| Description |
1 online resource (xiii, 747 pages) : illustrations (black and white, and colour) |
| Contents |
Cover -- titlepage -- copyright -- dedication -- preface -- Acknowledgements -- contents -- PART I Basis of the Theory -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Overview -- 1.2 The Prehistory of Quantum Mechanics: atomism -- 1.3 Religion and science -- 1.4 Birth of the modern atomic theory of matter -- 1.5 Atomism and physics -- 1.5.1 Atomism and anti-atomism: the emergence of atomic physics -- 2 Properties of the quantum world: indeterminacy, interference, superposition, entanglement -- 2.1 Indeterminacy-random behavior -- 2.2 The wave nature of light and matter and its connection with random behavior |
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2.2.1 Photons -- 2.2.2 Electrons -- 2.3 Superposition and projection -- 2.3.1 Linearly polarized light -- 2.3.2 Circularly polarized light: an alternative description -- 2.3.3 Photons -- 2.4 Entanglement-̀̀spooky action at a distance -- 2.5 The Aharonov-Bohm effect and the physical reality of electromagnetic potentials -- 2.6 Quantum mechanics and precision measurements -- 2.7 Synopsis -- 3 The origin of quantum theory in the crisis of classical physics -- 3.1 Black body radiation -- 3.1.1 Progress before Planck -- 3.1.2 Planck and Wien's law |
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3.1.3 The failure of Wien's law and Planck's expression for the black body spectrum -- 3.1.4 An ̀̀act of desperation''-the introduction of the quantum -- 3.1.5 Lord Rayleigh derives the Rayleigh-Jeans law -- 3.2 Einstein further develops the quantum idea -- 3.2.1 Quantization of the radiation field -- 3.2.2 The photoelectric effect -- 3.2.3 A new derivation of the Planck spectrum -- 3.2.4 A derivation of Planck's law based on interactions between atoms and radiation -- 3.2.5 Fluctuations and the quantization of the energy of the radiation field -- 3.2.6 Photons carry momentum as well as energy |
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3.2.7 Summary of Einstein's work on photons, 1905-1917 -- 3.3 The Bohr atom -- 3.4 Conclusion -- 4 Further steps to quantum mechanics: the old quantum mechanics of Bohr and Sommerfeld -- 4.1 Quantization conditions -- 4.2 ̀̀Old'' quantum theory -- 4.2.1 Quantization of elliptic orbits in the hydrogen atom -- 4.2.2 Spatial quantization -- 4.2.3 Fine structure of the hydrogen lines -- 4.2.4 The Bohr correspondence principle -- 4.3 Toward quantum mechanics: classical mechanics as the limit of a wave motion -- 4.4 Conclusion |
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5 Further steps to quantum mechanics: Louis de Broglie and the world's most important PhD thesis -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 De Broglie's contribution -- 5.2.1 Particles accompanied by oscillatory phenomena -- 5.2.2 Relation between the ̀̀phase wave'' and particle motion -- 5.2.3 The Bohr-Sommerfeld quantum conditions -- 5.2.4 Quantization of phase space -- 5.2.5 De Broglie's ideas on the relation between the phase wave and the particle motion -- 5.3 Appendix to Chapter 5-Compton scattering -- 6 The invention of quantum mechanics-matrix mechanics -- 6.1 Introduction |
| Summary |
"Following the path by which humanity learned quantum mechanics can lead to an improved understanding of the theory and the origins of its perceived limitations. Our goal is to retrace the development by investigating primary sources, including original published papers and letters, with attention to their timing and influence. Quantum mechanics began in 1900 with the introduction of Planck's constant, which lead to the "old" quantum theory and Bohr's model of the atom. With the introduction of matter waves in 1924, a second more intense period began. By 1928 the complete fundamental structure of quantum mechanics was established with the introduction of the Schrödinger equation, the proof of its equivalence to Heisenberg's matrix mechanics, and the introduction of the relativistic Dirac equation. The theory retains the same essential form today, fueling the technological revolution that began in the last century. We culminate with an introduction to quantum information and computing. This completely new physical scientific paradigm was developed largely in Germany during a period of enormous social, economic, and political upheaval-in a hostile intellectual environment-that parallels the overturning of classical physics. It is striking that all the problems debated today were immediately recognized by the founders of the theory and instructive to see how they dealt with the various issues. We emphasize the centrality of the often neglected second quantization form of the theory for questions of interpretation and give a detailed examination of von Neumann's widely misunderstood hidden variable theorem"-- Provided by publisher |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Quantum theory.
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Quantum theory -- History
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Quantum theory.
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Physics.
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Science.
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| Genre/Form |
History.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| Author |
Lamoreaux, Steve Keith, author
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| ISBN |
9780191861239 |
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0191861235 |
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0192555367 |
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9780192555366 |
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