Product Description
"A classic text on field theoretic methods in statistical physics"—American Scientist. A comprehensive introduction to the many-body theory and its ramifications by three internationally known Russian physicists, directed to physicists, mathematicians, and others involved in statistical and solid state physics.
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Customer Reviews (7)

Seminal, essential,
AGD, as it were, is an essential text for those studying or practicing "methods of QFT in statistical physics". this landmark publication has educated generations of physicists, and can continue to do so due to it's bargain price.
The book does suffer from "Russian style". It is terse. Read slowly and often.
If you're considering buying the book, either do so, or change fields. If you can not or will not invest ten dollars in this book then you are wasting your time anyhow.

Very good book
This book is one of the most known treating about QFT in non-zero temperatures and it doesn't need an advertisement. One think that redactors should think about is size of the fonts. Letters are really to small...

I Believe It's Pronounced: "Ah-brick-oh-sov, Gore-cawV, and Dee-ah-low-shin-ski"
This is a serious book with a seriously long title and three seriously hard-to-pronounce author-names.

Of course, as the other reviewers have already stated, this book is a Classic. It is also, as one other reviewer has proclaimed, not a book from which I would like to learn quantum field theory.

"Methods of Quantum Field Theory in Statistical Physics" by A.A. Abrikosov, L. P. gorkox, and I.E. Dzyaloshinski (or "AGD" as it is known) is thought of by many as the be all and end all of field theory texts in the condensed matter physics world.

But, AGD should not be thought of as a book that introduces the reader to field theory. You definitely must have studied field theory (either relativistic or non-relativistic) from an introductory book that uses the canonical formalism before attempting to get anything out of AGD.


For example, if you are not already familiar with Wick's Theorem and how to prove it, then you will get very little out of AGD's single paragraph of text which "proves" the thoerem. On the other hand, if you already know of Wick's theorem you may find the proof in AGD rather cute. As for me, when I read the one paragraph of text that AGD put forward as a "proof" of Wick's Theorem, I immediately puked in my own mouth.

Yummy.

Another downside to AGD is the fact that they do not even mention the path integral formalism. Everything is done in the canonical formalism, as you might expect from a bunch of old school Russians.

Finally, I will repeat that this book IS a Classic, and there is a ton of great stuff in this book. If you are a serious student of condensed matter physics then you must have this book. If, on the other hand, you are trying to learn field theory for the first time, then go buy "Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell" by Zee.

Sorry to differ from the reader below.
This book is little or no use unless you have a very strong background in
field theoretical methods. If you are a seasoned pro.you might find it
useful but if you want to teach yourself.... youwill soon get frustrated.
Still my hat's off to the authors who pioneered the area.
Conclusion: if you are a PhD student, get Fetter & Walecka instead.

Possibly the best book on diagrams you can find
This is a classic, and quite possibly it doesn't get any better than this to teach you the technique. For those used to a textbook style, this will be a bit of an unpleasant surprise, because writing is somewhat condensed, but that's quite typical for the old Russian school of theoretical physics. However, all the important issues are properly stressed, all derivations are rigorous, and what is most important, the physical reasoning is clear an to the point. ... Read more

Product Description
Quantum Electronics for Atomic Physics provides a course in quantum electronics for researchers in atomic physics. The book covers the usual topics, such as Gaussian beams, cavities, lasers, nonlinear optics and modulation techniques, but also includes a number of areas not usually found in a textbook on quantum electronics. It includes such practical matters as the enhancement of nonlinear processes in a build-up cavity, impedance matching into a cavity, laser frequency stabilization (including servomechanism theory), astigmatism in ring cavities, and atomic/molecular spectroscopic techniques for the generation of a discriminant for laser frequency locking. A number of very recent developments are discussed, such as fiber lasers and frequency metrology using femtosecond lasers. Problem sets are included at the end of each chapter. ... Read more

Product Description
Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications provides a clear, balanced and modern introduction to the subject. Written with the student’s background and ability in mind the book takes an innovative approach to quantum mechanics by combining the essential elements of the theory with the practical applications: it is therefore both a textbook and a problem solving book in one self-contained volume. Carefully structured, the book starts with the experimental basis of quantum mechanics and then discusses its mathematical tools. Subsequent chapters cover the formal foundations of the subject, the exact solutions of the Schrödinger equation for one and three dimensional potentials, time-independent and time-dependent approximation methods, and finally, the theory of scattering.

The text is richly illustrated throughout with many worked examples and numerous problems with step-by-step solutions designed to help the reader master the machinery of quantum mechanics. The new edition will be completely updated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Intermediate QM text with lots of worked examples
I am a graduate student of materials science and engineering and used this book as textbook in an undergraduate QM course last semester. My comment in next goes first to its target audience, prerequisite and readability, followed by a summary of its key contents and end with its strengths and weaknesses comparing to other QM books I have read.

This book is an intermediate level treatise aimed at audiences of undergraduates of physics and astronomy and graduate students of non-physics majors (e.g., chemistry and engineering), with a prerequisite of at least university general physics, linear algebra and differential equation. Some topics in it require advanced knowledge of classical mechanics and classical electrodynamics, for example wave packet and Zeeman effect, but one can easily pick them up through self-study of relevant chapters in classical undergraduate physics textbooks like the Berkeley Physics Course Series and the MIT Introductory Physics Series. Except these, the book is self-contained and very easy to read, even for me!

It starts with experiments that invalidate classical mechanics in the microscopic world and presents key concepts which differentiates quantum mechanics from its classical counterpart (chapter 1), proceeds with fundamental postulates that the whole quantum formalism is based on and develops it with Dirac notation (chapter 2 and 3). These fundamentals are applied in one dimensional problems of potential step, barrier, well and harmonic oscillator (chapter 4), and further extends to three dimensional in both Cartesian and spherical coordinates, especially, the hydrogen atom QM model is developed and solved exactly(chapter 6). Chapter 5 and 7 treat angular momentum and its addition separately. All these applications are essentially for the single particle case, which is followed by quantum statistics for many identical particles in chapter 8. Since only harmonic oscillator model can be solved exactly, approximation methods are introduced in chapter 9 and 10 with emphasis on time independent and time independent perturbation theory. The whole book ends with the advanced topic of quantum mechanical description of scattering.

As mentioned in my comment title, the major strength of the book is that it has many worked examples. Besides, it is self-contained and very easy to read. The contents are just right, neither too redundant, nor does it skip major derivation steps that affect the ease of reading. I would definitely recommend it to everyone that needs a more or less rigorous introduction to QM!

The best QM text out there. Period.
If you wanna ace your exams and homeworks then this book is all you'll ever need! There's no match to Zettili's text in problem-solving area. It's simply magic! Every topic is worked out rigorously to smallest details. Dr. Zettili not only tells you the abstract formalism found anywhere else, he actually SHOWS you how to use it when it comes to the "real" world. His effort is priceless and the result is brilliant. I wish I had this book from the beginning and hope the later editions will cover more advanced topics as well. Two big thumbs up and A+++ to the author for creating the [first chapter in the] true Bible of quantum mechanics!

PS: A suggestion to the publisher is to re-print the hardcover edition since softcovers don't last under constant use.

So many errors.....
I think this is a great book, but there are so many errors. The most recent errata still has not corrected all the errors. Once another edition comes out with fewer errors I'll give it 5 stars.

