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Compendium of Quantum Physics

Concepts, Experiments, History and Philosophy

  • Book
  • © 2009

Overview

Editors:
  1. Daniel Greenberger

    1. Department of Physics, The City College of New York, New York, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Klaus Hentschel

    1. Section for the History of Science & Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  3. Friedel Weinert

    1. Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • The definitive modern reference in the field

  • Written by leading quantum physicists, including three Nobel laureates

  • Comprehensive and yet concise

  • Ideal quick reference for students of physics and history/philosophy of science

  • Covers both technical and interpretational aspects of quantum theory

  • Gives carefully selected references to pertinent original literature

  • Includes English-German-French glossary of important terms

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (243 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Aharonov—Bohm Effect

    • Holger Lyre
    Pages 1-3

  3. Aharonov-Casher Effect

    • Daniel Rohrlich
    Pages 3-6

  4. Algebraic Quantum Mechanics

    • Nicolaas P. Landsman
    Pages 6-10

  5. Angular Momentum

    • Daniel Greenberger, Klaus Hentschel, Friedel Weinert
    Pages 10-10

  6. Anyons

    • Jon Magne Leinaas
    Pages 10-14

  7. Aspect Experiment

    • Anthony J. Leggett
    Pages 14-18

  8. Asymptotic Freedom

    • Daniel Greenberger, Klaus Hentschel, Friedel Weinert
    Pages 18-18

  9. Atomic Model

    • Daniel Greenberger, Klaus Hentschel, Friedel Weinert
    Pages 18-18

  10. Atomic Models, J.J. Thomson's “Plum Pudding” Model

    • Klaus Hentschel
    Pages 18-21

  11. Atomic Models, Nagaoka's Saturnian Model

    • Klaus Hentschel
    Pages 22-23

  12. Bell's Theorem

    • Anthony J. Leggett
    Pages 24-31

  13. Berry's Phase

    • Daniel Rohrlich
    Pages 31-36

  14. Black Body

    • Dieter Hoffmann
    Pages 36-39

  15. Black-Body Radiation

    • Clayton Gearhart
    Pages 39-42

  16. Bohm Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

    • Basil J. Hiley
    Pages 43-47

  17. Bohmian Mechanics

    • Detlev Dürr, Sheldon Goldstein, Roderich Tumulka, Nino Zanghí
    Pages 47-55

  18. Bohm's Approach to the EPR Paradox

    • Basil J. Hiley
    Pages 55-58

  19. Bohr's Atomic Model

    • Arne Schirrmacher
    Pages 58-61

  20. Bohr—Kramers—Slater Theory

    • Helge Kragh
    Pages 62-64
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Keywords

About this book

Since its inception in the early part of the twentieth century, quantum physics has fascinated the academic world, its students, and even the general public. In fact, it is – or has become – a highly interdisciplinary eld. On a topic such as “the physicsof the atom” the disciplines of physics, philosophy,and history of science interconnect in a remarkable way, and to an extent that is revealed in this volume for the rst time. This compendium brings together some 90 researchers, who have authored approximately 185 articles on all aspects of quantum theory. The project is truly international and interdisciplinary because it is a compilation of contributions by historiansofscience,philosophers,andphysicists,all interestedinparticularaspects of quantum physics. A glance at the biographies at the end of the volume reveals author af liations in no fewer than twenty countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Indeed, the authors are not only international, they are also internationally renowned – with three Physics Nobel Prize laureates among them. The basic idea and motivationbehind the compendiumis indicatedin its subtitle, namely,to describe in concise and accessible form the essential conceptsand exp- iments as well as the history and philosophy of quantum physics. The length of the contributions varies according to the topic, and all texts are written by recognized experts in the respective elds.

Reviews

“From ‘Aharonov-Bohm effect’ through to ‘zero point energy’, this is a useful compendium of about 250 concepts, experimental facts, theoretical proposals, history, interpretations and philosophy. … it covers a big field and can be well recommended.” (K.-E. Hellwig, zbMATH 1318.81001, 2015)

“This is a wonderful book to dip into. … it begins with the Aharanov­–Bohm effect, runs through the Born Rule and the Copenhagen Interpretation … before ending with Zero-point Energy. … Kaiser on Feynman Diagrams nicely brings all those elements together, as does Lyre on Gauge Symmetry. … a book everyone interested in the history and philosophy of quantum physics should have on their desk or even at their bedside … . it should be on hand electronically via your library’s online access.” (Steven French, Metascience, June, 2011)

“This work is a collection of 185 articles written by 90 researchers in physics, philosophy, and history. … Each article aims to include a clear definition of the term, a history of the terminology, and a small list of references. This is a useful compendium … for persons involved in interdisciplinary work. … Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections.” (E. Kincanon, Choice, Vol. 47 (6), February, 2010)

“In diesem voluminösen Band behandeln Experten der experimentellen, theoretischen und mathematischen Physik ... Die einzelnen Artikel sind im Allgemei

nen sehr instruktiv geschrieben ... Besonders die Autoren aus der Physik haben sich große Mühe gegeben, ihre Themen zugleich präzise und verständlich zusammenzufassen. ... Ein schöner ausführlicher Artikel aus erster Hand widmet sich dem inzwischen fast dreißigjährigen Quanten-Hall-Effekt. ... Insgesamt darf man freilich das vorliegende Kompendium der Quantenphysik, gerade wegen seiner interdisziplinären Zusammensetzung, als eine sehr nützliche Bereicherung der quantentheoretischen Literatur empfehlen.“ (Helmut Rechenberg, in: Physik Journal, April/2010, Vol. 9, Issue 4, S. 56 f.)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Physics, The City College of New York, New York, USA

    Daniel Greenberger

  • Section for the History of Science & Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    Klaus Hentschel

  • Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK

    Friedel Weinert

About the editors

Daniel Greenberger, Professor of Physics at the City College of New York, CUNY, USA

Klaus Hentschel, Professor of History of Science and Technology at Stuttgart University, Germany

Friedel Weinert, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bradford, UK

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