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Understanding Quantum Mechanics

The World According to Modern Quantum Foundations

  • State-of-the-art introduction to the foundations of quantum mechanics
  • Addresses the questions about quantum mechanics that many students have but don’t dare to ask
  • Accessible presentation of key mathematical results

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Some Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 1-36
  3. The Measurement Problem

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 37-48
  4. Chance in Physics

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 49-73
  5. Bohmian Mechanics

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 75-103
  6. Collapse Theory

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 105-115
  7. The Many Worlds Theory

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 117-126
  8. The Measurement Process and Observables

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 127-147
  9. Weak Measurements of Trajectories

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 149-160
  10. Hidden Variables

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 161-171
  11. Nonlocality

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 173-192
  12. Relativistic Quantum Theory

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 193-216
  13. Further Food for Thought

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 217-230
  14. Epilogue

    • Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici
    Pages 231-233
  15. Back Matter

    Pages 235-239

About this book

This book discusses the physical and mathematical foundations of modern quantum mechanics and three realistic quantum theories that John Stuart Bell called "theories without observers" because they do not merely speak about measurements but develop an objective picture of the physical world. These are Bohmian mechanics, the GRW collapse theory, and the Many Worlds theory. 

The book is ideal to accompany or supplement a lecture course on quantum mechanics, but also suited for self-study, particularly for those who have completed such a course but are left puzzled by the question: "What does the mathematical formalism, which I have so laboriously learned and applied, actually tell us about nature?”

Reviews

“The book under review is really fantastic. It is undoubtedly remarkable. … Without a doubt, the present book is fundamentally important. I recommend it not only for researchers working in the field of the foundations of quantum mechanics, but also for physics students.” (Eugene Kryachko, zbMATH 1467.81005, 2021)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Mathematisches Institut, Universität München, München, Germany

    Detlef Dürr

  • Faculté des lettres Section de philosophie, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Dustin Lazarovici

About the authors

Detlef Dürr studied physics in Münster, Germany, where he obtained his PhD in physics in 1978. After his post-doc years at Rutgers in Joel Lebowitz´s group working with Sheldon Goldstein, he was awarded a Heisenberg fellowship. In 1989 he became a professor of mathematics at the University of Munich. His research interests are non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, Bohmian mechanics and the foundations of quantum theory. 

Dustin Lazarovici studied physics and mathematics at the University of Munich, Germany and earned his PhD in 2015 under the supervision of Detlef Dürr. He is currently working in philosophy of physics at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Understanding Quantum Mechanics

  • Book Subtitle: The World According to Modern Quantum Foundations

  • Authors: Detlef Dürr, Dustin Lazarovici

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40068-2

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-40067-5Published: 17 March 2020

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-40068-2Published: 16 March 2020

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 239

  • Number of Illustrations: 21 b/w illustrations, 2 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Quantum Physics, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Philosophy of Nature

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access