An excellent first book
This textbook combines an unusually good treatment of exactly the standard undergraduate topics in quantum mechanics with a well-integrated collection of solved and unsolved problems.It begins with a relatively standard discussion of the origins of, and motivation for, quantum theory.Chapter 2 covers the formalism (function spaces, representations, the eigenvalue problem, operators).The level of this section is sufficiently comprehensive and mathematical to allow a "real" understanding of the subsequent discussion.Zettili's treatment of the mathematics is greatly superior to some other texts (where, for example, the term "Hilbert space" is not defined, or not even mentioned) - things like the propagator, generators, and tensor operators receive good coverage.The discussion of the matrix mechanics versus wave mechanics is also well done.The treatment of symmetries and rotations is clear.One minor point is that in the second chapter one or two formulae appear without clear justification, but this isn't a major issue.

The exposition remains clear throughout.Oddly, Zettili neglects to present the coordinate basis solution of the harmonic oscillator, and solves this problem only using the more elegant ladder operator method (probably for brevity).The path integral isn't discussed, although this isn't yet a standard undergraduate topic.The writing is relatively brief and direct without being "cryptic" or "dry."

The numerous exercises, though sometimes trivial or slightly repetitive, are useful for a first introduction, when the reader must gain an effortless mastery over the "mechanics" as well as the "theory" (the solved problems are considerably better in this respect).After Chapter 2, the problem selection emphasizes the physical, rather than the mathematical - even too much.This is rather the opposite of books like Bransden and Joachain, where the problems are largely proofs of recursion relations, and so on.The ideal would be somewhere between the two, neither sacrificing the physical meaning of QM nor downplaying the mathematical manipulations it so frequently requires.

As others have noted, there are numerous typos.However, these are mostly noticeable if the reader pays close attention (although a couple have the potential to mislead the unwary), and extensive errata lists can be found on the internet.A minor nuisance at worst.Hopefully we see a new edition soon.

In summary, an ideal first text or supplement to another.This text, rather than covering various advanced topics, provides a concise and logical, yet accessible, coverage of the standard undergraduate topics in QM, which should teach students to solve physics as well as understand theory.Highly recommended.I wish I'd learned from it.

Helped me make it through undergrad quantum
We were assigned Gasiorowitz as our textbook, and without Zettili I wouldn't have understood anything.

This book explains the material clearly and then offers ample examples to help the reader learn how to apply the concepts to quantitative problems.

The only problem I have with this book is that there are errors in the worked problems, but these are usually easy to catch and are to be expected with a first edition. ... Read more

Product Description
In The Age of Entanglement, Louisa Gilder brings to life one of the pivotal debates in twentieth century physics.In 1935, Albert Einstein famously showed that, according to the quantum theory, separated particles could act as if intimately connected–a phenomenon which he derisively described as “spooky action at a distance.” In that same year, Erwin Schrödinger christened this correlation “entanglement.” Yet its existence was mostly ignored until 1964, when the Irish physicist John Bell demonstrated just how strange this entanglement really was. Drawing on the papers, letters, and memoirs of the twentieth century’s greatest physicists, Gilder both humanizes and dramatizes the story by employing the scientists’ own words in imagined face-to-face dialogues.The result is a richly illuminating exploration of one of the most exciting concepts of quantum physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Intriguing and entertaining!
This was a great way to put the history and the science together, and provide a most stimulating and encouraging invitation to dive into the wonderful world of Quantum Computing! QBits, here I come!

hopeless!
I challenge anyone who doesn't already know something about quantum physics and entanglement to give any kind of sensible explanation whatsoever about what is meant by quantum entanglement after reading this book. I'm not talking about an explanation of the actual physics and math, just a layman's explanation. The descriptions in this book are so vague and scattered that I came away feeling less knowledgeable about the topic than I was before I read it. There's all sorts of interesting background information on the various personalities involved etc. etc. but as far as explaining the topic itself, forget it! Try Aczel's book "Entanglement" instead.

And as far as what the author means by the phrase in the title "when quantum physics was reborn", .... I haven't a clue. It's just meaningless.

Unique book, but unnecessarily unfair to Robert Oppenheimer
Louisa Gilder's book "The Age of Entanglement" is a rather unique and thoroughly engrossing book which tells the story of quantum mechanics and especially the bizarre quantum phenomenon called entanglement through a unique device- recreations of conversations between famous physicists. Although Gilder does take considerable liberty in fictionalizing the conversations, they are based on real events and for the most part the device works. Gilder is especially skilled at describing the fascinating experiments done by recent physicists which validated entanglement. This part is usually not found in other treatments of the history of physics. Having said that, the book is more a work of popular history than popular science, and I thought that Gilder should have taken more pains to clearly describe the science behind the spooky phenomena.

Gilder's research seems quite exhaustive and well-referenced, which was why the following observation jumped out of the pages and bothered me even more.

On pg. 189, Gilder describes a paragraph from a very controversial and largely discredited book by Jerrold and Leona Schecter. The book which created a furor extensively quotes a Soviet KGB agent named Pavel Sudoplatov who claimed that, among others, Niels Bohr, Enrico Fermi and Robert Oppenheimer were working for the Soviet Union and that Oppenheimer knew that Klaus Fuchs was a Soviet spy (who knew!). No evidence for these fantastic allegations has ever turned up. In spite of this, Gilder refers to the book and essentially quotes a Soviet handler named Merkulov who says that a KGB agent in California named Grigory Kheifets thought that Oppenheimer was willing to transmit secret information to the Soviets. Gilder says nothing more after this and moves on to a different topic.

Now take a look at the footnotes on pg. 190-191 of Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin's authoritative biography of Oppenheimer ("American Prometheus"). B & S also quote exactly the same paragraph, but then emphatically add how there is not a shred of evidence to support what was said and how the whole thing was probably fabricated by Merkulov to save Kheifets's life (since Kheifets had otherwise turned up empty-handed on potential recruits).

If you want to obtain even more authoritative information on this topic, I would recommend the recent book "Spies" by Haynes, Klehr and Vassiliev. The book has a detailed chapter which discusses the Merkulov and Kheifets letter procured by the Schecters and cited by Gilder. The chapter clearly says that absolutely no corroboration of the contents of this letter has been found in Kheifets's own testimony after he returned to the Soviet Union or in the Venona transcripts. You would think that material of such importance would at the very least be corroborated by Kheifets himself. A source as valuable as Oppenheimer would also most certainly be mentioned in other communications. But no such evidence exists. The authors also point out other multiple glaring inconsistencies and fabrications in the documents cited in the Schecter volume. The book quite clearly says that as of 2008, there is absolutely no ambiguity or the slightest hint that Oppenheimer was willing to transmit secrets to the Soviets; the authors emphatically end the chapter saying that the case is closed.

What is troubling is that Gilder quotes the paragraph and simply ends it there, leaving the question of Oppenheimer's loyalty dangling and tantalizingly open-ended. She does not quote the clear conclusion drawn by B & S, Haynes, Klehr, Vassiliev and others that there is no evidence to support this insinuation. She also must surely be aware of several other general works on Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project, none of which give the slightest credence to such allegations.

You would expect more from an otherwise meticulous author like Gilder. I have no idea why she gives credence to the canard about Oppenheimer. But in an interview with her which I saw, she said that she was first fascinated by Oppenheimer (as most people were and still are) but was then repulsed by his treatment of his student David Bohm who dominates the second half of her book. Bohm was a great physicist and philosopher (his still-in-print textbook on quantum theory is unmatched for its logical and clear exposition), a dedicated left-wing thinker who was Oppenheimer's student at Berkeley in the 1930s. After the War, he was suspected of being a communist and stripped of his faculty position at Princeton which was then very much an establishment institution. After this unfortunate incident, Bohm lived a peripatetic life in Brazil and Israel before settling down at Birkbeck College in England. Oppenheimer essentially distanced himself from Bohm after the war, had no trouble detailing Bohm's left-wing associations to security agents and generally did not try to save Bohm from McCarthy's onslaught.

