Product Description
Exploring topics from classical and quantum mechanics and field theory, this book is based on lectures presented in the Graduate Summer School at the Regional Geometry Institute in Park City, Utah, in 1991. The chapter by Bryant treats Lie groups and symplectic geometry, examining not only the connection with mechanics but also the application to differential equations and the recent work of the Gromov school. Rabin's discussion of quantum mechanics and field theory is specifically aimed at mathematicians. Alvarez describes the application of supersymmetry to prove the Atiyah-Singer index theorem, touching on ideas that also underlie more complicated applications of supersymmetry. Quinn's account of the topological quantum field theory captures the formal aspects of the path integral and shows how these ideas can influence branches of mathematics which at first glance may not seem connected. Presenting material at a level between that of textbooks and research papers, much of the book would provide excellent material for graduate courses. The book provides an entree into a field that promises to remain exciting and important for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Decent survey on "quantum mathematics"
This book has four articles on mathematics in quantum field theory. Some of it is well known and "classical", particularly the article by Bryant on symplectic geometry (however, Bryan does discuss the modernmodern developments by Gromov in the last section). The article by Rabinattempts to do the impossible: try to teach mathematicians the physicsbehind quantum field theory via path integrals. The article by Alvarez onindex theorems summarizes nicely the connections between supersymmetry andindex theory. The last article by Quinn on topological field theory iswritten for the mathematician in mind. It is fascinating mathematics andgives the reader the impression that research in topological field theorywill no doubt continue to grow in importance. Several advances have takenplace since the book was published (1995), so peruse the literature beforebuying it. ... Read more

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Available for the first time in paperback, The Quantum Theory of Fields is a self-contained, comprehensive, and up-to-date introduction to quantum field theory from Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg. The first volume introduces the foundations of quantum field theory, the second volume examines modern applications, and finally, the third volume presents supersymmetry, an area of theoretical physics likely to be at the center of progress in the physics of elementary particles and gravitation. The development is fresh and logical throughout, with each step carefully motivated by what has preceded. The presentation of modern mathematical methods is interwoven with accounts of applications in both elementary particle and condensed matter physics. The three volumes contain much original material, and are enhanced with examples and insights drawn from the author's experience as a leader of elementary particle research. Hb ISBN (1995) Vol.1 0-521-55001-7 Hb ISBN (1996) Vol.2 0-521-55002-5 Hb ISBN (1996) Vols. 1 & 2 Set 0-521-58555-4 Hb ISBN (2000) Vol.3 0-521-66000-9 HB ISBN (2000) Vols. l-3 Set 0-521-78082-9 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Classic
This will certainly be a classic reference book. However, it focuses on the underlying formalism. So it is not going to be overly useful as an education tool, unless you are looking into the fundamentals which support the theory. ... Read more

Product Description
As Alastair Rae points out in his introduction, “quantum physics is not rocket science”. It may have gained a reputation as the theory that no one really understands, but its practical applications are all around us in everyday life. If it were not for quantum physics, computers would not function, metals would not conduct electricity, and the power stations that heat our homes would not produce energy. Assuming no prior scientific or mathematical knowledge, this clear and concise introduction provides a step-by-step guide to quantum theory, right from the very basic principles to the most cutting-edge developments, such as super-fast computers and unbreakable codes, which could soon become reality. Finally, Rae turns to the philosophical questions posed by quantum physics and asks: if Einstein was wrong and God really does play dice, what are the consequences of this for the way we view ourselves and our relation to the world? Written by one of the most respected authors in the field, this authoritative and readable guide will be suitable for anyone wishing to gain a clearer understanding of one of the key scientific discoveries of our time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

BEST book I ever read in my life
This is the Motherbook of all books.
I have been waiting for this book all my life.

quantum physics
I bought this book due to my interest in quantum physics after hearing about 'passion from a distance' which is Bell's theorum.The intelligence is passed on very simply but I have found that I need to read the book in short spurts in order to take in the information.As yet I have not finished the book but feel sure I shall learn from it.I must add that I didnt do physics at college so am a complete novice.

