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The Ghost in the Atom: A Discussion of the Mysteries of Quantum Physics (Canto) | 
| Creators: P. C. W. Davies, Julian R. Brown
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $18.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 186910
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 169
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.3
ISBN: 0521457289
Dewey Decimal Number: 530.12
EAN: 9780521457286
ASIN: 0521457289
Publication Date: July 30, 1993
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Condition: BRAND NEW-FAST SHIPPING
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Product Description
Anybody who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it. Niels Bohr's dictum bears witness to the bewildering impact of quantum theory, flying in the face of classical physics and dramatically transforming scientists' outlook on our relationship with the material world. In this book Paul Davies interviews eight physicists involved in debating and testing the theory, with radically different views of its significance.
Book Description
Nine distinguished physicists consider the conceptual foundations of quantum physics--its paradoxes as well as its profound implications for the theory of nature--within a text based on a BBC radio documentary broadcast.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 The real (unreal) world of quantum theory; views of eight active researchers September 24, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Anyone who is interested to understand reality (universe, consciousness and life), and laws of physics applicable to them must be interested in learning about the laws quantum mechanics. A number of books are available, and this one stands out as a book for good introduction. The authors' interview eight physicists who are actively engaged in research and the profoundness of the universe and the concept of quantum reality begins to unravel as you progress through the book. The book is written for common readers but you must appreciate basic quantum physics experiments, whose results are discussed throughout the book. There are nine chapters, and the first chapter introduces the basics of quantum theory.
Matter at the most fundamental level has both particle and wave nature (wave-particle duality), because some experiments illustrates the particle properties, and other experiments shows the wave properties. In addition, the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle postulates that the position and momentum of a fundamental particle are not determinable at the same time. This is not due to experimental limitations but inherent characteristic of matter, an intrinsic fuzziness of the subatomic world. Therefore it follows, in experiments measuring the path of fundamental particles; the famous two - slit electron experiment of Thomas Young; identical experiments yield different results. It is a common experience in the real world that the laws of cause and effect dictates common sense, for example, a planet in its orbit uses a well defined path and its position can be predicted at any give time, but in quantum world, this is uncertain and we can only discern the point of departure and point of arrival of an electron in an experiment but nothing about the actual path.
There are five major interpretations of quantum theory, they are; a. Copenhagen interpretation; b. Hugh Everett's many universes interpretation; c. Wigner's interpretation; d. Hidden variables interpretation and quantum potential; and e. Ensemble (statistical) interpretation. Copenhagen interpretation is considered as the official view. According to this, reality of classical world is ambiguous and non-specifiable. It gives subatomic particles an abstract mathematical status but does not provide reality in full common sense of the word. In classical thought the universe is independent of an observer; it exist no matter we observe that or not. This is objective reality that squares off with common sense perception. This is precisely the concept that Bohr challenged in his interpretation that objective reality doesn't exist per se until measurements are performed. In general, a quantum state may contain an infinite number of superimposed quantum states. The act of observation and measurement will result in one quantum state and others disappear instantaneously. Many universes interpretation of Hugh Everett proposes that superposition of wave function result in splitting the universe into multiple units each corresponding to one particular wave function or one state. The observer also splits into the same number of units and each universe will have a copy of the observer.
According to Wigner's interpretation, the quantum phenomenon does not happen until reality sets into the consciousness of the observer, but John Wheeler states that realty may have occurred but not put to use until this information is communicated.
Ensemble (statistical) interpretation which implies that any quantum mechanical measurement made is made on an ensemble of identically prepared systems. Hence the results of experiment take the form of a probability distribution of particular values for the measurement. This interpretation looks at the statistics and do not care about individual event. Hidden variables interpretation postulates that a particle like an electron has a potential called quantum potential (QP) which is a new property. Its effect does not depend on its magnitude but only on its form (particle or wave nature) so that it may have big effects over long distances. This wave (QP) also carries experimental arrangement with it and also the states of all other particles in the system. This interpretation also suggests that a particle has both position and a definitive momentum, and QP modifies classical behavior of particles to quantum behavior.
The negative feature of the book is that the authors do not discuss the results of experiments they describe (see pages 11, 16, 19, and 40)
The Ghost in the Atom, by P. Davies January 15, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in the the problem of reality as defined by quantum theory. Davies interviews well known quantum physicists on the subject of "quantum reality" and thereby provides a very stimulating and revealing variety of views on the subject.
 Disjointed October 19, 2006
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Okay book, however I didn't care the the style of writing it did not keep my attention.
Wow. Simply wow. December 10, 2004
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have read a LOT of books on physics, but no where have I seen the various interpretations of QM explained so clearly. Davies asks the hard questions which we ask ourselves during the course of studying QM. Since there are several physicists present you are exposed to a wide range of beliefs, unlike most books where you are at the mercy of the author's biases.
 Somewhere in the Multiverse... July 9, 2004
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
A version of you woke up next to five lingerie models. Another version of you woke up and butchered your loved ones. Another version of you gets struck by lightening while reading this review. That, according to the Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Physics. This is the attempt of physicists to explain the fundamental weirdness and contradictoriness of subatomic particles--ie, the abilty of particles to transmit information across spacetime instantaneously (non-locality), the ability of particles to be in two places at once (wave fuction)...the author leans towards the Many Worlds Interpretation, the idea that the universe splits in two at every quantum choice or juncture whenever an observer observes particles(whatever a quantum choice is, and how often do these choices occur, and who is ability to collapse these wave functions into two+ universes from one, and if the human mind does this, then what collapses the wave functions that form the neurons and calcium ions that propel the neural functions that enable observation?, and can animals collapse wave functions (I've always wondered about Schrodinger's cat...if the poor cat can't observe his way out of his predicament, than how did the dinosaurs observe their way into theirs?)). If the M.W. Interpretation is true, than there is probably an infinite amount of universes, which means that anything that can be, has been and will be. Nonetheless, this is pretty fun stuff to think about, if you're a science geek or a philosophy geek or, like me, just a geek period. The book begins when about a 40 page summary of Quantum Physics and its dilemmas, and then follows w/ a series of interviews w/ leading physicists on how to resolve these dilemmas. When trying to understand Quantum Physics, you will need to expose yourself to many explanations and sources of the subject--everytime you read Quantum theory, it's like the first time, cause it's so dang weird. This is a good book to have on your shelf to flesh out your understanding of this topic, and it's a topic we should all be aware of.
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