This is well-known; Robert Oppenheimer was a complex and flawed character. But did Gilder's personal dislike of Oppenheimer in the context of Bohm color her attitude toward him and cause her to casually toss out a tantalizing allegation which she must have known is not substantiated? I sure hope not. I think it would be great if Gilder would retract this material in a forthcoming edition of this otherwise fine book.

Too many entanglements
Nice, even impressive try, but the reader get sometimes the impression that personnal details related to the actors' daily lives get in the way of a clearer presentation of the science and its progress.

An interesting mix of history and theory
Entanglement has vexed some of the greatest minds of the 20th century and this is what I loved about this book. Books on physics (other than text books) tend to either be histories focused on an individual or books focus on a subject matter without history. I really enjoyed how the author unraveled the subject over time through the individuals making the discoveries creating a interesting timeline. It did start a little slow but got very intersting later. ... Read more

Product Description
unusually varied problems, with detailed solutions, plus 139 supplementary exercises, all covering quantum mechanics, wave mechanics, angular momentum, molecular spectroscopy, scattering theory and related subjects. "An excellent problem book ... I would highly recommend it as a required supplement to students taking their first quantum chemistry course"—Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Mohsin Netherlands.
This is one of the most complete problem and solution book for the undergraduate quantum physics I have seen. Don't be disappointed by the look of this book, although it is printed somewhat unusual i.e cheap paper small fonts but, its complete.

The problems are much like the problems you can find in quantum chemistry or quantum mechanics books( undergraduate) and the solutions are clear and concise. Of course prior knowledge in quantum mechanics and physical chemistry is required but that you already have if you are looking for a solution book parallel with your text book.
At the beginning of every chapter some explanation and key points are given that help to recall from text book without opening the text book.

I would say, its cheap and its almost complete for undergraduate in physics and more than complete for undergraduate in chemistry.
5 stars because of the price and quality.

Varied Problems Yield Good Refresher
This collection of numerous problems in both old atomic theory as well as (slightly) more modern theory is a great review to students who may have taken introductory QM classes and need a refresher, or as a supplement tothose students currently learning QM.The topics covered are varied andproblems include complete solutions.Overall a good volume to include inany early theorist's collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Well-organized text designed to complement graduate-level physics texts in classical mechanics, electricity, magnetism and quantum mechanics. Topics include theory of vector spaces, analytic function theory, Green’s function method of solving differential and partial differential equations, theory of groups, more. Many problems, suggestions for further reading.
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Customer Reviews (26)

Simply Brilliant
In my eyes this book is must-have if you want to be introduced in theoretical physics. The authors understand to invite you into in a never boring journey of deeper understanding. It would have been wise for me to study this book when I began with the graduate level of my studies. I like the introduction to the calculus of variations very much. Finally the introduction of Green functions are more clear than I ever saw before. Simplygreat, if I could get back in time this book would have helped me a lot.

Must have
If you are a graduate student in the field of physics, this book is a MUST HAVE. Inevitably as an undergraduate you will be ill-prepared for what you are expected to know as a graduate student in physics. This book as thoroughly filled in the mathematical gaps that I was missing. This book was used as a text for my Methods of Theoretical Physics class and I can say that it is clearly leads you through every topic without much confusion. I will be using this text as a reference for years to come.

Not an easy read, but a complete one
This book is complete and concise. Often concise means missing details, but not in this case. This is not an easy and breezy read. It is a densely packed little book with each page full of critical information on approaches to problems, so it will likely be slow going - it was for me. In the end, however, you will understand the information being presented at a price tag that is often one fifth of standard modern textbooks on this subject that do not do nearly as good a job. Also, often a book this old means either a lack of figures or very small handwritten ones. I found this book to be well illustrated for a text of its age, and good illustrations go a long way in explaining mathematical concepts.

For the mathematics of physics I have two recommendations - this one for a "teach a man to fish" approach, and Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Sixth Edition: A Comprehensive Guide for the "give a man a fish" approach. This latter book is a great reference and also has some cool results you won't find in other books, such as how to transform between any two coordinate systems, however it is a terrible textbook. Strangely enough, the table of contents is missing from the product information so I include that next:

1 Vectors in Classical Physics
Introduction
1.1 Geometric and Algebraic Definitions of a Vector
1.2 The Resolution of a Vector into Components
1.3 The Scalar Product
1.4 Rotation of the Coordinate System: Orthogonal Transformations
1.5 The Vector Product
1.6 A Vector Treatment of Classical Orbit Theory
1.7 Differential Operations on Scalar and Vector Fields
1.8 Cartesian-Tensors
2 Calculus of Variations
Introduction
2.1 Some Famous Problems
2.2 The Euler-Lagrange Equation
2.3 Some Famous Solutions
2.4 Isoperimetric Problems - Constraints
2.5 Application to Classical Mechanics
2.6 Extremization of Multiple Integrals
2.7 Invariance Principles and Noether's Theorem
3 Vectors and Matrics
Introduction
3.1 "Groups, Fields, and Vector Spaces"
3.2 Linear Independence
3.3 Bases and Dimensionality
3.4 Ismorphisms
3.5 Linear Transformations
3.6 The Inverse of a Linear Transformation
3.7 Matrices
3.8 Determinants
3.9 Similarity Transformations
3.10 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
3.11 The Kronecker Product
4. Vector Spaces in Physics
Introduction
4.1 The Inner Product
4.2 Orthogonality and Completeness
4.3 Complete Ortonormal Sets
4.4 Self-Adjoint (Hermitian and Symmetric) Transformations
4.5 Isometries-Unitary and Orthogonal Transformations
4.6 The Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of Self-Adjoint and Isometric Transformations
4.7 Diagonalization
4.8 On The Solvability of Linear Equations
4.9 Minimum Principles
4.10 Normal Modes
4.11 Peturbation Theory-Nondegenerate Case
4.12 Peturbation Theory-Degenerate Case
5. Hilbert Space-Complete Orthonormal Sets of Functions
Introduction
5.1 Function Space and Hilbert Space
5.2 Complete Orthonormal Sets of Functions
5.3 The Dirac d-Function
5.4 Weirstrass's Theorem: Approximation by Polynomials
5.5 Legendre Polynomials
5.6 Fourier Series
5.7 Fourier Integrals
5.8 Sphereical Harmonics and Associated Legendre Functions
5.9 Hermite Polynomials
5.10 Sturm-Liouville Systems-Orthogaonal Polynomials
5.11 A Mathematical Formulation of Quantum Mechanics
6 Elements and Applications of the Theory of Analytic Functions
6.1 Analytic Functions-The Cauchy-Riemann Conditions
6.2 Some Basic Analytic Functions
6.3 Complex Integration-The Cauchy-Goursat Theorem
6.4 Consequences of Cauchy's Theorem
6.5 Hilbert Transforms and the Cauchy Principal Value
6.6 An Introduction to Dispersion Relations
6.7 The Expansion of an Analytic Function in a Power Series
6.8 Residue Theory-Evaluation of Real Definite Integrals and Summation of Series
6.9 Applications to Special Functions and Integral Representations
7 Green's Function
Introduction
7.1 A New Way to Solve Differential Equations
7.2 Green's Functions and Delta Functions
7.3 Green's Functions in One Dimension
7.4 Green's Functions in Three Dimensions
7.5 Radial Green's Functions
7.6 An Application to the Theory of Diffraction
7.7 Time-dependent Green's Functions: First Order
7.8 The Wave Equation
8 Introduction to Integral Equations
Introduction
8.1 Iterative Techniques-Linear Integral Operators
8.2 Norms of Operators
8.3 Iterative Techniques in a Banach Space
8.4 Iterative Techniques for Nonlinear Equations
8.5 Separable Kernels
8.6 General Kernels of Finite Rank
8.7 Completely Continuous Operators
9 Integral Equations in Hilbert Space
Introduction
9.1 Completely Continuous Hermitian Operators
9.2 Linear Equations and Peturbation Theory
9.3 Finite-Rank Techniques for Eigenvalue Problems
9.4 the Fredholm Alternative for Completely Continuous Operators
9.5 The Numerical Solutions of Linear Equations
9.6 Unitary Transformations
10 Introduction to Group Theory
Introduction
10.1 An Inductive Approach
10.2 The Symmetric Groups
10.3 Cosets, Classes, and Invariant Subgroups
10.4 Symmetry and Group Representations
10.5 Irreducible Representations
10.6 Unitary Representations, Schur's Lemmas, and Orthogonality Relations
10.7 The Determination of Group Representations
10.8 Group Theory in Physical Problems
General Bibliography
Index to Volume One
Index to Volume Two