Good companion for another intro book
Like most introductory books in this area, it really helps to have some prior background.It makes some small leaps in places that will leave true beginners feeling a little lost.As an introduction, I'd rate this book lower than "The Quantum World ..." by Kenneth Ford, but it would make a nice companion to it because this book goes into additional depth in specific areas such as conductors, insulators, semiconductors and superconductors.

A good place to start
Overall, I definitely got what I wanted out of this book.For those of you who want a mathy approach to the subject, this is probably not the book for you.I know very little about the subject, so I wanted a book that would enable me to get a big picture so I could tell if a certain aspect of quantum physics interests me.This book serves that function well.

No direct reflection on the author, but there are a number of significant numerical errors in the first chapter or so.They are almost certainly due to poor typesetting, I'm sure the author can tear up the math.

Not that good
Though the book is Ok, after reading Isaacs Asimov "Understanding Phisics" I expected more clarity from this book. ... Read more

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As we humans have expanded our horizons to see things vastly smaller, faster, larger, and farther than ever before, we have been forced to confront preconceptions born of the human experience and create wholly new ways of looking at the world around us.  The theories of relativity and quantum physics were developed out of this need and have provided us with phenomenal, mind-twisting insights into the strange and exciting reality show of our universe. 
 
Relativity and Quantum Physics For Beginners is an entertaining and accessible introduction to the bizarre concepts that fueled the scientific revolution of the 20th century and led to amazing advances in our understanding of the universe.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

relativity 2 stars, quantum theory 4 stars
I thought the book did a much better job with quantum theory than relativity.For example, the twins paradox is not discussed at all in the relativity section (the first part of the book), but the modern interpretation of electrons as an ever changing collection of virtual particles is discussed in some detail toward the end of the book.I felt I learned something there.Otherwise the book just covered "the usual suspects" in pretty standard ways.The graphics are fine, and the text easy to read.In the end, I got my money's worth, in a break even sort of way. ... Read more

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This book treats the central physical concepts and mathematical techniques used to investigate the dynamics of open quantum systems. To provide a self-contained presentation the text begins with a survey of classical probability theory and with an introduction into the foundations of quantum mechanics with particular emphasis on its statistical interpretation. The fundamentals of density matrix theory, quantum Markov processes and dynamical semigroups are developed. The most important master equations used in quantum optics and in the theory of quantum Brownian motion are applied to the study of many examples. Special attention is paid to the theory of environment induced decoherence, its role in the dynamical description of the measurement process and to the experimental observation of decohering Schrodinger cat states. The book includes the modern formulation of open quantum systems in terms of stochastic process in Hilbert space. Stochastic wave function methods and Monte Carlo algorithms are designed and applied to important examples from quantum optics and atomic physics, such as Levy statistics in the laser cooling of atoms, and the damped Jaynes-Cummings model. The basic features of the non-Markovian quantum behavior of open systems are examined on the basis of projection operator techniques. In addition, the book expounds the relativistic theory of quantum measurements and discusses several examples from unified perspective, e.g. non-local measurements and quantum teleportation. Influence functional and super-operator techniques are employed to study the density matrix theory in quantum electrodynamics and applications to the destruction of quantum coherence are presented. The text addressees graduate students and lecturers in physics and applied mathematics, as well as researchers with interests in fundamental questions in quantum mechanics and its applications. Many analytical methods and computer simulation techniques are developed and illustrated with the help of numerous specific examples. Only a basic understanding of quantum mechanics and of elementary concepts of probability theory is assumed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a very good book
It's greatly helpful for me in my research. I can learn almost all basic knowledge about open quantum systems from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book illuminates the basic concepts of quantum chemistry, and emphasizes atomic structure but not molecular applications. The author starts with a survey of the basic ideas and problems of wave/particle duality, the nature of wave function, and its statistical interpretation. He then discusses some important applications of Schrodinger's equation to chemically relevant situations, and probes the structure of the hydrogen atom, multiple-electron atoms and the periodic table of elements. The emphasis throughout is on the physical concepts and their concrete application. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear and great insights into Quantum theory
Clear and great insights into Quantum theory

From the very begining I had feelings to read and get clear insights into what is this quantumtheory about. This book gave me full satisfaction. I liked it so much thatI almost wrote the full book in my notebook, so that I may read it againand again ! (I had borrowed it from Chicago Public Libray).

