The Mystery of the Quantum World - Hardcover

Squires, Euan J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0852745664 ISBN 13: 9780852745663

Publisher: Taylor & Francis, 1986

Synopsis

Quantum mechanics stands as one of the most remarkable achievements of the twentieth century: at once a new and startling insight into the nature of matter and a spectacularly successful predictive theory. However, while the predictive abilty of the quantum theory has been rigorously tested time and time again, so that it now satisfies any criterion of reliability as a tool of scientific inquiry, surprisingly fundamental difficulties remain with its interpretation. This book introduces the general reader to the philosophical issues raised by the success of the quantum theory. What exactly is the wavefunction, the mathematical device that resides at the heart of the theory? In what sense does this device represent reality? The wavefunction is believed to describe the probability of a system's behaving in a particular way, yet the equations which describe the wave function are totally deterministic: what then is the relationship between determinism and ramdomness in the microworld? Does this tell us anything about the freedom of will in a world governed by the immutable world of physics? Do these laws rely for their existence on the presence of concious observers? Euan Squires explains to a non-specialised readership how these profound difficulties arise in the simplest of experimental arrangements. He outlines with great clarity the different points of view adopted by various schools of physicists who are striving to understand the meaning underlying the theories they use every day. The reader is encouraged to see how this most successful of physical theories is relevant to issues outside physics - even to the existence of God.
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Review:

"... an excellent introduction to an interesting and ongoing field of research in physics for those who have some knowledge of quantum theory." A Davies, Australian and New Zealand Physicist "... a splendid book ... a good reference for current undergraduates ... there is an enormous amount to be learned from this book, both in terms of the quantum world itself and in terms of the spirit in which it might be enjoyed." -- Robert Lambourne, Physics Education

"... solid and reliable." -- The Good Book Guide

About this edition

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0852745664
• ISBN 13: 9780852745663
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208