Quantum Physics: Illusion Or Reality?

by Alastair Rae (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1986

  $3.42

  In this book the author sets out to describe and discuss the philosophical foundations and conceptual problems encountered in the theory of quantum physics. The book describes the basic ideas of quantum physics and discusses both the long standing and the more modern conceptual problems. It then goes on to discuss the 'Measurement Problem' which arises when quantum physics is taken to be the fundamental theory of physics, applicable to large-scale physical systems as well as to atomic phenomena. Various attempts to resolve the resulting contradictions have led some physicists to suggest that human consciousness plays a unique role in the physical world and others to postulate that the physical universe is continually splitting into a huge number of copies of itself. Recent suggestions that quantum physics might be capable of explaining so-called paranormal phenomena are critically reviewed.

• Used

  Paperback
  2004

  $17.26

  Quantum physics is believed to be the fundamental theory underlying our understanding of the physical universe. However, it is based on concepts and principles that have always been difficult to understand and controversial in their interpretation. This book aims to explain these issues using a minimum of technical language and mathematics. After a brief introduction to the ideas of quantum physics, the problems of interpretation are identified and explained. The rest of the book surveys, describes and criticises a range of suggestions that have been made with the aim of resolving these problems; these include the traditional, or 'Copenhagen' interpretation, the possible role of the conscious mind in measurement, and the postulate of parallel universes. This new edition has been revised throughout to take into account developments in this field over the past fifteen years, including the idea of 'consistent histories' to which a completely new chapter is devoted.