The book'shallmark I feel is the simple on the dot language and comments that clearsany doubts you may have. What I also liked is that it begins with theconcept by first introducing the classical mechanics model and thenemerging into quantum model.

Excellent book, all interested in thesubject must read, to build a strong foundation ! ... Read more

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First published in 1983, this book has become a classic among advanced textbooks. The new fourth edition maintains the high standard of its predecessors. The book offers basic knowledge of field theory and particle phenomenology. The author presents the basic facts of quark and gluon physics in pedagogical form. Explanations of theory are supported throughout with experimental findings. The text provides readers with sufficient understanding to follow modern research articles. This fourth edition presents a new section on heavy quark effective theories, more material on lattice QCD and on chiral perturbation theory.

Product Description
An understanding of quantum mechanics is vital to all students of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, but requires a lot of mathematical concepts, the details of which are given with great clarity in this book. Various concepts have been derived from first principles, so it can also be used for self-study. The chapters on the JWKB approximation, time-independent perturbation theory and effects of magnetic field stand out for their clarity and easy-to-understand mathematics. Two complete chapters on the linear harmonic oscillator provide a very detailed discussion of one of the most fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. Operator algebra is used to show the ease with which one can calculate the harmonic oscillator wave functions and study the evolution of the coherent state. Similarly, three chapters on angular momentum give a detailed account of this important problem. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is the excellent balance between theory and applications and the large number of applications in such diverse areas as astrophysics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, solid-state physics, and quantum well structures. ... Read more

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This study provides a systematic approach to the quantum theory of collective phenomena, based principally on the model of infinite systems.The author sets the theory within the framework of modern statistical mechanics, formulating it in rigorous, though relatively simple, mathematical terms.This approach leads to a generalized form of statistical thermodynamics, and to useful characterizations of such collective phenomena as phase transitions, irreversibility, and metastability, going beyond the scope of traditional statistical mechanics of finite systems. ... Read more

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Quantum information- the subject- is a new and exciting area of science, which brings together physics, information theory, computer science and mathematics. Quantum Information- the book- is based on two successful lecture courses given to advanced undergraduate and beginning postgraduate students in physics. The intention is to introduce readers at this level to the fundamental, but offer rather simple, ideas behind ground-breaking developments including quantum cryptography, teleportation and quantum computing. The text is necessarily rather mathematical in style, but the mathematics nowhere allowed priority over the key physical ideas. My aim throughout was to be as complete and self- contained but to avoid, as far as possible, lengthy and formal mathematical proofs. Each of the eight chapters is followed by about forty exercise problems with which the reader can test their understanding and hone their skills. These will also provide a valuable resource to tutors and lectures. ... Read more

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This book provides a clear and logical path to understanding what quantum mechanics is about. It will be accessible to undergraduates with minimal mathematical preparation: all that is required is an open mind, a little algebra, and a first course in undergraduate physics.Quantum mechanics is arguably the most successful physical theory. It makes predictions of incredible accuracy. It provides the structure underlying all of our electronic technology, and much of our mastery over materials. But compared with Newtonian mechanics, or even relativity, its teachings seem obscure--they have no counterpart in everyday experience, and they sometimes contradict our simplest notions of how the world works. A full understanding of the theory requires prior mastery of very advanced mathematics. This book aims at a different goal: to teach the reader, step by step, how the theory came to be and what, fundamentally, it is about.Most students learn physics by learning techniques and formulas. This is especially true in a field like quantum mechanics, whose content often contradicts our common sense, and where it's tempting to retreat into mathematical formalism. This book goes behind the formalism to explain in direct language the conceptual content and foundations of quantum mechanics: the experiments that forced physicists to construct such a strange theory, and the essential elements of its strangeness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Old book new cover
I checked out the first 16 pages of this book (pdf) on the AMS website. This portion (10 percent of the book) appears to be run of the mill quantum mechanics textbook material on early quantum mechanics. It is a far cry from what one might expect from the title. ... Read more

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The basic theme of Popper's philosophy--that something can come from nothing--is related to the present situation in physical theory.Popper carries his investigation right to the center of current debate in quantum physics. He proposes an interpretation of physics--and indeed an entire cosmology--which is realist, conjectural, deductivist and objectivist, anti-positivist, and anti-instrumentalist. He stresses understanding, reminding us that our ignorance grows faster than our conjectural knowledge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hard to understand
This book made me realize that material could be presented as fact and I wouldn't know the difference. it was way over my head because I think you would need a strong backround in science.

