Description
Book SynopsisQuantum theory (QT) is the best, most useful physics theory ever invented. For example, ubiquitous are cell phones, laser scanners, medical imagers, all inventions depending on QT. However, there is something deeply wrong with QT. It describes the probabilities of what happens, but it does not give a description of what actually happens. Most (but not all) physicists are not worried about this flaw, the probabilities are good enough for them. Other physicists, the author included, believe that is not good enough. The purpose of physics is to describe reality. To not do so is to abandon ''the great enterprise'' (John Bell). This book shows one way to alter QT so that the new theory does describe what actually happens. This theory, created over three decades ago, has been called the ''Continuous Spontaneous Localization'' (CSL) theory.Many experiments over this period have tested CSL, and so far it is neither confirmed nor refuted. This book shows how CSL works, and discusses its consequ
Trade ReviewA most welcome addition to the physics literature written with extreme care and covering the objective subject matter in a thorough professional and methodical manner. * Daniel Sudarsky, UNAM, Mexico City *
A book of very high quality presenting a way of modifying quantum mechanics to remove some of its most serious problems (especially the measurement problem). * Kelvin McQueen, Chapman University, Orange, California *
Pearle is the master of this material and writes with beautiful clarity and well-judged occasional witticisms and side-remarks. His experience as teacher, as well as researcher, shows in the vivid explanations, and the careful and consistent level of detail in the exposition. * Jeremy Butterfield, University of Cambridge *
Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Continuous Spontaneous Localization (CSL) Theory 3: CSL Theory Refinements 4: Non-Relativistic CSL 5: Spontaneous Localization (SL) Theory 6: Some Experiments Testing CSL 7: Interpretational Remarks 8: Supplement to Chapter 1 9: Supplement to Chapter 2 10: Supplement to Chapter 3 11: Supplement to Chapter 4 12: Supplement to Chapter 5 13: Supplement to Chapter 6 14: Supplement to Chapter 7 15: A Stochastic Differential Equation Cookbook 16: CSL Expressed as a Schrodinger Stochastic DE 17: Applying the CSL Stratonovich Equation to the Free Particle Undergoing Collapse in Position 18: Applying the CSL Stratonovich Equation to the Harmonic Oscillator Undergoing Collapse in Position Appendix A: Gaussians Appendix B: Random Walk Appendix C: Brownian Motion/Wiener Process Appendix D: White Noise Appendix E: White Noise Field Appendix F: Density Matrix Appendix G: Theoretical Constraint Calculations