Tough But Not Discouraging
This book seems to be a rarity.Although the matrial seems at first to be sophisticated and advanced to grad or undergrad students using it, it still doesn't discourage them or myself from continuing to try to grasp it.In fact it seems to do the opposite and draw one in to keep trying over and over again to improve your comprehension. (This can't be said for a lot of"difficult" textbooks out there).

I think it's in the tone of the authors that makes this book so engaging.It seems to me to be written in a sort of conversational style, and while the authors realize that this is tough stuff to digest, their tone lacks any hint of snobbery (for lack of a better word).They're also good at getting straight to the point.

Yes, it may take three, four, or maybe more readings to understand certain sections, but in some way this title makes one feel like there is a light at the end of tunnel, and it provided a lot of "Ah Ha" moments for me after such multiple re-readings.

Not only an excellent book for it's wealth of information, but also very engaging.

Excellent math reference for physicists
As the title says, it's one of the best books for mathematics in physics. Not simple at first glance (not indicated for first students, I guess), but good to review some math... ... Read more

Product Description
There is no other book on the market like this in its class.Intensely rare and unique, this book goes a step further resolving a lot of the confusion out there regarding ‘The Law of Attraction’ while explaining in detail why this mystical force is not ‘responsive’ to some who are ill-informed the way they practice it..You’ll find simplified, comprehensive Step-by-Step instruction on how to apply ‘Attraction’ in everyday life, in a practical sense. This book lays out practical and simple instruction on the fundamentals of avoiding or warding off negative circumstances that crosses your path, as it maximizes the quality of life by teaching the basic skill of manifesting your goals, wishes and dreams. Expect powerful testimonies, comprehensive instruction, exclusive techniques and the confidence that you can finally begin to receive most everything in your life that you’ve always wanted. Evidence of this mystical force can be witnessed within 30 days from reading this book while becoming a practitioner of Attraction . Receiving Miracles Through ‘Attraction’Author Ace Anderson has been sharing his secrets to the public for many years on how to enjoy the many benefits and luxuries when controlling such powerful forces as ‘Attraction’ in the Scientific Quantum Physics world. He states: The 'Law of Attraction' is a Science, not a myth, and its laws of physics are working for everyone, whether you are 'Religious' or 'Atheist', Rich or Poor... Everyone has the power to induce MIRACLES. You just need the skill and the knowledge to tap into this 'Awesome' science, as many have already accomplished by reading this material. Anderson now shares these secrets, techniques, and methods on a step-by-step fully illustrated book now available to the public. You'll learn how to manifest the power to travel around the world, retire at a young age, have a Blissful Marriage, live in an elegant upper class home, live out your hobbies full time, and so many more accomplishments that one can only imagine. Buy this long-awaited publication at a specially priced, limited time offer. ... Read more

Product Description
When Quantum Physics expert Dr Chad Orzel went to adopt a dog he never imagined he would end up with one as inquisitive as Emmy. Could she use quantum tunnelling to get through the neighbour's fence and chase bunnies? What about quantum teleportation to catch squirrels before they climb out of reach? In this witty and informative book, Orzel and Emmy - the talking dog - discuss the key theories of Quantum Physics and its fascinating history. From quarks and gluons to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, this is the perfect introduction to the fundamental laws which govern the universe. ... Read more

Product Description
This textbook covers, step-by-step, important topics in quantum mechanics, from traditional subjects like bound states, perturbation theory and scattering, to more current topics such as coherent states, quantum Hall effect, spontaneous symmetry breaking, superconductivity, and basic quantum electrodynamics with radiative corrections. The large number of diverse topics are covered in concise, highly focused chapters, and are explained in simple but mathematically rigorous ways. Derivations of results and formula are carried out from beginning to end, without leaving students to complete them. With over 200 exercises to aid understanding of the subject, this textbook provides a thorough grounding for students planning to enter research in physics. Several exercises are solved in the text, and password-protected solutions for remaining exercises are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9780521877602. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thanks Prof. Desai!
A very generous author sharing his knowledge and guiding you through a modern exposition of Quantum Mechanics.
Great book!.
Please keep on writing!
The publisher should have used lighter weight paper. This book weighs a ton!
Amazon should give this text greater visibility!

Former student's review.
Caveat:I have not yet obtained my copy of the book.I can only write from my experience with the draft, which were essentially lecture notes used as the core text for graduate quantum mechanics at UC Riverside.

I took Professor Desai's quantum courses, and also electromagnetics from him.

His book is the extension of lecture notes provided to his students and developed over several iterations of teaching graduate quantum mechanics.The nice thing is he is including new material on more advanced topics we did not have time to cover when I took his lectures.

I have studied from many texts.Shankar, Sakurai, and Liboff.I'm glad that Desai's book is now available, and am looking forward to getting my copy.

I can say that Professor Desai lets the math speak for itself.Compared to other physics authors, Professor Desai is habitually explicit and concise.Looking at the table of contents, Desai is covering more real-world topics in dedicated chapters than a current popular text, and leading the student to second quantization, with only 200 pages more.He's following the example of Schiff.

And there are some nice pedagogical features to the book as well.Gauge theory is treated early on in Desai.So you're basically gaining knowledge useful for both E&M and quantum in one course of study.Since the student isgoing to be taking both at the same time, this is good.This "dual gain" is also present with Desai's treatment of Green's functions and path integration, which will carry over to E&M also.This is what I experienced taking his course.


The book is a definite buy, that's easy... the real question is what wine to drink while reading it?

Extremely Detailed Mathematics, Everything Derived for You
As a student of Dr. Desai's, I've had first-hand experience with working through this textbook, in the context of the author's own lectures. This book is extremely good for working through derivations of various quantum mechanics concepts, and mathematically, is quite rigorous. I think this book would be most useful for the graduate student theorist, who is perhaps not as interested in experimental application of quantum mechanics as an experimentalist.

The end of chapter problems are at times esoteric and mathematical, applying linear algebra to deconstruct an operator with no quantum mechanical context, however, often, the mathematics from these problems appear far ahead in the text. I would recommend the student also use another textbook to gain a more 'experimentalist' perspective on quantum mechanics.

This book contains some errors (it is only in its first edition). At times the errors are minor, but other times they can be more significant. The most common error seems to be false equation references, or a missing 'h-bar' and factors of 'c'. Very occasionally (I have seen one or two within the first 300 pages) there is a serious error, such as using an angular momentum vector instead of a magnetic field vector.

I think this book is an excellent resource, and is almost completely self contained. It will teach you the tools and mathematical back-bone of quantum mechanics, but leaves rigorous applications of the subject to the student's imagination.