A world of propensities and metaphysical dreams
During the early 1950s Popper prepared almost a thousand pages of manuscript for publication as a companion volume to the English translation of his "Logik Der Forschung" (1934). This material started as a series of appendices to "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" but some of them grew into a book to be called "Postscrip to the LSD: After Twenty Years" (from 1934 to 1954). "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" appeared in 1959 but the "Postscript" lagged behind until eventually Bill Bartley took over the editing and it appeared in three volumes in the 1980s (after 50 years).

In the meantime photocopies of the galleys circulated among Popper's colleagues and this had some impact, especially by way of Imre Lakatos and his "methodology of scientific research programmes" (MSRP. Unfortunately, this development caused a great deal of confusion and misplaced effort which might have been avoided if Popper's theory of programs had appeared earlier.

The three books of the "Postscript" are "Realism and the Aim of Science" (Volume 1), "The Open Universe: An Argument for Indeterminism" (Volume 2) and "Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics" (Volume 3). They contribute to Popper's long campaign in support of realism, indeterminism and objectivism which in turn support human freedom, creativity and rationality.

"Realism" has two parts, the first pursues various forms of inductivism and the second attacks the subjective interpretation of the probability calculus. "The Open Universe" critiques both scientific and metaphysical determinism and traces the linkage between metaphysical determinism and subjective probability theory. This volume carries the defence of realism and objectivism into the heart of quantum theory to challenge the dominant assumptions of the Copenhagen interpretation. Bartley points out in the editor's introduction that this is a profoundly cosmological work, where "the basic theme of Karl Popper's philosophy - that something can come from nothing - obtains its basis in physics".

The book contains a 'Metaphysical Epilogue' that is remarkable (in addition to being the basis of Lakatos's theory of scientific research programmes) because it provides a key to understanding a set of themes that unify Popper's whole system of thought (the keystone to his arch of thought it you like). This gives some clues as to the depth of his thinking and the reason why it has been so badly received in the profession at large.

Popper's theory of MRPs flows from his theory that we should look at the history of a subject, and its current status, in terms of its problem situations.

"In science, problem situations are the result, as a rule, of three factors. One is the discovery of an inconsistency within the ruling theory. A second is the discovery of an inconsistency between theory and experiment - the experimental falsification of the theory. The third, and perhaps the most important one, is the relation between the theory and what may be called the "metaphysical research programme".

"By raising the problems of explanation which the theory is designed to solve, the metaphysical research programme makes it possible to judge the success of the theory as an explanation. On the other hand, the critical discussion of the theory and its results may lead to a change in the research programme (usually an unconscious change, as the programme is often held unconsciously, and taken for granted), or to its replacement by another programme. These programmes are only occasionally discussed as such: more often, they are implicit in the theories and in the attitudes and judgements of the scientists."

"I call these research programmes "metaphysical" also because they result from general views of the structure of the world and, at the same time, from general views of the problem situation in physical cosmology. I call them "research programmes" because they incorporate, together with a view of what the most pressing problems are, a general idea of what a satisfactory solution of these problems would look like."

The theme of the book is the way that the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics has been influenced by unstated and uncriticised metaphysical assumptions, especially determinism, subjectivism and instrumentalism. Of course the Copenhagen people are scientific indeterminists but Popper argues that there is a metaphysical form of determinism that they have not eliminated from their thinking.

The book contains four chapters after a 1982 Preface and an Introduction. The Preface makes a case for a realistic and commonsense interpretation of quantum theory to overcome the crisis in physics which Popper attributes to two things, the intrusion of subjectivism and the "end of the road" idea that quantum theory has reached the complete and final truth. In the Introduction he argues for an interpretation of quantum physics without the observer and he sharply formulated thirteen thesis to challenge the Copenhagen interpretation of the observer as an integral part of the system.

