alike can expect Lederman to show them new ways to look at the nature of quantum theory and, in turn, at how quantum theory describes nature. "Quantum theory for poets" is educational, mind-expanding, and over wide stretches fun to read.