Frontiers Of Quantum Physics

Frontiers in Quantum Physics is the proceedings of the international conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 1997. The conference brought together distinguished researchers from 24 countries to discuss the recent developments in this field. The topics covered range from quantum measurements and quantum computers to quantum devices involving a single atom and single electron. The papers reported in this field highlighted the new challenges posed for both theoretical and experimental physicists alike. These proceedings will be of special interest to physicists, mathematicians, engineers, graduate students, and philosophers looking to review the latest developments in the field of quantum physics.

This new book examines new research in the exploding field of quantum physics. 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).

This book describes a paradigm change in modern physics from the philosophy and mathematical expression of the quantum theory to those of general relativity. The approach applies to all domains - from elementary particles to cosmology. The change is from the positivistic views in which atomism, nondeterminism and measurement are fundamental, to a holistic view in realism, wherein matter - electrons, galaxies, - are correlated modes of a single continuum, the universe. A field that unifies electromagnetism, gravity and inertia is demonstrated explicitly, with new predictions, in terms of quaternion and spinor field equations in a curved spacetime. Quantum mechanics emerges as a linear, flatspace approximation for the equations of inertia in general relativity.

Quantum Computing is an ever-increasing field of interest both from a conceptual and applied standpoint. Quantum Computing, belonging to the so called "Quantum Information Science", is founded on the principles of Quantum Mechanics and Information Science. Quantum Mechanics has radically changed our vision and understanding of the physical reality and has had also an enormous technological and societal impact. On the other hand, the developing of Information Theory, including computer science and communications theory, made possible the information "revolution" which had a deep impact on our everyday life. Quantum Computing then relates to the possibility to represent, process and manipulate information by using the principles of quantum mechanics. Apart the theoretical importance of quantum computing to further understand the quantum mechanical behavior of physical systems and the physical foundation of information itself at the most elementary level, probably the most interesting feature of Quantum Computing is related to the possibility to design and realize an actual quantum computer which processes information in the form of quantum-bits or qubits. The great interest of scientific community in the realization of such devices mainly concerns the common believe they could be enormously faster than their classical counterparts so allowing their employment in all the applied fields where computational power is a key feature. Furthermore, the study of Quantum Computing, both at the physical and computational level, would be very important for a deeper understanding of the quantum behavior of a very wide range of physical systems including condensed matter, living systems, elementary particles, astrophysical structures and so on. Despite the general theoretical basis of quantum computing are sufficiently understood, the actual realization of a general - purpose and really usable quantum computer has posed great difficulties so far, mainly related to the issue of "quantum decoherence", the computational speed and scalability many of which still remain substantially unsolved. This volume doesn't mean to represent a complete or a beginner guide to Quantum Computing but has the aim to present some of its most interesting and fascinating developments in different frontier areas related to both theoretical and applied aspects, such, for example, the possibility to realize a quantum superfast "hypercomputing" system using water molecules as physical substrate to process, storage and retrieve information; the connection between quantum computers and quantum gravity; the development of an "instantaneous quantum computer algorithm"; the realization of a universal quantum computer, of a brain-like quantum supercomputer and many others frontiers topics. The target audience of this book is then composed by scientists and researchers interested in the most advanced theoretical and applied developments of quantum computation and quantum information.

Each contribution is an article in itself, and great effort has been made by the authors to be lucid and not too technical. A few brief highlights of the round-table discussions are given between the chapters. Topics include: Quantum non-locality, the measurement problem, quantum insights into relativity, cosmology and thermodynamics, and possible bearings of quantum mechanics to biology and consciousness. Authors include Yakir Aharanov and Anton Zeilinger, plus Nobel laureates Anthony J. Leggett (2003) and Gerardus ‘t Hooft (1999). Foreword written by Sir Roger Penrose, best-selling author (The Emperor's New Mind) and world-renowned mathematical physicist.

This book provides an introduction to transport theory, the kinetic equation approach and shows the utility of Feynman diagrams in non-equilibrium quantum statistical mechanics. It is helpful for a wider audience than students of condensed matter physics and physicists in general.

In this volume we have collected some of the contributions made to the Twelfth European Workshop on Quantum Systems in Chemistry and Physics (QSCP-XII) in 2007. The workshop was held at Royal Holloway College, the most westerly campusof the University of London,and situated just a stone’s throw from Windsor Great Park. The workshop, which ran from 30 August to 5 September, continued the series that was established by Roy McWeeny in April 1996 with a meeting held at San Miniato, near Pisa. The purpose of the QSCP workshops is to bring together, in an informal atmosphere and with the aim of fostering collaboration, those chemists and physicists who share a common ?eld of interest in the theory of the quantum many-body problem. Quantum mechanics provides a theoretical foundation for our understandingof the structure,propertiesanddynamicsof atoms, moleculesandthe solid state, in terms of their component particles: electrons and nuclei. The study of ‘Quantum Systems in Chemistry and Physics’ therefore underpins many of the emerging?elds in twenty-?rstcenturyscience andtechnology:nanostructure,smart materials, drug design – to name but a few. Members of the workshop were keen to discuss their research and engage in collaboration centred upon the development of fundamental and innovative theory which would lead to the exploration of new concepts. The proceedings of all of the workshops, which have been held annually since 1996, have been published both to disseminate the latest developments within the wider community and to stimulate further collaboration.