... Read more

Product Description
Quantum theory confronts us with bizarre paradoxes which contradict the logic of classical physics. At the subatomic level, one particle seems to know what the others are doing, and according to Heisenberg's "uncertainty principle", there is a limit on how accurately nature can be observed. And yet the theory is amazingly accurate and widely applied, explaining all of chemistry and most of physics. "Introducing Quantum Theory" takes us on a step-by-step tour with the key figures, including Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg and Schrodinger. Each contributed at least one crucial concept to the theory. The puzzle of the wave-particle duality is here, along with descriptions of the two questions raised against Bohr's "Copenhagen Interpretation" - the famous "dead and alive cat" and the EPR paradox. Both remain unresolved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Great Overview
I love this book. I'm just starting on my journey to study quantum physics, and this book is helpful, engaging and funny.It gives a very nice macro picture of what quantum physics is about.After reading it, I have a renewed sense of wonder about the natural world and how mathematics describes the natural world. This book also gives background on the history of science and how major discoveries fit together.I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about quantum physics and is also somewhat intimidated by it (who isn't).I wish this book had been part of my high school physics curriculum...I would have loved physics had it been taught this way.

Very good, not very philosophical
I really enjoyed this book and I think I learned a lot.I'm most interested in the philosophical aspects of quantum mechanics, especially wavefunction collapse and the mind-body problem, and I found that this book was not very philosophical.There were only a couple pages on Schrodinger's cat and a couple pages on the slits & interference experiment.For those sensitive to this sort of thing, there's a biographical page on Schrodinger which is R-rated.(Well, maybe PG-13.Whatever.)

Great book to introduce the early story as well as some of the strange concepts in quantum physics
A very worthwhile addition to the beginners series, this one deals with the rise of quantum physics. After a brief and basic explanation of classic physics, the core of the book covers a period of about 50 years, from the realization in the late 19th century that classical physics was facing many unexplained problems, up to the 1930s, when quantum theory became well established (later developments in physics from the 1940s on are not discussed here - such as the renormalization technique pioneered by Feynmann among others and the rise of the Standard Model - admittedly these are much more difficult to explain to the layman).
The famous 1927 Solvay Conference on physics, attended by many past and future Nobel prizes, and where the strange new discoveries of quantum theory were discussed, is used to introduce the story. Many strange notions in Quantum Theory are discussed and explained here, among them the wave-particle duality of electromagnetic radiation, the uncertainty principle, and the Einstein - Podolsky- Rosen paradox that seems to imply that there is no locality, that is, that a particle seems to be aware instantly of what other particle is doing (what Einstein called spooky action at distance).
Written by a former physicist, this book, like others in the series tries to explain some difficult material through comic book illustrations that includes easy to understand visualizations of the concepts discussed here, as well as some humor. Though some may complain this trivializes the subject, I think the book succeeds in explaining what quantum physics is. Of course, it would be good for readers to continue reading about quantum theory with somewhat more advanced books; many books can be of use for that but my own favorite is Heinz Pagels's The Cosmic Code - from the 1980s, so it does not cover the latest developments, but still very much worthwhile.

Excellent historical summary of the history of quantum theory
The principal value of this book is to provide to the layman an interesting and understandable historical review of the development of quantum theory.The important contributors are presented in a combination of photographs and cartoons, which provides the reader with a good "feel" for the essence of what has transpired, if not the mathematical and technical details necessary for a more rigorous approach.

Outstanding
Given that this is a "comic book" on quantum theory, I expected a fairly superficial treatment which I'd breeze through quickly.

I was instead rather surprised and very pleased to find that this book goes into substantial depth.McEvoy presents most of the key concepts of quantum theory in their historical context, and he goes beyond typical popularized treaments by including quite a few equations (sometimes with derivations), along with topics like statistical mechanics, the Zeeman effect, links to chemistry, Dirac's quantum algebra, Fourier series, and other important technical details.He even touches on philosophical interpretations and implications of quantum theory, though that's not a main feature of the book.

To be clear, McEvoy doesn't provide anything resembling a comprehensive treatment of quantum theory.No one can do that in just 173 pages, with much of the space taken by cartoons.But he still packs in a lot of content by writing clearly and concisely, and organizing the book well.

In short, I highly recommend this book as an effective and enjoyable resource to learn or review the basic concepts and history of quantum theory.The only caveat is that readers should preferably come to the book with at least a decent background in general physics.In other words, the ideal target audience for the book is perhaps a notch beyond the general reader and instead consists of people with a technical background, such as scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. ... Read more

Product Description
This revised edition of Feynman’s legendary lectures includes extensive corrections Feynman and his colleagues received and Caltech approved, making this the definitive edition of The Feynman Lectures on Physics. For all readers interested in physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Classic!
This book is an classic in the area of physics. Anyone who likes physics should read it. Feynman makes everything much more simple to understand.

Genius and Humanity
R.P. Feynman was more than just a physicist with a staggering intuitive understanding of the machinery of complex equations and physical laws, he was also very human and sane and filled with simple awe at the natural world. If you want to begin to understand the kind of genius he had, and to feel his enthusiasm for teaching, then buy the first book of this set. It is the easiest to follow since it deals with basic physics for the most part. If you have a solid physics background, and/or a high IQ, then venture forth into volume two and three. ... Read more

Product Description
A study of the new scientific understanding of consciousness and the mind as a fifth dimension of reality

• Introduces the existence of a fifth dimension--one of mind--an inner- or hyperspace where time is transcended

• Shows how the barrier of the speed of light is actually a gateway demarking the fifth dimension

Since the introduction of Descartes’ dualism in the seventeenth century, the mind and the physical world have been viewed as disconnected entities. Yet qualities of mind such as awareness, purposeful action, organization, design, and even decision-making are present within the structure of matter and within the dimensions of space and time.

The space-time continuum of scientists generally ignores the realm of the mind, though phenomena such as imaginary numbers, used by Einstein to combine space with time, are concepts that only exist in the mind. Marc Seifer contends that the inadequacy of four-dimensional models to account for our experience of mental phenomena points to the consciousness of the mind as a higher organizing principle, a fifth dimension where thoughts are as real and quantifiable as our familiar physical world. He shows that because thought enables us to move backward and forward through time--reflecting on the past and making plans for the future--this fifth dimension of mind breaks the laws of relativity, thereby transcending the speed of light. His extensive study of this fifth dimension ranges from relativity and ether theory to precognition, telepathy, and synchronicity, all from the perspective of the conscious universe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

This book is unlike anything I've ever read
There is so much information that fills these pages and it's continuously interesting, too. It's fascinating how much this guy knows! He cites many scientists, writers, and phiosophers as well as his own experience.

It's definitely worth reading. It presents many points of view on the topic of consciousness from a scientific point of view (with an element of mysticism as well).

When I bought this book, I was looking for a book about the meeting point of science and awareness/consciousness. This book more than hit the spot. For the next book, I'm thinking about reading 'Healing the Rift'...

Fantastic, recommended
Seifer, Ph.D makes the case for consciousness and intelligent design in the universe simple and virtually indisputable. Furthermore, he gathers togeether a diverse range of thinkers from obscure occultists to the greatest scientists in history to reveal how truly fantastic existence is. This book provides a comprehensive glimpse into the cutting-edge of modern consciousness research and experimental physics and how they relate to such fascinating topics as astrology, synchronicity, precognition, the imaginal/subtle realms, and more.

Very "heady" stuff
Very thought provoking.Even if you do not agree with some of the proferences, there is a wealth of cohesive information on theories and philosophies about life and the universe compiled together in here that is not available together in anything else of its type that I have previously read or seen.

