Chance in Physics

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

   PDF

2. Introduction

   1. Bayes, Boltzmann and Bohm: Probabilities in Physics

      • Jean Bricmont

      Pages 3-21

3. Classical Statistical Mechanics

   1. The Rise of Statistical Mechanics

      • Carlo Cercignani

      Pages 25-38

   2. Boltzmann’s Approach to Statistical Mechanics

      • Sheldon Goldstein

      Pages 39-54

   3. Microscopic Time Reversibility and the Boltzmann Equation

      • Herbert Spohn

      Pages 55-59

   4. The Direction of Time

      • Oliver Penrose

      Pages 61-82

   5. How to Implement Boltzmann’s Probabilistic Ideas in a Relativistic World?

      • Michael K.-H. Kiessling

      Pages 83-100

4. Quantum Mechanics

   1. Probability in Orthodox Quantum Mechanics: Probability as a Postulate Versus Probability as an Emergent Phenomenon

      • Stephen L. Adler

      Pages 103-114

   2. Bohmian Mechanics

      • Detlef Dürr

      Pages 115-131

   3. Chance of Reduction as Chance of Spontaneous Localisation

      • Alberto Rimini

      Pages 133-147

   4. Probabilities, Decohering Histories, and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

      • Roland Omnès

      Pages 149-156

   5. Space Time and Probability

      • Simon W. Saunders

      Pages 157-165

   6. Hidden Variables, Statistical Mechanics and the Early Universe

      • Antony Valentini

      Pages 165-181

   7. Perspectives of the Dynamical Reduction Program

      • Gian Carlo Ghirardi

      Pages 183-193

   8. Relativistic Theory of Continuous Measurements

      • Heinz-Peter Breuer, Francesco Petruccione

      Pages 195-212

   9. Probabilistic Results for Six Detectors in a Three-Particle GHZ Experiment

      • José Acacio de Barros, Patrick Suppes

      Pages 213-223

   10. Classical Versus Quantum Probabilities

       • Enrico G. Beltrametti

       Pages 225-232

5. Chaotic Systems

   1. Does Quantum Chaos Exist?

      • Andreas Knauf

      Pages 235-241

   2. Time-Scales for the Approach to Thermal Equilibrium

      • Stefano Ruffo

      Pages 243-251

   3. Einstein’s Nonconventional Conception of the Photon and the Modern Theory of Dynamical Systems

      • Andrea Carati, Luigi Galgani

      Pages 253-261

This selection of reviews and papers is intended to stimulate renewed reflection on the fundamental and practical aspects of probability in physics. While putting emphasis on conceptual aspects in the foundations of statistical and quantum mechanics, the book deals with the philosophy of probability in its interrelation with mathematics and physics in general. Addressing graduate students and researchers in physics and mathematics togehter with philosophers of science, the contributions avoid cumbersome technicalities in order to make the book worthwhile reading for nonspecialists and specialists alike.

• Bohmian mechanics
• dynamical systems
• interpret
• philosophy
• probability
• quantum chaos
• quantum mechanics
• reduction
• science

• Fyma: Unité de physique theorique et de physique mathematique, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium

  Jean Bricmont

• Department of Theoretical Physics, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

  Giancarlo Ghirardi

• Mathematisches Institut, Universiät München, München, Germany

  Detlef Dürr

• Fakultät für Physik, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany

  Francesco Petruccione

• Dipartimento di Fisica, Bologna, Italy

  Maria Carla Galavotti

• Dipartimento di Fisica, Genova, Italy

  Nino Zanghi

Policies and ethics