In Chapter I, 'Understanding quantum theory and its interpretations' Popper updated his ideas from the formulations in "The Logic of Scientific Discovery". He still maintained that the problem of interpreting quantum theory is bound up with the interpretation of probability theory, and he argued that the theory of propensities that he described in the first and second volumes of The Postscript should be applied to the interpretation of quantum theory, thus resolving the difficulties that arise in the Copenhagen interpretation.

Chapter II 'The objectivity of qauntum theory' returned to the issue of the observer in the system and confronted the doctrine that experiments have to be interpreted with the observer, and especially the consciousness of the observer, as one of the variables. The discussion includes the nature of quantum jumps and the existence or non-existence of particles.

Chapter III attempts a resolution of the paradoxes of quantum theory, using the propensity interpretation of probability, applied to (1) the indeterminacy relations, (2) the expirement of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen, and (3) the two-slit experiment.

The long fourth chapter is the Metaphysical Epilogue. This covers a lot of ground, starting with a brief statement of the theory of metaphysical research programs (above). He then ran through a series of ten research programs. First the block universe of Parmenides, then Atomism and Geometrization, followed by Essentialism and Potentialism (from Aristotle), then Renaissance Physics (Copernicus, Bruno, Kepler, Galileo), The Clockwork Theory (Hobbes, Descartes), Dynamism (Newton), Fields of Force (Faraday, Maxwell), Unified Field Theory (Riemann, Einstein, Schrodinger) and finally The Statistical Interpretation of Quantum Theory. After a discussion of schism, programs and metaphysical dreams he went on to indeterminism and the reduction of the wave packet and a model of a universe of propensities to account for the leading featues of all the ten programs that he sketched previously. After touching on some open problems he concluded with some comments on the role of metaphysical systems and the possibility of a demarcation within metaphysics, between good and bad systems.

"The proper aspiration of a metaphysician...is to gather all the true aspects of the world (and not merely its scientific aspects) into a unifying picture which may enlighten him and others, and which may one day become part of a still more comprehensive picture, a better picture, a truer picture."

... Read more

Product Description
This advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level text introduces the power of operator theory as a tool in the study of quantum mechanics, assuming only a working knowledge of advanced calculus and no background in physics. The author presents a few simple postulates describing quantum theory, gradually introducing the mathematical techniques that help answer questions important to the physical theory. The entire book is devoted to the study of a single particle moving along a straight line. By posing questions about the particle, the text gradually leads readers into the development of mathematical techniques that provide the answers. 1981 ed.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent overview of the material
This book is excellent. I don't pretend it should be used as a course for either quantum mechanics or functional analysis. It is at a level way above that necessary for quantum mechanics and it does not cover enough material to be a serious textbook for functional analysis.

That said at 15$ it is a great addition to any library. A reader can move through the book and really get an understanding of the topics presented. The books by Reed and Simon are a must for any mathematical physicist but they can sometimes be intimidating. The material presented here is relevant and presented in a very straightforward manner. If you have a background in analysis and wish to learn more about quantum mechanics I would definitely recommend this book. Another possible use is as an additional text in a functional analysis course so students can see direct applications.

A Unique and Interesting Book.
The book is about the mathematics of a single particle in 1-D space, the line, written for math people.Yeah, it's 300 pages for a little guy moving in a straight line!Isn't that enough?

It's about mathematical modeling, power, and beauty.Physics background is not required.Maybe no idea is even better!Prof. Schechter has spent much time preparing the contents, so you don't have to look around.

This book could be used as a first course in mathematical physics, or a supplement of mathematical modeling or functional analysis.Prof. Schechter teaches us about translating QM postulates into math.Starts off very simple 1-D case for a particle, and no more.Again, isn't that enough?

I think "encouraging" is the best word to describe his style for this book.A very gentle math teacher.The quality of math is as good as von Neumann or Weyl, and the representation is better.He even tells you what probability really is.(Do you know?)

It's more user-friendly than many other mathematical physics books.And the cover is maybe one of the most beautiful among Dover paperbacks.

Yet another "Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics" -- a very unique one!

I was very lucky to encounter this book which was almost hidden in a pile of books. Attracted by the cover design, so I pulled it out hard.Then found that I was right.

If you are kind-of math guy and interested in QM or modeling as well, check this book out.It's hard to find in bookstores, though.