Bound to Become a Metaphysical Classic
After listening to Marc Seifer on Coast to Coast I decided to get his book. As a lay reader, since I could follow what he was saying on he radio, I was hoping that his book would not get too technical and I wasn't disappointed. Seifer begins his book with a definition of the word consciousness and makes the case that if it is defined as a form of awareness, then elementary particles are aware because, to put it simply, electrons like protons and are not too keen on other electrons. Thus, if consciousness permeates the very fabric of the elementary particles, when they are combined in special ways, as found in one-celled organisms who are attracted to the Sun and later in the human brain, the ability to become conscious is an unbroken chain from organized matter to thinking man. Where man differs from the other animals is that he is conscious of being conscious.

But Seifer also discusses the term teleology, which is essentially goal directed behavior. Certain forms of matter take into account the future. For instance, snowflakes have a crystalline structure which gives them stability, trees are constructed so that they bend in the wind, squirrels bury acorns to plan for the winter. This all sets the stage for a deeper understanding of precognition, the human ability to glean the future.

Seifer is saying that if we look at the model that the physicists have created, people like Einstein talk about an "observer" but the physicists never deal with the MIND of the observer as a force in and of itself. Seifer wants to expand the 4-dimensional world designed by Einstein with 3 dimensions of space (height, width and depth) and 1 of time to 5 dimensions. The extra dimension would be that of mind or inner space. Just as one can move outward into infinity, one can move inward into infinity as well, in the realm of mind. There, for instance, he talks about something called a "probability future" where potential futures exist. Those that are seen in advance that come true are seen as precognition. Many probability futures, however, never come to fruition. Bob Dole, was president of the United States of America in something called the "hall of future probabilities" but never achieved this in the physical world. The point is, the mental world (of hyper or inner space) is vast and can be tapped by human minds, thus the fifth dimension.

And this is only one aspect of this amazing book. Seifer also covers synchronicity, holographic models for the universe, ether theory and new theories on gravity where he describes Tesla's theories and how they better explain the link between ether, gravity, electromagnetism and even the elusive Higgs boson or "God particle" that physicists are looking for at CERN. Seifer also has a section on tachyonic (faster than light speed) realms. I have underlined so much of this wonderful book that I know I will have to go back and re-read it. In short, I think this is an amazing metaphysical tour de force and simply a must read.
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Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointing and shallow
Unfortunately, this book does not live up to its title.It is just a collection of lectures dealing largely with the history of science leading up to Quantum Mechanics.

Each of the lectures very lightly touches on philosophical implications without actually discussing them.

There are many profoundly interesting implications of Quantum Mechanics to ontology, epistomoloty, etc.None of these are mentioned at all.

Find another book if you want one that actually covers the subject implied by the title.

Not particularly incisive. .
There are many books on quantum physics and the men who discovered it.The best I have read were by Brian Greene.While this book was not a difficult read, I didn't find it of any particular interest.This, in spite of the fact that I am deeply inspired by what quantum mechanics may say about our existance.

Heisenberg - Physics and Philosophy Lectures 1932-48
Werner Heisenberg was respected for his intriguing lectures on the philosophical implications of the new physics, what is now known as quantum physics. He avidly shared his fascination with man's changing concept of reality, and the contribution of quantum physics to a more fundamental understanding of reality.

And yet, he took pains to explain that quantum physics was only one explanation of reality. He concludes one lecture with a remarkable statement: Revere those things beyond science which really matter and about which it is so difficult to speak.

Heisenberg's lectures span the period in German history, 1932 - 1948, that witnessed the growth of Nazism, the dictatorship of Adolph Hitler, the devastating war in Europe, the systematic genocide of the European Jews, the total military defeat of Germany, and the division of Germany. Nonetheless, these philosophical investigations make no references to the staggering political and military events in Europe. They seem to have been presented in a vacuum.

The final lecture, a commencement speech at Gottingen University in July, 1946, was an exception. Heisenberg now questions the proper role of scientists in the modern world, their conflicting role as a contributing member of the international community of scientists versus their role in the service of their own country. He talks of the "frightening aspect of our present-day existence", not just the atomic bomb, but the potential for "chemical means of destroying life", the "practical possibility to produce infectious diseases artificially", and "perhaps worse, even the biological development of man may be influenced in the direction of some predetermined selective breeding".

Heisenberg likes to begin his discussions of quantum theory by tracing man's efforts to define reality, beginning with classical Greek philosophy. He argues that reality as defined by quantum theory today is actually closer to early Greek concepts than was the deterministic, objective reality that was the foundation of Newtonian physics.

Despite the passage of several decades and major advances in physics, these lectures are still thought provoking and stimulating. Heisenberg himself will long be remembered for his contributions to quantum physics. I suspect that his lectures on the philosophical problems underlying modern physics will not be forgotten either.

Was Heisenberg a great physicist? CERTAINLY!
I have always thought of physics as the most marvelous branch of science.It is the field which has granted us Laplace's demon, Pauli's exclusion, Heisenberg's uncertainty, Schroedinger's cat, Wigner's friend, theCopenhagen interpretation and Everett's quantum universes (among otherconceptions).At the center of it all, where the boundaries of physics andphilosophy overlap, we find the great Werner Heisenberg directing traffic. In many ways, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (1926) was the snowballthat got the discipline of quantum mechanics rolling. Years later,Richard P. Feynman was quoted as saying that every new discovery intheoretical physics since H's uncertainty principle was merely a re-statingof the uncertainty principle.

This book deals with many of thephilosophical problems associated with QM such as how observation effects"reality" (if there is such a thing) and the disturbing wave /particle duality which is exhibited by matter.In short, QM has changedalmost everything insofar as how we interpret the "actual" world. We are forced to revise what used to be common sense notions such as areality that is independent of an observer.And, as H writes on page 18,there is no turning back: "The hope that new experiments will yet leadus back to objective events in time and space, or to absolute time, areabout as well founded as the hope of discovering the end of the worldsomewhere in the unexplored regions of the Antartic."

And so, thebest we can do is to try to cope with the myriad unsettling (if not absurd)implications of quantum mechanics.Heisenberg entertains many and variedthoughts on this subject & delivers them in a lucid fashion.

The bookalso discusses some of the concepts of classical physics, some of whichstill hold & some which do not.H goes into detail regarding thetheories of light & colour which were devised by such great minds ofthe past as Newton and Goethe.

The last chapter in the book deals withthe hope that science can be used as a medium by which diverse cultures maylearn to understand each other.After all, even though the politicalparadigms and ideas of nation A differ from those of nation B, 1+1 still =2 in both places.Scientific truths can transcend national prejudices andsuspicions.That, among other things, is one of its endearing traits.

Iwould highly recommend this book for any and all people who are interestedin science, philosophy or the philosophy of science.It is an exquisitebook of science written by one of science's greatest champions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The Code, stick to the code!
Heinz Pagels, may he rest in peace, was one of the greatest writers of physics. I read Einstein and Feynman and the three of them are by far the best writers to explain quantum physics that I have found, and I have read many. The illustrations were lucid and enlightening, and fun. The way Pagels writes and his well-developed analogies and explanations leave the writer feeling as though quantum physics was understandable. The following book, Perfect Symmetry, is also fantastic. I was very sad when Pagels died, and since, when I have been looking for someone with his abilities to write about string theory - but alas, writers of string theory are just as confused as the theory is.If you can find Pagels in a used bookstore, you will enjoy the read - and actually feel like you understand something about quantum physics!

This is a great book on Quantum Physics, you just have to get past the Authors personal views on God
This is a really good book on Quantum Physics. I really want to give it 5 stars, but the draw back is that the Author is constantly injecting his views about God into book, which at times is very distracting. The book is good because it guides you through both the history of Quantum Physics, as well as its core concepts. If the Author is still alive, I hope that he will choose to release a new edition of this book that speaks to the new developments, discoveries and theories that have occured since the original publication of the book in the 1980's.

