Description
Book SynopsisAn invaluable supplement to standard textbooks on quantum mechanics, this unique introduction to the general theoretical framework of contemporary physics focuses on conceptual, epistemological, and ontological issues. The theory is developed by pursuing the question: what does it take to have material objects that neither collapse nor explode as soon as they are formed? The stability of matter thus emerges as the chief reason why the laws of physics have the particular form that they do.The first of the book's three parts familiarizes the reader with the basics through a brief historical survey and by following Feynman's route to the Schrödinger equation. The necessary mathematics, including the special theory of relativity, is introduced along the way, to the point that all relevant theoretical concepts can be adequately grasped. Part II takes a closer look. As the theory takes shape, it is applied to various experimental arrangements. Several of these are central to the discussion in the final part, which aims at making epistemological and ontological sense of the theory. Pivotal to this task is an understanding of the special status that quantum mechanics attributes to measurements — without dragging in “the consciousness of the observer.” Key to this understanding is a rigorous definition of “macroscopic” which, while rarely even attempted, is provided in this book.
Table of ContentsOverview: Two Simple Rules and Two Easy Applications; The Historical Route; The Feynman Route; Nitty-Gritty: Why Probabilities?; Why Vector Spaces?; Why Complex Numbers?; Whence the Trace Rule?; How Probabilities Depend on Measurement Outcomes; How Probabilities Depend on the Times of Measurements; Whence Those Simple Rules?; Why Spin?; Composite Systems; Why Fermions?; Special Relativity in a Nutshell; Why Relativity?; Whence the Classical Forces?; Meaning of EnergyA" and MomentumA"; Why Relativistic Quantum Mechanics?; Making Sense: Why Measurements?; The Importance of Unperformed Measurements; The Stability of Matter; A Sleight of Hand That Almost Worked; A Sleight of Hand That Cannot Work; Pseudo-Problems and Gratuitous Solutions; A Space for the Quantum World; A Particle by Itself; The Emergence of Form; CreationA" in a Nutshell; Defining MacroworldA"; Assigning Reality; The Supervenience of MicroA" on MacroA"; ManifestationA" - A Better Paradigm?; Not the Theory but the World is Incomplete; Explanation or Magic Wand?
