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The ideas and phenomena of the quantum world are strikingly unlike those encountered in our visual world. Surfing the Quantum World shows why and how this is so. It does this via a historical review and a gentle introduction to the fundamental principles of quantum theory, whose core concepts and symbolic representations are used to explain not only "ordinary" microscopic phenomena like the properties of the hydrogen atom and the structure of the Periodic Table of the Elements, but also a variety of mind-bending phenomena. Readers will learn that particles such as electrons and photons can behave like waves, allowing them to be in two places simultaneously, why white dwarf and neutron stars are gigantic quantum objects, how the maximum height of mountains has a quantum basis, and why quantum objects can tunnel through seemingly impenetrable barriers. Included among the various interpretational issues addressed is whether Schrödinger's cat is ever both dead and alive.
List of contents
- 1: The Nature of Science
- 2: The Nature of Light
- 3: The Reality of Atoms
- 4: The Quantum Hypothesis
- 5: The Nuclear Atom
- 6: Creating Quantum Mechanics
- 7: Quantum Boxes, Stringed Instruments
- 8: Quantum Theory
- 9: The Hydrogen Atom and Its Colorful Photons
- 10: Spin ½ and the Periodic Table
- 11: Interference Phenomena: Exploring the Essential Mystery
- 12: Macroscopic Manifestations of Quantum Mechanics
- 13: Quantum Tunneling
- 14: Entanglement and the Elements of Reality
- 15: Schrödinger's Cat and the Meaning of It All
About the author
During his tenure in the Brown University Physics Department, Frank Levin taught undergraduate and graduate physics courses and carried out U. S. government-funded research on nuclear reactions, collision theory, and few-body quantum systems. He edited several books, published widely in refereed journals, was a visiting professor in other countries, lectured in international conferences and summer schools, and founded a sub-division of the American Physical Society, of which he is a Fellow. Since retiring, he has published a quantum theory textbook, a popular science book on cosmology, and has taught science courses for those with neither a math nor a science background.
Summary
The ideas and phenomena of the quantum world are strikingly unlike those encountered in our visual world. This book shows why and how this is so via a gentle introduction to the principles of quantum theory. It is used to explain both ordinary microscopic phenomena like the structure of the Periodic Table of Elements and mind-bending phenomena.
Additional text
Surfing the Quantum World is witty, it engages the reader with direct questions, and it has a refreshing approach to the many technical questions, urging the reader to be patient and carry on. Reading through the book, I felt like sitting in a nice armchair in conversation with the author, whose side remarks and relaxed tongue-in-cheek comments made a comfortable atmosphere.
Report
Delicate issues like tunneling, Schrödinger's cat, entanglement as well as the macroscopic manifestation of quantum mechanics are presented in a clear way accessible to non-scientists. The book turns out to be amusing and informativeit may hopefully provide an intelligent incentive to further exploring the quantum world. Franco Strocchi, zbMath