___________________________________
"Though this be madness, yet there's method in it." -- Polunius, in Hamlet. ... Read more

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The Problem Book in Quantum Field Theory contains about 200 problems with solutions or hints that help students to improve their understanding and develop skills necessary for pursuing the subject. It deals with the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, classical field theory, canonical quantization of scalar, Dirac and electromagnetic fields, the processes in the lowest order of perturbation theory, renormalization and regularization. The solutions are presented in a systematic and complete manner. The material covered and the level of exposition make the book appropriate for graduate and undergraduate students in physics, as well as for teachers and researchers.

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The lattice formulation is at present the most successful approach to Quantum Chromodynamics - the theory of quarks and gluons. This book is intended for newcomers to the field and presents a clear and easy-to-follow path from the first principles all the way to actual calculations. It focusses on QCD and discusses mainly SU(3) lattice gauge theory, both with and without fermions. Numerical calculations in lattice field theory have now become the most effective approach for obtaining quantitative results, and thus three chapters include sections describing numerical techniques, as used in pure gauge theory, in quenched spectroscopy and in treating dynamical fermions.

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Customer Reviews (2)

Heisenburg Variables
This book would be great for somebody brilliant with lots of time or somebody who already knows While QM is hard, it doesn't need to be this hard. For anybody who may decide to write text books, don't change variables or function names mid-stream without telling the reader. I don't care if your publisher has a page limit or if you just like being obtuse, or if you're lazy. Don't do it. It only gratifies your ego, and your readers will never meet you, so it isn't even gratifying.

Park asks that the reader fill in the gaps in his math. If there were no errors, no variable changes, and physics students weren't already busy, it would actually be a nice way to pick all this up. I could even go for 2 of three. Many special topics get covered in this book with lots of explanation, but much of the meat and potatoes like operators get short shrift.On the plus side, it's a Dover edition, so if you want a cheap challenge, knock yourself out. I did.

Excellent upper-level undergraduate textbook
I used this book when I taught upper-level undergraduate quantum mechanics. My students loved it. What makes it unique is that, in addition to the standard sections common to all QM textbooks, Park included at Part II some applications to the theory given in Part I. The applications are not just simple computations to illustrate the theory, but real world situations that showed physicists why QM was in the correct direction. For instance, after reading Chapter 4 (Physics in one dimension), students could use its theory to work the problem of alpha decay (the discovery of quantum tunneling by George Gamow) shown in Part II. I find this book to be a gem. It is, of course, not as detailed and mathematically formal as Cohen-Tannoudji, but it is a great textbook for upper-level undergraduate courses.

I included below the table of contents to give an idea about the book and its applications part.

Part I. Theory
1. Beyond Classical Physics
2. The Physical Content of the Wave Function
3. General Principles
4. Physics in One Dimension
5. Hermitian Operators, Symmetry, and Angular Momentum
6. Systems in Two and Three Dimensions
7. Approximate Methods of Calculation
8. The Theory of Scattering
9. Spin and Isospin
10. Questions of Physical Meaning
11. Electromagnetic Radiation
12. Systems Containing Identical Particles
13. Classical Dynamics and Feynman's Construction
II. Applications
14. The Theory of Alpha Decay
15. Electrons in a Periodic Lattice
16. The Hydrogen Spectrum
17. The Helium Atom
18. Interactive Forces
19. The Neutron-Proton Interaction
20. The Quark Model of Baryons
... Read more

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A new edition of this introduction to modern physics, provides new material on the most recent experimental tests in relativity, and a fuller treatment of the space-time interval and the Kennedy-Thorndike experiment. It treats the quantum theory of specific heats, with material on synchrotron radiation, a modernized treatment of the electron microscope and a preview of quantum mechanics. Features include additional historical, philosophical and biographical material reflecting important published research of the past decade, along with a significant expansion - nearly double - in the number of problems, thought questions and worked-out examples. The book also includes references, summary tables and illustrations. ... Read more