Good overview for the popular audience of quantum physics
A very good overview, written for the popular audience, of quantum physics, originally written in 1982, by physicist Heinz Pagels. The first part of the book deals with the history of the subject. The second part, the (then) newer stuff, including complex subjects like Bell's Theorem. Unfortunately, since Pagels died in a mountaineering accident in 1988, there hasn't been an update of the book (because of the speed of the scientific discovery, even the best science books can get quickly outdated). That's why the newer stuff in physics, mainly string theory, is not covered here. Still, a very good book.

Cosmic Code
This book was mentioned in a previous book I have read (The Biology of Belief - Lipton).This book easily explains a tough subject like quantum physics.I found it strange that someone like myself (mostly read spiritual books) would enjoy a scientific discussion of the very small.I could not put the book down.If you enjoy reading spiritual books, you will enjoy this book.

Great outline of quantum theory
Wonderfully and lucidly written. Lays out most of the basics of quantum theory in an accessible way. ... Read more

Product Description
Clear and concise explanations of the development of theories explaining physical phenomena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Extremely good simple explanation of physics.
This book is deceptively accessible to non-scientists and young people. It is deceptively accessible because it is profound physical principles simply explained as Einstein and Infield saw it at the time, it is physics and not mathematics. The math used is basic and the book explains all of itvery carefully. It is not a comprehensive book on physics.
After reading this short book (perhaps many times over)the reader will gain a wonderful understanding of both classical and modern physics as Einstein saw it
It is deceptive because the physical principles are simple and also a profound part of Einstein's thinking about classical physics, modern physics, relativity and quantum physics, and Einstein's though processes in developing relativity and quantum physics from some seminal basic concepts in classical physics. It also explains what physics is all about, its philosophy, the scientific method, and the history of physics.
It is fascinating to read of the evolution of Einstein's thinking in physics to his discovery of special and general relativity and quantum physics, told in his own words with the help of Infeld. This book is one of the all time classics of science.
Excellent for both children and adults with an interest in science, physics, and Einstein. may be used as a suvey text, although it was not written to be a textbook. a scientific classic. extremely easy to understand explanation of Einstein's thinking on classical and modern physics. the math is explained, where it is used.
It also includes Einstein's views of quantum physics and statistics, and it does not suggest that there was any conflict between Bohr and Einstein on this issue, although there were famous debates between them. This book suggests that Einstein had by the time the book was written accepted the statistical nature of quantum physics.
I would also recommend Einstein's "Relativity and the General Theory" and also the classic paperback of reprints of the original works of Einstein and others on relativity (more advanced but of great value to see the original papers).
In the Evolution of Physics are extremely clear explanations of what is science, physics the history of thought in physics, the evolution of classical thought in physics and how it led to relativity, and quantum physics. What we mean by modern and classical physics, relativity, the statistical nature of quantum physics as distinct to the use of statistics in everyday usage and in classical physics, the difference between between math and physics, theory and evidence, the contradiction between theory and evidence as the ultimate source of new theories which better explains the evidence, the philosophy of science.
All of these topics are discussed clearly, simply and profoundly for both scientists and non scientists. The book is deceptively simple and actually requires probably at least more than one full reading to really understand it. After you have read it completely, a rereading will provide greater insights into the meaning of the earlier chapters. Many of us will find ourselves reading it many times for its beauty and clarity.
This book is in summary a brilliant scientific classic, a survey of physics, wonderfully accessible to the general public, stemming from the collaboration of Einstein and his assistant Infield. Highly recommended. Enjoy!

The Evolution of Physics
This is a wonderful book ultimately leading to a discussion of relativity.Even so, the style of exposition is unusually good. I suspect Professor Infield wrote the book, albeit in collaboration with Professor Einstein. I feel his ability to make complex concepts relatively easy to understand rivals the teaching style of the beloved physicist and educator, Richard Feynman. Anyone interested in physics needs to read this book, not only for the invaluable content, but also as an example of a communication style which is only rarely encountered.

Very good for many different readers
As the authors state, ".. thought and ideas, not formulas, are the beginning of every physical theory".True to this statement, this book focuses on thoughts and ideas and does not use any formulas at all.This makes it good as an adjunct for standard texts that contain the formulas, but not as a substitute for such books.This book is divided into four sections: the rise of the mechanical view, the decline of the mechanical view, field and relativity, and quanta.It is thus about how the mechanical view of Newton evolved into the modern view of physics (relativity theory and quantum mechanics).

I would like to focus on how this book might be perceived for three different classes of readers.
(1) For those who have never taken a physics course (or did and tried to forget the experience as soon as possible) --The lack of any mathematics may be comforting to this class of reader, but it will nonetheless not be an easy read for them.The basic concepts, such as inertia, may be difficult to grasp for those with no previous physics background, but the author's do a good job of describing things.(A task made more difficult without recourse to the shorthand of mathematics.) I would, however, recommend this book only to those who are motivated to go well beyond their comfort zone.However, if they focus on the concepts that are being described and are patient in following the lines of reasoning, they should be richly rewarded.
(2) For those who have taken physics courses, but do not have advanced degrees in physics--I put myself in this group and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I liked this book because it focuses on the why (the basic underlying theories of physics), rather than on the how (problem solving).In doing so, it provided a much better understanding of what is behind the equations than I found in physics texts.I got a very clear picture of the deficiencies of Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's equations, and how this led to relativity theory.I found this very illuminating as it more clearly showed me Einstein's thought process.If found this even clearer than that presented in Einstein's book on relativity (prepared for a general readership).Of all the groups of readers, I think that people in this group will get the most from this book.
(3) For those with advanced degrees in physics - People in this group may have already been exposed to the concepts described here, but this book will still be very helpful in that it shows clearly Einstein's logic in developing relativity theory and the quantum theory of light.Much of this may be old hat to this group, but the book will still be of interest from a historical perspective.

I think that this book does an admirable job of appealing to and satisfying the needs of readers who approach the subject with diverse backgrounds.

An excelent book on physics
An excellent book about physics, its history and its philosophy. The concepts are well explained, discussed, compared in a conversational and rigorous style. And done with the contribution of Einstein.
With this book you will understand what physics really is; what is behind the science undertaking; what is science after all. A must book to serious interested readers

Excellent book
Outstanding book to understand the way of thinking which resulted in introducing the various concepts associated with Physics. Thoughwritten for general audience, this book needs to be read with care, and constant attention to see the remarkable connection between seemingly unrelated concepts like light, heat, electricity. Read this along with the book "Einstein's Heros by Arianrhod" to enjoy a different aspect of Physics. ... Read more

Product Description
Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it.It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences.Without it, we'd have no nuclear power or nuclear weapons, no TV, no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering. In Search of Schrodinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction.John Gribbin takes us step by step into an ever more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind.He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory.He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, superconductors and life itself.And in a world full of its own delights, mysteries and surprises, he searches for Schrodinger's Cat - a search for quantum reality - as he brings every reader to a clear understanding of the most important area of scientific study today - quantum physics. In Search of Schrodinger's Cat is a fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum - an essential element in understanding today's world.Amazon.com Review
Part history book and part remedial physics text for those wholost interest when the equations started getting unintuitive, InSearch of Schrödinger's Cat explains quantum physicsin a way that's not only clear, but also enjoyable.

Gribbin openswith the subjects that most physics professors have just started toexamine at the end of the semester: The mysterious character of light,the valence concept in Nils Bohr's atomic model, radioactive decay,and the physics of life-defining DNA all get clear, comprehensive, andwitty coverage. This book reveals the beauty and mystery thatunderlies everything in the universe.

