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  • © 2016

Ensembles on Configuration Space

Classical, Quantum, and Beyond

  • Presents a unified approach to quantum and classical mechanics
  • Contributes to a better understanding of decoherence and the quantum measurement problem
  • Style is lucid and the authors draw upon many years of experience in the field
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Fundamental Theories of Physics (FTPH, volume 184)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
  2. General Properties of Ensembles on Configuration Space

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 3-17
    3. Observables, Symmetries and Constraints

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 19-42
    4. Interaction, Locality and Measurement

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 43-59
    5. Thermodynamics and Mixtures on Configuration Space

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 61-81
  3. Axiomatic Approaches to Quantum Mechanics

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83
    2. Quantization of Classical Ensembles via an Exact Uncertainty Principle

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 85-113
    3. The Geometry of Ensembles on Configuration Space

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 115-139
    4. Local Representations of Rotations on Discrete Configuration Spaces

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 141-157
  4. Hybrid Classical-Quantum Systems

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 159-159
    2. Hybrid Quantum-Classical Ensembles

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 161-190
    3. Consistency of Hybrid Quantum-Classical Ensembles

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 191-220
  5. Classical Gravitational Fields and Their Interaction with Quantum Fields

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 221-221
    2. Ensembles of Classical Gravitational Fields

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 223-242
    3. Coupling of Quantum Fields to Classical Gravity

      • Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
      Pages 243-272
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 273-280

About this book

This book describes a promising approach to problems in the foundations of quantum mechanics, including the measurement problem. The dynamics of ensembles on configuration space is shown here to be a valuable tool for unifying the formalisms of classical and quantum mechanics, for deriving and extending the latter in various ways, and for addressing the quantum measurement problem.  A description of physical systems by means of ensembles on configuration space can be introduced at a very fundamental level: the basic building blocks are a configuration space, probabilities, and Hamiltonian equations of motion for the probabilities. The formalism can describe both classical and quantum systems, and their thermodynamics, with the main difference being the choice of ensemble Hamiltonian. Furthermore, there is a natural way of introducing ensemble Hamiltonians that describe the evolution of hybrid systems; i.e., interacting systems that have distinct classical and quantum sectors, allowing for consistent descriptions of quantum systems interacting with classical measurement devices and quantum matter fields interacting gravitationally with a classical spacetime.

Reviews

“This is an indepth discussion of multidimensional physics in the classic and quantum interpretations of the energy principles. It is a very advanced text for serious physicists and engineers.” (Joseph J. Grenier, Amazon.com, July, 2016)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Centre for Quantum Dynamics, Griffith University Centre for Quantum Dynamics, Brisbane, Australia

    Michael J. W. Hall

  • Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany

    Marcel Reginatto

About the authors

Michael Hall works at the Centre for Quantum Dynamics at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. His research covers many areas of the foundations of quantum mechanics, including quantum information theory, quantum metrology, uncertainty relations, quantum time observables and interpretational aspects.

 

Marcel Reginatto is a physicist at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, Germany. His research in theoretical physics focuses on foundations of physics, with emphasis on quantum theory and general relativity. His work in applied physics concerns analysis of data and mathematical models of experiments. 

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access