The Structure and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics [Hardcover]

R.I.G. Hughes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674843916 | ISBN-13: 978-0674843912 | Publication Date: May 3, 1989

R.I.G Hughes offers the first detailed and accessible analysis of the Hilbert-space models used in quantum theory and explains why they are so successful. He goes on to show how the very suitability of Hilbert spaces for modeling the quantum world gives rise to deep problems of interpretation and makes suggestions about how they can be overcome.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A formidable and intelligent account of the (partial) Hilbert-space formalization of quantum mechanics and the inevitable philosophical ambiguities that result...A marvelous book.
--P.D. Skiff (Choice )

The power and elegance of the quantum-mechanical arguments are excellently portrayed and the reader...could not help being impressed by the sheer intellectual beauty of the subject.
--Alastai R. Rae (Times Higher Education Supplement )

[This book] complements the material covered in standard textbooks on quantum theory, in which the issue of interpretation of the theory is too often neglected.
--Eduardo Sanchez Velasco (Science Books And Films )

Hughes has written the best self-contained introduction to the foundations of quantum mechanics yet to appear...Hughes is clearly a gifted teacher, and a casual look at the book may suggest that it is primarily a textbook. In fact, a definitive interpretive perspective is developed throughout the book.
--Allen Stairs (Synthese )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (May 3, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674843916
• ISBN-13: 978-0674843912
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on quantum theory for the ambitious reader, August 26, 2003

By 

magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Structure and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Paperback)

This is a superb teaching book for taking your understanding of quantum mechanics to the next level. Much of the book is devoted to understanding a good deal of the underlying math and mathematical formalism, such as Hilbert spaces, Hermitians, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, Cantor's calculus of infinities, the analysis and representation of spin properties, and other very cool stuff which I didn't have a very good grasp of before. And yet the previous math required is minimal, really only high school algebra, and Hughes defines new concepts as he goes along. Actually, there is some calculus here and there, but not a whole lot, which is fine, as my advanced calculus is pretty rusty at this point. So Hughes keeps the advanced math to a minimum. This doesn't mean the book is easy reading, as the algebra of Hilbert spaces includes such things as the logical properties of inner products, spectral decomposition, vector projections, the analysis of different vector operators, and so on, and that's only one small section in the book, not to mention the fact that Cantor's ideas in number theory about the ordinality or sizes of inifinite series is pretty mind-boggling stuff. Basically, Cantor established the improbable and surprising fact that certain infinities are "bigger" than others. One way he did this was to show that some infinities are "countably infinite" and others are not. Fun stuff.

All this is just preparation for understanding the quantum mechanics, however, and the author does a fine job of linking the mathematical concepts with the applied ideas in quantum theory. This is important, since quantum mechanics is basically a purely mathematical theory. Unlike Einstein's Special and General theories of Relativity, which, although pretty mind-boggling theories in themselves, can still be explained by using more or less intuitive and easy to understand spatial concepts and illustrations. You've probably encountered these in some of the books on the subject, such as doing the fun thought experiment of having two observers, with one travelling at the speed of light and the other stationary, to demonstrate the relativistic effects on space, time, and matter in the case of the Special Theory. But unfortunately those kinds of entertaining and informative thought experiments are difficult to do in quantum mechanics, which is why a book like this that explains the concepts at a relatively high level clearly and concisely is such a great find. Overall, this is an excellent "upgrade" book written by a gifted teacher on a very difficult subject. There are very few books like this that bridge the gap between the purely popular presentations of quantum theory and the very difficult technical quantum physics books.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Comprehensible of the Substantive Non-Specialist Books, January 3, 2001

By 

Mr Joseph Jay Stern (Franklin Square, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Structure and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Paperback)

I used this text in a tutorial with a distinguished philosopher of science at Queens College, New York. It's outstanding. The mathematical formalism is difficult for non-specialists, but no so much as to be out of reach. Advice: be patient--the understanding will come. The part on the interpretation of QM is exceptionally valuable to anyone interested in understanding modern physics without falling for dishonest notions like "quantum healing", "quantum chi", and "quantum dieting". In short: if you're a serious student, this is probably the best book of its kind.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In depth analysis, August 23, 2005

By 

Justin Farlow (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Structure and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Paperback)

This book provides an excellent analysis of relevant and interesting points raised by quantum physics in philosophy as well as detailed and useful explanations of the physics itself - something many books cannot do. The explanation of the physics, the experiments and their results provide material to think on. Simple, arbitrary conclusions leave no room for thought - analysis of real life experiments provoke thought.

The math is not easy for an inexperienced student, though the subject in general tends to preclude those. I had just taken a class on matrix mechanics and I was so greatful I had, as it let me actually visualize the equations rather than simply read the letters and symbols.

An excellent launching pad for those who are already familiar with EPR, the slit experiment and quantum spin, etc. and want to know what it all means.