Does this book claim toexplain quantum physics without math? No. Math is too central tophysics to be bypassed. But if you can do basic algebra, you canunderstand the equations in In Search of Schrödinger'sCat. Gribbin is the physics teacher everyone should have in highschool or college: kind without being a pushover, knowledgeablewithout being condescending, and clearly expressive without beingboring. Gribbin's book belongs on the shelf of every pre-calculusstudent. It also deserves a place in the library of everyone who wasscared away from advanced physics prematurely. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

the cat ate my homework
I haven't read many books in the last few years but this one stands out. I managed to read the whole thing from cover to cover. I took the advice of another reviewer and read "Alice in Quantumland" first. I don't think it matters though in what order you read them. They are both good introductions for a layperson interested in this fascinating subject. And it was Stephen Hawkin's "Short History of Time" which got me started in wanting to know more about quantum physics. The "Alice" book is very good at explaining the basic concepts. "Schrodinger's Cat" gives an excellent historical account of how the theory evolved, explaining the concepts as it goes. Gribbin seems to have an excellent understanding of the subject matter and tells a great story.

A Great Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
I read this way back during my college years (1994-98). It was the first time I read a popular science book on quantum mechanics and cosmology (my first popular science book was Carl Sagan's magnificent treatise on science, "A Demon-Haunted World"). I just happened to see it in the library. You could say the title caught my attention. I remember the cover was so worn out already. But am I glad I saw it! Ever since then, I've been hooked to the field and wondered why I took a different college course. This book made me interested in physics!

edjohn
This book helps understanding quantum physics. I would recommend this for anyone interested in reality.

As shocking as science gets!
Niels Bohr said that "anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it." Indeed, if this is your first foray into quantum physics prepare to uncork a science that is more shocking, frustrating, and unsatisfying, than any other. The book's climax occurs in Chapter 8- Chance and Uncertainty. For me it was a humbling experience that left me feeling like everything I knew about the world was suddenly pulled out from under me. The book is very well written for the layperson, but it requires a basic understanding of atoms and molecules.

An easy, non-mathematical introduction to quantum mechanics
Since my freshman days at the University of Sarajevo, where I was studying Metallurgical Engineering, I have been quite a bit intrigued and extremely fascinated by the whole world of quantum mechanics. In Search of Schrodinger's Cat was one of very few popular science books published in the early 1980s on the subject of quantum mechanics. The title of the book refers to a famous thought experiment (paradox) devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrodinger. The thought experiment presents a hypothetical cat that apparently can be simultaneously dead and alive (or neither dead nor alive), depending on an earlier random event, and assuming that the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics can be applied to everyday objects.

For those of us who are not physicists, the book covers, in a rather accessible manner (especially in its first half), a number of key theories, ideas, and paradoxes such as the dual nature of light, the double-slit experiment, the structure and the inner workings of atoms, Plank's constant and its history and significance, the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and its possible far-reaching philosophical implications, the Compton effect, the Copenhagen interpretation, etc. Often incorrectly depicted as just an experimental limitation, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle (the central idea of quantum mechanics), is explained quite nicely (and I believe correctly) in this book. The author also gives a couple of great examples of the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in physics (e.g., Dirac's mathematical prediction of the existence of positrons, the electron's antiparticle).

The author's style of writing is engaging and pleasant to read. The book is filled with relevant historic references, which I personally always find useful, as they help with putting everything in a right prospective and context. Even though it is thought provoking, the second half of the book, which deals with more speculative questions related to quantum mechanics (e.g., the many-worlds theory), is less satisfactory and less focused.

I recommend this book as an easy, non-mathematical introduction to the basic concepts of quantum mechanics, arguably the most fascinating scientific theory ever formulated by human mind. To fully understand and truly appreciate quantum mechanics, however, one has to sharpen one's mathematical pencil and dig deep into vector algebra with all its eigenvectors and eigenvalues. There are no shortcuts. Thus, my caveat lector: advanced students will almost certainly learn nothing new of importance in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This brilliantly innovative textbook is intended as a first introduction to quantum mechanics and its applications. Townsend's new text shuns the historical ordering that characterizes so-called Modern Physics textbooks and applies a truly modern approach to this subject, starting instead with contemporary single-photon and single-atom interference experiments. The text progresses naturally from a thorough introduction to wave mechanics through applications of quantum mechanics to solid-state, nuclear, and particle physics, thereby including most of the topics normally presented in a Modern Physics course. Examples of topics include blackbody radiation, Bose-Einstein condensation, the band-structure of solids and the silicon revolution, the curve of binding energy and nuclear fission and fusion, and the Standard Model of particle physics. Students can see in quantum mechanics a common thread that ties these topics into a coherent picture of how the world works, a picture that gives students confidence that quantum mechanics really works, too. The book also includes a chapter-length appendix on special relativity for the benefit of students who have not had a previous exposure to this subject. Also available is an accompanying, detailed Instructor's Solutions Manual for adopting professors. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Good
Softcover, with the front cover a little curled. The overall quality is fine, and the content is without doubt worth reading.

classic
This is a classic on path integrals by one of the founders of the subject, finally in Dover edition.

Return of a classic
It is wonderful to see this extraordinary work back in print, especially in this attractive low cost Dover edition.As an added bonus, the myriad misprints that plagued the original 1965 printing (and caused me such grief when I first read it in high school) have been corrected.

The path integral approach, so clearly explained in this volume, derived from Feynman's graduate research at Princeton where he applied variational principles to quantum mechanics.This, in turn, was motivated by a seminal 1932 paper of Dirac.

At the time, the formalism appeared to provide only an elegant means of deriving the wave equation without achieving any new results.But elegant mathematics always seems to have a way of finding application in physics.Just look at how formerly "obscure" topics like Lie algebras and differential geometry have become part of the essential language of particle physics.And path integral methods have proved useful in fields ranging from quantum electrodynamics to acoustic propagation.

Like all of Feynman's works, this text combines sound, if unconventional, mathematics with remarkable physical insight.There is still no better introduction to the topics treated here.This book is required reading for anyone wishing to understand quantum mechanics (at least in so far as anyone can understand quantum mechanics) and who intends to pursue more advanced topics.

Heartily recommended!

If you liked volumes I and II of the Lectures...
The Feynman Lectures deserve their status as classics, bringing novel insights and clarity even to topics that one would think ancient and musty (e.g. his exposition of radio waves). I'm not sure I would recommend them as undergraduate texts, since there may be too much wizardry where the solutions depend on deep insights or unexpected symmetries, with perhaps too few examples of brute calculation and no exercises to be worked by the student. However, they are unsurpassed when used to supplement the usual treatments or just to appreciate the beauty of the subject. For some reason, I never had the same feeling toward Volume III (Quantum Mechanics). In part, I think this is because he was trying too hard to reconcile the usual Schroedinger description with his own version of Quantum Mechanics, namely the least action/ path integral approach used in this text. Without the same constraint here (although he does very elegantly derive the wave equation from the least action principle), I experienced the same sense of wonder and awe that I felt from his earlier treatment of mechanics and electricity/magnetism. Although it's only my personal opinion, I would recommend this as the true successor to volumes I and II of the Lectures.

A must have for anyone interested in Particle Physics or String Theory
It is a gospel for all physics students that this masterpiece is finally available as a Dover edition. Written by Feynman himself, this book explains the path integral approach to quantum mechanics in a way that is understandable to every beginning quantum mechanic. Path integrals are integral (sorry, bad English) to the study of quantum field theory and string theory, and you must be a master at it if you would like to work in either of these fields. Purchase this book at once and start working!
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Product Description
This book is based on the lecture courses taught by Dunningham and Vedral at the University of Leeds. The book contains all the necessary material for quantum physics and relativity in the first two years of a typical physics degree course. The choice of topics complies fully with the Institute of Physics guidelines, but the coverage also includes more interesting and up-to-date applications, such as Bose condensation and quantum teleportation. ... Read more