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“One of the best guides yet to the central conundrums of modern physics.”—John BanvilleQuantum theory is weird. As Niels Bohr said, if you weren’t shocked by quantum theory, you didn’t really understand it. For most people, quantum theory is synonymous with mysterious, impenetrable science. And in fact for many years it was equally baffling for scientists themselves. In this tour de force of science history, Manjit Kumar gives a dramatic and superbly written account of this fundamental scientific revolution, focusing on the central conflict between Einstein and Bohr over the nature of reality and the soul of science. This revelatory book takes a close look at the golden age of physics, the brilliant young minds at its core—and how an idea ignited the greatest intellectual debate of the twentieth century. 16 pages of photographs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Quantum Undressed
Quantum physics was one of the paradigm-shattering scientific propositions of the 20th century which changed the way we understand matter and our relation to it.As such, it is fundamental to our understanding of our world, our place in it and how things work.We haven't begun to digest the implications it will eventually bring on in our society.It is a body of knowledge essential to anyone wanting to know where we are historically in human cultural evolution, meaning our own understanding of who we are.

At the same time, it is a difficult and complex subject for the layman and broaching it can be daunting for most.I did my utmost to avoid it in university and only came to it many years later from a different angle and by reading the texts of many of its protagonists, at least those I could deal with.

Manjit Kumar has made that task easier for all of us in many ways.First he has given life to the players giving us a history that reads like a novel.The un-approachable become human as do their conflicts and disagreements.He provides us with an understandable history of a fundamental change in the scientific worldview, in a way at once comprehensible and still complete.For those who know quantum physics it is a wonderful overview and review of the science and its founders or a very good first step for those needing to know.

Bravo.

Usually read sci-fi and this was written as engagingly.
Have been slowly drawn into non-fiction through my sons interest in science. Downloaded the Kindle sample of this and had to buy the whole thing. It is as engaging as any fictional book but you are learning as you read. Could use some more illustrations, both verbal and graphical, of some concepts to get through some of the more esoteric parts but otherwise does a great job of melding the how the thinking came about technically and socially.

Couldn't put down....
...and I never feel that way about non-fiction!

I can give this book the ultimate compliment -- I read it straight through.
Often, with non-fiction I books I read a bit, switch to a fiction book for a while, eventually return to the non-fiction book... or not.

This book was very interesting. It is more about the big ideas and the people involved than the nuts and bolts mathematics which suited me just fine.

Manjit Kumar's "Quantum" is a Singular Achievement
My bookshelf holds many titles explicating quantum physics for the interested layman (I am a retired attorney), but Manjit Kumar's "Quantum" stands alone.Many of these books focus on the personalities of and personal/professional conflicts among those who made advances in the field over the course of more than a century and, as a result, the science can get lost in the human-interest forest.Others highlight the 'hard science' without historical context and the presentation gets lost in the weeds of 'quantum weirdness'.
Kumar's book is unique, in my reading experience, in the perfect balance it manages to strike.It is rich in details of the human side of the story but always in a way that illuminates the evolution of the science.As a result, the entire landscape becomes clearer, including several areas which had for me always remained somewhat opaque. I am thinking, in particular, of EPR, Bell's Theorem and their progeny.In addition, Kumar's presentation creates a space around the Copenhagen Interpretation within which critical thought can be applied (many of the books in this area taking some form of the Copenhagen Interpretation as axiomatic).
At ground level, quantum mechanics is a mathematics that works; practitioners can apply it as a tool without giving any thought to the higher-level questions it raises.One level up, one finds the subject matter of most of the 'quantum for laymen' books I have read -- explications of what is commonly termed 'quantum weirdness'...superposition and Schrodinger's Cat, particle/wave duality depending upon the experiment, entanglement and 'spooky action at a distance' etc etc.All very interesting and challenging.
Kumar's "Quantum" includes but goes beyond that level of inquiry to focus the reader on the philosophical question as to what quantum physics has to tell us, if anything, about the nature of reality -- what is 'real' prior to or independent of observation?Is the universe itself the product of wavefunction collapse? Is the concept of 'the' universe itself valid?And much more.
"Quantum" is, as a result, a singular achievement.

Strong opinions in the search of truth.
Quantum is a well written and documented view of a scientific revolution and how the "players' in the field interact, argue and strive to gain their colleagues approval of their perceptions of how nature works. While some knowledge of physics is helpful, the layman can easily follow the human interactions and gloss over the details of "thought experiments". ... Read more