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Quantum mechanics is an extraordinarily successful scientific theory. It is also completely mad. Although the theory quite obviously works, it leaves us chasing ghosts and phantoms; particles that are waves and waves that are particles; cats that are at once both alive and dead; and lots of seemingly spooky goings-on. But if we're prepared to be a little more specific about what we mean when we talk about 'reality' and a little more circumspect in the way we think a scientific theory might represent such a reality, then all the mystery goes away. This shows that the choice we face is actually a philosophical one.
Here, Jim Baggott provides a quick but comprehensive introduction to quantum mechanics for the general reader, and explains what makes this theory so very different from the rest. He also explores the processes involved in developing scientific theories and explains how these lead to different philosophical positions, essential if we are to understand the nature of the great debate between Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein. Moving forwards, Baggott then provides a comprehensive guide to attempts to determine what the theory actually means, from the Copenhagen interpretation to many worlds and the multiverse.
Richard Feynman once declared that 'nobody understands quantum mechanics'. This book will tell you why.
List of contents
- Preamble
- Prologue: Why Didn't Somebody Tell Me About All This Before?
- 1: The Complete Guide to Quantum Mechanics (Abridged)
- 2: Just What is This Thing Called 'Reality', Anyway?
- 3: Sailing on the Sea of Representation
- 4: When Einstein Came Down to Breakfast
- 5: ...So Just Shut Up and Calculate
- 6: ...But We Need to Reinterpret What it Says
- 7: ...So We Need to Add Some Things
- 8: ...So We Need to Add Some Other Thing
- 9: ...Because We Need to Include My Mind (Or Should that be Your Mind?)
- 10: ...Because...Okay, I Give Up
- Epilogue: I've Got a Very Bad Feeling About This
- Acknowledgements
- Endnotes
- Bibliography
About the author
Jim Baggott is an award-winning science writer. He trained as a scientist at the University of Oxford before embarking on post-doctoral research studies at Oxford and at Stanford University in California. He gave up a tenured lectureship at the University of Reading after five years in order to gain experience in the commercial world. He worked for Shell International Petroleum for 11 years before leaving to establish his own business consultancy and training practice. Jim's many books include Quantum Space (OUP, 2018), Mass (OUP, 2017), for which he won the 2020 Premio Cosmos prize, Origins (OUP, 2015), Higgs (OUP, 2012), The Quantum Story (OUP, 2011), and A Beginner's Guide to Reality (Penguin, 2005).
Summary
Quantum mechanics is one of the most successful of scientific theories, but what does it actually mean? From Schrodinger's Cat to Many Worlds, Jim Baggott guides us through the many attempts to determine its meaning. Richard Feynman once declared that 'nobody understands quantum mechanics'. This book will tell you why.
Additional text
An engaging tour of the mysteries of quantum mechanics and the controversies of its interpretation, with the rare bonus of some substantial and well-grounded philosophy of science, synthesised from Baggott's wealth of knowledge and experience.
Report
If you come to this book feeling that you do not really understand quantum mechanics, at least after reading this book you will know why. It makes a superb companion to 'Through Two Doors at Once: the elegant experiment that captures the enigma of our quantum reality'. Rick Marshall, Physics Education
