About The Oddities Of Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a physical theory for objects of the microcosm, e.g. for atoms or electrons. It has proven itself so far, but leads to the fact that we have to grant properties and relations to these objects, which are neither compatible with our common sense nor with the concepts of classical physics. These peculiarities are presented and their significance for our cognitive faculty and for a world view is discussed. This Springer essential is a translation of the original German 1st edition essentials, Über die Merkwürdigkeiten der Quantenmechanik by Josef Honerkamp, published by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature in 2020. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors. The content Emergence or supervenience Objects, features, relations Concepts in classical physics Oddities in quantum mechanics The Target Groups People interested in natural science and philosophy Philosophers, physicists The Author Josef Honerkamp taught for more than 30 years as a professor of theoretical physics and did research in the fields of quantum field theories, statistical mechanics, nonlinear systems, and stochastic dynamical systems in Hamburg, Bonn, and Freiburg. Since his retirement, he has tried to make the beauty and consistency of physical theories understandable to non-physicists.

Quantum mechanics is a physical theory for objects of the microcosm, e.g. for atoms or electrons. It has proven itself so far, but leads to the fact that we have to grant properties and relations to these objects, which are neither compatible with our common sense nor with the concepts of classical physics. These peculiarities are presented and their meaning for our cognitive faculty and for a world view is discussed. This Springer essential is a translation of the original German 1st edition essentials, Über die Merkwürdigkeiten der Quantenmechanik by Josef Honerkamp, published by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature in 2020. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.

An acclaimed physicist’s accessible yet rigorous introduction to quantum mechanics for nonspecialists This is a rare and much-needed book: a concise but comprehensive account of quantum mechanics for popular science readers written by a respected physicist. Sam Treiman—who was internationally renowned for his work in particle physics—makes quantum mechanics accessible to nonspecialists. Combining mastery of the material with clear, elegant prose and infectious enthusiasm, he conveys the substance, methods, and profound oddities of the field. Treiman begins with an overview of quantum mechanics. He sketches the early development of the field by Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, and others, and he makes clear how the quantum outlook flies in the face of common sense. As he explains, the quantum world is intrinsically probabilistic. For example, a particle is not in general in some particular place at a given instant, nor does it have a definite momentum. According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, there is a limit to how well both location and momentum can be specified simultaneously. In addition, particles can move through barriers and otherwise move in regions of space that are forbidden by classical mechanics. If a particle has a choice of different paths, it pursues all of them at once. Particles display wave-like characteristics and waves show particle-like characteristics. Treiman pays special attention to the more fundamental wave outlook and its expression in quantum field theory. He deals here with the remarkable fact that all the particles of a given species are strictly identical, and with the unnerving fact that particles can be created and destroyed. As Treiman introduces us to these and other wonders, he also touches—without resolution—on some of the deep philosophical problems of quantum mechanics, notably how probabilities become facts. Weaving together impeccable science, engaging writing, and a talent for clear explanation honed over Treiman's distinguished career as a physicist and teacher, The Odd Quantum is a remarkable survey of a field that changed the course of modern scientific and philosophical thought.

The forefront of contemporary advances in physics lies in the submicroscopic regime, whether it be in atomic, nuclear, condensed-matter, plasma, or particle physics, or in quantum optics, or even in the study of stellar structure. All are based upon quantum theory (i.e., quantum mechanics and quantum field theory) and relativity, which together form the theoretical foundations of modern physics. Many physical quantities whose classical counterparts vary continuously over a range of possible values are in quantum theory constrained to have discontinuous, or discrete, values. The intrinsically deterministic character of classical physics is replaced in quantum theory by intrinsic uncertainty. According to quantum theory, electromagnetic radiation does not always consist of continuous waves; instead, it must be viewed under some circumstances as a collection of particle-like photons, the energy and momentum of each being directly proportional to its frequency (or inversely proportional to its wavelength, the photons still possessing some wavelike characteristics).

The work published by Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) in 1935 is a classic in modern physics. It discusses, for the first time, the central feature of the quantum theory: entanglement. In general, systems are intertwined with each other in nature; that is, they have only one common, non-divisible state. This fact is responsible for all the oddities commonly associated with quantum theory, including the famous thought experiments with Schrödinger’s cat and Wigner’s friend. The entanglement of quantum mechanics plays a central role in experiments with atoms and photons (Nobel Prize 2012 for Haroche and Wineland) and the planned construction of quantum computers. This book presents EPR’s original work amplified with a detailed commentary, which examines both the historical context and all aspects of entanglement. In particular, it focuses on the interpretation of quantum theory and its consequences for a basic understanding of nature.

The present book takes the discovery that quantum-like behaviour is not solely reserved to atomic particles one step further. If electrons are modelled as vibrating droplets instead of the usually assumed point objects, and if the classical laws of nature are applied, then exactly the same behaviour as in quantum theory is found, quantitatively correct! The world of atoms is strange and quantum mechanics, the theory of this world, is almost magic. Or is it? Tiny droplets of oil bouncing round on a fluid surface can also mimic the world of quantum mechanics. For the layman - for whom the main part of this book is written - this is good news. If the everyday laws of nature can conspire to show up quantum-like phenomena, there is hope to form mental pictures how the atomic world works. The book is almost formula-free, and explains everything by using many sketches and diagrams. The mathematical derivations underlying the main text are kept separate in a -peer reviewed - appendix. The author, a retired professor of Flight Mechanics and Propulsion at the Delft University of Technology, chose to publish his findings in this mixed popular and scientific form, because he found that interested laymen more often than professional physicists feel the need to form visualisations of quantum phenomena.

Is it possible for two objects to be in two places at once? Can cause and effect happen in reverse? Are you curious about the physics of baseball? Is time travel possible? Believe it or not, it is possible: welcome to the Quantum World! Unlike other arguments, however, the real difficulty is not in understanding, but in accepting something completely senseless, precisely in the right meaning of the term: not sensible, that is, contrary to the perception of our senses. You will notice that quantum mechanics is much "easier" than the theory of relativity. In fact, you could get a child to help you digest certain concepts. The great difficulty does not lie in their complexity, but their absurdity in terms of logic acquired after many years of existence in a world that constantly follows certain rules. The more the brain is free of preconceptions and ingrained notions, the better it is. ★★★In this book you will learn:★★★ What the interference is; How many dimensions the Universe has; Quantum wave function; What Particles of Light are. The relation between waves and particles; The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle; How particles can be in multiple places at once; Quantum entanglement; introduction to classical mechanics; black holes; …and much more! Quantum Physics for Beginners is at the basis of all the technological innovations of today, from atomic energy to computer microelectronics, from digital clocks to lasers, semiconductor systems, photoelectric cells, diagnostic and treatment equipment for many diseases. In short, today we can live in a "modern" way thanks to Quantum Physics and its applications. This short but comprehensive beginner’s guide to quantum mechanics explains the most important and stunning quantum experiments that show quantum physics is real. If you are a physic beginner looking for astrophysics books or books that can explain Physics in a way understandable also for kids, then this book is perfect for you! Are you ready? Let’s dive into the fascinating science of Quantum Physics by scrolling up the page and pressing the “Buy Now” button!