Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Since its inception in the early part of the twentieth century, quantum physics has fascinated the academic world, its students, and even the general public. In fact, it is - or has become - a highly interdisciplinary eld. On a topic such as "the physicsof the atom" the disciplines of physics, philosophy, and history of science interconnect in a remarkable way, and to an extent that is revealed in this volume for the rst time. This compendium brings together some 90 researchers, who have authored approximately 185 articles on all aspects of quantum theory. The project is truly international and interdisciplinary because it is a compilation of contributions by historiansofscience, philosophers, andphysicists, all interestedinparticularaspects of quantum physics. A glance at the biographies at the end of the volume reveals author af liations in no fewer than twenty countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Indeed, the authors are not only international, they are also internationally renowned - with three Physics Nobel Prize laureates among them. The basic idea and motivationbehind the compendiumis indicatedin its subtitle, namely, to describe in concise and accessible form the essential conceptsand exp- iments as well as the history and philosophy of quantum physics. The length of the contributions varies according to the topic, and all texts are written by recognized experts in the respective elds.
Synopsis
Aharonov-Bohm Effect.- Aharonov-Casher Effect.- Algebraic Quantum Mechanics.- Angular Momentum.- Anyons.- Aspect Experiment.- Asymptotic Freedom.- Atomic Model.- Atomic Models, J.J. Thomson's "Plum Pudding" Model.- Atomic Models, Nagaoka's Saturnian Model.- Bell's Theorem.- Berry's Phase.- Black Body.- Black-Body Radiation.- Bohm Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.- Bohmian Mechanics.- Bohm's Approach to the EPR Paradox.- Bohr's Atomic Model.- Bohr-Kramers-Slater Theory.- Born Rule and its Interpretation.- Bose-Einstein Condensation.- Bose-Einstein Statistics.- Bremsstrahlung.- Brownian Motion.- Bub-Clifton Theorem.- Casimir Effect.- Cathode Rays.- Causal Inference and EPR.- Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) - Theorem.- Cluster States.- Coherent States.- Color Charge Degree of Freedom in Particle Physics.- Complementarity Principle.- Complex-Conjugate Number.- Compton Experiment (or Compton Effect).- Consistent Histories.- Copenhagen Interpretation.- Correlations in Quantum Mechanics.- Correspondence Principle.- Counterfactuals in Quantum Mechanics.- Covariance.- CPT Theorem.- Creation and Annihilation Operators.- Creation and Detection of Entanglement.- Davisson-Germer Experiment.- De Broglie Wavelength (? = h/p).- Decay.- Decoherence.- Degeneracy.- Delayed-Choice Experiments.- Density Matrix.- Density Operator.- Diffeomorphism Invariance.- Dirac Equation.- Dirac Notation.- Double-Slit Experiment (or Two-Slit Experiment).- Effect.- Ehrenfest Theorems.- Eigenstates, Eigenvalues.- Einstein Locality.- Electron Interferometry.- Electrons.- Ensembles in Quantum Mechanics.- Entanglement.- Entanglement Purification and Distillation.- Entropy of Entanglement.- EPR-Problem (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Problem).- Errors and Paradoxes in Quantum Mechanics.- Exclusion Principle (or Pauli Exclusion Principle).- Experimental Observation of Decoherence.- Fermi-Dirac Statistics.- Feynman Diagrams.- Fine-Structure Constant.- Franck-Hertz Experiment.- Functional Integration; Path Integrals.- Gauge Symmetry.- Generalizations of Quantum Statistics.- GHZ (Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger) Theorem and GHZ States.- Gleason's Theorem.- Grover's Algorithm.- GRW Theory (Ghirardi, Rimini, Weber Model of Quantum Mechanics).- Hamiltonian Operator.- Hardy Paradox.- Heisenberg Microscope.- Heisenberg Picture.- Heisenberg Uncertainty Relation (Indeterminacy Relations).- Hermitian Operator.- Hidden Variables.- Hidden-Variables Models of Quantum Mechanics (Noncontextual and Contextual).- Hilbert Space.- Holism in Quantum Mechanics.- Identity of Quanta.- Identity Operator.- Ignorance Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.- Indeterminacy Relations.- Indeterminism and Determinism in Quantum Mechanics.- Indistinguishability.- Interaction-Free Measurements (Elitzur-Vaidman, EV IFM).- Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics.- Invariance.- Ithaca Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.- jj-Coupling.- Kaluza-Klein Theory.- Kochen-Specker Theorem.- Land s g-factor and g-formula.- Large-Angle Scattering.- Light Quantum.- Locality.- Loopholes in Experiments.- L ders Rule.- Mach-Zehnder Interferometer.- Magnetic Resonance.- Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.- Matrix Mechanics.- Matter Waves.- Measurement Problem.- Measurement Theory.- Mesoscopic Quantum Phenomena.- Metaphysics of Quantum Mechanics.- Mixed State.- Mixing and Oscillations of Particles.- Modal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics.- Neutron Interferometry.- No-Cloning Theorem.- Nonlocality.- Nuclear Fission.- Nuclear Models.- Objectification.- Objective Quantum Probabilities.- Observable.- One- and Two-Photon Interference.- Operational Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Axiomatics and Quantum Structures.- Operator.- Orthodox Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.- Orthonormal Basis.- Parity.- Particle Physics.- Particle Tracks.- Parton Model.- Paschen-Back Effect.- Pauli Exclusion Principle.- Pauli Spin Matrices.- Photoelectric Effect.- Photon.- Pilot Waves.- Planck's Constant h.- POVM (Positive Operator Valu
Synopsis
With contributions by leading quantum physicists, philosophers and historians, this comprehensive A-to-Z of quantum physics provides a lucid understanding of key concepts of quantum theory and experiment. It covers technical and interpretational aspects alike, and includes both traditional and new concepts, making it an indispensable resource for concise, up-to-date information about the many facets of quantum physics.