Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, an Empiricist Approach

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, an Empiricist Approach
Author: W.M. de Muynck
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 700
Release: 2006-04-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0306480476

Taking a new perspective provided by a generalization of the mathematical formalism encompassing positive operator-valued measures, this book views old and new problems of the foundations of quantum mechanics. It demonstrates the crucial role of the generalized formalism in fundamental issues and practical applications.

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics
Author: Bas C. Van Fraassen
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 562
Release: 1991
Genre: Quantum theory
ISBN: 9780198239802

The author argues that quantum theory admits a plurality of interpretations, each aiding further understanding of the theory, but also advocating specifically the Copenhagen Variant of the Modal Interpretation. That variant is applied to topics like the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox and the problem of 'identical' particles.

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
Author: Travis Norsen
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2017-08-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319658670

Authored by an acclaimed teacher of quantum physics and philosophy, this textbook pays special attention to the aspects that many courses sweep under the carpet. Traditional courses in quantum mechanics teach students how to use the quantum formalism to make calculations. But even the best students - indeed, especially the best students - emerge rather confused about what, exactly, the theory says is going on, physically, in microscopic systems. This supplementary textbook is designed to help such students understand that they are not alone in their confusions (luminaries such as Albert Einstein, Erwin Schroedinger, and John Stewart Bell having shared them), to sharpen their understanding of the most important difficulties associated with interpreting quantum theory in a realistic manner, and to introduce them to the most promising attempts to formulate the theory in a way that is physically clear and coherent. The text is accessible to students with at least one semester of prior exposure to quantum (or "modern") physics and includes over a hundred engaging end-of-chapter "Projects" that make the book suitable for either a traditional classroom or for self-study.

On Theories

On Theories
Author: William Demopoulos
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2021-12-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0674237579

A renowned philosopherÕs final work, illuminating how the logical empiricist tradition has failed to appreciate the role of actual experiments in forming its philosophy of science. The logical empiricist treatment of physics dominated twentieth-century philosophy of science. But the logical empiricist tradition, for all it accomplished, does not do justice to the way in which empirical evidence functions in modern physics. In his final work, the late philosopher of science William Demopoulos contends that philosophers have failed to provide an adequate epistemology of science because they have failed to appreciate the tightly woven character of theory and evidence. As a consequence, theory comes apart from evidence. This trouble is nowhere more evident than in theorizing about particle and quantum physics. Arguing that we must consider actual experiments as they have unfolded across history, Demopoulos provides a new epistemology of theories and evidence, albeit one that stands on the shoulders of giants. On Theories finds clarity in Isaac NewtonÕs suspicion of mere Òhypotheses.Ó NewtonÕs methodology lies in the background of Jean PerrinÕs experimental investigations of molecular reality and of the subatomic investigations of J. J. Thomson and Robert Millikan. Demopoulos extends this account to offer novel insights into the distinctive nature of quantum reality, where a logico-mathematical reconstruction of Bohrian complementarity meets John Stewart BellÕs empirical analysis of EinsteinÕs Òlocal realism.Ó On Theories ultimately provides a new interpretation of quantum probabilities as themselves objectively representing empirical reality.

Factorization Method in Quantum Mechanics

Factorization Method in Quantum Mechanics
Author: Shi-Hai Dong
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2007-04-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1402057962

This book introduces the factorization method in quantum mechanics at an advanced level, with the aim of putting mathematical and physical concepts and techniques like the factorization method, Lie algebras, matrix elements and quantum control at the reader’s disposal. For this purpose, the text provides a comprehensive description of the factorization method and its wide applications in quantum mechanics which complements the traditional coverage found in quantum mechanics textbooks.

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics
Author: Ajoy Ghatak
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 936
Release: 2004-03-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781402021299

An understanding of quantum mechanics is vital to all students of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, but requires a lot of mathematical concepts, the details of which are given with great clarity in this book. Various concepts have been derived from first principles, so it can also be used for self-study. The chapters on the JWKB approximation, time-independent perturbation theory and effects of magnetic field stand out for their clarity and easy-to-understand mathematics. Two complete chapters on the linear harmonic oscillator provide a very detailed discussion of one of the most fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. Operator algebra is used to show the ease with which one can calculate the harmonic oscillator wave functions and study the evolution of the coherent state. Similarly, three chapters on angular momentum give a detailed account of this important problem. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is the excellent balance between theory and applications and the large number of applications in such diverse areas as astrophysics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, solid-state physics, and quantum well structures.

Ubiquitous Quantum Structure

Ubiquitous Quantum Structure
Author: Andrei Y. Khrennikov
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 226
Release: 2010-01-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642051014

Quantum-like structure is present practically everywhere. Quantum-like (QL) models, i.e. models based on the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics and its generalizations can be successfully applied to cognitive science, psychology, genetics, economics, finances, and game theory. This book is not about quantum mechanics as a physical theory. The short review of quantum postulates is therefore mainly of historical value: quantum mechanics is just the first example of the successful application of non-Kolmogorov probabilities, the first step towards a contextual probabilistic description of natural, biological, psychological, social, economical or financial phenomena. A general contextual probabilistic model (Växjö model) is presented. It can be used for describing probabilities in both quantum and classical (statistical) mechanics as well as in the above mentioned phenomena. This model can be represented in a quantum-like way, namely, in complex and more general Hilbert spaces. In this way quantum probability is totally demystified: Born's representation of quantum probabilities by complex probability amplitudes, wave functions, is simply a special representation of this type.

World According To Quantum Mechanics, The: Why The Laws Of Physics Make Perfect Sense After All (Second Edition)

World According To Quantum Mechanics, The: Why The Laws Of Physics Make Perfect Sense After All (Second Edition)
Author: Ulrich Mohrhoff
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 501
Release: 2018-10-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9813273712

'The authors should be recognised for their efforts to present a mathematically rigorous introduction to Quantum Mechanics (QM) in a form that has broad appeal; there are not many introductory QM texts that would cover, for example, decoherence. I think many educators would appreciate this book, especially those interested in courses that combine science and philosophy.'Contemporary PhysicsApart from providing a lucid introduction to the mathematical formalism and conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics, we explain why the laws of physics have the form that they do. In addition, we present a new and unique look at the quantum world, steering clear of two common errors: the error of the ψ-ontologists, who reify a calculational tool; and the error of the anti-realists, for whom physical theories are simply devices for expressing regularities among observations.The new edition of this acclaimed text adds around 200 pages on a variety of topics, such as how the founders sought to make sense of quantum mechanics, Kant's theory of science, QBism, Everettian quantum mechanics, de Broglie-Bohm theory, environmental decoherence, contextuality, nonlocality, and the paradox of subjectivity — the curious fact that the world seems to exist twice, once for us, in our minds, and once by itself, independently of us.

The Mathematical Language of Quantum Theory

The Mathematical Language of Quantum Theory
Author: Teiko Heinosaari
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2011-12-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1139503995

For almost every student of physics, the first course on quantum theory raises a lot of puzzling questions and creates a very uncertain picture of the quantum world. This book presents a clear and detailed exposition of the fundamental concepts of quantum theory: states, effects, observables, channels and instruments. It introduces several up-to-date topics, such as state discrimination, quantum tomography, measurement disturbance and entanglement distillation. A separate chapter is devoted to quantum entanglement. The theory is illustrated with numerous examples, reflecting recent developments in the field. The treatment emphasises quantum information, though its general approach makes it a useful resource for graduate students and researchers in all subfields of quantum theory. Focusing on mathematically precise formulations, the book summarises the relevant mathematics.