The Odd Quantum (eBook)

Sam Treiman (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2002
272 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-1-4008-2309-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Sam Treiman was the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics Emeritus at Princeton University. He cowrote Current Algebra and Its Applications (Princeton) with R. Jackiw and D. Gross, Current Algebra and Anomalies (Princeton) with R. Jackiw, B. Zumino, and E. Witten, and Formal Theory of Scattering with C. Grosjeans. He wrote numerous articles, mostly centered on the study of fundamental particles, for leading physics journals. Professor Treiman died in 1999.

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An acclaimed physicist's accessible yet rigorous introduction to quantum mechanics for nonspecialistsThis is a rare and much-needed book: a concise but comprehensive account of quantum mechanics for popular science readers written by a respected physicist. Sam Treiman-internationally renowned for his work in particle physics-makes quantum mechanics accessible to nonspecialists. Combining mastery of the material with clear, elegant prose and infectious enthusiasm, he conveys the substance, methods, and profound oddities of the field.Treiman begins with an overview of quantum mechanics. He sketches the early development of the field by Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Schrodinger, and others, and he makes clear how the quantum outlook flies in the face of common sense. As he explains, the quantum world is intrinsically probabilistic. For example, a particle is not in general in some particular place at a given instant, nor does it have a definite momentum. According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, there is a limit to how well both location and momentum can be specified simultaneously. In addition, particles can move through barriers and otherwise move in regions of space that are forbidden by classical mechanics. If a particle has a choice of different paths, it pursues all of them at once. Particles display wave-like characteristics and waves show particle-like characteristics. Treiman pays special attention to the more fundamental wave outlook and its expression in quantum field theory. He deals here with the remarkable fact that all the particles of a given species are strictly identical, and with the unnerving fact that particles can be created and destroyed. As Treiman introduces us to these and other wonders, he also touches-without resolution-on some of the deep philosophical problems of quantum mechanics, notably how probabilities become facts.Weaving together impeccable science, engaging writing, and a talent for clear explanation honed over Treiman's distinguished career as a physicist and teacher, The Odd Quantum is a remarkable survey of a field that changed the course of modern scientific and philosophical thought.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 7.10.2002
• Zusatzinfo: 3 tables 14 line illus.
• Verlagsort: Princeton
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Angewandte Physik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Plasmaphysik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Quantenphysik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Thermodynamik
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: acceleration • Alpha particle • Angular momentum • Antiparticle • Antiproton • Atomic Nucleus • baryon number • beta decay • Boson • classical electromagnetism • classical mechanics • conservation law • Continuous spectrum • Correspondence principle • Coulomb's Law • coupling constant • Degenerate matter • Dirac equation • Double-slit experiment • Down quark • effective potential • Eigenfunction • Elastic scattering • electric charge • Electric Field • electromagnetism • Electron degeneracy pressure • Electron magnetic moment • Electronvolt • elementary particle • energy level • Fermi energy • Fermi Gas • Fermi level • Fermion • Feynman diagram • free electron model • Gauge boson • Gauge Theory • Gluon • Gravity • ground state • Hadron • Hartree–Fock method • Hidden variable theory • hydrogen atom • ideal gas • Identical particles • Instant • J. J. Thomson • Lamb shift • Lepton • lepton number • Magnetic field • mass–energy equivalence • Measurement • Meson • Modern Physics • Momentum • Muon • Neutrino • Neutron • Newton's law of universal gravitation • Nucleon • Observable • Particle accelerator • Particle decay • Particle physics • Pauli Exclusion Principle • Perturbation theory (quantum mechanics) • Photon • Pion • Planck constant • positron • Probability • Probability Distribution • Propagator • Quantity • quantum electrodynamics • quantum field theory • quantum mechanics • Quantum number • quantum superposition • quantum system • Quark • renormalization • scattering • Schrödinger equation • Special relativity • Spin (physics) • Statistical Mechanics • strangeness • Strong Interaction • Subatomic particle • Tau (particle) • two-electron atom • Virtual particle • wave function • Wave–particle duality • Weak Interaction
• ISBN-10: 1-4008-2309-9 / 1400823099
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4008-2309-3 / 9781400823093