Testing Quantum Mechanics on New Ground - Softcover

Ghose, Partha

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521026598 ISBN 13: 9780521026598

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2006

Synopsis

Recent technological advances have made it possible to perform experiments, once considered to be purely gedanken, which test the counterintuitive and bizarre consequences of quantum theory. This book provides simple accounts of these experiments and an understanding of what they aim to prove and why this is important. After introducing the main theoretical concepts and problems with the foundations of quantum mechanics, early chapters discuss experiments in the areas of wave-particle duality, cavity quantum electrodynamics and quantum nondemolition measurement. The text then examines investigation of new predictions, including the Aharanov-Bohm effect, before tackling the problem of macroscopic quantum coherence. Later chapters consider methods of testing the quantum Zeno paradox, collapse, macroscopic quantum jumps, tunneling times and Einstein-Bell nonlocality. Introductions to the theory behind new types of measuring devices such as micromasers and those based on the concept of quantum nondemolition are also given. Detailed references are included.

About this title

Book Description

Recent technological advances have made it possible to perform experiments which test the counterintuitive and bizarre consequences of quantum theory. This book provides simple accounts of these experiments and an understanding of what they aim to prove and why this is important. The text includes discussion of new predictions such as the Aharanov-Bohm effect and introduces the theory behind new types of quantum measuring devices such as micromasers. Suitable for non-specialists, this book will appeal to graduate students and researchers interested in the physics and philosophy of quantum theory.

Review

"...an excellent selection of topics, and its presentation of simple, incisive analyses is highly commendable...Partha Ghose has performed a valuable service to the physics community by writing this book on the recent experimental tests of quantum mechanics, especially concerning its more controversial aspects. It represents a valuable source for graduate students and researchers who are interested in learning about the progress in this rapidly developing field." American Journal of Physics

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0521026598
• ISBN 13: 9780521026598
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224