Paradox Lost

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 1-6

3. Beyond the Ether

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 7-8

4. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 9-10

5. Analysis of the Photoelectric Effect

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 11-14

6. De Broglie and Electron Waves

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 15-23

7. The Wave Function and Feynman’s Two-Slit Experiment

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 24-29

8. The Pauli Exclusion Principle: the Identity of Particles

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 30-31

9. The Schrödinger Wave Equation and the Hydrogen Atom

   • Philip R. Wallace

   Pages 32-34

10. Critique of the Pointlike Electron

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 35-37

11. Complementary Attributes and the Uncertainty Principle

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 38-41

12. An Illustration: Polarized Light

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 42-46

13. Heisenberg and Measurement

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 47-49

14. More on Measurement

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 50-53

15. Further Reflections on the Bohr-Peierls Interpretation

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 54-56

16. Toward the Dirac Viewpoint

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 57-62

17. Feynman’s Path Integral Method

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 63-65

18. Are Fields All?

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 66-67

19. A Visit With Photons: Identity and Flexibility

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 68-71

20. Can Wave Packets Be Particles?

    • Philip R. Wallace

    Pages 72-73

"Medical scientists use the word `iatrogenic' to refer to disabilities that are the consequence of medical treatment. We believe that some such word might be coined to refer to philosophical difficulties for which philosophers themselves are responsible" Sir Peter Medawar Arguing that quantum theory as it stands is perhaps the most comprehensive, well-verified, and successful theory in the history of science, the author clears away the impression that it is an incomplete, philosophically flawed, and self-contradictory theory. In simple terms accessible to anyone with a little prior knowledge of science, Wallace examines the numerous "paradoxes" and "difficulties" claimed for quantum mechanics, and shows that they are due to excesses of interpretation that have been imposed on the theory.

• mechanics
• path integral
• quantum mechanics
• quantum theory
• wave equation

"I recommend this book to physicists, especially quantum mechanics lecturers and their students. You will enjoy it as I did." Australian & New Zealand Physicist

FROM THE REVIEWS:

ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PHYSIKALISCHE CHEMIE
"Within the bulk of books introducing non-professionals to quantum physics that of Wallace certainly belongs to the most reasonable ones.”

AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND PHYSICIST
"The author is always very perceptive, and often presents things from a slightly nonstandard viewpoint, or with considerable clarity…The various sections of the book are well and pertinently referenced…I recommend this book to physicists, especially quantum mechanics lecturers and their students. You will enjoy it as I did.”

• McGill University, Victoria, Canada

  Philip R. Wallace

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