Six impossible things : the mystery of the quantum world / John Gribbin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gribbin, John, 1946- author.

Contributor:

Edward Potts Cheyney Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Quantum theory.

Physical Description:

xi, 90 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [2019]

Summary:

"In Six Impossible Things, John Gribbin offers an agnostic overview of some (six, exactly) of the main "interpretations" of quantum physics. To the great distress of many physicists, no one has been able to come up with a common sense explanation of what quantum physics is all about--this is why Albert Einstein eventually rejected quantum mechanics, even though is was one of it's pioneers! The equations in quantum mechanics work for endeavors like designing a laser, explaining the structure of DNA, or building a quantum computer. Generations of students have been told, in effect, to "shut up and calculate" -- don't ask what the equations mean, just crunch the numbers. More thoughtful physicists, seeking solace in other ways, have come up with a variety of more or less desperate remedies to "explain" what is going on in the quantum world. These remedies, the quanta of solace, are called "interpretations," and each have their devout priests and followers. But none are perfect or universally accepted. And the new ones aren't necessarily better than the old ones. This book provides a brief but solid history of quantum mechanics, from its origins to present-day attempts to to grasp its metaphysical and philosophical implications"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Preface: What's it all about, Alfie? the need for quantum solace

Fit the first: The central mystery

Fit the second: The tangled web

Solace 1: The not so wonderful Copenhagen interpretation

Solace 2: The not so impossible pilot wave interpretation

Solace 3: The excess baggage many worlds interpretation

Solace 4: The incoherent decoherence interpretation

Solace 5: The ensemble non-interpretation

Solace 6: The timeless transactional interpretation

Conclusion: There ain't no sanity clause.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Edward Potts Cheyney Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

9780262043236

0262043238

OCLC:

1090002863

Publisher Number:

99982135097